MassVoter.com← Townsend Select BoardTownsend Select Board · 2024–2025 Board · Regular meeting
December 17, 2024
8 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
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Present: Theresa A. Morse, Veronica Kell, Laura Shifrin
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
3.1 Appoint the following volunteers to the TEMA team with effective date and start date
1/7/24 Motion
Move to 1/7/24 Motion made by Veronica Kell and seconded by Laura Shifrin to approve meeting minutes of 12/03/2024 with the change to include 5.0 ARPA projects paragraph Veronica Kell advocated for new Fire Department trucks needing equipment for the use of ARPA. Motion was passed with roll call vote Theresa Morse yes, Laura Shifrin yes, Veronica Kell yes.
From the minutes
“move to 1/7/24 Motion made by Veronica Kell and seconded by Laura Shifrin to approve meeting minutes of 12/03/2024 with the change to include 5.0 ARPA projects paragraph Veronica Kell advocated for new Fire Department trucks needing equipment for the use of ARPA. Motion was passed with roll call vote Theresa Morse yes, Laura Shifrin yes, Veronica Kell yes..” (Motion: Kell, second: Shifrin)
5.0 ARPA projects paragraph
Appoint the following 10 volunteers to the TEMA team with effective date and start date 12/17/2024: Elisabeth Borneman, Rebecca Borneman, Emma Grazicr, Jasmin Brooks, Andrew Hackett; Pamela...
Motion was made by Laura Shifrin and seconded by Veronica Keil to appoint the following 10 volunteers to the TEMA team with effective date and start date 12/17/2024: Elisabeth Borneman, Rebecca Borneman, Emma Grazicr, Jasmin Brooks, Andrew Hackett; Pamela Deveny, Sally Koivu, Paul Derochers, Timothy Czarnecki, Mary Alexander. Motion was passed with roll call vote Theresa Morse yes, Laura Shiftin yes, Veronica Kell yes.
From the minutes
“Motion was made by Laura Shifrin and seconded by Veronica Keil to appoint the following 10 volunteers to the TEMA team with effective date and start date 12/17/2024: Elisabeth Borneman, Rebecca Borneman, Emma Grazicr, Jasmin Brooks, Andrew Hackett; Pamela Deveny, Sally Koivu, Paul Derochers, Timothy Czarnecki, Mary Alexander. Motion was passed with roll call vote Theresa Morse yes, Laura Shiftin yes, Veronica Kell yes..” (Motion: Shifrin, second: Kell)
3.2 Appoint: Selectboard member to the MART AaBoes Board effecnve
Appoint Laura Shifrin as the Selectboard representative to MART advisory hoard effective 12/47/2024
Motion was made by Veronica Kell and seconded by Laura Shifrin to appoint Laura Shifrin as the Selectboard representative to MART advisory hoard effective 12/47/2024. Motion was passed with roll cail vere Theresa Morse yes, Laura Sniftin yes, Veronica Kell yes.
From the minutes
“Motion was made by Veronica Kell and seconded by Laura Shifrin to appoint Laura Shifrin as the Selectboard representative to MART advisory hoard effective 12/47/2024. Motion was passed with roll cail vere Theresa Morse yes, Laura Sniftin yes, Veronica Kell yes..” (Motion: Kell, second: Shifrin)
Amend Town Hall hours for New Years Eve 12/31/2024 to close at 2PM. Adam Costa consulted with Labor Counsel
Motion was made by Laura Shifrin and seconded by Veronica Kell to amend Town Hall hours for New Years Eve 12/31/2024 to close at 2PM. Adam Costa consulted with Labor Counsel. Would not be a basis for a legitimate grievance but can't guarantee that it would not be grieved by the Unions, it ts however done routinely in many 'Towns. Motion was passed with roll call vote Theresa Morse yes, Laura Shifrin yes, Veronica Kell yes.
From the minutes
“Motion was made by Laura Shifrin and seconded by Veronica Kell to amend Town Hall hours for New Years Eve 12/31/2024 to close at 2PM. Adam Costa consulted with Labor Counsel. Would not be a basis for a legitimate grievance but can't guarantee that it would not be grieved by the Unions, it ts however done routinely in many 'Towns. Motion was passed with roll call vote Theresa Morse yes, Laura Shifrin yes, Veronica Kell yes..” (Motion: Shifrin, second: Kell)
Amend the in meeting of 12/03/2024 created Cable Advisory Committee CAC to a 6-member Committee to include 1 member from Council on Aging and change the deadline to fill the Committee to 1/6/2025,...
