[music] [music] 4:00. Today is Tuesday, January 6th. It's a meeting of the accrishna board of selectmen. Is there a motion to call the meeting to order? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? Motion carries. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I alian to the flag of the
United States of America to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Just as a reminder, this [clears throat] meeting will be audio and video recorded. Uh first order of business is
uh appointing a patrol officer. Uh Chief Copper, if you wouldn't mind taking the podium. >> Good evening. [snorts] Thank you. Um John, I met with you guys a few months ago um and you asked me to try to track a lateral transfer to help with our
staffing levels. Um today I bring you Officer Justin Melo. Uh Justin lives in Rochester. He holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Bridgewwater State University, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. He attended Plymouth Police
Academy, graduating in January of 2025. he's transferring here uh from Rochester to get a bigger uh call volume and get some more training. Um I would re recommend that the board offer Justin a contingent offer of employment. Um and
also sign anou with him. Theou would basically uh give him credit for the year of service he had in Rochester. This is consistent with what we've done to other officers in the past that have come over. And I would present Justin Melo to you. >> Great. Justin, if you don't mind grabbing the podium, you can, you know,
did a good job of uh telling us who you are, but if you want to speak for yourself and just got a couple questions for you. >> Absolutely. Well, might I first say thank you so much for allowing me to be here today. Um, you know, I really appreciate the opportunity and I, you know, look forward to, uh, what I can go
forward from here. >> Great. Uh, so you've, uh, you've been working in Rochester. So I guess the question is what what what interested you in a Kushnet and why you wanted to make this lateral transfer. I know that we're not too far from Rochester, but obviously there must have been some motivation uh to do that on your part.
I'm just curious as to what the what the what your interest was. >> Absolutely. My interest is uh there's a few things in it. Uh for me personally, it's still close to home. Uh but with Rochester, I've had a little bit of a struggle trying to get the call volume necessary to develop my career further.
Um Rochester has a lot of um low call volume. I would go, you know, days at a time where I wouldn't go to any shifts at all. And I didn't feel that was good for my experience or for my development uh into who I want to become as an officer. Uh additionally, you know, Kushnet's always been close by. It's
always been, you know, place where I've gone to in my free time and uh I like the community quite a bit. Additionally, it's a step away from where I grew up in Rochester where I went to high school and elementary school. um where there was some issues um
possibly developing with u conflict [snorts] of interest of people I grew up with and having to go to calls uh associated that you don't want to be pulling over teachers, former teachers and uh teammates and all that kind of stuff. So I can I can see that. That's great. Well, um gentlemen, any questions? Uh
>> I think you covered Mr. Chairman. Right. [snorts] >> I do not. >> Well, Justin, sorry. I was going to make an a motion to appoint Justin Melo according to the memorandum of understanding between the town of a Kushnet and the Teams Union Local 59. I >> blindly second that. >> All those in favor? Motion carries.
Congratulations. I just want to say congratulations. >> Just for those viewing at home, I think the importance of the lateral transfer for us is is is a is is a big step. Uh in the past when we've had vacancies um we've had officers come in without any experience and with that comes there is
a price right not only from a um a lack of experience standpoint but also having to pay for the academy and all that goes on. So what chief when we send an officer to the a prospective officer to the academy exactly what is that cost to
the town of Kushnet? Well, it's more than just the cost of training, and that's about $15,000, I believe, for the cost of training. It's what do you get out of that officer prior to him taking his first shift. You have to [snorts] train him in the academy. So, you pay him in the academy salary. Then he comes out, it's like but he he or her comes
out and by the time they take their first shift, you've already $75,000 in the hole um just for that. So, by taking Justin over, he's already had that academy training. So now it's just focused on training him how we work and then he can hit the streets, >> right? [snorts] >> So there will be a significant savings.
