Today is Wednesday, October 1st, and today is a meeting of the senior center site selection and building committee. This meeting will be held in person at the location provided on this notice, members of the public are welcome to attend this in-person meeting. Please
note that while an option for remote attendance and or participation via Zoom is being provided as a courtesy to the public, the meeting or hearing will not be suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the virtual broadcast, as they are at this moment, unless otherwise required by law. Members of the public with a
particular interest in a specific item on this agenda should make plans for in-person versus virtual attendance accordingly. This meeting will be live on Zoom. The public may access the proceedings by joining Zoom meeting ID number 375-4146055 or by calling 9292056099.
For additional information about remote participation, please contact Carly Antelis, assistant town manager at atmair.mna. us 978-772-8220 extension 100 prior to the meeting. All
right. So, I call us to order at 4:09 p.m. Uh, do I have a any amendments to the agenda? No. All right, then. If I can get a motion to approve the agenda. Motion to
approve the agenda. >> Okay. All right. Uh, everyone is here, so I can just say all in favor. All right. Chair says I. Wonderful. >> So, nobody's on this. >> So, Dan Arts is on Zoom.
>> Um, and unfortunately, like I said, I had this hooked up at the library this morning and now it just does not >> be um >> now it doesn't want to work. So,
>> Dan, he's not able to make it today. So, uh, I have an update from him. >> Okay. Um, there we go. Okay. Um, and if anybody wants to try
unplugging the owl there and plugging it back in, we might have some other cube. Uh, both of them. Go for both. >> Okay. All right. So, we have um let's see, five sets of minutes. Thank you so much,
Javanni and Dennis, for getting us caught up on those. Um, did anybody have any edits? I had one minor set um that I sent to Dennis that just said that there were invoices submitted from the committee
and the architect and it should have said the OPF and the architect. So it was just a small typo. Um did anyone else have We could start with the earliest one which was June 16th. Dennis sent that one out. Were there any
that one? I read it quickly, but I don't think it >> make a motion approve the senior center minutes from 16. Senior Senate building committee minutes from June 16th. >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> Chair says I. Wonderful. So then we can go to July 17th. Those were sent by Bonnie >> July 17th. >> Yeah.
>> Uh I thought they were July. I thought you did July 17th and September 17th. >> Um >> I think July. >> Oh, >> I did September. >> Okay. July. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. Sorry, I just wrote down. That's
okay. >> Wow. Better you than me. >> Any edits to that one or a motion to approve that one? >> Motion to approve the July 17th minutes. >> Second.
>> All right. All in favor? >> Chair says I. >> All right. Then um July 24th was Dennis. Any edits to those? Make a motion we approve the July 24th minutes for the senior center size
building. Mr. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I chair I all right. Um so then so then I had 915 and 917.
>> One of them was the uh public forum. Okay. It's a pro level 15, right? >> Okay. >> Yeah, the 15th goes to >> Okay. So then can I just get a motion to approve those then? >> Well, I I gave some sort of substitute or explanation
for the minutes which would be posted as such. Yes, >> that's fine. >> Okay. >> Yeah, that one was not um posted as a meeting. So, I don't think we technically even need those, but why don't we approve them and then if the third post them, she can. And going
forward, we have uh worked out that they won't be posted as building committee meetings. They're correctly going to be posted as public input sessions. I'm trying to get the >> you did the correct that was the correct approach at the time. We didn't have the
information. >> Yes, absolutely. uh sub I'll make a motion that minutes 9:15's public outreach session by the senior center site selection of building pos.
>> All right. All in favor? >> I All right. Then last but not least, September 17th. >> And there was a version two on that one because I I messed up and set the wrong
one. >> Gotcha. I um I I'll admit I I did not have a chance to look at your version two of that one. All right. You look everybody have a chance else have a chance to look. Right.
I do that. Seems okay to me. >> Okay. All right. Can I get a motion to then? >> I'll make a motion to approve it. >> All right. All in favor?
>> Hi. Thank you guys. Um I'll uh So you Dennis, you have copy of all of those, right? So you don't need anything else them submitted. >> I
unless Bonnie put a Can I edit your the version that you said? >> Yeah. Do you want >> No, no, no. I can print it off of this, but sometimes they won't let you edit, >> but I don't need to edit it. But anyway, >> yeah, you can't edit the PD, but you can edit the I'll send you the word.
>> I think I'm looking at Isn't this the word? Hey, if you can edit that should be >> we need a stock. >> Yeah, it's a PDF. >> Oh. Um, >> do you want to send me the word? >> Let me let me just >> No, no, I don't need to edit it actually. And the draft there is no
draft watermark. >> This is the version one. >> Use look at the most recent >> email with version two. Sorry. >> That's all right. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> And that's the one we approved. three. Does that bring us up to Dena's
head? >> Uh, I think I had signed up for two of them, so we might be behind two because I didn't get them done. >> But I will. >> No, those might have gone up. >> Oh, okay. >> We'll see.
