Heath meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Heath boards weigh broadband payment, alcohol license, and fiber projects

Over the past two weeks, Heath's Select Board, Board of Health, and Municipal Light Board met to take up a range of items, from a $58,408 broadband payment to a special alcohol license for the Agricultural Society. Minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so outcomes are not yet confirmed.

Select Board: Broadband, election warrant, and culvert project

At its Aug. 11 meeting, the Select Board was scheduled to vote on spending $58,408.05 in CAF II auction proceeds toward a broadband note payment. The board also had on its agenda a vote to sign and approve the 2026 State Primary election warrant, and a vote to approve and submit a Notice of Intent for the Route 8A culvert project to the Conservation Commission.

Other items included approval of $1,785.00 for MCPPO training for the Town Coordinator, and the appointment of Mia Francesconi to the Energy Advisory Committee.

Board of Health: town nurse discussion

The Board of Health met via Zoom on Aug. 12. The agenda listed a discussion of the town nurse position under old business, with no votes or specific actions listed.

Municipal Light Board: drop policy, website, and fiber updates

On Aug. 13, the Municipal Light Board met virtually to review and vote on several operational items. These included a drop policy review and vote, and a town/MLP website review project vote. The board also received updates on Whip City Fiber, fiber hut maintenance, and the National Grid upgrade project attachment costs, along with a depreciation account and investment status update.

Select Board: special alcohol license for Agricultural Society

At its Aug. 18 meeting, the Select Board considered a special all-alcohol license application from the Heath Agricultural Society, with a vote anticipated. The agenda also included public comment and routine administrative items.

Coming up: Select Board on Aug. 25

The Select Board will meet again on Aug. 25 at 4:00 PM at the Jacobs Road Municipal Center. The agenda includes appointments with Highway Superintendent Tyson Howard on Number Nine Road next steps, school district representatives on a 2D8T update, and Police Chief John McDonough on golf cart correspondence from Margo Newton and Bill Lattrell.

Discussion items include next steps on the Town of Colrain surplus police cruiser, authorization of a broadband infrastructure loan payment, and an EMS regionalization initiative. The board will also consider shortening the Town Coordinator's office hours.

Residents interested in any of these topics are encouraged to attend or check the official agendas for details.

Heath boards weigh broadband payment, town nurse, and fiber projects

Heath's Select Board, Board of Health, and Municipal Light Board met last week to consider a range of items, including a $58,408.05 broadband payment, a town nurse position, and fiber project updates. Minutes from these meetings have not yet been published, so vote outcomes are not available.

Select Board

The Select Board met on August 11. The agenda included a vote to expend $58,408.05 in CAF II auction proceeds for a broadband note payment, and a vote to sign and approve the 2026 State Primary election warrant. The board also considered approving and submitting a Notice of Intent for the Route 8A culvert project to the Conservation Commission, approving $1,785.00 for MCPPO training for the Town Coordinator, and appointing Mia Francesconi to the Energy Advisory Committee.

Board of Health

The Board of Health met via Zoom on August 12. The agenda was largely procedural, with the only substantive item being a discussion of the town nurse position under old business. No votes or specific actions were listed.

Municipal Light Board

The Municipal Light Board met virtually on August 13. The board reviewed and voted on a drop policy and a town/MLP website review project. It also received updates on Whip City Fiber, fiber hut maintenance, the National Grid Upgrade Project attachment costs, and the depreciation account and investment status.

Coming up

The Select Board will meet again on August 18. The agenda includes a vote on a special all-alcohol license application from the Heath Agricultural Society, along with public comment and routine administrative items. No other substantive decisions are listed.

Heath boards weigh salt shed contract, broadband payment, and wetland reports

Over the past two weeks, Heath's Select Board, Conservation Commission, and Board of Assessors met to consider a range of items, from a salt shed retaining wall contract to wetland impact reports. No minutes have been published yet for these meetings, so outcomes are not known. Upcoming meetings include a Select Board vote on a $58,408 broadband payment and a Municipal Light Board review of drop policies.