Um I would like to ask that you know in the in the upcoming months we possibly could lose several different officers uh some maybe possibly to retirement also we may be losing some officers to the state police. Um I would like to continue to try to look for lateral
transfers if that's okay with the board. Uh just because I I see [snorts] we could have a problem. Right now, we had down one officer after Justin Hyatt. I would just like to continue to work. Uh whether it's me or whoever the next chief of police is, I think we should have the ball rolling on trying to
attract additional candidates. Um I think we can afford it in the budget because we have lost lost an officer uh to deployment. So, we not no longer paying that salary that we're planning on paying. Um we are only paying a portion of that salary. Um, so I think
we might be able to do it, but I think the savings by having an officer uh hired will be between that and the overtime that would be reduced would be beneficial. I think you might be able to absorb it with what we already have. >> Okay. >> It's just food for thought. >> Yeah, I'll take that under advice. We'll
get back to you. I think, [snorts] you know, we're learning some lessons that, you know, in this day and age with employment being so fluid that we really got to lean in and develop a bench. we have to have secondary tertiary plans uh that we can activate and so we should
always be looking for the best and brightest out there whether it's a police officer, fire patrol or or a you know a clerk. So um we can't be caught flatfooted for any of the services that we provide. So I'm glad you brought it to our >> Yeah. And if like I said, god forbid something happens where we lose officers
like we did a few years ago, it just it it causes officer fatigue. It causes morale issues. It it causes problems. More mistakes happen. So just trying to stay ahead of this and just bring to your attention. >> Great. Thank you. Good luck. Yes, sir. >> Chief, before you leave, just keep in mind the the whatever that rule is about
non-Ivil service to understand 50 50% rule. So for every officer we hire outside of the normal civil service list, we have to hire an officer from the civil service list. I would suggest that next year's budget include at least
two to three officers that we look to hire because we could be down as many as six to seven officers in 5 years and training off takes at least a year. So, I'm just I know we're going into the budget season, but I think that's something we need to consider because because we hired Justin tonight, we're
going to have to hire one off the list within the next 5 years. It has to be a 50/50 ratio for the next five years, right? Okay. >> Sorry, just hang tight. We're going to sign these. MOU this for you. >> I didn't realize there were three of them. Sorry about that. [snorts]
>> Got to make it official. Chief, >> I actually think I only need one. Sorry about the gentleman. [clears throat] That's all right. >> Give it to Justin. You can hang it in the >> I appreciate that. Thank you. >> No, we need one treasures. >> Couple places it needs to go.
>> Yeah, I'm just writing the date. I can't believe I'm actually writing 2026. I've been writing 2025 all. There you go. >> Thank you for a year. >> Thank you so much. I really appreciate >> welcome. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate
you, but I don't know if you do like do you do like a swearing in for the for the officer at all. Okay. if you let us know that I think I don't know if one of us would like to attend or all of us would like to attend. I think these are big moments for us. >> Once we get the um all the contingent
stuff done such as the back I mean the PAT test all that stuff and we get the go from civil service that's when we'll have it. >> Awesome. Great. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you. >> Uh next next uh item on the agenda is select energy contract for the schools.
I think Aldo's here. You want to know Bob's been kind of our go-to guy on this stuff. So, um I've asked Alan Giles from Select to come in and present. Um we're at the point where our contract the agreement has been given to KP Law and
they're working on it and they're almost completed with it. Okay. >> So, I asked Alan to come in so we could go to the next step which is getting the board approval to move forward on this agreement. [clears throat] >> Um Alvin [snorts] Giles from Select Energy. Um just the the process that
we're in right now, the final process of the contract negotiation. KP Law represents the the town. KP Law represents a lot of towns. So they've seen this contract many many times. Um it's been back a couple back and forth a couple times now with edits and