>> It's okay to stay by in the April. >> We've been busy with some other things. Uh, all right. Wonderful. Well, thank you. Okay. So, in the next thing on the agenda are site updates. And Dan was not able excuse me to make it today, but he
did send me uh an email with just a quick uh summary of where we are. So, in terms of utilities with the gate, um Mass Development is providing a commitment letter for moving the gate. uh he's they're aiming to have it to Dan by the end of the week, but we'll
definitely have it prior to town meeting that you know this is um something that they're on. >> And that's the 400 ft west of the >> right. Okay. >> Yeah. Uh and DPW and Mass Development are working on a CAD plan for moving the gate and that is still in coordination
and I think that was related to where to put it and then if there was any sort of widening like little gravel widening to turn around there. was needed. Uh in terms of septic and storm water, the perk tests are to be completed by
GPR with DPW assistance. Scheduling and aiming for preocctober 24th. So um hopefully that will be done. I don't know that we have results, but that would at least be done before town meeting.
Uh for electric uh it's still in still with National Grid in the design um phase. October 8th is their due date, but there's nothing new to report there. So we should have um hopefully a substantive update before
town meeting on that as well, which is good. Uh Comcast, MBTA is making Comcast submit for a license to install their conduit under the railroad tracks. Uh, and that's in process and they're not allowing Comcast to piggyback on the
town of Aaters license which is already submitted for for the waterline. Um, and >> you said MBTA. >> Yeah, the railroad. >> You said MBTA rather than the owner of the railroad. >> This is Yeah, this is just what it says.
MBTA is making Comcast submit for a license to install their conduit number railroad tracks. Um, I wonder how much each license costs almost stretch. >> Well, it's a commuter rail. It's like quietly and that's where >> not over there. That's spur.
>> You got it's something. It's okay. >> Um, I think ours was $2,500 for the water project. >> That's why they won't let them piggy back. They 2500 bucks. Right. >> Uh Comcast is coordinating their plans
into the water main project. So they have to do the permitting on their own with the MBTA, but they are working with the DPW and and the water land. >> Yeah, that I mean to the best of my ability to answer
that, yes, it will be coordinated. How about that? Um and then in terms of water, um the license has been approved by the MBTA and it's just he says in a holding pattern. So I guess waiting till uh and
that we hope to hear about soon about the housing choice grant. >> So that's important. So the license for the water is improved. >> Is approved. Yeah. >> And do you do we recall that we sent a check for that out of our budget?
>> Yes, we've already paid for that. >> Okay. things we paid for out of >> our bedroom >> in the past. >> All right. And then in terms of permitting, uh, the Blazing Star, nothing new to report. No plants on the site or along the street corridor
because they were able to do that. Uh, I think I think Dan reported on that at the last meeting. >> Uh, the Blandings Turtle Civil is in design development by Catlin. need this further developed to coordinate with natural heritage. U perk test will
inform design work of septic and storm water. So it sounds like that's their way as well. And then uh aquifer protection district not likely to require a full permit design will be in compliance with
aquifer bylaw to be confirmed with Neil Angus. you know, when we met with them, it's funny, we hadn't brought that NFT before, but when we met with them, um, were you there the last time we met with him? >> I was not. No, >> they basically indicated that when he
just a letter confirmation letter of sort of a set of letters that would satisfy their >> We're on the very edge of one of their acquers, as it turns out, our property, which is an acquer Devons. >> It's Devon, >> their Devon's aquifer spreads out beyond
our site. It's it's a low level type of approval because we're not doing we're not in a critical part of the act a distant part still within the their requirement. >> They did indicate that it would not be
done >> and what entity needs to improve it? the Devon's Enterprise Commission within their uh rules and regulations. >> It's hard to find her. We did find it, but
>> All right, >> great. Um, so then any other updates for site for the site? Um, today at the public meeting, there was a woman who came, an older woman who doesn't drive at night, and she said the biggest
problem she had was she felt she would never be able to attend late afternoon events or evening events there because the street is so dark. There's no street lighting. >> Not going to be. >> There's not going to be there's not going to lights down. There's no power
on the street. >> Well, once we put our electricity, >> there's no power down the street direction. It's a problem down the street >> because it's very very dark now. >> You're suggesting that this lady can't drive anywhere where there not street lights.
>> Maybe she should not be driving. I don't know. >> Just for this person. I wasn't aware that that was a problem of how dark it was down that street. And there are a lot of seniors who who do not drive in the dark. I know a lot. >> That's true. >> That's true.
>> It'll be an issue part of the year, but there's no there is literally no way to get power. There's not going to be any power on the street. So there's that's an issue. >> Okay. >> I mean, you have to drive through Harvard where there are entire sections where there are no street lights at all in order to get to the highways.
>> We have a lot of classes. They just live by things on people's own. >> But I think it's an interesting point to bring up is people will have questions like that and just being able to have an answer. >> I didn't even realize that it was an issue >> and I thought, oh, I'll just tell Dan what?
