LEYDEN — The Leyden Selectboard and Finance Committee discussed arranging a Capital Improvements Committee to help the town decide where to allot funds for large projects and one-time purchases.
Joe Markarian, a representative from the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, explained that such a committee would prioritize town purchases greater than $5,000 and projects lasting more than three years.
“The Finance Committee has been asking for this for years,” said Carol Johnson, a Finance Committee member. “We need a plan.”
Michele Giarusso, chairwoman of the Finance Committee, said that because everyone on such a committee would be examining which capital purchases would be best for the town, it would take pressure off the Selectboard to decide what the most important purchases are.
To form a committee, the town will first need to create a bylaw outlining how many members the committee will have, its goals and how long it will be in place.
The town will also need to compile a record of past purchases for at least the past three years. The record will give the proposed committee an understanding of what has been paid for projects in the past and how long those projects endure.
NORTHFIELD — The Northfield Board of Selectmen appointed Denis Brennan to the position of Veterans Burial Agent during a meeting last week, replacing Ed Doolittle. Brennan is also chairman of the Board of Trustees of Veterans Memorials and Veterans Services.
NORTHFIELD — The Northfield Board of Selectmen discussed the status of Town Hall’s repairs during last week’s meeting, reporting that the brickwork is nearly finished and waterproofing should commence soon. The building’s sewer line is also on track to be replaced.
NORTHFIELD — The Northfield Fire Department sold a 1988 Pierce Arrow fire engine to the Warwick Fire Department last week.
WARWICK — The Warwick Selectboard appointed Jessica Foote to the position of tax collector during a meeting last week, replacing Terry Kemerer.
WARWICK — Guardian Energy Management Solutions of Malborough is developing a plan to install air source heat pumps in Town Hall to save energy on both heating and cooling, Town Coordinator David Young said during last week’s Selectboard meeting.
The project will use the remaining $40,000 that the town received through a Green Communities grant.
WARWICK — The Warwick Selectboard agreed to enter into a three-year intermunicipal agreement with Orange Emergency Medical Services for emergency medical assistance in Warwick.
During the recent meeting, the board agreed to prepay $8,750 to Orange EMS, which covers half a year of service.
The town will need to notify Orange EMS by March 31, 2017, to end the three-year agreement in the event that it is able to arrange for alternative services, potentially from Northfield EMS.