WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=Jsk9N_NrdP0

Part: 1

1
00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:32.800
Good evening everyone. Today is June 24th. This is a meeting of the board of selectmen. Is there a motion a motion to call the meeting to order? >> So move. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I this this be an audio and video recorder. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. Pledge

2
00:00:32.800 --> 00:00:49.039
allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Um gentlemen, we do have some minutes

3
00:00:49.039 --> 00:01:05.199
about because it was the budget discussion and the warrant discussion. There's a lot of numbers that were put inside the minutes. I would take some time to review it to confirm all the numbers. We don't want to have a bad number there. It's kind of an important set of minutes. So, um I'm willing to pass over that for tonight. You guys

4
00:01:05.199 --> 00:01:21.119
don't mind? >> Not at all. No. >> All right. Very good. All right. So, uh first order of business we have is the transportation bond bill announcement. We have for Sloum Street. I've invited in representative, state representative

5
00:01:21.119 --> 00:01:38.240
Mark Sylvia, state representative Steve Olette are in the audience. I also reached out to former selectman David WA because he was very instrumental as well. He was on the board when we were pushing for this with our new reps um that we have. So um selectman WA is in

6
00:01:38.240 --> 00:01:53.040
the audience. Um, and I just want to let everybody know that it's not always that you hear great news um, coming out of the town of Aushnet, but um, tonight is is a privilege for me to announce some really great news on behalf of the

7
00:01:53.040 --> 00:02:09.679
Akushet taxpayers. Um, between the hard work of Mr. Olad, Mr. Mark Sylvia, our state rep, obviously Mark Sylvia's precinct is one. That's where Slokum Street Project was done. We were issued a transportation bond bill. um back in

8
00:02:09.679 --> 00:02:26.400
2014 for Sloum Street improvements. Nothing ever came about of that $1.4 million transportation bond bill. Um as I've noted, the past board of selectman on the selectman, David WA, Mr. Hankley, myself, we immediately contacted the

9
00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:42.560
state reps when we had the OPA funding to do Sloum Street. Um we we kind of drilled it into them that this is the most important time. This is the time to get the money for us. Um, and I know it was an uphill battle for us. I've I've spent some time on Zoom meetings with both of these state reps um with Mass

10
00:02:42.560 --> 00:03:02.800
DOT, but I'm I'm proud to announce on behalf of the board of selected and our state reps that we got a million dollars in our bank account 3 weeks ago. So, >> it's probably one of the best announcements I've been able to give in

11
00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:18.640
quite some time when it comes to money coming to the town of Aushnet. I know we get small earmarks, but nothing ever at the capacity of a million dollars. So, um I know I made some phone calls said, "Where's the money? Where's the money? We don't want any more paper checks." Um and and I'm proud of our state reps

12
00:03:18.640 --> 00:03:33.360
working hard on behalf of our constituents um that they delivered a million dollars out of the 1.4. That wasn't an easy task. I can tell you and and I know Mark, you know, I know that's your precinct and I know how much you you know fought far as Steve you as

13
00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:49.760
well. Um but it wasn't an easy task because I remember them Zoom meetings and I think it was Gus um Bigford um from Mass Dot said well this one's a little bit tricky and Mark and I kind of went back and forth with Gus and you know he got to realize that this is

14
00:03:49.760 --> 00:04:05.040
really important for the town of Aushnit um and they went right to work for us and I know that I have Mr. Jamie Kelly, our former town administrator, still I I'll call you a provisional interim town administrator, still on board helping us

15
00:04:05.040 --> 00:04:22.160
out. Um, and Jamie Lynn Velasquez, our assistant town accountant, was very instrumental working with the engineering firms, pulling all the numbers that we could apply for that money from Mass DOT. So, without the help of, you know, was a team effort, without the help of all the folks that I mentioned, this would have never been

16
00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:38.479
done. So, I'm proud of the team. I'm proud of my former colleague selectman WA for his dedication to the community and this project. Mr. James Kelly, like I said, Jamie Lyn Velasquez, our assistant town accountant, instrumental. Mr. Inkley, yourself. Ryan, I know that you've always been a proponent of

17
00:04:38.479 --> 00:04:55.680
getting infrastructure projects done, but you know, you weren't part of that dialogue, but I know you were rooting us on at the same time. So, um, thank you to our state reps and your aids are here. I know we have Emma and Jessica here as um, Mr. Well, that's state aid and Mr. Sylvia state aid. So, again,

18
00:04:55.680 --> 00:05:12.720
it's it's a great effort. Again, a million dollars in the bank account, but you don't see either one of these guys holding up a 3.5 foot by 6 ft cardboard check going. We promise we're going to get you that money in a campaign here. They just delivered a million dollars to our bank account. So, again, kudos to

19
00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:29.360
both of you folks. Mr. Sylvia, if you want to have um the podium and say anything, you want to I don't know if I'm missing anybody from Mass DOT that was instrumental. some of your former staff maybe you want to mention. I know. >> Yeah. Yeah. Well, first thing I want to say is, you know, teamwork definitely makes the dream work and this is

20
00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:46.400
something that from the time we were both first elected and we talked to the members of the select board, this you made it very clear to us that your number one priority for state aid beyond what you normally get is to ensure that that project receives, you know, upwards of the million dollars in airmark money.

21
00:05:46.400 --> 00:06:01.600
and you made it clear that otherwise the implications to the town would have a real negative impact. And I think that messaging was really important for us to hear because we were able to collectively communicate that with Gus Bigford, folks from division from the uh

22
00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:19.360
district five of mass as well to really lay out why this money was so important. So I just want to say thank you. This is a really good example of how when we all work together, we can get great things done. Um, and I know Ryan, you were definitely cheering from the sideline. Um, he he expressed his perspective

23
00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:34.960
importantly like many other residents when they learned that this million dollars was potentially available. But I want to thank uh, Selectman WAR, you selectman Gaspar, and you, Selectman Hinckley. And to be honest with you, even up to three weeks ago, you made it clear we really need to see this money

24
00:06:34.960 --> 00:06:50.880
transferred into our bank accounts before we feel good about this commitment. And that happened. And so, you know, that's our job to support the community. And so, very happy and like you said, it was in it's it's in my district. Uh my whole family grub around there. Um so, there's a special place in

25
00:06:50.880 --> 00:07:07.360
my heart, but uh really appreciate the opportunity to to represent the town and get this done for you and we look forward to I know a number of other items that we want to discuss at some point where we >> Yeah, we'll just leave this a happy moment. >> Yep. Sounds good to me. >> We have a lot of discussion to be had, Mr. Sylvia, but you know, I I just I

26
00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:23.039
wanted to make this moment. I know it's been tough getting you and um Mr. Alllet in here because your schedules, you're in sessions usually on Wednesdays and it's tough for you to get here at a time. So, I was trying to get you in for the last few meetings to give this great news to the community, but I had to work around your schedule and I get it. You

27
00:07:23.039 --> 00:07:39.520
have an important schedule just as all of us do, but um I'm glad that you were I think you're going in session Thursday instead of Wednesday. >> Yeah, we were. So, we're able to be here tonight because uh session was moved. So, we're happy to be here. So, >> so yeah. So the so I think what's so

28
00:07:39.520 --> 00:07:54.560
great about getting the million dollars and I know it wasn't the 1.4 but a million is a lot of money, right? And and we went to a town meeting a couple years ago and town meeting um taxpayers approved a $1.5 million borrowing for this project on top of two other

29
00:07:54.560 --> 00:08:10.800
articles, a $600,000 infrastructure out of the infrastructure stabilization account and also $600,000 from our water retain earnings account. Um I I believe I'm still working with Mr. Kelly on finalizing some numbers. I just got off the phone with the engineer. He was the one that just called me prior to start

30
00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:26.400
and I told him I ain't got time to discuss numbers and all that stuff um with him because I did talk to him earlier. So it's going to be a couple more weeks before we could finalize everything with the with the construction firm and then engineering firm have to do all their building stuff. So it'll be a couple more weeks before we can finalize things. But I

31
00:08:26.400 --> 00:08:41.919
think I I I told the town meeting members that night when they when they approved the $ 1.5 million borrowing, I said, "It's my hope that we won't have to do this borrowing." And so far right now, based on the numbers that I'm looking at with Mr. Kelly, it appears we

32
00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:58.959
won't have to do a 1.5 million borrowing at all. We we will exor the 600 and the 600, unfortunately. But um with that said, we don't have to borrow a dime. So that's that's like phenomenal. >> Well, again, happy to to serve the town

33
00:08:58.959 --> 00:09:14.480
of Aushna and look forward to working on other projects with you. I also want to thank Jamie because he did all the paperwork submitts that needed to be done to check those boxes and then Betty de Benedictus, my legislative director who helped to coordinate a lot of the meetings. We had several meetings. That's right.