>> I'll tell Dan and he'll arrange. I think with it's a valid point that we could add a street light potentially in front of the power >> the electricity that we designed for the site lighting. So we do have to have sight lighting. So with Devon's
permission, >> we could potentially put one out near the street. >> Okay. >> Just just as a point, there are a lot of new street light systems that are powered by solar. They don't need to be wiring and they're very high-end street
level type lights. I have u I've used them in some parking lots. Um they're very long lasting. You know, the battery probably has to be changed every 10 years or something. But but generally you can there's just a post with an LED
light system and they're very bright and it has a a solar panel on top of it and they um they're just like regular street lights. So, we can certainly work something like that into the design process if it if it's
>> and I'll show you some examples. >> Yeah, >> that'll be super simple. >> Oh, yeah. But that's that's going to drive the cost of the project. >> Yeah, we're gonna have to figure out >> Oh, those lights come on. Those lights are about about 300 bucks a piece, you
know, not very expensive. >> That's going to be our problem. We got bigger problems than that. >> Yeah. Okay, that'll be good. Thank you. >> Nothing less than thousands of problems. >> All right. >> Um Okay, so I think that brings us to
the public outreach. >> I did have one thing more on the site. So bear in mind that we still have not finished the approval not requires that we are >> we need that but we'll have to eventually go through you know that process but we're holding off on that
till everything's done and we have the right shape we all agree on the right size of the lot break it off >> well doesn't it have to be three acres we may end up with a shape that's more than three acres it may be an angle there could be a number of different
things we have >> so that's to be determined. >> Yes. So, we still have property even in the budget. We have a piece of mind there. >> So, when the surveyor laid when the surveyor laid out that and they had the stakes and we did the walk through, >> they just did it based on John's plans
pretty much, >> right? >> Yeah. >> But that's not definitive. >> Not yet. No, >> we haven't walked it down. >> Well, two of them are. >> Excuse me. So along the street and along the >> the fence line the fence line is set back we go.
They all get altered as we go through the final site design with his civil engineer. >> Oh no. Okay. So that's good. >> His civil engineer will we'll work with to get the final shape. Then we'll go back to Ross Associates to break off the
lot. We need to break off the whole >> I see the full size >> because I know there was some you know the pickle ball court was in the way or there wouldn't be room for one or whatever but >> and I know we're not going to have them built but to have the room available for them might be >> that's still there
>> have the room available down in the future. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. Yeah. It may change even even for instance when the power company does their design coming down the back that they may want to shift the transformer someplace. We may have to look at that how it fits on
the lot. So it's wide open. So that's not a problem. >> Okay. >> All right. Okay. Alan, do you want to give a public outreach update? >> Okay. Um the um our postcards went out to all the homes and businesses in air
and um also we uh the we have a bunch of flyers that went up and almost all the businesses around town. Um some very diligent friends went out there and did that. Um we had our la second to last public information session today at the
library. We had about 11 people and um one was a couple that just moved into town within the last month and they heard about it um because of the postcard and they came and uh they're from Chelmsford which has a very vibrant
um uh senior center and they talked about how hard it was to get it passed but now it's the biggest thing in town and everybody loves it and um you know I said, "Would you please come to the town meeting and tell people that
>> and uh register first?" >> And what did they say? >> They were they were leaving to go register to vote right after the meeting. >> And when you suggested they come to town meeting, what did they say? >> She said, "Yeah, >> what's the town meeting?" >> We'll see. But um
>> uh they um so I think that that's been successful. People were pretty positive. Um today we didn't get many negatives. I was worried because from where I live, we had a person who's been not very positive and he came in the meeting and
I almost went up to him and said, "You better be polite." You know, but I didn't and he asked a couple questions but nothing negative. So that's an improvement. So, um, there's one more public session on the 16th at the high school and
that's at 700 p.m. I I want to try to get to the fire department and find out how we can put that on the side of their building. You know, they have that electronic thing. So, I'm going to try to figure that out. >> Um, >> I don't think that's >> I don't think that's the fire department. I think that's the town
manager. >> Yeah, it's town manager. It is. >> Yeah, it's the town manager. Um it's it's the IT director that usually does that. So they don't uh those are the IT director duties are being spoke between
Carly and Chuck right now. So >> So um let's see. I'm working on a a press release and a fact sheet that I'm going to send out all over the place to um the press about the um you know that
it's going to be up at town meeting and things. Do do we want to I I know that there was a uh an interview given to one of the local newspapers that didn't go so well some months back. Do that is so the
newspaper gets the press release, we contact them and say would you like to speak with the senior center director about this upcoming project before you write your article? Well, I can send it out and say that of course she's available, you know, but uh I'm going to
have quotes in there already >> from her and the town manager and different people because we've had some problems. >> And what we want to do is get out our message of what we want them to know about the site, not just let them interview. 50% of what uh reporters who
do interviews can be wrong. And so I think this is they can you use this as a background and then write something but at least we know they have the true and correct data that we >> so hopefully >> I like the idea of the press release
because I think we want to control the narrative just a question. So >> there's a whole section in the local newspaper that just has events for the month. When you say local newspaper, we don't really have a town that we're in the local newspaper. That's the, you
know, the public spirit, the voice, whatever we call at this point in time. But they pretty much have, they pretty much have a section in the back that people just put in events for the library, just dates and times and things like that, church events that people submitted. So my question is, would it
just make sense for us to just put that in every week from now on the town meeting that the town meeting is just a statement the scheduled town meeting is going to have the senior center on it. So just >> Okay, I'll have to look. This is the voice. >> Yeah, I mean I got the paper at home so
I can we can get it to you. Look, >> can I can I butt in just for a second just to give a word of caution for Ellen. um submitting something to the paper. I can tell you a lot of papers will say, "Well, we ought to get the other side." So, what'll happen is I've
I've in a number of towns we worked in, we've been shocked at an article that we tried to get in got turned around and became negative. Um, I think it should be a press release that you're putting in there >> and that
and and that it should really be our press release and we need to have a a clear understanding that you're welcome to print something different on a on another day or something. But these what'll happen and I've seen happen.