comments. So, I believe we're in the last stage and Aldo wanted to um ask you for to um [snorts] uh to consider a vote to approve uh the town administrator to sign the contract as soon as the contract's available and
ready, [snorts] >> Mr. Chairman. How would we do that at this particular moment? >> Yeah, I think we'd have to obviously I don't we I think we'd have to see the final product, right? So, I'm glad you brought it to our attention. I don't think we can do that tonight. We also currently don't have a town
administrator. Um, so we'd have to figure out who would be the representative of the board or if the whole board would have to sign. >> When's KP? When I mean I guess once we get it, we're going to be meeting what when when's the deadline? Are we under any deadline to get this signed like
within the next two weeks? >> Well, our our goal is to try and be um on site. >> Yeah. >> Um during school break. So that's what February. >> No, no, no. In June. So [laughter]
>> you're talking about sign. >> I mean we have a lot of once a contract signed all we got to get engineering drawings. >> But as far as signing the contract goes is what I'm saying. Like so if we get the thing next week, we're going to be meeting in two weeks anyway. We can put
on the agenda there this way. It'll give everybody an opportunity to review it. But I don't think we can sign agree to something until we see >> seen. So I appreciate you bringing this to our attention. >> So I didn't I didn't know Mr. Keller had officially got >> Well, he's he's he's on medical leave,
but the board, you know, something of this magnitude, I think the board would go and do its due diligence and ultimately it's going to be our John Hancock on it. So >> in some cases, some towns rely on the town administrator. Is there a lawyer? >> Under normal circumstances, that would be the case. right now it's not normal
circumstances for the town of >> so I'll let our legal team know that um you have to review would you would the three of you be signing the or >> we'll have to get that advice from town council >> right >> just let me know so we know exactly what
names need to be on the the figure that Mr. Mr. Chairman, if I may and Allan, I last time we had a meeting with you, um, we did make a vote to proceed in the process, too. So, and after sitting down with you and Aldo, I mean, it's a pretty straightforward deal, but because it
involves a town and a school and town council, as as long as town council says the document's good, I feel pretty confident that I'd be okay with it. I don't speak for the other members of my board, but um like the chairman said, as soon as it's set to go and we have a
copy and we can review it, we can get it on an agenda pretty quick. >> So, I'll let all you know and we'll get it prepared and ready to go. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Have a good day. >> Have a good day. Thank you. Good to see you all the house. Thanks. >> Busy. Yeah. Very well. Thank you. Stay
in touch. All right. >> All right. Next item is Patriot Half Marathon. Is that what it is? Patriot uh >> half marathon. We do this every year. It's kind of a cool event. Um thoughts.
>> Motion to approve. >> So move. >> Second. >> All those in favor? Motion carries. Next item on the agenda, we got a request from a resident at Five Scots Way, a request for street lights. Um, and you
know, I think I didn't want to I want to at least get this before the board and get some visibility on it [clears throat] from our uh we used to have a safety committee, but I don't I think we've resolved that, but we can at least have the fire chief and the police chief take a look at the situation. My
personal feeling is like look, we get we don't get a lot of these requests and you know get taxpayers who probably never asked for anything. So at least at a minimum look at it and see if it makes sense or not. But I didn't want to just say no based on past practice.
something that needs to be looked at uh probably a little more in depth because we've had some requests and we've denied some of them and I noticed some neighborhoods in town that have their own street lights and pay for it themselves. >> Y through like almost like an HOA but not
technically. They just kind of group together, get an electric bill and they split it up. And there's some other streets that are listed on the back side of this that are a little bit longer with no street lights. So, normally when you put up street lights, it's usually due to a bad curve or intersections and things of the like. So,
>> um we can have a you know, we can revisit all these things and take a look at it and um and I don't know if it just require one Scott's way is a very short road >> might just take one lamp and and good to go. And we have the new LED lights that are really cheap to run.