34
00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:29.200
>> To get to this point. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> So, you want to say anything? >> Yeah, sure. Um, so last time we were here, we were talking about, like you said, the smaller money here, Marks. Last time we got your 25,000 for the school's engineering and to try to fix

35
00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:45.200
that leak. 20K for the uh uh senior center. We've got another 10,000 this year. And I pushed my luck. I tried to get another 20,000, but they split it up. They got 10,000 for the schools to take care of the HVAC cuz obviously the money is tight there. So, you can get filters or whatever you need to do for

36
00:09:45.200 --> 00:10:00.880
HVAC work. You've got 10 grand there. That's earmark, not bond. Uh myself and Mr. Sylvia are working on a million dollars for Long Pond, but that's bond. I don't want everybody to get excited yet. Uh I know the Freetown side wants to do a beach. They're going to work on water improvements and uh Mr. Sylvia is

37
00:10:00.880 --> 00:10:16.560
working on some uh weed irrigation boats, but we got a lot of work to do on that. But just to let you know what's in the pipeline, we are working with try to straighten out the town as far as the long pond situation with the overgrowth of the weeds. We went out there a couple of times and uh that's another project we're trying to get done for you.

38
00:10:16.560 --> 00:10:32.079
>> Yeah. Great. That's awesome. Yep. Thank you very much. Suck Mona, you have a you have >> Yeah, I'll I'll make it brief. Um Kevin, hats off to you, right? And you're very generous today to to pass around this phrase, but um you've been the infrastructure selectman. Um everything

39
00:10:32.079 --> 00:10:47.120
that you've done has been geared in that making the road safer and and more passable. Um, you know, from the the deal that you uh hammered out with PJ Keating to making sure that we have money for infrastructure, the project on

40
00:10:47.120 --> 00:11:04.160
Slo Street, infrastructure, Mendle Road, Middle Road, you name it. Um, you've been there on those projects. So, thank you for that. It's been it's been a pleasure to work with you and I appreciate you inviting me in here. Right. Just think of like the last two major projects that the town has seen

41
00:11:04.160 --> 00:11:21.920
that didn't impact the taxpayer, right? Which is the school roof paid for $1.2 million. >> Yep. >> Out of the solar fund in this one here. Um and I think it's important for the residents to understand that. Sometimes when you don't see it happening, then

42
00:11:21.920 --> 00:11:36.880
you don't understand what goes into making it happen. So, um, hats off again to you for your leadership on that and I appreciate the invite being back here today. >> Thank you. That means a lot coming from you, Dave. Appreciate it. >> All right. So, >> thank you.

43
00:11:36.880 --> 00:11:53.360
>> Looking forward to the next million. >> I know this on the Senate side, you're going to get a little bit more funds, too, but we'll let Montgey run with that. >> We did we did get an ear mark in the amount of $150,000 for Hamlin Street. So, that's we're we're going to have that conversation. I

44
00:11:53.360 --> 00:12:08.880
actually have that on my agenda um to talk a little bit about that. My DBW director right now is on vacation, but I I can't keep everything up here because I just it'll just get lost and you know, you have to put things out to bid and just the nature of the beast, the way everything works in the in the of course

45
00:12:08.880 --> 00:12:23.760
the time frame that we're in now. We have to delay town meeting because of budget deficits and things of the like. So again, we're going to keep this happy moment. >> Um and and we look forward to working with both of you in the near future. >> I appreciate your time tonight. Thank you. I appreciate you.

46
00:12:23.760 --> 00:12:42.560
>> Thank you. >> Nice to meet you, folks. >> So, second on the agenda is to consider an appointment for a clerk. Mr. Inkley, I'm going to turn that over to you as you are responsible for as negotiations.

47
00:12:42.560 --> 00:13:00.079
Mr. Gasper, working closely with Ashley this week. Um, I did speak with Lori. Maybe do have to go over some MOA language with that, but I'd be willing to make a motion to appoint Lori Walsh as a ZBA clerk pending current negotiations andou language.

48
00:13:00.079 --> 00:13:15.040
>> So moved. >> All those in favor? >> I motion passes. >> All right. The third one on the agenda. We don't have anything back for this individual. So I will pass over number three. Consultant contract gentleman. I

49
00:13:15.040 --> 00:13:30.959
did put this in here because it does. It's Mr. Kelly's contract for professional services agreement. Um I did have a conversation today with Mr. Kelly. We just talked about Sloum Street is this contract does expire on June

50
00:13:30.959 --> 00:13:46.399
30th. Um, however, after speaking with the the town's engineers today, working with Bisco, the delay with the project from the from the start of the project, I I would just ask if there's

51
00:13:46.399 --> 00:14:02.160
so the contract can expire, but if we can keep certain things in effect where I can have Mr. Kelly maybe one day a week for the next two or three weeks just to wrap up all the OPA money um, bills that we've paid already and and putting all that information together. I

52
00:14:02.160 --> 00:14:19.360
think it's important that I I I don't have the heart to try to pull Jamie um Adam Law Montine, a new town administrator, into that what I'll call a mess because it's kind of an intertwined mess. Mr. Kelly is very familiar with that intertwined mess as I am and Jamie Lyn Velasquez is as well,

53
00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:36.639
our assistant town. So, if if the board wouldn't mind giving me the authority to be able to, you know, have Mr. Kelly in one day um a week, whatever I need. I can I can call Mr. Kelly, arrange whatever day he can come in and we can try to finalize all this building stuff

54
00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:52.720
and wrap everything up. He's he was already working on it today, but >> just because of when the bills are going to come in, unfortunately, I can't wrap this up by June 30th. Um so, if I could have the authority um to allow Mr. Kelly come in at least one day a week and work

55
00:14:52.720 --> 00:15:08.320
with me and the assistant town accounting on billing and and and the we do Mr. Kelly part of my memory lost right now but I forgot the Jen from something consulting services >> capital

56
00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:23.519
strategic consult consulting so uh Mr. Kelly and Jan from Capital, they have a we've obviously had a relationship moving forward. They were handling the Apple funds. So without Mr. Kelly being able to advise on what was done in the past,

57
00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:39.920
what's going on now, bills that were paid, any kind of questions in between, it would just I think it would create a mess on myself and Miss Jamie Lynn Velasquez to try to figure everything out. So um if you don't mind the contract expires, but we keep the same hourly rate for Mr. Kelly and I can bring them in a day, a week, whatever

58
00:15:39.920 --> 00:15:56.480
whatever you know we need to do. if I need him for two consecutive days if you guys give me that authority to do it. I did talk to them. They're talking I said we need to wrap this up. So I said, you know, um July 15th and he said, "We'll try for that end date, but it might be the following week." And I said, "Try

59
00:15:56.480 --> 00:16:12.320
for the 15th." So um if I could have that authority to bring in Mr. deli um one day a week and if I need to do two consecutive days because of Bisco meetings in in the in the engineering firm going back and forth for us and putting this together and put an end to this

60
00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:29.279
>> one last time. I mean we do have that million bucks we just discussed and compiling all that information what we have what we've expended out of it and all that stuff. Mr. Kelly's got the background knowledge. I know I do I have a lot of that background knowledge as well but I think it would be instrumental for me to be able to keep him on board. So, if you guys don't mind

61
00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:45.680
doing that, the contract expires, but we'll we can pay the same hourly rate for whatever we need them for in the next 2 to 3 weeks outside of June 30th. Mr. Kelly, I kind of just volunteered you. I know we did have a little discussion about that, but are you sure

62
00:16:45.680 --> 00:17:02.399
you're okay with fulfilling the obligation that I just pitched? I've been volunttoled at home for years, so I'll be glad to help out for a little while longer. >> I I would I would like to take an

63
00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:17.039
opportunity and and thank you, but I would like to take an opportunity to thank Mr. Kelly for his continued service. Um he stood here way longer than what we anticipated. He he was a good man to sit in while we were um

64
00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:33.520
exploring T8 um candidates and things of the like and we know how that got dragged on and on and on um with the screening committee and things of the like and just the way things were falling. It just it you know it turned into a it show. Um I'll come straight out and say it. Um we're all part of

65
00:17:33.520 --> 00:17:49.919
that experience, but it landed where it landed. But Mr. Kelly, I do want to say um from the bottom of my heart, thank you very much for what you've done to the town. >> Agreed. I appreciate that. But it's just because I want to work with Mr. Dacon more.