They'll call up a couple negative people and then pretty soon it isn't just a positive thing for our team. It becomes a debate and um and I like debates but I think if we're trying to get positive
press I'd be careful with it. What is the paper? Who is the paper? >> I think Ellen's got it covered. Well, we have a we have a valley voice. >> Then we have the lol son and isn't there the enterprise or something owns the
other one on the local. Yeah. Usually the articles in the little sun end up in >> I mean then there's the braro which is the town next to us. >> It's mostly graten but they mostly cover. >> Yeah. So >> work on that. >> Yeah. I think a town um Oh, it's where
the big dam is. What's Clinton? I think Clinton, they ended up publishing a a cartoon in the paper of a bunch of seniors standing around um talking about the gold fixtures and and um the uh the incredible building
they're building for millions of dollars. And um it was a very negative cartoon and I we were shocked to see it come out. So, I just all I'm saying is tread lightly with the papers because
they can turn things around and >> and I think you're you've got a good piece going out and that and I think that's important. >> Um, >> our paper will publish what they give you give them, but some papers >> play.
>> Okay. Thank you. Um the friends um they uh have ordered the yard signs and a banner and those are supposed to be out by this weekend and they're taking names of people who will put up their yard signs. So uh Betsy and um are
you helping with that? Dennis, >> I haven't yet, but I' I'd love to get a couple. >> Okay. Well, if if anybody here is willing to put up a yard sign, tell Dennis and he can communicate with Betsy and um and she'll be taking names.
They're also going to be doing the um Newton Street Festival this weekend, Saturday, I think it is, from 10 to 3, and they'll have a booth there. Uh we also will have a booth just for the building committee, but the friends will
have their own booth and they'll be signing up people for yard signs and they're also going to have a raffle uh the coffee um uh basket and also some lottery tickets. Um, and let's see.
Then the following weekend at the Harvard Flea Market, um, they're going to be doing, um, they'll have a booth and they'll actually have a flea market and they we're not sure about the raffle there, but we're working on it.
>> There's an issue. Um, and did Betsy get in touch with you? She needed the letter that you got from Harvard that had instructions on parking and timing and all of that. >> Yeah, I I need to find that for her. >> Okay. >> Yeah.
>> All right. Good. Um and uh building I understand that at the um at town meeting the building committee can have a table inside
um the high school where we could pass out materials for people who are going to the town meeting and the friends can put outside they can have a table but you know I don't know if that's going to happen. And um the other thing is other
locations that we're reaching out to for um handing out materials and Linda just did the um transfer station. >> So I she's going to talk about that and I think you and Carolyn McCur are
setting up some other places for people. I thought it was Dennis. Uh yeah, you had mentioned maybe doing a coffee at your house. Um and then >> yes, Carolyn McCreer is doing one for Sandy neighborhood. >> So if anybody else has any other
suggestions for um I know that St. Mary's or St. Anony's had offered to let us come in after mass on Sunday and hand things out. So if there's any other location you can tell Dennis. Um so um
>> Colin, do you have any update? What's with the video? >> Well, I saw the video today. Uh, I had a friend who originally was not in favor of this. Um, she was she had been very supportive, but because of the size and
the thought, she was concerned and said the town was very concerned. And she was there today and I asked her, "What did you think of the presentation?" And she thought it was good. I said, "It went long. It went like 45 minutes." and she said, 'Well, it's a very complicated
project. And she felt that you probably needed that much time to explain everything. And then I said,"Well, what did you think of the video?" Because right now we have it in three parts. >> It's the basic this is what the senior center looks like and then there's two different parts of uh seniors talking
about what that what how they feel about the senior center and then why we need a new one. And I said, "Well, what did you think about that? did you think it was cumbersome or should we just put in the part about and she said no I thought it was good and she's she's very bright and
she says I sense a change in how the town is viewing this she said I don't f I don't see as much negativity >> towards it um and she was concerned about uh other taxes that were going to
be put on besides just the our one and she did ask a question about that and then she was satisfied with it. And what she said to me was, "Well, you know, your taxes are going to end up going up by almost $500 and that's hard on some people." She said, "But if we don't get
it now, it's only going to be more expensive. So, if we want a senior center, we really need to do it now." So, I thought that was phenomenal because she all along has been unwilling to commit. So, I think right now the video is good, but Katie and I discussed
at the town meeting. I think we're only going to use the part that describes the current senior center. >> So, where are we currently using that video? Are we using it anywhere >> in the public input sessions? Um, and I can add them on to the website. >> Okay. So, I was going to say, can we
have it like up now where people if they go on to one of the websites, they can view it? >> Let me see the website. You're talking about the one you created, right? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. arcenter. Yeah, that's a good idea >> because people are more apt to watch a
video than to read through pages of, >> you know, material, right? >> Well, yes, but the video well at the very end it does talk about the new senior center, but mostly it's this is what it's like, you know, and it's inadequate. >> Yeah. No.
>> So, >> um >> well, now Linda was going to talk. Did you want to talk about the transfer station? >> Well, do you want do you want an update on it? >> Yes. >> So, Ken and I went last Saturday. It was a beautiful hot sunny day. That's how I got my tan.
