During the meeting, members discussed the poor condition of the Center School’s roof, noting that slates had fallen off in several areas, leading to visible sky and minor water damage inside the building. The committee emphasized the necessity of the repairs to prevent further deterioration while planning for a more comprehensive reconstruction in the future. A repair estimate was obtained from Hawkins, a reputable roofing company in South Deerfield, which possesses the necessary equipment to carry out the work without further damaging the fragile roof. The funds will come from the administrative expense bucket, which has a balance of over $9,000.

In addition to the roof repair discussion, the meeting touched on the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ request for the Whately Select Board to support an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) for the Oeski property on River Road. The committee clarified that this support would be theoretical and not involve immediate financial commitments from the town. This matter, along with potential APR applications for other properties, will be considered at the annual town meeting next spring.