>> So, maybe [clears throat] that's a consideration for the board to think about. So, so why don't we do this gentlemen if you're okay like since we don't have a safety committee in place if we can and I'll be more than happy to take it on just look at some best practices from other towns and even if
we just create some type of checklist and have figure out who the right people to look at this whether it be you know who does the installations Frank Knox right get get that Dan um get the fire chief police chief take a look at
um and a member of the board and then we can just go down the line and they can check check check kind of like what we do with building plans or you know develop whatever. I think we just should have some type of process in place to [snorts] help the board make a decision. So um I can come back with a proposal
the next meeting or subsequent meeting. a half dozen street lights wouldn't be that much of an impact to the um street light budget, but you start adding 50 or 100 of them throughout town because people catching wind of it happening. >> That's the precedence that you don't really want to set. So, >> yeah. Yeah, we'll come up with some
criteria >> and um we'll come back with a recommendation on at least a process >> and then we can look at these things individually. All right, it's a motion to table. >> So, move second. All >> those in favor. Motion carries. Next
item on the agenda, nine Taber Street and 10 Lambert Street for sewer connection. Here's the plans. I don't know if you've seen the chance to look. >> I've talked enough about that today. >> I'll look at that, but want to make sure it's here for people's review.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, for the record, I'm Dave Dean from Shin Digi and I'm here representing Noah Gomes, who's here with me in the audience. Uh Noah lives at 9 Taber Street and uh a few years ago he purchased uh 10 Lambert
Street which is um around the corner. It actually connects to his property. Sort of forms an L-shaped uh piece of property. Um [clears throat] so uh due to the mass demerger law, he now has another lot adjacent to 10 Lambert
Street that he can put a house on. Um, so we're [clears throat] here this evening to seek approval from the board of selectman for a sewer connection plan that we put in place and submitted to the town and that would extend the sewer from Kendrick Street down Taber Street
and allow further extension of the same sewer main to uh Lambert Street. [snorts] Um along the way we'll provide stubs for an existing house on land on Kendrick which is not uh connected. We'll provide a stub for we believe a
future lot for that gentleman behind his property. Um nine Taber will be connected which is currently has his own septic system in the backyard. Um and then we're proposing to go through his property through an easement to get to 10 Lambert Street. Um so all in toll it
could be up to six homes maybe connected in the future uh future homes um that could be constructed um but for now there'd be two properties 10 Lambert and nine Taber that would be immediately constructed upon installation of the sewer line >> and obviously he would incur all the
costs correct >> all the costs be incurred by Mr. Gomes. Um the sewer line would run down the shoulder of the road so we wouldn't u have to cut up the road except for where we cross. Uh I think it's Cox Street and uh we're avoiding getting to Lambert.
Lambert became a problem because there's a water mane on the side we want to be on. Utility flows on the other side. So that would be a little more problematic in the future. So we went cross country create an easement across his property to get to the other house. um be a [snorts] force main. All E1 grinder
pumps installed for this main. Same as what exists on Kendrick Street. Everybody that's connected is uh has an E1 grinder pump and that runs up to I think Randall Street. >> Correct. >> Um so [clears throat] if there are any questions, I have extra plans if anybody
needs to look at them. >> Yeah, go ahead. >> So I've talked to a few different people including Mr. on this and because you're going into Kendrick Street which is a newly paved road um and I know that you're going to stay off to the side of the road.
>> Yes. >> Um according I didn't get to look at the plan but that's what Dan had told me. I said as long as that's occurring and the road's not going to get effed up because it's a brand new road and it's a 5-year moratorium. So any damage >> that's occurred to the road would need to be fixed by whoever's doing this work. Right.
>> That's correct. >> We don't anticipate any damage to the pavement. you get an escalator tracking. If long as you put mats underneath of the tracking, you won't harm the new asphalt. Well, we can't be having a brand new road all ripped up from tracks from an escalator, right? So, just kind
of putting that warning out days. I did have that conversation with Mr. Manard was also concerned about that. Um, I know the family pretty well, so I know the kind of work that they do, so I have a lot of confidence in them. The question I did talk to the council that does our sewer, um, that did our sewer
bylaw with me. Um, I'm trying to come up with because of the way the new bylaw is set up with connection fees versus betterment fees and a 90% for a developer to do and I changed that to be more equitable for these kind of situations. Um, moving forward with
sewer. The right now I can't tell you and the way the bylaw is written I don't need to tell you like it's six grand for a connection fee that that we voted on. The only thing I can't tell you right now because I'm trying to make it as fair and equitable for anybody that's doing this and getting a new system in
place because the bylaw is so new after the Bradford Street ordeal. We put the new bylaw in place, right? I I actually seek the new bylaw. The board supported that. Town meeting supported it. I don't know what the connection fee is because there is a known betterment out there.
But because that pipe that was you're going to end up tapping into on Kendrick was brought in by somebody else. Right now, I have the attorney looking at how we would interpret that cost. So, that would be the 90%. However, it might not be anything according to this bylaw.