>> You mean you refreshed your tan? >> Yeah, I refreshed. Um, so we were there from like 10:30 to 12:45. We were actually, and can jump in at any point. We were actually very pleased I how it went. Um, there was a good amount of traffic. Frank did share um from the
transfer station that Sunday is actually a busier day. So if we go back, we might want to keep if we don't go both days, you might want to keep that um in mind. Uh so we handed out approximately 55 copies of the four-page flyer. Um we
really So our approach was we kind of were stood in different locations and we were stood together. Um, and we really let people do their thing and said we're hand, you know, let them know what we were handing out instead of going up to everybody and it they were very receptive to it. Um, I think about 40 to
50% of the people using the station while we were there were seniors. Would you say that's >> I thought it was high. >> Yeah. So, there were a good amount of seniors. Um, people were very receptive to taking the information. I only had three or four people didn't take it. Couple weren't
interested in taking it. Some have already seen it. So many people commented on the information they've received in the mail, which was good. Um I really we had a couple people said they were against it. I only had one fairly um strong no that um but other
than that, everyone was really positive and receptive. >> And what was the what was the rationale for the no? >> We they were talking I'll go into in a minute. >> It was a very aggressive explicit no. I can be. >> But that was our only negative really. But it was so
>> I might live next to him. So >> So a couple things that was for me that was well for the number one question that came up is where is this going to be located? >> A lot of people did not know where the location and we had to >> describe and tell you know like where is
that? So where it was located was the number one question. Um the number two question was what are the dates of the town meetings? and I couldn't originally find them in the the material. Yeah, >> I just I wrote it. >> So, that's something we might want to put in front.
>> You changed it. >> So, I put um um the copies that I had remaining, I put a like return address label that was printed with them. And then everything that's printing from here on out will have just a little circle up there at the top left.
>> So, when are the signs coming or >> which signs are signs? They're coming in by this weekend. >> Can I Can I get like >> Betsy? You have to talk to Betsy. >> Got it. >> So the yard signs are being coordinated by the Friends of the Zen Center. >> Friends of the Zen talking about Okay.
So just for clarification, it's not part of this meeting. >> Yeah, we don't. >> So you can um and I will be in touch with your wife to pick up. >> No big deal. I already told her you wanted some. >> Okay. But I wanted to make a comment
about the I struggle to find that here, >> right? Yeah. >> And we had put up you had had a bigger version of that printed up which we put on an easel. Is that the tractor? >> Yeah, it was a different Yeah, it's it's
being updated. It's the version of our postcard, not the >> this >> this I think. Isn't that what you printed? a bigger version of >> this is the uh flyer. >> The flyer. >> So, our the poster we're gonna have is the one with That's the senior center
one. >> I don't get it. >> Yeah, this one. It was tweaked. We did have one with the QR code and the dates. Yes. >> Okay. So, that was the one you printed that was bigger. You We put What I'm getting at is kindly set up and put on
it >> this graphic. Yeah. That served as a way for people to know where we were, which got them that to that spot. Then we basically stood right between the recycling section, found out to be the
vest because everybody stopped there and went one way or another to the recycle. Okay. >> Did you have a table or just an easy? We >> just had that. >> We just had a post and then we just had a bucket with the the handouts and a lot of people were interested. They were like, "Oh, what are you handing out?"
that people ask us, "What are you selling?" All kind of. >> You didn't have the posters that that gives that, you know, the >> No, we didn't bring those. >> None of that. >> Would it be helpful to have them there or not? I don't think so. >> I'm not sure. I don't think so. >> What Katie
my friend basically did they was we went out to basically said, "Would you be interested in getting some information on the new senior center proposal?" That's what we started out with. So most people said one way or another yes or
whatever. So it's a simple question and we have the information here but I can look at it. Then when it came up to the question of the town meeting because I couldn't find it down here in the end I simply took like 50 of them and wrote right across in the black mag vote at the town meeting October 27th because I
was trying to get across we need that vote at town meeting in October 27. Yeah. So I'm going to recommend maybe but somehow put that right there where we want to see to tell me >> of the three or four negatives it was
apparent one gentleman some of them one gentleman I knew and the other ones I don't think I knew I was trying to catch a hold of someone that made unfortunately bad remark remark that maybe shouldn't have been made in public but the other gentleman made an
interesting comment which we have an answer to but would never have given a chance to discuss it. The last thing you need to do is build a senior center and raise taxes for seniors. That was his answer as he walked by.
