KENNEDY — Members of the Poland Highway Department will contribute to the cost of cellphones paid by the town.

Supervisor Kelly Snow told the Town Board at its recent meeting that employees will now each pay $20 per month for the phones. For several months, town officials had been looking into the cost of providing smart phones to the highway workers.

A resident had broached the topic several months back, noting that most towns do not provide phones to its employees. It’s not clear how many phones are currently being used.

Highway Superintendent Larry Mee told the Town Board that a new plan was obtained, lowering the cost of each line to $39 per month.

In other business, a public hearing was held prior to the Town Board meeting to give an update on the work being done under the current Community Development Block Grant.

Eileen Powers with CHRIC reported that nine homeowners were being helped under this grant and that work was expected to be completed by the end of the year. Those being helped represented a diverse section of the town’s population. Snow told Powers that the town has benefited over the years by all the work done under these grants, and thanked her for all the paperwork and other help she has provided.

Board members also recently received a copy of Snow’s tentative 2020 budget. A public hearing on the spending plan has been set for Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall.

Town Assessor Heather Young-Deyell reported that she had attended the state conference for assessors and found it informative. She requested that her office hours in the town be changed to Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. and on Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon. Board members approved the new hours beginning Nov. 1.

Mee said his department has been doing blacktop patching. Final mowing has begun for the season, and work with the tar buggy as well. Crews will start hauling in sand for the snow season.

The Town Board next meets Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m.