66
00:17:49.919 --> 00:18:07.039
Is that what it is? >> I'll talk about him on Tell Me and Flo. Okay. Yeah, I'm a bromance. Yeah. Yeah. Your bromance. But um as if the moderator allowed me to say something at the beginning of Town Me. I'm going to ask Mr. Dacon, just so you

67
00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:24.400
know. All right. So, moving on to liquor license extension hours. I had to put this on um because we had thankfully we only had one situation in town with an establishment and I don't think the establishment was still open

68
00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:39.840
after 2 a.m. But there was some parking lot activity and we had to have PD respond to that activity and they were on they claimed they were under the understanding that because of this I guess morally put something in and then leaves it up to the cities and towns to

69
00:18:39.840 --> 00:18:56.000
decide that bars and things of the like whatever you want to call them taverns can stay open till 3:00 a.m. That's a brilliant thought but no thank you. >> Um I don't think you know I I have a problem with 2 a.m. Right. I I don't think I always I always say this to people. Well, I don't think anything

70
00:18:56.000 --> 00:19:10.559
good happens after midnight. >> Yeah. >> So, for me, gentlemen, I I'm I'm a strong no on allowing our local establishments to stay open till 3:00 a.m. while this World Cup soccer thing goes on. But, um, what say you, Mr. England?

71
00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:24.559
>> Um, thanks, Mr. Chairman. Um, you know what, I understand it in big cities. I understand it when the priority transportation's cabs, Ubers, and stuff like that. Small towns like a Kushnet, most people are driving to these

72
00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:42.799
locations, and 3:00 a.m. is just adding what I would consider a possible dangerous situation. I I would vote against this in RP. >> Okay, Mr. Please. >> I I can barely make it up till 10:00. So

73
00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:58.640
I mean I uh that's because you can't stop at Right. >> Yeah. Right. The Yeah, I I I would be a no as well. I don't Nothing good like you said. Nothing. >> All right. So I I I need to do this officially so we can send the police

74
00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:14.320
chief over a notice and he can put that out. Um is there a motion not to allow um our local establishments to stay over till 3:00 a.m.? >> So moved. Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Mr. Line, can you send an email to the police chief um either right when we're

75
00:20:14.320 --> 00:20:28.559
done with this meeting or first thing in the morning >> so that he can let all staff know about the vote tonight >> so that they have something to enforce when they're showing up if if it was to happen again. The good news is, like I said, we only had one incident. It

76
00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:44.320
wasn't nothing major. But >> most of our local establishments are closed by like 11:00 >> that I've seen, you Well, the legal license goes to two. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I know. But I'm I'm saying they shut down because nobody's there, you know? >> Right. >> All right.

77
00:20:44.320 --> 00:21:03.440
>> So, next we do have some uh uh requests for vacation. I think I So, the first one I have is from Mr. Tibbles from the golf course.

78
00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:20.960
Um he's looking for a to buy it back. Gentlemen, this is a golf enterprise fund. U Mr. Tibbles did go out for a surgery and he used sick time. He he he has five weeks left on the books. He's

79
00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:37.280
only asking for one week to buy it. I I don't have a significant problem from this cuz it's not from taxation. It's from the Gulf Enterprise Fund. >> So, Mr. Chairman. >> Yes, sir. I mean, the fact of the matter is, too, this isn't the time of year where

80
00:21:37.280 --> 00:21:53.039
somebody who maintains a golf course should be taking vacation. And I think Steve feels the same way. And I have no problem with this. I'd make a motion to allow Mr. Tibbles to buy back >> one week. >> One week of vacation. One week or five days according to this? >> Yeah, five days of vacation time.

81
00:21:53.039 --> 00:22:08.400
>> I'll second that. All those in favor? >> All right. The next one we have here um is from the police chief and um you know again it's this is it's for two vacation

82
00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:24.640
days. No fault of the police chiefs. I mean he he was dealing with the assessment center being provisional police chief responsibilities and then onboarding as onboarded boarding as the permanent chief. Um it's only two days.

83
00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:44.320
I have I have no issues again with with the police chief's request. >> Motion to approve Chief Copa's request for two vacation days. Buyback. >> Uh second. >> All those in favor? >> I.

84
00:22:44.320 --> 00:23:00.799
>> So next we got a the fire chief. Two days isn't too bad. We got a 37hour request for vacation. The problem is we're already

85
00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:18.720
facing deficits. 2 days wasn't too bad of a deal. It's pretty much a week's worth of pay here. 3 hours short of a week. I don't know what the privilege of the board would be here. Um,

86
00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:33.280
usually if we if we make the request for a carryover, we specify it's got to be used by August 1st instead of a buyout. I don't know what kind of funds we have available with the massive deficit that we have in overtime line items

87
00:23:33.280 --> 00:23:51.440
in police and fire already, plus the snow deficit. It's almost 300,000. If I remember that number correctly, it's over that. Mr. Kelly's playing his finger in the air right now. So, we're scraping nickels, >> nickels, dimes, quarters, pennies.

88
00:23:51.440 --> 00:24:07.840
>> That's the problem is I I don't I don't know if the funding's there to do a buyback for 37 hours. That's the tricky part. >> Yeah, Mr. Chairman. >> Yes, sir. I did bring this up to Chief

89
00:24:07.840 --> 00:24:26.240
Ireland and he he did have a pretty demanding schedule in terms of coverage which is why it was hard for him to take vacation time. Um but I would defer to the actual budget if it is even possible. Um I do appreciate the fact

90
00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:41.440
that originally he ended up adding a couple more days to reduce that number to 37 um by taking some extra vacation days. >> Mhm. But I would question the actual funding from that budget as well.

91
00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:57.279
>> I mean, it's there's still like 10 days left in the month. I burning up some hours at, you know, half a day here, half a day there. It's not that difficult. But I mean, I be I mean, I know we just let the police chief, he's

92
00:24:57.279 --> 00:25:14.000
he's got legitimate re rationale behind his two days. I I think the fire chief um based on what you just said, Mr. Hankley, we we know what we've been through with him. Um and we were down a position the whole year in the last two years.

93
00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:28.960
technically no fault of anyone's um due to a 111F case but >> um I I don't think we we would be cutting ourselves too tight if we you know give them two days

94
00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:45.919
buyback and if he can't burn up the remaining hours let them carry it over into the new year but it has to be burned by August 1st give them 30 days to burn it's not that difficult >> so we can we can split it we'll buy back 2 days,

95
00:25:45.919 --> 00:26:02.400
16 hours. >> Yeah, I'm okay with that. >> And then he's going to burn up the other 21. I mean, I don't think 21 hours in 10 days left would be difficult to do. You could take 3 hours off a day and and get that done pretty quick. Or you could take 4 hours or and and we just gave

96
00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:17.440
them the option. We're giving them plenty of flexibility. Try to do your best to burn off the remaining 21, right? And if you can't, you will allow up to August 1st to burn off those 21 hours. It's pretty easy at that point. >> Yeah. >> So, um, we did give the police chief two

97
00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:34.880
days of buy. So, we all lot the same two days. I think we're being pretty fair. >> Yeah, I agree. >> What do you think? >> Makes sense. >> Good to go. >> Good to go. >> Is there a motion to allow to buy back two 16 hours for the fire chief? He's either able to

98
00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:49.440
carry over 21 hours and burn it by August 1st or do his best to burn as much as he can of whatever's remaining on the books burned by August 1st. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Mr. Line, did you get that?

99
00:26:49.440 --> 00:27:07.279
>> Can you send a response to Chief Copper, Mr. Tibbles, um, and the fire chief on what we just did? >> We'll do that, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, sir. >> And also notify the finance. Yeah. Um, you know, obviously New

100
00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:23.760
Tipples comes out of Golf Enterprise, so it's not a cost of taxation. So, we're not trying to cover that from the same money, >> but we're splitting hands here for, you know, few hundred bucks either way from the two days, you know, whatever it comes out to 600 bucks of fees.