Motion was made by Laura Shifrin and seconded by Veronica Kell to amend the in meeting of 12/03/2024 created Cable Advisory Committee CAC to a 6-member Committee to include 1 member from Council on Aging and change the deadline to fill the Committee to 1/6/2025, Motion was made by Theresa Morse and seconded by Veronica Kell to amend the motion to amend the in the meeting of 12/03/2024 created Cable Advisory Committee CAC to a 7-membet Committee to include 1 member from Council on 3 | 44 Review and sign contract for R Bares & Sons Inc. for Townsend's Main Street Route 119) Sidewalk Construction project 4.5 Review and vote on request from Higawey Superintendent for extra snowplow coverage for winter of 2024/2025 V. WORK SESSION: 5.0 ARPA Projects 5.1 Town Administrator Updates and Reporcs Aging and 1 additional at-large member and change the deadline to Hl the Committee to 1/6/2025. Motion was passed with roll call vote Theresa Morse ves, Laura Shifrin yes, Veronica Kell yes.
From the minutes
“Motion was made by Laura Shifrin and seconded by Veronica Kell to amend the in meeting of 12/03/2024 created Cable Advisory Committee CAC to a 6-member Committee to include 1 member from Council on Aging and change the deadline to fill the Committee to 1/6/2025, Motion was made by Theresa Morse and seconded by Veronica Kell to amend the motion to amend the in the meeting of 12/03/2024 created Cable Advisory Committee CAC to a 7-membet Committee to include 1 member from Council on 3 | 44 Review and sign contract for R Bares & Sons Inc. for Townsend's Main Street Route 119) Sidewalk Construction project 4.5 Review and vote on request from Higawey Superintendent for extra snowplow coverage for winter of 2024/2025 V. WORK SESSION: 5.0 ARPA Projects 5.1 Town Administrator Updates and Reporcs Aging and 1 additional at-large member and change the deadline to Hl the Committee to 1/6/2025. Motion was passed with roll call vote Theresa Morse ves, Laura Shifrin yes, Veronica Kell yes..” (Motion: Shifrin, second: Kell)
(the minutes do not state the motion)
The contract needed to be completed by the end of December due to partially ARPA funded, Motion was amended by Veronica Kell and seconded by Theresa Morse for the Selectboard co sign the comtract for R. Bates & Sons Inc. for Townsend's Main Street Route 119) Sidewalk construction project out of session after review by Town Counsel. Motion was passed with roll cali vore Theresa Morse yes, Laura Shifrin yes, Veronica Keli ves.
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“The contract needed to be completed by the end of December due to partially ARPA funded, Motion was amended by Veronica Kell and seconded by Theresa Morse for the Selectboard co sign the comtract for R. Bates & Sons Inc. for Townsend's Main Street Route 119) Sidewalk construction project out of session after review by Town Counsel. Motion was passed with roll cali vore Theresa Morse yes, Laura Shifrin yes, Veronica Keli ves..” (second: Morse)
Review and sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session
Motion was made by Laura Shifrin and seconded by Veronica Kell to review and sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session. Motion was passed with roll call vote Theresa Morse yes, Laura Shifrin yes, Veronica Kell yes.
From the minutes
“Motion was made by Laura Shifrin and seconded by Veronica Kell to review and sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session. Motion was passed with roll call vote Theresa Morse yes, Laura Shifrin yes, Veronica Kell yes..” (Motion: Shifrin, second: Kell)
Enter into and adjourn from Executive Session pursuant to GL c. 30(a), s. 21(a}(2) To conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel (Treasurer/Collector)
Motion was made by Laura Shifrin and seconded by Veronica Kell at 7:24PM to enter into and adjourn from Executive Session pursuant to GL c. 30(a), s. 21(a}(2) To conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel (Treasurer/Collector) Motion was passed with roll call vote Theresa Morse yes, Laura Shifrin yes, Veronica Kell yes.
From the minutes
“Motion was made by Laura Shifrin and seconded by Veronica Kell at 7:24PM to enter into and adjourn from Executive Session pursuant to GL c. 30(a), s. 21(a}(2) To conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel (Treasurer/Collector) Motion was passed with roll call vote Theresa Morse yes, Laura Shifrin yes, Veronica Kell yes..” (Motion: Shifrin, second: Kell)
From the Townsend Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town’s Agendas and Minutes page (Select Board). We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos (the town’s website has no Select Board photos): Town of Townsend Candidates Night video — Valerie Goodrich and Sarah Logan (April 2025); Just Townies — Laura Shifrin (October 2023). Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.
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