Now, if we had a chance to engage, we could have gone into the discussion of how we see the benefit of senior centers and that in fact you do have a chance to recoup that taxes just by using the building and the services and the gym availability and things like that. easily worth more than $143 a year, but
he was he was >> that was it. He wasn't going to engage in a conversation, >> but she had a possible response to that is the senior tax write our program, >> right? All kinds of opportunities. >> There are numbers number of avenues. >> There's actually a a better response
too. Senior centers keep >> I'm saying we didn't have a chance to respond. Yeah. >> Keep senior centers keep seniors in town. the more they stay in their homes, the less expensive it is for the town because keeping that that institutional
knowledge and the fact that if they leave town or sell their house or get ill because they're not being active, that house often goes into the hands of a new, now we have to walk on this carefully, goes into the hands of a new young family bringing in children, which
puts pressure on the schools. So, the more we're able to help take care of our seniors and keep them in our town, um the better deal it is. And I can walk through the tax aspect of it, which I'll be happy to write it out for you all because um the one thing is that seniors
in town have probably raised three or four kids and it costs about 18 to $20,000 a kid to put them through school. And you go over about 12 years of that and you add it up, it's not it's it's amazing. Now, I know Ken's shaking
his head because I can see it. Amazing. >> We know it already. >> What's that? >> We know it already. >> Well, then that's what you have to tell him, Ken. >> We couldn't Well, I was trying to make a point. When you can't talk to the person, you can't engage and have the
discussion that we're familiar with. Right. So, that was the only disappoint. >> No, but but >> when we could engage, we had great conversations with people. >> Yes. But for and I I hadn't engaged in that I think it is instructive for me to
learn about the details of what a good if the person were open to hearing it. >> Yeah. >> Exactly. >> But some are and they and they need to hear it. >> And it really makes a difference. >> They hear it on the floor. Tom. >> Yeah. >> So I think you know that's why we have
this really widespread public outreach plan. Some interactions will be very interactive like attending a public input session and having information in the Q&A and some things are really casual touch points like handing out a
brochure. So I I think it's I think it's a really good idea to do this at the transfer station. I agree with you. >> You may not be able to engage with people but they'll at least have information to go home and ponder. So we did have quite a few people that came
and and when they started talk they talked with us for about five or 10 minutes. Okay. So it wasn't like just saying oh here thank you take this they stayed and some of them so the town meeting question the dates was came up a lot. The other question which I didn't have people said can we vote by mail and
I didn't. So that came up quite a bit also. So you have to participate in person in town meeting. you can do an absentee ballot for the election. Okay. So, that was a question that I was
unable to answer. Um, there was many people that just recently became aware of the project. Many had been following it. Um, I was very I don't know why I I was very surprised the age bracket between 40 and 50 were very much
uh like the project and were in favor of it. >> Great. It was another interesting fact that a lot of the 55 to 60 year olds were like, "Yeah, that's going to be me in a few years." And they were all, >> it's now registering, hey, this is going
to be good for me in a few years. So, overall, it was very um I felt it went very well. But a couple things I think we need to get make sure we all know the facts. So, we worked, two of us worked, and at first I thought I would do it by myself, then Ken came. And I think it
really does need to be two people. >> And somebody because it wasn't like a lot of technical questions that I had can answer that I didn't answer. I was comfortable answering them, but I didn't want to give out any wrong information. But some other things, um, I did not get
any inquiry as to the price, the cost to the taxpayer. Not one person asked that. Um, I only heard one comment on the size of the building and that was somebody who's um, I believe on another committee in town. And I asked the interesting question is, well, why do you think it's
too big? What are you basing that on? Are you basing our cloth or size? And they really could not respond. >> And then when we went into, you know, we did our homework, we did this is why it was his size, he became very engaged and receptive to our conversation. So that was
>> um only one person I heard has doesn't have to be that fancy. um >> the other question and I know why the gentleman asked this and he actually I believe worked for another municipality. He is he's a resident here. He asked what the maximum capacity of the
building was question >> and I know why he I believe I know I asked and I didn't know that >> building in another town worked on a municipal project in another town >> and the and the answer John is >> what >> what's the maximum capacity for the
building? Um, it's actually on the cover page. Hey, Dan, >> what's our gross occupancy? >> Wait, hold a second. >> Right now, can you look in the It's over on my >> go look right now. I have it written down. Just a minute.
>> I'll be right back. I took him through the multi-purpose room. I said that was >> something just kind of fumbled around, but we didn't really know. I think his but I think the reason he was asking and I think because he was looking at it okay if it can hold and if they tell me
how many people he was saying I think he was thinking relating this to the size well if the maximum capacity is whatever the figure is 500 8 thou a thousand whatever it is he was saying well do you really think you're going to have that many people in the building at one time I think that's the point he was getting
that may be too big however the flip side of it the reason it is that size so you can have multiple events events and classes going on at the same time. But >> but you don't expect maximum capacity. >> You would never. >> But he did he kept asking the you know
>> unless there's an emergency. >> It's a good question. But >> maximum capacity as a as a legal fire code is fundamentally different from functional use and how many people could use it at one time. >> Right. Yeah, I mean it may only be
functionally usable by I don't know 250. >> I think his question was more related to the size of the building. >> So the answer is 339 which about just shy of 200 fit in a multi-purpose room.
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> 339 gross occupancy. >> No, no, that's good, John. Thanks. Thanks. >> Well, what does that mean? You can't have three more than that at any time in the building. Yes, >> correct. >> Based on the fire code, egress, their distances, all kinds of things,
>> but nobody's ever going to be there to count. >> I thought it was I'll tell you a couple things about the transface basin that I'm going to have. To me, it was the best available situation. Way better than I thought public input sessions. >> Great.
>> Because we had people coming at us the entire time. So, we didn't have to rely. They just kept coming up. So if we spoke to 50 people, most of them we just didn't hand it out. They talked to us about it. Okay. So we started it with an approach that said,
"Would you please be interested in information about the senior center that's going to a town meeting the end of October?" >> And then if they knew about it, they they were very very casual about what we talked about. And then a few of them got into, you know, more of a discussion
that we can turn into a vote. So, it was I thought it was way more comfortable than just having people sit there at the public input session. And I thought that if we could get to that transfer station every weekend, we might have a chance to talk to two or 300 people.