>> Yep. >> So, I'm trying to figure that out. So, right now, and and connection fees come when you actually make the connection to the line. A developer is free if there's no known betterment. a developer is free to tie the line, run the pipe, and at the time the houses plum into and tie
into that infrastructure, that's when you would pay the connection fee to the town. So, for right now, I would obviously say you're good to go. I wouldn't want to hold anything up if you're actively seeking to get this thing going in the next week or two or whatever it is. I don't think the bylaw
prevents us from stopping that from happening. We just don't know if that initial tie-in is going to be that 90% of the original betterment which is roughly 12,500 to 90%. It was originally 145. What I didn't know was and when I was talking to the attorney, he was all
confused on how the we got sewer up on Randall and everything else. But after doing some more due diligence, I found out that that phase, there was only a couple of roads we did up off there was part of the 2006 78 whatever it was down here in this village area. >> Yes. And I was kind of like they jumped
all the way over there too. But apparently that's what occurred because if we just did one like a year and a half that we charged somebody on Cox Street the 125 rough number. >> Yep. >> Within a few bucks. I'm not it's not exact, but the 125 is a relatively close number. I'm within 100 bucks either way.
So, I don't want to say somebody's going to owe 125 to get into that pipe just yet, which the the attorney's working on that because of the new bylaw kind of puts that twist on things and we're trying to develop it. So, for right now, I'd be fine with just
um grant permission to tie into the sewer line on Kendrick Street, you know, keeping Kendrick's best condition and batting on the road for for the machines. and then we can just let these folks know what that cost is going to be if that's going to be there. What I will
say is because it is it does get a little convoluted. If if it was that 125 tie-in fee to get into that main infrastructure, the first home that's tied in is free and clear. That due was already been paid when you plumbed that pipe. That's how I designed that bylaw
to happen to be more fair and equitable to everyone, right? And then every additional one that's plumbed that gets connected is 6,000 for the connection fee. The first one is already paid to get into that pipe if there's no embedment. So right now the attorney said this is pretty interesting that
this has come up. Let's let me do a little bit further due diligence in looking into this so that we don't misrepresent the town and all or the applicant. And I said that's fine. I just want to make sure that we we're going to set precedence on this fir this is really the first one out of the gate with a known betterment. And it's just
kind of weird how that happened with another developer bringing something in and how we're going to view it. >> Yeah, I agree. The uh the the Kendrick line uh our office did that design and it was uh Kevin Murray, correct? >> We own two houses side by side. Septics
were not practical for his site with the houses were low to the ground. The septics had to be four feet up in the ground. >> So he paid to bring it down Randall uh from Randall. I forget >> down Lton I think it is Lton. >> Uh >> that's L that runs right Kendrick
>> down L and then down Kendrick to get to his house and >> he kind of um he didn't approach it the right way. Instead of talking to the neighbors and trying to get people to go in, >> he told people he was going to do it and then later on tried to ask if anybody
would pitch in and everybody basically gave him a >> thumbs down and and he said, "Well, we'll just wait for the pipe to go in." and he was required to put in the stubs. So, he ended up paying uh pretty hefty price. >> It's okay cuz they'll pay six grand now, too. >> Mhm. >> Anybody [snorts] that ties in to any
place in town in sewer now, it's $6,000. >> Yeah. And >> which which is better than what's go for? >> It's Well, I I can tell you it's a reasonable fee. Marian's 10k um just for comparison. Um so, it's that's >> we're crushing it. We like to, you know,
we don't like our people. >> Yeah. I mean, you're 25, 35,40 for septics now. So, it's very reasonable >> depending on the system, right? And you have the cost for the E1 pumps, probably five grand, too, right? So, >> yeah. By the time you get out the E1 in the ground and pumped and wired, I mean
wired up and everything, it's you're 10 grand out of the hole. So, but it's still very reasonable. >> Yeah. Is there a motion to approve the request? >> So, move with a with to set a fee at a later date. Second. All those in favor? I >> Thank you. Great. >> You're welcome. All
right. At our last meeting, um we did not go over the um fees. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Yep. Yep. Yep. Y there's a [clears throat] request for a sewer abatement. Is it a baitment?