Select Board

The Select Board met on July 28 with an agenda that included a vote on a contract with W. R. Hillman, LLC for the Heath Salt Shed Retaining Wall, including a commencement date. The board also discussed National Grid's 3-phase project and smart meters, reviewed and signed FY '27 memoranda of understanding for the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District, approved FY '27 agreements for FCSO Regional Animal Control & Dog Shelter Services, and voted on a new IRS mileage reimbursement rate of 76 cents per mile.

At its next meeting on August 11, the board is scheduled to vote on expending $58,408.05 in CAF II auction proceeds for a broadband note payment, sign and approve the 2026 State Primary election warrant, and approve and submit a Notice of Intent for the Route 8A culvert project to the Conservation Commission. The board will also consider approving $1,785.00 for MCPPO training for the Town Coordinator and appointing Mia Francesconi to the Energy Advisory Committee.

Conservation Commission

The Conservation Commission met twice, on July 28 and July 30, with nearly identical agendas. Both meetings included a review and vote on a "Wetland Impact Evaluation Report for Shapiro Conservation Parcel/Burnt Hill-Catamount Trail" prepared by Fleetwood Environmental Solutions. Also on the agenda were approval of past meeting minutes, the consultant's report, and the chairman's report. No minutes have been published for either meeting.

Board of Assessors

The Board of Assessors met on July 29 to approve the 2026 Motor Vehicle Commitment #4, review and possibly amend Clause 18 criteria, review Clause 18A Deferral information, and receive an update on the Davenport land purchase involving two parcels (Map 236, Lot 5 and Map 229, Lot 9).

Municipal Light Board (upcoming)

The Heath Municipal Light Board will meet virtually on August 13. The agenda includes a drop policy review and vote, a town and MLP website review project vote, an update on National Grid Upgrade Project attachment costs, a WGE/Whip City Fiber status report, and a depreciation account and investment status update.

Coming up

• **Select Board Meeting** – August 11, agenda includes broadband payment vote, election warrant, culvert project, and appointments.
• **Municipal Light Board Meeting** – August 13, virtual, covering drop policy, website project, and fiber updates.

Heath boards eye salt shed contract, wetland report, and tax criteria in late-July meetings

Several Heath town boards met in the final week of July, with agendas covering a proposed salt shed retaining wall contract, a wetland impact report for a conservation parcel, and a review of property tax deferral criteria. Minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so the items below reflect what was scheduled for discussion or action — not confirmed outcomes.

Select Board — July 28

The Select Board's agenda included a vote on a contract with W. R. Hillman, LLC for the Heath Salt Shed Retaining Wall, including a commencement date. Also on the agenda:

• Discussion of National Grid's 3-phase project, including complaints and smart meters.
• Review and sign FY '27 memoranda of understanding with the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District.
• Approve FY '27 agreements for FCSO Regional Animal Control & Dog Shelter Services.
• Vote on a new IRS mileage reimbursement rate of 76 cents per mile.

The salt shed contract is the most consequential item on the agenda in dollar and infrastructure terms, though no contract amount was listed in the provided agenda summary.

Conservation Commission — July 28 and July 30

The Conservation Commission met twice during the week. Both meetings listed a review and vote on the "Wetland Impact Evaluation Report for Shapiro Conservation Parcel/Burnt Hill-Catamount Trail" by Fleetwood Environmental Solutions. The July 30 agenda specifically listed a vote on the report.

Both agendas also included approval of past meeting minutes, a consultant's report, and the chairman's report.

Board of Assessors — July 29

The Board of Assessors' agenda included approval of the 2026 Motor Vehicle Commitment #4, along with real estate and motor vehicle lists. The board also planned to:

• Review current Clause 18 criteria, with a possible vote to amend. (Clause 18 relates to property tax exemptions for certain categories of taxpayers.)
• Review Clause 18A deferral information.
• Receive an update on the Davenport land purchase involving two parcels: Map 236, Lot 5 and Map 229, Lot 9.

What residents should know

Because minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, it is not yet possible to confirm which items were voted on, what the vote tallies were, or whether any items were postponed. Residents seeking confirmed outcomes should watch for posted minutes from the Select Board, Conservation Commission, and Board of Assessors.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days (through August 17, 2026). Residents are encouraged to check the town's official postings for any meetings added after this roundup was prepared.