>> Oh, that that are going to come in to that transfer station because we only did it for two hours. That's a lot. Believe me, stand on your feet on the pip payment. >> Do you have any more people? I I signed up for next Sunday, >> right? But I want to be cautious. I haven't quite finished. comes out. >> I am not recommending that the friends
at the senior center have anything to do with this this being at at the transferation because the people will expect to get an answer that they may not be capable of answering. It's going to be the building committee that have the answers. It won't be the friends of the senior center people who will have
to be able to answer these questions. Just haven't been all these >> they were planning what I'm saying. The point was to be there the weekend, which would be the two days before the town meeting because
they have the vote. Yes. >> Okay. But I'm going to tell you, they will not be capable of answering the questions that we've approached with. >> It's just not >> Can we have two Can we have two >> one of each? >> And then if they had questions, >> design a cheat sheet. >> Just do a cheat sheet.
>> Well, people don't know the difference. They're just going to expect that whoever they're engaged with at that point is going to have all the information. >> Are we going to tell the friends that we don't want them to be there? >> Well, I'm wondering would it would would it make sense that they pass out their yes cards on those dates and we have
somebody from our committee be a representative. People have technical or questions. Oh, go, you know, they will answer your questions. We're here, you know, we we're asking for your support. Um I I think pay I don't see why we
couldn't pair up with them. >> I think we have to separate because we are we can't be endorsing a positive vote. I mean, I think we'd have to separate in such a place away
and then help the friends in an area where they would be saying, >> well, why can't the friends come and team up with us? So that they will have the answers so that if they're out and about and somebody asks them, they can say, well, here's the here's the correct
answer, not I don't understand, I don't know. >> So, just like anything else, they can they can be trained. They can come up and almost like a training session. The longer they spend with us, the more often they're going to understand what the answers are to the questions. >> Yeah. And you know, they're they're
running the booth at Newton Street, which is going to have people, you know, >> are they why wouldn't people ask their position where they have to answer these kinds of questions? >> Yeah. So, I I I agree there. I think we need to team up. I will follow up with
Robert about um what guidelines he would have to make sure that we don't get ourselves in trouble. We're not going to hand out vote yes cards. We can answer questions. We can hand out I mean it can be I don't see why we couldn't hand out our stuff like you guys did and they
hand out their stuff and you're separated by five feet in the sign. like I don't I don't think those are necessarily contradictory, but I will follow up on what to get some guidance for that so that we don't get ourselves in trouble. >> Okay, let me mention something. >> Um well, hang on just a second, but the
booth for Newton Street Festival is the Friends booth is right next to the building committee's booth, right? >> So, >> very confusing. >> Well, so but the building committee is going to have all the information
the friends are really don't have any information in their booth. So I think it will be fairly obvious where people who have questions about the project need to ask the pre the people standing in front of the posters of the project. >> Yeah. And I think that with the average
person and my even including myself who should supposedly be well informed on this the distinction the fine legal distinctions were trying to make and that Robert is insisting on and the the average person on the street is
not making those distinctions. >> No, they're not. they are simply going to walk up and speak to someone about something and that person that they're speaking to will provide an answer which may or may not be acceptable or whatever. So I think it's just important
for either if you're representing yourself as a friend or if you're representing yourself as a member of the building committee or if you're just representing yourself yourself that it be a convivial conversation that it be kind of supportive of what's
trying to be accomplished that you're open to hearing their you know questions and that you'll do your very best to try to give the best answer you're capable. apable of you know I don't think that anybody who comes up to you I don't
think it would be an appropriate approach to say to someone well I can't really tell you to vote yes on it you should walk over there and that person could tell you to vote yes all I can tell you it's going to be 150 person capacity in than the large room
>> well so today at the public input session you know I needed to straddle those two ideas because and I just said as a as a town employee, you know, I'm here to give you information. I do here's the video, you know, here's the slides, here's the video about these
things. I said, I can't tell you how you should vote. I do want to share a video with you of some of the seniors where they're telling you what they think we need to do. >> Yeah. Um, and then I always close the presentation or any conversation that I have about it with, you know, I just
hope that you will get involved in the process so that everybody can feel good about the the outcome of the vote. So, I hope you will participate in town meeting and the election and that way you're just asking them to participate and that's not advocating that's asking
for their participation. So, but from their standpoint, for a neutral observer, and I did not in fact pick up on that distinction, I don't think anybody in the audience is thinking, so she came here, she gave us this presentation, she provided us all
this information, da da da da, but she doesn't think it's a good idea, >> right? No, I >> I mean, no, nobody on the planet is thinking that. So, so all I would say is that while I understand needing to kind of stay on the right
side of the legal lines in a technical sense, I don't think we should get too twist ourselves into knots trying to avoid the office. >> I think it's pretty clear that when we were standing out there and we're passing this out because we were supporters of the seniors. All right.
Well, basically what we when I hand wrote on the top of that, it said >> vote >> at the October 27th town meeting. >> I didn't say vote yes. I just said vote at the October 27th town meeting, which is basically what we're asking to do. Could you take this information and and
become educated about the the pro the project that's on the October 27th town meeting? Then it comes into a situation. Here's here's my concern. I have a lot of, you can tell by my angst that I have a lot of concerns about the friends morphing into this process.