>> Deferral. >> Deferral rather. Sorry, >> chairman. >> Yes. We've we've done this every year for this parcel of land. I would make a motion to defer a sewer betterment for 36 bots. >> Second. All those in >> favor. Next item is uh we do not do
plumbing fees. Um we got some adjustments here. I make a motion to approve the electrical gas plumbing fees as presented effective January 1st, 2026. Mr. Chairman. Second. All those in favor? Right. >> Jamie, it would be possible at some
point, obviously you got so much going on, but it'd be curious to see, you know, if we were to use like took last year's volume and use these all these new adjustments like what we what we would have generated. I'm just curious. You don't
have to do it. I'm just saying like at some point we can do something. >> We should leave that to other department heads to do for their own departments with the fee schedules and let them run numbers. it. Well, whatever. Like >> whoever does it, if you can >> Yeah. kind of get an idea. >> Yes.
>> All [snorts] right. Uh, next one is the letter from Dan Manard to Jamie Kelly regarding the letter I sent you on December 16th, 2025 pertaining to our water technician, Eric Abrew, reporting directly to Jamie Velasquez to perform
his water duties. There's much regret regret that I'm informing you that Eric Abrew has given me his two weeks notice of resignation as of today December 30th 2025. His last day of employment with the town of Aushnik Water Department will be Friday, January 9th, 2026. Eric
has been with the town for 12 years and has been an asset to our water department, highway department snow removal. We will certainly miss him and all the good work he has done for our town and our residents. This will also affect my snow removal crew. Eric is always a great asset to my department of
snow removal. In my opinion, it is imperative that the town fills this position as soon as possible to assist Jamie Velasquez and the water department duties in the water billing process. Please inform me of any concerns. Thank you, Dan Manard. Further segue on the point.
>> Yeah. Uh we did have you know a number of people who have interviewed with the department uh in the past and uh gentleman Matt Golda um would be recommended as a candidate to uh fill that position. It'll be a little bit of
a learning curve, but I'm really confident that with the teamwork and commitment to the town that everybody will rally around him and make things as smooth as possible. Um, you know, at the end of the day, all of us here collect a paycheck from the taxpayer, whether it's
a $3,000 year stipen as a board of selectman or a highest paid person in town. We're here for the taxpayer and for the residents, not for ourselves. And so, I'm uh excited for for Matt and I'm sure he'll do a great job. There's a motion to appoint Matt Golden.
>> So, move second. All those in favor? I motion carries. All right. Next item. All right. At our last meet, our meeting on Saturday, uh we had talked about having some type of backup in place to
deal with our water licenses. Um we've identified a company MP Water Systems Management. Uh Jamie has uh spoken with that vendor and I know that you know ideally we want to have somebody on staff carrying out that responsibility,
but um given the the uh immediacy and the situation that we're we're in, um I think it's it's uh it behooves the board and the town to bring on MP water systems management. Um, again going back
to whether they just do this for us on the full-time basis or serve as a backup to the backup to the backup. Um, it's just good to have in place. So with that said, is there a motion to appoint MP Water Systems Management?
>> Mr. Chairman. >> Yes. >> I had a conversation with Mr. Kelly today. He told me that this wasn't on the agenda because of union issues. So I have no idea what's >> that's not going on. >> That's not accurate. I talked to Mr. Kelly yesterday. As I said, this isn't
to supplant anybody. Um, this is to make sure that we have a relationship with this vendor. Um, to make sure that we have something in place. >> Okay. I'm fine with that then. Misunderstanding. >> Yes. >> From up above.
>> Yes. A very big misunderstanding. >> Okay. >> Okay. With it. All right. There's a motion and second. All those in favor? I. >> Motion carries. All right, next item. NStar gas distribution rate.