101
00:27:23.760 --> 00:27:39.760
>> Yes, sir. If I may, I also want to recognize, you know, because the board did encourage folks to use their vacation time and quite frankly, pretty much almost everybody in the organization used their vacation time. So, they did follow that directive for the most part besides the extenduating circumstances.

102
00:27:39.760 --> 00:27:54.880
>> Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. >> And I think the board was very fair um regarding this. So, I do want to commend the employees that did use the vacation time as well. >> I I agree 100%. And we'll do a better job of reviewing. I talked to you about that, you know, on a quarterly basis

103
00:27:54.880 --> 00:28:11.760
that we'll be looking at that, making sure our employees are using it up so we don't end up in this situation. >> Yeah, Mr. chair and just to kind of echo on that point. I think it's you know a lot of employees don't see that the hardship sometimes from our eyes and you

104
00:28:11.760 --> 00:28:26.480
know working with us and really opening that dialogue with everybody and understanding that we're in a we we had a really rough budget year this year and any help that they could give us was appreciated 100%. >> Yeah. Like Mr. Lamontine said for the

105
00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:42.799
employees that actually um heard the meeting and listened to Mr. L montaine and and they did burn up their time. So kudos to all of them and I and I appreciate that effort. Um it's just it's just something that you should be doing. You know, it's irrelevant, right? Unless

106
00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:58.240
unless the office is, you know, being manned by one person, it's a little bit different um circumstances, but it's uh not a good practice to get into it. The way we always talked about it, Mr. ink is if you got four or five weeks vacation and you can't use it up and

107
00:28:58.240 --> 00:29:14.960
then we do the carryover thing and now you got 6 weeks vacation you couldn't do it the year before how you going to do it now it's six right so that's why we don't encourage that and you know buying back depending on who it may be it's pensionable >> yep >> towards the end of their tenure so um

108
00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:31.200
you know it's a springboard all right so the next thing we do have is an ambulance built abatement the chief goes on. It says, "We have received the communication from Comstar. That's our billing service for the ambulance uh billing service attached.

109
00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:46.080
For the communication, there is one hardship request for the MS bill of the request is to abate a bill in the amount of $375. The hardship form um included meets all the criteria within the department of the town policy. So, I would just need I would Is there a

110
00:29:46.080 --> 00:30:04.480
motion to obey invoice number 26-10743 in the amount of $375?" So, move >> second. >> All those in favor? All right. Thank you, gentlemen. All right. Number eight. That's an easy one. So, number eight, I

111
00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:20.559
just put Handling Street Paving on it. There's no backup information. This is the one I just talked to our state reps about. I'll get it out of my head. Put it in both of your heads. Just wait there in case I forget. You guys can keep reminding Mr. Lamonte. We need to act on this now. Um, when Mr. Manard

112
00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:35.520
comes back. I think he's not due back until the 5th or 6th of July. Um, so when he comes back, we'll have a conversation with him about putting Mr. La Montine had and I had a a good conversation about different ways that

113
00:30:35.520 --> 00:30:51.360
we could do putting out bids. And I've had conversations with PJK when I was negotiating that host community agreement with them and they asked me, "Why don't you ever just do it as like a bulk number?" Mr. Lontaine's already familiar with that process. He's done it in the other towns that he's worked in. So, I'm like, it's funny you mentioned

114
00:30:51.360 --> 00:31:06.960
that that we should have that conversation with Dan because when you do that, you put it out to bid, the price is the price. Yeah. >> And you kind of like you have that lock in period for the year or 2 years or 3 years, whatever you put it out to bid for. You can do I would assume, Mr. L, you could do a 2 year or three year,

115
00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:22.640
whatever you want to do. Um, but the the pavement companies when they bid stuff like that, they like it because it's a better guarantee and they have stability of work. Yeah, >> they're not constantly in and you know the what's that little register that's called? The >> central register. >> Central register when they're looking up

116
00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:37.679
bids and all that. They don't have to do that. They already know a town of a cushioner has $500,000 a year. They're going to look at it. They don't we don't have to put any roads. They just come in. They say, you know, for $500,000 a year, we'll pay, you know, a mile of road because that's about all you get

117
00:31:37.679 --> 00:31:54.080
now. The $500,000 unfortunately. Um, and we'll do a mile a year at this rate, you know, price per ton and all that stuff. Um, and the same thing for the the service that we use, which Hamilton Street will be a complete reclamation of the road cuz it's just a disaster and

118
00:31:54.080 --> 00:32:11.120
it's been a disaster for for god decades now >> since it was repaved >> originally, whatever that was. >> And you had to drive up to get onto it. >> I mean, I can't even remember it. Pauline Terara from the historical society still here. We were joking earlier in the day about me being a

119
00:32:11.120 --> 00:32:27.440
paper boy when I was 12 years old. And that's a true story. But I don't think I've seen Hamlin Street paved since I was 12 years old. >> So >> I was 12 last time it was actually done, but it was an overlay. And that's why when you turn onto Middle Road, you're going up a hill to go down the road.

120
00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:42.240
It's just like hitting a brick wall. >> Yeah. So it's going to be like a total reclamation. So we've been we've always had very good success with a company called Murray. They're the ones that do the reclaiming. Um the town of McIn's got a strong relationship with that company. They do a great job with

121
00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:59.120
reclaiming um the road and then we go in and put a brand new base 3 in and then we'll come back later and put the inch and a half top coat. It's the right way to do the road. Um I'm sure that we're going to mill the bridge even though the bridge was just done by the state. You can see it's kind of I discussed that

122
00:32:59.120 --> 00:33:14.080
with the state with the engineers that were there when the build the bridge was being built. I had the conversation. I said, "Why on God's green earth would you put base?" And they immediately put top coat. >> Um, and they said, "That's what the state's saying. As long as the temperatures meet this requirement, we're coming back in and we're doing top

123
00:33:14.080 --> 00:33:30.720
coat." And you can see it when you drive down the road. You can see the road's already done a little bit. >> So, if we're going to do that road, a brand new road with new base and all of that stuff, total reclamation, I'm going to advise Mr. Manard that we should mill over the bridge, put the base down so

124
00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:46.320
everything meets at the base coat now again. and then we'll put the final top coat on the whole road. >> I think that's a great idea. You know, right now you have two transitions. You have a beautiful bridge and then you have two roads that essentially I'm just going to call them a dirt road at this

125
00:33:46.320 --> 00:34:01.360
point because it's it's not a fun road to drive on. >> I'd much rather have a nice seamless road now that that bridge is done. And to just kind of backfill some of this conversation for anybody that might be paying attention at home. Um, this town's been getting a ton of grief on

126
00:34:01.360 --> 00:34:18.639
Hamlin Street for years, and I've been pretty clear at the reasoning why Hamlin's taken a little while to get done. And we had some drainage issues that Dan since fixed. Um, the state was responsible for the entire bridge project. And I had to

127
00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:35.480
explain to people that we can't go in and do drainage work if the states got open permits working on a bridge with all different divisions of mass wildlife da um what's the one that protects the turtles

128
00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:51.359
>> natural heritage like every single organization was involved in that. So, it was smarter for us to just stay away until the state was done with it. And then Dan came right out, did some drainage works, fixed some of the >> fixtures and stuff like that. So,

129
00:34:51.359 --> 00:35:08.160
>> I've been telling the town for a good two years that handling will get done. >> And we already told Dan we're doing handling. So, >> Oh, yeah. >> We're going to get it taken care of. And, you know, getting an extra $150,000 from the state was a big help, too. So, >> yeah. Yep. For sure. I mean, it's I

130
00:35:08.160 --> 00:35:23.839
don't know. I'll guess that road's going to be 600 to 700,000 to do that road. I did have a conversation with Dan and it's kind of tricky. Hamlin Street's a really tricky road because when you go down the road, the poles are on one side. >> Yep.

