A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to the discussion surrounding the acquisition of electronic voting machine tabulators. Members debated the practicality and necessity of transitioning to electronic voting, with some expressing concerns about the reliability of such machines. One individual stated, “if you want to know are we dedicated to making a correct count of the will of the citizens you have your answer there,” highlighting the commitment to accurate vote counting. The laborious nature of hand-counting votes was recounted, with a participant sharing their exhaustion from having to count votes multiple times over several hours, concluding with, “oh my God I never want to do that again.”

Despite these concerns, the board focused primarily on the financial implications of purchasing the tabulators. A proposal was made to allocate $2,000 from American Rescue Plan funds for the purchase, contingent on receiving rebate funds from a separate elementary school project. This motion was seconded and subsequently approved by the board.

Throughout the discussion, there was an acknowledgment that purchasing the tabulators did not mandate their use in every election, allowing for flexibility in future decisions about their deployment. It was noted that Massachusetts General Laws grant the select board the authority to decide on the use of electronic tabulators without requiring a town meeting vote. Despite this authority, one board member emphasized that community consensus was vital before making such a transition, arguing that the decision should not rest solely with the select board.

In addition to the electronic voting conversation, the board engaged in discussions about various ongoing projects and initiatives. The climate resilience project was highlighted, with updates on the design of a pollinator corridor intended to support local ecosystems. A kickoff meeting for this project saw participation from ten residents, and further public engagement is planned for January. The project, facilitated by the consulting group Landscape Interactions, aims to gather community feedback and provide updates through a dedicated webpage.

Planning for a new senior center was another focal point, with the board awaiting consultant findings on two potential sites: the current Deerfield Town Hall and another location in Whately. The board considered whether the facility should function solely as a senior center or also serve as a community center. The decision-making process involves collaboration with the South County Senior Center Board of Oversight and will incorporate additional survey results.

Infrastructure updates included a report on the Christian Lane Mill River Bridge, which remains operational but limited to one-lane use while awaiting repairs. The bridge’s status in the state’s repair program has improved slightly but still ranks low. The board also addressed an expired elevator lift certification at the Town Hall, which was resolved following urgent inspections to reinstate the lift for use as a polling location.

The board reviewed its service recognition policy, considering adjustments to the criteria for acknowledging long-term volunteers and employees. With the current policy requiring 25 years of service for recognition, members debated whether 15 or 20 years might be more appropriate given modern employment and volunteer trends. A consensus emerged to simplify the recognition process, proposing automatic acknowledgment for those meeting the service criteria without requiring nominations.

In other appointments, the board unanimously approved Eric and Mike to the agricultural commission, expressing gratitude toward outgoing members Margaret and Chim. Jill Strong was appointed as the planning board administrative assistant, bringing her experience from the town of Chester to the role.

Additional updates were provided on various municipal projects, including ongoing repairs to school building infrastructure, ARPA-funded initiatives at the library, and a new energy efficiency plan from Berkshire Gas. An update on remediation efforts at an old landfill on Long Plane Road was discussed, with a 90-day timeline for reporting back to the Department of Environmental Protection on the scope of work required.