The extensive water problems in Deerfield, especially at locations such as Bloody Brook, Eastern Avenue, Grave Street, River Road, and Whately Road, took center stage during the meeting. The select board members detailed their observations from a recent visit to these areas, emphasizing the urgency of a phased plan to mitigate the flooding issues. The potential impact of new OSHA regulations on the fire department was also a point of discussion, with the board expressing concerns about the financial implications and possible effects on insurance rates. Additionally, the need to secure a small grant for trapping Asian tiger mosquitoes was highlighted due to expectations of a wet spring, which could exacerbate the town’s water-related problems.

Another pressing matter was the dog barking nuisance complaint. The board revisited this ongoing issue after receiving a new complaint about the nuisance dog, noting a lack of response from the dog’s owner. Despite no new complaints except for the continuous barking reported by the same individual, the board reviewed printouts of dog complaints from the police and a letter from the complainant. An attorney representing the complainant spoke at the meeting, stating attempts to contact the dog’s owner had gone unanswered. Technical difficulties made the attorney’s comments difficult to hear.

The board also discussed the possibility of implementing a visually obscuring mesh to mitigate the noise issue after a resident raised concerns about the noise from neighborhood dogs. There was debate over the number of dogs the resident had and whether it violated town bylaws. Potential solutions like noise-canceling headphones, landscaping barriers, and fencing were considered, but skepticism about their effectiveness was voiced.

Further, the select board deliberated on the scheduling of the annual town meeting information session, eventually deciding to move the session to a date that did not conflict with other important events. The minutes of a previous meeting were approved, albeit with reservations regarding the level of detail, especially concerning the accuracy of AI-generated minutes in relation to recordings.

The meeting also addressed the continuation of a public hearing regarding the dog barking nuisance, with the board electing to continue the hearing to June 12th. This would allow time to assess the effectiveness of a voluntary remediation effort by the dog owner. Additionally, the award of administrative programming space for the South County Senior Center was discussed, with bids awarded to Holy Family Parish and Delta Sand and Gravel Inc.

Financial considerations were a recurring theme, with discussions on the purchase of tablets for town use, allocation of ARPA funds for projects like the dump body and 1888 building, and the need to finalize plans by July or August to ensure proper utilization of all funds. The State revolving fund Asset Management Grant project was mentioned, with a focus on confirming availability of funding sources. The board also touched upon the regulation of the town’s sewers, upcoming events such as the Burns family run and the Class of 2024 Parade, and the need for letters of support for the OSHA fire department and a disaster aid bill.

The board’s review of proposed changes to the Personnel bylaw to comply with state and federal legal requirements was another significant topic. The changes would shift towards a personnel or human resources manual for more efficient management and alter the decision-making responsibilities of the Personnel Board and the Select Board.

The select board also discussed the composition of the Personnel Board, proposing the inclusion of residents and employees in the decision-making process, with appointments from the select board, the moderator, and the finance committee. An employee elected by bylaw employees was suggested as a voting member of the Personnel Board, spurring debate about potential conflicts of interest.

Updates on the annual warrant, the classification compensation plan, and the FLSA corrections were given, along with a request to begin planning for a fall town meeting. The meeting concluded with the board discussing the date for the next meeting and considering upcoming holidays.