131
00:35:23.839 --> 00:35:40.640
>> You get just past Mr. Exer's house and the poles shift across the street and they jump on the other side of the road. But I did have a conversation with Dian and and the bridge is a little bit wider now than the road is. It was kind of done intentionally that way. We specifically told Mass D we'd like to see the bridge

132
00:35:40.640 --> 00:35:56.000
widening a little bit. >> They they did do it. Um it's better than what it was. I don't know if we're going to be able to match the exact width of the bridge, but I did have a conversation with Mr. that, you know, it's going to get a little funky because of the way the poles are done, but I would like to try

133
00:35:56.000 --> 00:36:12.160
to get the road, you know, nothing less than a little foot wider because it is it is a tight road. >> Um, and if this, you know, I see kids all the time, um, middle road to Main Street going to Pop, >> this kid's on bicycles and there's traffic coming both ways. It's just it's

134
00:36:12.160 --> 00:36:27.440
a safety issue. So, >> just what they did with that bridge was a big deal. Even though it's not much wider, it's wide enough now where you don't have to squeeze the steering wheel every time the car is coming the other way and Lincoln hopes the best. So that's what I'm we can gain a foot,

135
00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:43.359
>> you know, 18 in, whatever we can, we'll figure it out. I know when Dian did this storm basin going down from middle road. I had a conversation with him and I said, "Don't forget, we're going to pave the road. We're going to try to widen the road. So opposite the storm basins,

136
00:36:43.359 --> 00:36:59.359
opposite of the poles from middle road down. I said, "So if we could put the storm basins in a little further, be a little proactive here. When we widen the road, the basins will be in the perfect location." He was like, "Check." >> Yep. >> So if that's why you notice they kind of the storm water basins are joged off a

137
00:36:59.359 --> 00:37:15.119
little bit. When the road's done, they won't be. And it'll be a little bit cleaner, too, with a mailman. I mean, the mailman's driving up on the >> to put mail in the mailboxes and it's like 2 and 1/2 ft, 3 feet in the mud. Yep. >> Uh it's just it's so we kind of figured everything out and we might have some

138
00:37:15.119 --> 00:37:30.800
people's mailboxes we we need to move. That's not a big deal. >> Yeah. >> Um so hopefully when the road's done, I'd like to get the road. That's why I wanted to talk about it now. We'll bring Dan in as soon as he comes back from vacation to get the bid specs out, get going and working with Mr. Law to get it

139
00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:48.320
all out there. But I would like to pave reclaim September and pave October. >> That'd be great. I that's when that's ideal time to put pavement down. You don't want to do it when it's too hot because it keeps the asphalt too soft with big trucks going over it. Um you don't want to do it when

140
00:37:48.320 --> 00:38:05.520
it's too cold either, right? Cuz if the asphalt cools off too much from the plant getting to the site, >> correct? >> Um it is a spec that the asphalt has to be at a certain temperature when they drop it on the ground. >> So it's kind of like that perfect window September to late October. You're in that prime season to do asphalt work. So

141
00:38:05.520 --> 00:38:21.200
>> that's why it was important for me to get it on the agenda and I'm tired of Pauline calling me up. >> I'm just joking. She's never called me up about it, but she is here and she's she's happy about it. All right. Never no action needed on that. So some more

142
00:38:21.200 --> 00:38:37.520
good news. Um we did the Perry Hill Church. Um, we did get it on the national um historical the national register of historic places.

143
00:38:37.520 --> 00:38:53.200
>> Um, the town took over possession. Pauline, help me out with this. When did we take over possession? That was like 10 12 years ago. >> 12 years. >> Mr. Dac, >> was it? So,

144
00:38:53.200 --> 00:39:09.440
>> what are we 16? So, 11. So it had to have been like 13 or 14. >> Yeah. >> So it was around 2012 13 I think that era when we took over Perry old church and then we've done >> some work to Perry old church because the

145
00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:25.599
>> Mr. Dacon what's that thing at the top of the church there that where all the pigeons were going in and getting >> that was a massive hole in the roof. Uh >> what's that the bell >> bell bell tower? >> So we we did some work on that as Mr. Don said, but um I remember going in

146
00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:41.599
there with Mr. Dacon when he was on the board of selectment and it was >> he said, "You got to come take a look at this." And I don't know if I want to go take a look at that. And the door opened and it was just it was horrific. >> Um and there are some pictures inside here. Um they put together and I and I'll tell you,

147
00:39:41.599 --> 00:39:58.240
>> I remember the day that we opened up the door and all the pigeons and you know what else comes with a pigeon, right? >> Um it was just a disaster. and and we did we did invest some money into the church. Um but I think it was money well spent to preserve the building. Um this

148
00:39:58.240 --> 00:40:15.359
thing was built in 1851. I mean you you read through some of this stuff. I I was reading through it and it just it blows my mind. It gives you a whole history of you know even how the town of Ausha was broken off from Haven. I mean it's it's pretty cool stuff. if you I know the younger generation some

149
00:40:15.359 --> 00:40:31.839
people in the younger generation I was there at one point you know and I'm getting seasoned myself I'll use that word >> um and you you start to especially when you travel more um if anybody ever has the opportunity to go down to St. Augustine, Florida. It's absolutely stunning. Some of their historical

150
00:40:31.839 --> 00:40:48.240
properties. Um, it's beautiful. And, you know, it kind of gave me a different perspective on our historical properties and and the need to, >> you know, >> keep them restore them and keep them in good standing condition. Um, because once they're gone, they're gone.

151
00:40:48.240 --> 00:41:03.839
>> You know, that's that's the that's the real shame of it all. And I again, you know, I was there. You're younger and you don't really appreciate those kind of things. But um there there are a lot of people in the younger generation that do appreciate it. So I'm not trying to say all you folks, but I was guilty of

152
00:41:03.839 --> 00:41:19.280
it. And um it's just it's really incredible. So we were given a citation for Perry Hill Christian Church. Krishna Mass was accepted on May 11, 2026 for the inclusion in the National Register

153
00:41:19.280 --> 00:41:34.800
of Historical Places says the the National Register is the nation's official list of buildings, districts, sites, structures, and objects that retain their historical character and are important to our local, state, and national history. The National Register was established under the National

154
00:41:34.800 --> 00:41:52.000
Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and is administered in the Commonwealth by the Massachusetts Historical Commission and it's been signed by um Will William Galvin which is the chairman of Mass Historical Commission and I think her name is Bronna Simmon

155
00:41:52.000 --> 00:42:07.680
>> Brona. Brona Simon >> Brona >> Brona >> Brona Simon. >> Mhm. >> Um state historical preservation officer. So, um, Miss Pauline, I would like to present you with this citation on behalf of the town of the Krishna and

156
00:42:07.680 --> 00:42:24.160
the historical commission members. >> You're right. You're going to bring me back mine and I'm going to give you >> You're going to make me a cop? >> No, you can put it on the desk, sweetheart. I don't need it right now. >> We will get you a copy. >> I'll even give you the original. I'll keep I'll keep it. There you go. >> Thank you so much.

157
00:42:24.160 --> 00:42:41.680
>> Congratulations. Congrats. >> Thank you, Colleen. always appreciate the hard work and everything you do for our town. >> Thank you. >> She's got a big hat now that woman right there. >> Always has, always will. >> All for a commissioner, >> Mr. Chairman.

158
00:42:41.680 --> 00:42:56.880
>> Yes, sir. >> We will also have to speak at some point. I believe they've already been getting donations on a donation account. >> Okay. So, we can follow up on that. So if they're getting donations, the only one that can accept gifts or donations

159
00:42:56.880 --> 00:43:11.760
are the board of select. >> So that'll come that would have to she would have to just give us whoever's doing it. And there's got to be a like if it's in a gift fund, the the intent of the money needs to be expressed from that individual donating the money. Um

160
00:43:11.760 --> 00:43:27.119
if they say we don't care just for historical purposes, that's fine as well. But normally they would say, you know, I want to donate $500 to the Pererry Hill Church, $500 to the Long Bling Museum. That $500 can only be spent on the Pererry Hill Church in the

161
00:43:27.119 --> 00:43:44.160
Long Plane Museum. Nothing else. You can't take that money and be spending in the general fund for any other purposes. That donation's made specifically for historical preservation purposes. It's got to be spent on historical preservation purposes. >> Um, I just went through this with council over some donations somebody

162
00:43:44.160 --> 00:44:00.720
wants to do for the schools. I believe I attached you to that email so you'll be familiar with that as well. So, anybody wants to donate money, um, we can accept it. It's just got to come through the board of selectman and then we'll send it off to we'll put it in an

163
00:44:00.720 --> 00:44:18.880
account and and then it can be expended from there. >> Mhm. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. All right. Discussions. Year and transfers. We have a small update. It's a long one. Oh, we got Yeah. discussion

164
00:44:18.880 --> 00:44:35.920
here on transition and something prepared the board. >> Yep. Yep. It's just a quick quick uh Jamie was pointing his finger in the air and maybe this number is wrong 290, but

165
00:44:35.920 --> 00:44:52.240
I know it was somewhere around 300. >> 323. >> It's actually higher than that because I asked I included Mr. German after that because we have other deficits that's just a snow and ice deficit. So, >> oh because of the overtime and things of the emergency when we called in people. >> So, it's closer.

