Belchertown Select Board - December 1, 2025

Описание: Belchertown Select Board Meeting on December 1, 2025.
View Minutes Here: http://belchertown.org/AgendaCenter/V...
View Previous Select Board Meetings Here:    • Select Board  

AI Summary:
The Belchertown Select Board’s December 1 meeting opened with routine business and then focused on two big items: opioid settlement planning and long‑range town finances, along with several policy votes and community updates. The Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Committee clarified state rules that prohibit using opioid money to replace existing budget items and secured unanimous Board approval to spend $14,530 of settlement funds to send five Belchertown High School “Helping Hands” students and three adult advisors to the national CADCA prevention conference, with an expectation they will return to lead peer‑based education and community prevention work. The Town Accountant then explained a new state financial “forecasting” workbook that compiles FY21–26 revenues and expenses (tax levy, override, state aid, local receipts, free cash, and stabilization), prompting detailed questions about school choice, flat payments for state‑owned land, rising PVTA assessments, and how this tool should inform budget and capital planning ahead of a tri‑board meeting. Later, the Board held an extended conversation about designating more volunteers as “special municipal employees” so residents can legally serve on multiple boards, chose to move cautiously and seek more education before adopting a broad list, but did vote special status for the Animal Control Advisory Board to keep its work on track. Additional actions included declining the town’s right of first refusal on two Chapter 61 parcels, renewing 2026 liquor and related licenses, hearing a regional health‑insurance update, announcing grants for the Town Hall roof and Mass Central Rail Trail work, highlighting the need for a volunteer to fill a state‑appointed housing authority seat, and spotlighting recent community events and local recognitions as ways to strengthen Belchertown’s civic and cultural life.

0:00 Call to Order
3:00 Approval of Minutes
4:30 Gail Gramarossa: Opioid Advisory Settlement Fund
28:05 Town Accountant: Financial Forecasting Tool
1:29:59 Selectboard's role in Federal Matters
1:30:25 Municipal Employees
1:48:46 Right of First Refusal: Cold Spring Street
1:50:27 Right of First Refusal: Amherst Road
1:51:46 Vote to Waive Hearing for Class III Licenses
1:53:10 Vote to Renew Liquor License
1:55:25 Begin endorsing 2026 Licenses
1:57:16 Health Insurance Update
1:59:15 Town Manager's Report
2:08:27 Weekly Mail
2:11:48 Individual Board Member Report

#BelchertownHelpingHands #OpioidSettlementFundAdvisoryCommittee