Generally, we got uh notification from Eversource. This is just more FYI. Um we just want to bring it to everybody's attention, make sure you're aware of it. No, no action required on our end, but looks like Eversource is going through a
process where they're reviewing their rates. Um, bottom line is rates are too high. So, I'm hoping that whatever comes out of this process, it'll be in the benefit of the taxpayer and the resident. Mr. Chair, yes, we just reviewed they're
putting inside this just for full disclosure. It's not going to benefit the taxpayer. This is going to increase bills between 20 and $40 on average for gas. Um hopefully the DPU
takes it seriously and helps pull back on some of the delivery fees that they already have to improve on the gas bills and electric bills. Um I know DPU said they were opening an investigation on costs and fees. Um, but so people are
aware, the DPU has to authorize every delivery charge on both gas and electric. So anytime Eversource does need to increase their fees on the delivery side, DPU has to approve it. So I'm hoping uh DPU kind of
pulls them to the fire a little bit on this. Gentlemen, >> they're going to they're going to investigate themselves then. >> Sounds about right. Yeah. >> Interesting. Gentlemen, if you if you guys are up for it, we can send a letter that this is a request to participate in
a survey. Um, this is the inside gas municipal outreach survey. Bob, I don't know if we can get a link to that or a URL. Maybe you can put that on >> Yep. >> put on social and get people to uh oppose this increase, this proposed
increase. Um, and we can send something to our legislative delegation and the governor as well. So, I don't I I don't know how much more they can break our backs for crying all out loud. I mean, they got some new thing on the gas bill. I seen on my gas bill. Now, they got an infrastructure
charge on it. And I'm like, so they ran a pipe by the house and okay, how long am I going to be paying for that? Sooner or later, I have to pay for that amount of pipe that goes by my house. Like, so do I own that pipe now? Because you're charging me for infrastructure. Sooner or later, I should own it. I mean, it's just out of control. I mean, I can't
believe what my gas bill has done from one year to another. And you're just totally crushing especially the lower income a senior population that are fixed incomes. They're just getting crushed. Um and I think it's very unfair and I I think
like you said Mr. W. I sended something to the governor's desk about this because we wonder why there's a homeless problem in this country. The government's created it. >> It's true. All right. Uh, next item is just from the an FYI from the Kushnet
firefighters local 3281's officer change. The Kushnet firefighters local 3281 would like to inform you of a change in union officers effective on December 1st, 2025 following elections meeting that was held on November 19th, 2025. The changes
are as followed. Union President Paul Fryzinger, Vice President Shane Ramos, Secretary Paige Phillips, Treasurer Cynthy Cynthia Robert. Is there a motion to accept and place on file? So move second. All those in favor motion
carries. Next one is a letter from Senator Marky writing to share several current opportunities for federal funding. We pass along these opportunities for awareness in case they fit any relevant initiatives in your community. However, given the tremendous volatility in the federal land funding
landscape, uh, communities should carefully review notices of funding opportunities before deciding whether and how to apply for funding. If you have questions regarding these programs, our team [snorts] will do our best to answer them, recognize the uncertainty and rapidly changing
nature of federal funding. Well, my answer to that is, Senator Marky, that's why you're there. So, you know, regardless of what the dynamic is, um, you know, there's some things here that we could be looking at with federal for infrastructure,
um, water, uh, waste disposal, all the above. So, you know, we can take a look at this and see if there's anything that we are, uh, that would fit us. Um, you know, there's a recycling program, a bunch of other things that we should
be uh taking a look at and, you know, we can get back to [snorts] uh the senator to see if there's an opportunity to help the town out. >> All right. It's a motion to place on file. >> So move. >> All those in favor? >> I second. >> Second.
>> Favors. >> Um, we have an executive session. It's going to be roughly 5:00, but we can see if we can get people to dial in sooner than that. And uh so with that said, we have an executive session under Mass Journal Law Chapter 30.
>> Mr. Chairman, can we do selection? >> Oh, yeah. Yep. Yep. Yep. Right. >> I only ask I just uh and thank you uh wish my father a happy birthday. Today is his birthday. Um I like to remember January 6 for his birthday and >> not other things.
>> Happy happy birthday, Bobley. Happy birthday to Bob's dad. You're a good man. >> Bob, you did a good job with the kid. Turned out all right. Um, all right. Executive session better. [laughter] Executive session
>> under Mass General law chapter 3A [snorts] section subsection 21 A3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining DPW union local 1249 or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining
position of the public body and the chair so declares and the board will not return to public session at the conclusion of the executive session. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call vote. [snorts] Mr. Gasper. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. Hankling. >> Yes. >> And let me Yes. We are now in executive
session. [music] [music] [music] >> [music]