166
00:44:52.240 --> 00:45:08.079
>> So, there you go. It goes along with Mr. Kelly's number. We're probably eye 330. >> Has that number been reduced by the state has there been any >> So, that'll come later and that's only if we get reimbursement from MIMA. >> I thought I saw something online from

167
00:45:08.079 --> 00:45:25.839
Mr. Sylvia about snow and snow and ice. Well, then you better take a picture of that. Make sure we hold them accountable for that money. That was what we taught. We wanted a happy moment. >> I saw it. >> I had a lot to say to our rap spot. >> I saw it today. So, I I'll pass that along to

168
00:45:25.839 --> 00:45:42.240
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. That usually Jamie, Mr. Kelly, you we've Have we done I don't think we've had any major storms when you were when you were here in the last three and a half, four years. We we had a couple uh MEMA things, but they they can take up

169
00:45:42.240 --> 00:45:59.680
to nine months, right? >> Usually comes the following year reimbursements. >> They did put money in the supplement. The legislature put money in the supplemental budget, which I think is what Mr. Rosendez is talking about for

170
00:45:59.680 --> 00:46:16.160
uh the communities impacted by the blizzard, especially down here. So, >> once they get all that through and it goes through ANF, that could be a source, but we're still going to have to close the books,

171
00:46:16.160 --> 00:46:32.319
>> right? >> So, what the the number is 156971 that that's online. Just saying for the Kusha. >> Yeah. Well, it's not bad. It's a little less than 50%. But what what what I think the moral of the

172
00:46:32.319 --> 00:46:48.400
story is is when when we get that money, it'll be into the new fiscal year. >> That'll roll into free cash, >> right? >> Correct. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Okay. There you go. So, that's that. It's just a brief update. Mr. Lontaine will be working with Jamie Lynn

173
00:46:48.400 --> 00:47:05.520
Velasquez and Mr. Kelly, I'm sure, to pull some all this numbers together. And we'll have to do all the inter departmental transfers at our next meeting because we technically have to close out by July 15th, the prior fiscal year. Yep. >> Correct.

174
00:47:05.520 --> 00:47:21.839
>> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Thank you, boss. All right. Um, finance committee resignation. Um, so Mr. Eric Chu writes, "Please accept my letter of resignation from the finance

175
00:47:21.839 --> 00:47:37.520
committee effective June 30th, 2026. While I've enjoyed my time serving the town of Ausha, is time for me to move forward and allow for a new member with fresh ideas and perspectives to contribute to our town stability and financial well-being. I just want to

176
00:47:37.520 --> 00:47:53.839
thank Mr. Eric Chu for his time and service and commitment to the taxpayers of Aushnit. Um, thank you Eric. You did a great job on the Fincom. appreciate your time and service and commitment to all of us um to our employees to the board of select band and most importantly to the taxpayers of a

177
00:47:53.839 --> 00:48:10.480
Kushner. So thank you very much for your service. Gentlemen, anything to say? >> Agreed. Thank you Eric. Those I watch all the finance committee meetings and he's done a good job over the years. So thank you for your time. >> Mr. Chairman, if I may. Um Eric, you know how I feel about you. We've had a

178
00:48:10.480 --> 00:48:26.160
lot of good conversations. You dedicated quite a lot of time to the town of Aos between working for EMA, working for the Fincom, and showing up whenever needed. So, I appreciate everything you've done for this town and uh your years of

179
00:48:26.160 --> 00:48:41.440
service on the fincom and hopefully continue with EMA. I know you're moving, but being a volunteer, >> uh we'll still see you around town. >> Absolutely. >> Is there a motion to accept his resignation with regret? >> Motion. >> Second.

180
00:48:41.440 --> 00:48:58.319
>> All those in favor? All right. Okay. The um I did put on the agenda discussion old colony revote um maybe try to get a little bit of ahead of whatever the next situation's going

181
00:48:58.319 --> 00:49:14.559
to be. But um to town meeting taxpayers um overwhelmingly shot down a revote on the second goound as they did in the first time. Actually, I think it was shot down a little bit harder in the

182
00:49:14.559 --> 00:49:32.000
second go around from Mushnet. All towns did not pass other than Mata Poison. It passed it by like 300 votes. I think it was better yes than what it was in A's. Um, with that said, it kind of left me

183
00:49:32.000 --> 00:49:47.200
thinking, you know, what's next? Because we we I've had conversations with the regional school committee. Um, and you know, and Mr. Inkley, you were on the board. I know Mr. Rosenes, you watched all those meetings as well. Um, preparing yourself

184
00:49:47.200 --> 00:50:03.040
for the, you know, a run for the board of select. Um, we all know about the talk about repairs and, you know, that whole campaign was the last one. The revote was, you know, why are we spending this much money on, uh, you know,

185
00:50:03.040 --> 00:50:17.920
fixing things when we can get this and the rest of it's reimbured by MSBA, da da da. But it was the operational budget, you know, adding the extra students and all the extra staff and things of the like. So, you know, I've been pretty close to Old Colony. I was a

186
00:50:17.920 --> 00:50:35.280
graduate of Old Colony, and it it kind of kind of made me start thinking of being a little bit more concerned about what they may try to invoke next. And I think that's something that I

187
00:50:35.280 --> 00:50:51.200
think I believe we owe it to ourselves, to our taxpayers, and to the school um to have an open dialogue with all parties that are involved. Meaning I'd like to extend an olive

188
00:50:51.200 --> 00:51:08.960
branch to the boards of select men in Ka Rochester Lakeville and Matapo it um to come to a cushion it have a joint meeting with the board of selectment members in all commute modernization um we can talk about it till we're blue in

189
00:51:08.960 --> 00:51:25.599
the face um you know it's a twothirds majority um by the statute in the regional agreement I think we owe it to ourselves to start with the board of selectman um extend that all a branch through Mr. Montaigne, he can send something to all

190
00:51:25.599 --> 00:51:41.119
four other member towns saying that we've had this meeting if if I'm okay if they want to put this on and watch it and see what's going on right now and come to the town of Aushna and we'll start some dialogue with these member towns on what what what is the action? Is is it going to be are we going to

191
00:51:41.119 --> 00:51:56.160
look at repairs? Are we going to look at a new school that doesn't have the additional students and and try to figure out, you know, a funding source to complement a new school, whether it be MSBA or any other kind of funding

192
00:51:56.160 --> 00:52:12.720
that we can come up with? Um, or we just going to do the status quo and sink tens of millions of dollars into repairs. I'm a little concerned about that. Um, but I'm only one man, so I would like to, you know, get the input from the board if you think it's a good idea to extend

193
00:52:12.720 --> 00:52:29.040
that all branch out to these member communities. I think it's a good idea to get some dialogue going with these guys and, you know, try to figure out what the appetite is, have that dialogue. I'm I'm even open to like we'll host the first meeting. Seeing how it's our idea,

194
00:52:29.040 --> 00:52:44.640
we'll we'll host the first meeting, joint meeting, and quite honestly, I'll go to any any community um of the four member towns and have a dialogue with their residents and and them in their own turf. It doesn't really matter to me what how we do it. Um but I do think

195
00:52:44.640 --> 00:53:00.720
that we need to put some thought into this instead of, you know, we don't want irrational decisions dictating how we're going to be moving forward. I think we need to work together to try to figure out what that solution is going to be because a school does need some things.

