The meeting began with a joint session with the assessors for a tax rate classification hearing. The assessors, represented by George Corsier, presented detailed information about the implications of adopting a split tax rate, which would shift the tax burden from residential properties to commercial and industrial ones. Corsier highlighted the town’s predominantly residential tax base—85% residential against 14% commercial and industrial—arguing that there was insufficient commercial property to justify a split tax rate. He provided figures indicating that the taxable property base was around $6,837,000, with a permitted tax increase under Proposition 2 and a half totaling $170,929. The new growth was minimal, adding approximately $16,000 to the tax revenue. Following the presentation, the board voted unanimously to continue with a single tax rate, maintaining the town’s historical approach.

Another major topic was the town’s green community street light grant application. Ted Harvey joined the meeting via Zoom to discuss the resubmission of the application, which proposed replacing existing street lights with LED fixtures. Harvey explained that the application had been adjusted to enhance its competitiveness by reducing the wattage of the lights to align with state expectations. The revised plan included 38 fixtures, with 22 at 17 watts and 16 at 24 watts. The total grant request was $38,445, a reduction from the previous submission. Harvey noted the application aimed to capitalize on cost savings, with projections suggesting a small increase in savings compared to prior estimates. A certificate of application requiring a signature was mentioned as an administrative step toward submission.

The board then turned its attention to the upcoming special town meeting, emphasizing the urgency of preparing a draft warrant before the Thanksgiving holiday. The meeting is set for December 6 at 10 a.m. at the Grammar School, with discussion topics including ambulance service and health insurance. The board planned to finalize the warrant by their November 17 meeting to ensure timely printing.

In addition, the board addressed the signing of the MVP FY26 action grant contracts with the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) and GZA. The contracts pertain to a floodplain project on the Manuel property. Although the FRCOG contract was not ready, the board moved forward with signing the GZA contract, expressing satisfaction with the work done by both organizations.

A issue was the budget overrun related to the Source Pass IT services contract, with costs exceeding the original budget established at town meeting. The total amount of $40,897.66 needed approval to utilize free cash, primarily due to unforeseen hardware replacements for Microsoft cloud services. The board approved the proposal unanimously.

The board also discussed the installation of public parking signs to alleviate congestion in the town hall parking lot, which is often occupied by individuals who could park elsewhere. They planned to procure 12 posts for signage, with an estimated cost of around $300. This expenditure was unanimously approved.

An unexpected item involved a gap in public safety coverage due to the expiration of the regional agreement with Ashfield for a clinician co-responder. A new agreement was signed to ensure continuity, receiving unanimous approval from the board.

Additional updates included ongoing projects like the paving of Shelburne Falls Road and catch basin installations in Pine Hill, with paving postponed to spring. A productive meeting with Eversource led to a scheduled comprehensive building assessment for the Grammar School on Veterans Day. Documentation from the town’s green community initiatives in 2018 was retrieved, supporting future efforts to enhance town facilities and electrification.