8381-R2_ML&P_Hollis_2021-2022_AnnualReport_Web

Town of Hollis Select Board Annual Report July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022

During the Fiscal Year of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, the influences of COVID continued to cause some concerns and issues for the Town with residents and staff feeling overwhelmed at times with the conditions within our work environments and the uncertainty of the virus. On the recommendation of the State, all Town Boards and Committees were given the option to adopt policies to allow virtual participation at meetings, whether held in-person or via virtual platform. The Town adopted the Zoom platform in 2020. These policies allowed Board and Committee members invested in meeting participation to attend, vote and remain active. Our Select Board, Appeals Board and Planning Board have policies in place and will remain until further notice. The public is also free to join these virtual meetings to watch and voice any concerns or comments. Working closely with members of the Fire Department staff, Municipal officials and Town staff, the Select Board researched and implemented retirement plans for eligible officials and employees of the Town office, Recreation Department, Fire Department and Salmon Falls Library. These plans include the MainePERS Defined Benefit Plan and MaineSTART 457 Deferred Compensation Plan that went into effect October 1, 2022. We hope these benefit options will help our staff feel valued as employees and more secure in their futures. The Select Board collaborated with the Fire Department to improve their statistical data gathering and reporting to educate our residents of the increase in the number of total calls as well as the breakdown between fire and emergency medical calls. The Fire Department now reports quarterly to the Select Board to review their activities during the previous quarter to include volunteer and community support. We also approved additional equipment for the Fire Department which allows stretchers to be loaded into the ambulances safely with minimal issues. The Select Board completed a Safety & Risk Management plan to include the initiation of policies and procedures, a Safety Committee and developing an active review of all safety related incidents within the Town to identify issues and resolve them in a timely manner.

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