196
00:53:00.720 --> 00:53:15.440
>> Y >> what are those things and and how would we be looking at those things and trying to put price tags on them and all that stuff or do we just try to go back to ground zero? And I've heard this from a lot of residents. It's like why would you do the same vote over? Why wouldn't

197
00:53:15.440 --> 00:53:30.319
you have options like this is this is this and if we if we don't we're going to go with this. And I said, "It's because of MSBA." Yeah. You know, they were kind of stringent. You know, they're trying to dictate if you're going to do this and you're going to get 50 or 60% reimbursement, it really'll be

198
00:53:30.319 --> 00:53:47.200
down at 50 52 be number. Trust me, I doubt the local schools. Um, it wasn't the exact percentage they gave us on that one either. Um, of course, it's less, but what what is that going to look like? And and can we have a conversation again while bringing back our state reps? I want to see if there's

199
00:53:47.200 --> 00:54:03.200
an appetite. Look, I'll I'll say this right now for them to watch this. If they don't want to come and have a joint meeting, so be it. >> Then we'll we'll we'll take the lead and we'll have a conversation on how we want to progress with this conversation because we can't let this just die cuz

200
00:54:03.200 --> 00:54:19.599
it's not going to just die. >> There's there's a dialogue to be had and we need to open that dialogue as fast as we can. I mean, we're in the summer months, that's fine. We're getting over town meeting. Great. Once we put that behind us, I I think it's a perfect opportunity. We We should be taking life

201
00:54:19.599 --> 00:54:35.040
a little easier through the summer months. We don't have to be here beating ourselves up with select men's agendas. It's a summer. We should have some time. But if we can maybe spur that conversation and have one of our meetings here and then continue some into the fall if we do them in other communities or we just stay doing them

202
00:54:35.040 --> 00:54:51.680
in a cushion. I don't know. Mr. Montine will if the board so chooses to extend that all branch out and and propose this idea to the other four amendment timeines and see what they have to say about it if they're okay with you know having this discussion I I I think you would be foolish not to want to have

203
00:54:51.680 --> 00:55:07.839
that discussion >> um because the last thing you want is somebody saying hey you know we're going out borrowing 10 million bucks and we're just going to do this and the next thing you know something else happens and hey we're not done with that we need another 10 million bucks that you could be just as as they were campaign

204
00:55:07.839 --> 00:55:22.400
slamming good money off the bad and and that's not a good choice for taxpayers whether it's a Kushner Lakeville Caba Rochester or Ma poison it I don't know any taxpayer that wants to waste their tax dollars correct >> period especially how the vote went down on the cushion

205
00:55:22.400 --> 00:55:40.640
>> so I think we owe it to our taxpayers to get out in front of this before something comes to us that we're dealing with this all over again >> yep >> I I don't think that's the best option so Mr. I'll let you go. You're the vice chair. >> I uh I completely agree. I think jumping

206
00:55:40.640 --> 00:55:56.880
in with every member community. I know it's tough because there's elected school committee and then there's representative to building committees and there's a lot of information provided that maybe not all of it got provided in the initial goaround. More

207
00:55:56.880 --> 00:56:12.400
information comes to light where we couldn't really have a big say in a good part of it. And I think we'll have an opportunity to do that if we work well with each member of town. We can sit down and we can be very collaborative and we can do whatever needs to be done

208
00:56:12.400 --> 00:56:29.599
the right way that both protects the taxpayers but also give some benefit to the students. And I I I think it's important. I mean, being five member towns, we collaborate here and there, but I also think it's a good thing overall to be more involved with our

209
00:56:29.599 --> 00:56:45.680
neighboring towns that we share a school with. >> Absolutely. >> Just in general. >> I think the same dialogue should be happening with the budget process. >> Agreed. >> You know, I don't I don't know why we've never done that. um some years it's this town that gets slammed and you know

210
00:56:45.680 --> 00:57:01.040
we're finding a little relief because we have less students going and this you know it's tit for tat but I think in reality it wouldn't hurt to have that dialogue and have relationships with these other member towns to be able to talk things through you know in the

211
00:57:01.040 --> 00:57:17.680
budget season as well but I I think for right now we need to have a conversation about school >> yeah I I agree um I mean We I got a lot of things to say about it, but I I'll just kind of sum it up. You

212
00:57:17.680 --> 00:57:36.079
know, it was presented to us as either you get a new school or we're spending all this money on repairs. I don't think that needs to be the case. And I think having that dialogue is going to help all the meat towns. Um it's

213
00:57:36.079 --> 00:57:52.799
it's concerning that you know now all of a sudden like emergency repair you know you hear the way the campaign was run it was emergency repairs immediately like after that's what everybody's looking at right now and I don't I don't know if that's really the case is I

214
00:57:52.799 --> 00:58:09.280
>> I'm not sure. Um, but I think working with the towns and and again like you said, I think the budget process as well. I mean, >> I think that's important and we need to have that dialogue with the uh with the other member towns, you know. >> Yeah. >> And we can we'll be able to forecast,

215
00:58:09.280 --> 00:58:24.960
you know, enrollment and all that and what to expect in the process as well. >> One year we might need somebody's help, the next year somebody might need our help. That's all it's all about is just is just opening up a conversation like

216
00:58:24.960 --> 00:58:41.599
adults and talking things through and trying to get to the best, you know, outcome that we can based on, you know, for our taxpayers. It's really what this comes down to. >> Um, we can't just let things get out of control. And, you know, I know the regional school committee, um, they're

217
00:58:41.599 --> 00:58:57.119
very dedicated. They were very dedicated to this project. And I know that the building committee is very dedicated to this project. And I commend them all for their dedication to the project. It was just not obviously something that other people

218
00:58:57.119 --> 00:59:11.839
um could agree with you. It was it was a huge number. Um and it wasn't just a debt number. I think we've talked about this in past meetings with them and I talked about it on before the first vote. Think about the operational override because that's what it is. It's

219
00:59:11.839 --> 00:59:26.880
an automatic force operational override. Period. There's no ifs, and buts about it. There's nobody that's exorbing that. >> Nobody is exorbitant that. Nobody has that money kind of money floating around. We seen what we just went through this year. It would be devastating. So, it is what it is. The

220
00:59:26.880 --> 00:59:43.680
vote was rejected. It's over. Um, as far as I'm concerned, it's over. I think they put out a statement saying it's over. Um, but I I do, you know, I think we have an obligation to extend an olive branch, get that going to let at least the regional school committee know that,

221
00:59:43.680 --> 01:00:00.799
you know, we do care. You know, we we're willing to work um towards a solution. I don't know what what that is, but I don't I wouldn't appreciate just coming. It wasn't saying we're doing $5 million and this is what we're doing. Shut up and have a nice day. That is not the way to do something, right? And I we know we

222
01:00:00.799 --> 01:00:16.799
were in there and we were at a meeting and they were talking about fire suppression and they don't have they don't even have a hund cuz they well water there right and they were talking about running the pipe from the main I forgot the name of the road that's a little bit further down the road over there when it splits off this way

223
01:00:16.799 --> 01:00:33.040
running through the fields you know and I said that that's a simple solution you could have been asking for that 10 years ago we all have DPW staff we could go trench that hole in the summer months we'll stay out fields as best we can. We'll connect to that pipe and we'll run

224
01:00:33.040 --> 01:00:49.839
that pipe down and put in a couple of hydrants and run you some infrastructure and piece of cake. >> Yep. >> You know, that's that's you don't go out and have that contracted out, it'll cost you, you know, a million dollars. But if the towns pull their resources together, you probably get it done for a couple hundred grand. Okay,

225
01:00:49.839 --> 01:01:06.720
>> just like that. I just saved $800,000. But th that's the kind of effort that we need to be approaching the other member towns with is let's figure out solutions to whatever the problems are as best we can, right? And I think if you have enough people in the room that have a financial interest in it, I I'm pretty

226
01:01:06.720 --> 01:01:21.440
sure we can come up with some really cool outcomes. >> You know, I and I would say the first thing right off the rip, if you don't have fire suppression in that building, cuz they talked about the ceilings, the rooftops don't handle all of that stuff, blah blah blah blah blah. Well, the next best thing we could do is get that

227
01:01:21.440 --> 01:01:37.040
service, that water mane in there with a couple of hydrants located on it. So, at least if the fire department gets there, they have something to hook up to. >> Yep. >> And it's not just trying to be put out with a tanker truck. >> Correct. >> And I don't see this as a permanent fix. I I I would like to see another proposal

228
01:01:37.040 --> 01:01:51.760
for a school not expanding and not, >> you know, the I know they're pushing the green initiative and all that stuff, but I don't know if that's really necessary because it's just a drop in the barrel if you have one school in the state that

229
01:01:51.760 --> 01:02:08.720
has all this technology. It's not having the desired effect. And I hate being forcefed stuff that I don't want to eat. You know what I mean? >> Yeah. No, of course. Of course. But all right. Yeah, I agree. >> We'll have Mr. Lontaine. Well, before you send that letter out, could you at

230
01:02:08.720 --> 01:02:23.920
least draft something up and have the members of the board, you know, take a look at it, make sure that we're we're legit with it, and we can forward that off. Um, we can even send one to the regional school committee letting them know that this is something

231
01:02:23.920 --> 01:02:38.240
that we're discussing and we've sent an invite to member challenge to have a conversation about what needs what the next steps would be. I don't want to leave that all on them. So,

232
01:02:38.240 --> 01:02:55.280
all right, that's that. And we do have on old business. I just left it there. Mr. Lamontine didn't know if Mr. Kelly or I was going to want to speak about anything on the upcoming annual town meeting, operating budget, and warrants.

233
01:02:55.280 --> 01:03:10.319
I don't really have too much to say other than the amount of work that we went through to solve the town's budget deficit, get a larger aotment of funds to our local schools. Um, I hope nobody decides to try to show

234
01:03:10.319 --> 01:03:27.280
up at town meeting and play a dumb game and and hurt the taxpayers of Mushnet um by trying to transfer funds from anywhere else other than where they already been allocated to because I think we've all done a good job of working together. um to get everybody a respectful amount of money. So, I hope

235
01:03:27.280 --> 01:03:44.000
that that's not the case. Um on town meeting floor, we usually have a very respectful town meeting. Um thanks to our moderator, Mr. Les Dacon. He was gracious enough to accept the write in for moderator and do a one more town

236
01:03:44.000 --> 01:03:59.680
meeting. Who knows, we might be asking them again, but um that's a joke. Well, maybe not. But anyways, that's all I have. Mr. Kelly, you got anything on budgets, Warren articles, nothing going on there?

237
01:03:59.680 --> 01:04:14.720
>> Mr. Wendy's, you got anything? Mr. Engley, you got anything? >> Uh, I will make mention, uh, Mr. Gasper, and I've said this before and I'm going to keep saying it. Um, what you, Mr. Kelly, Jamie Lynn, pulled off in the last couple of months in terms of the

238
01:04:14.720 --> 01:04:31.520
budget and working with an as well. uh was extremely difficult and to watch you go through that and pull it off is absolutely quite amazing. So, thank you. >> Um I'm going to keep commending you for

239
01:04:31.520 --> 01:04:46.880
it. If you could solve a problem, if everybody could solve the problem like you pulled off this year, I think we'd all be better off for it. Um and it's appreciated. >> I don't know if you hear it enough, but it's very much. >> Now, we never do though, you know,

240
01:04:46.880 --> 01:05:03.680
>> right? um the amount of time you just spend on social media, you know, I'm like I'm like I don't even know how the guy does that. >> I know he's I know but he's >> he's already said I'm not Bob >> July second you know

241
01:05:03.680 --> 01:05:18.799
>> I have people that feed me information that's going on on social media. Trust me. Um and it's just hilarious with some of the stuff they come like oh boy you see Ryan. I'm like good for them. >> Yep. >> Selectman's announcements. Mr. the resendes. I'll go to you first.

242
01:05:18.799 --> 01:05:35.520
>> Um I'll just continue with the July 11th uh river cleanup. >> Nice. >> Ah, >> I'm going to keep >> Where's Where's the Hamlin Street? >> The Hamlin Street. Yeah, >> that's the meet up. >> Okay. >> But I will I'll I'll get when it gets closer, I'll uh >> launch it on Facebook.

243
01:05:35.520 --> 01:05:53.039
>> More more details. >> I don't know when our next meeting is going to be. >> July 8th, I believe. >> Yeah, I figured we have one more. >> July 8th. It's nice of you. I'll take that. >> I mean, it's your call, but we'll figure it out. We'll see what

244
01:05:53.039 --> 01:06:09.520
we'll see what we need to do. Uh, Mr. Inkley, anything on the selectman's announcements? >> I do, Mr. Chair. Um, I was asked by the fire chief just to remind everybody that this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. um, they will be holding a fire apparatus

245
01:06:09.520 --> 01:06:25.440
blessing and pushing ceremony. Uh it's quite an old practice dating back to the horsedrawn fire carriages that has continued throughout fire stations and um >> the team over there is bringing it back. So they're going to do a uh a showcase

246
01:06:25.440 --> 01:06:40.640
and a blessing for the tanker one engine two and rescue one all the new vehicles that we've sourced from them over the last couple of years. >> Is there a rain day? >> Nope. >> Okay. >> I think rain helps bless things anyway.

247
01:06:40.640 --> 01:06:56.960
So, I'll push them in. >> Okay. >> 10:00 a.m. All invited to the fire station. >> I'll be there. I'll bring the boys. >> Bring your boots. >> Yep. >> The boots. Um, so every year, this time of year, not that everybody out there

248
01:06:56.960 --> 01:07:12.559
listens. Um, right before Fourth of July, I try to send a friendly reminder to everybody in the town of Aushnet, that we do have a lot of military veterans in the town of Aushnet. that suffer from PTSD.

249
01:07:12.559 --> 01:07:30.319
We do have a lot of um people with farms and livestock animals that it upsets. We have thousands of people that have dogs that can't stand fireworks. It scares the living hell out of them, just like thunder does. Um I know this year is the

250
01:07:30.319 --> 01:07:46.000
250th um anniversary for the country. And I know there's going to be some of you folks who are just going to want to let it rip. Um if you if you feel the need to do that, I would I would advise PD will be on call all night long um you

251
01:07:46.000 --> 01:08:00.799
know scanning the town for people that are doing it. So I wouldn't advise doing it. Um but with that said, if if you were to do it, I wouldn't recommend you do it in a congested neighborhood with small lot sizes where houses are really close because you could potentially

252
01:08:00.799 --> 01:08:16.719
catch somebody's house on fire. Um which would be a big problem for whoever's doing it. And if you were going to do it somewhere out there, just be considerate in, you know, quarter of 9,4 9, if you decided you're going to do

253
01:08:16.719 --> 01:08:32.400
that, operate it in a small window. Don't be the jackass that's doing it at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, midnight. Um because you will have PD at your house. Um, and you probably won't be happy with the outcome. So, I'm I'm trying to give

254
01:08:32.400 --> 01:08:48.560
everybody a fair warning. Just remember, it's not me being a jerk. Um, it's me trying to protect the people of this community and all the animals that we do have. And yes, I am a dog owner. And yes, my dog can't stand fireworks. And yes, I got a couple knuckleheads in my

255
01:08:48.560 --> 01:09:04.880
in my surrounding neighborhood that does it. Um, cops have been in your house before. You know that. Um, but so hopefully you won't be doing it. But if you do decide to do it, just try to do it in a short window and say a rah, drink a beer or whatever you're doing

256
01:09:04.880 --> 01:09:22.319
and be done with it. Um, don't be a jackass and do it all night long cuz you will have problems. And that's my selectman's announcement before Fourth of July. So, Mr. Line, you have anything for the town administrator's report? Uh we're as

257
01:09:22.319 --> 01:09:39.440
this moment um we're just preparing for town meeting and uh getting everything ready for the various uh folks and uh that's all I really have been catching up and working on year end transfers. I'm already up to about 220,000

258
01:09:39.440 --> 01:09:54.159
uh but we have to identify up to 350k but I just started working on that today. So, we're getting close and I'm pretty confident we'll get there uh to have it as backup in your uh book for the SL meeting.

259
01:09:54.159 --> 01:10:10.960
And that's all I got, Mr. Chairman. Okie dokie. Mr. Kelly, you know how we format that, right? For all the interdep departmental transfers that we need to do to cover. Okay. Just making sure that the format's done and we're not jumping

260
01:10:10.960 --> 01:10:26.320
all around like knuckleheads trying to figure it out. All right, gentlemen. We do have an executive session and the reason for convening executive session mass general law chapter 38 section 21A. Um, purpose three to discuss strategy with

261
01:10:26.320 --> 01:10:41.600
respect to collective bargaining or litigation of an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body. And the chair so declares fire EMS local union 3281 USW AFL CIO CLC supervisory

262
01:10:41.600 --> 01:10:59.280
unit local 9517 as local 851. The board will not return to public session at the conclusion of the executive session. Is there a motion? So move >> second. >> All those available. >> Roll call vote. Mr. Angley, >> yes. >> Mr. Rendes, >> yes.

263
01:10:59.280 --> 01:11:20.520
>> And I am the yes. We are now in executive session. Heat. Heat.