The last thing I will say the very last thing that we want to have happen is someone ask a question and not get the right answer and say they don't even know what to talk about because they don't know who is on the committee and who was a friend and that person over there was never put in a position to be
where we at. So I'm concerned about misinformation and someone say oh they really don't know what they're talking about. couldn't answer that question. >> Well, it has to be a dual. >> That's why I'm that's one of my concerns. If they think for a minute that this committee is now solid and they don't know who's on the committee
or who isn't on the committee, they're just going to assume everybody's involved. >> So, Ken, >> I see him as a fundraising wing, but not a fact-based wing. That's what I'm sorry. >> So, so, so, so one one clear message to the friends, right? whomever is on the
friends committee needs to be communicated to that if these questions arise >> that they do not answer and that they >> still don't get what I'm saying the people don't care >> no >> they're going to figure the friends have the answer >> but then the friends
>> then they're going to say I don't know >> no they don't say I don't know they say I would like you to go speak with a member of the building committee could be Dennis it could be you it could be whomever is available go speak to the appropriate person.
>> Well, we probably should have a member of the building committee there then if that's the case. >> But I, as I said, I'm signed up for Sunday. Is anybody else >> as a member of the friends or as a member of the building? >> No. As a member of the building
committee. Is anybody else signed up for you signed up for? >> I'm not >> I was gonna come help set up um I can help you know. >> Wait, hang on. We're conflating two things right now. So that these are the two tasks that we need to do. We need to
staff the Newton Street Festival and we need to staff the transfer station. So I'm talking about transfer station. >> So let's start with the transfer station first. Do >> you mind if I sign off? I need to uh my dog's in the car >> and um And Dan's gonna hang around. >> That's it.
>> Yeah, I know. They already broke the windows, I'm sure. Go ahead, Ellen. I'm sorry. >> John, I would really like to have get I don't know whether How far are you from here? >> Your office. >> What are you? >> I'm not very far. >> I would like to come and videotape you
answering those questions that I asked. >> I'll make sure I get my makeup and get my beard colored. I don't want to look too old. Yeah, we'll Yeah, I'll chat with you. >> All right. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Bye. >> Okay. Thanks, John.
>> Thank you. >> All right. So, um Okay. So, this Saturday the 4th, um we will be at Newton Street Festival. So, >> Okay. So, I can help I can help set up and staff for a couple hours in the
morning. >> Okay. We talking you talking about Newton Street now? Well, Saturday the 4th and then Sunday the 5th I'll do some hours at the transfer station. >> Okay. So for Saturday the 4th then um setup is at 8:45. I've got all the
materials out here. Um I'm not I'm out of town. So who wants to set who wants to be in charge? It it takes two people really to set up the tent. And um in the past we've stretched that gauzy thing
across the back. I don't know that we necessarily need to do that. We can just use the easels, but we're going to have to find something to kind of weigh them down with in case it's windy. Um now this is the building committee um booth. >> Yes.
>> And then uh Betsy has a booth and also she's giving half of that to the Franks, right? But they're next to each other. >> I know. That's my understanding. >> I know I'm going to be sitting on both tents. >> Only two.
>> So simple. >> Yeah. >> So the the senior center has um >> B23. >> Bingo. >> This is Newton Street. >> Yeah, this is Newton Street. So this is
the bank parking lot and this is Newton Street here. So, we have right on the edge. Um, and then there's on the town hall side is over here. But, >> so where's Betsy? You know, >> right next to us. >> Okay. >> So, I mean, so there was originally
supposed to be >> Betsy had a booth that she was selling her own things in >> and we were going to have our booth. >> So, I really don't think that they necess like the the friends aren't doing a flea market table there. Like I'm not
actually even really sure what the friends need to do. >> You mean at the um >> at the Noon Street Festival. So they're fundraising. >> They're fundraising. They're signing up people to be friends. Okay. >> They're asking people who want a yard
sign. >> Okay. >> And things like that. >> All right. So then I think we just have to keep our piece separate and be able to just, you know, >> lead the conversation.
>> So who else can who else can help pen set up? Because >> I got to be there anyway. So I gota I gotta help St. Mary's set up their booth. >> Oh, you're important with that. >> Well, I'm not I'm just helping set up. So I'll be around >> I'll be there 8:30. It won't be there at 8. >> Saturday morning.
>> So wonder if you want me to pick this up for Friday. We're going to pick this up Friday. >> Um you can pick it up Friday, you can take it home with you now. >> No, thank you. >> Um >> uh it will be here Friday. >> How will you get in? Oh, Friday. >> You'd have to come Friday during the
work day. Okay. So if you guys are arriving, um group B vendors can arrive at 8:45. So group A vendors can come earlier. Um, but I don't know why Betsy can come earlier, but she can come earlier. So,
>> she works at the town hall and has connections. >> So, you saying it's a different time for different vendors they're trying to manage. >> Yes. So, if presumably then a vendors must have a longer setup like if they have a whole shop to set up or something. Anyway, I don't think it
matters that much. Um, so Dennis and Ken, you guys will set up. Can you work? So it's 10 to 3. So can you guys work >> till noon? >> Till noon. Um so who can work from 12 to 3?
>> I'm working 12 to 3. >> Okay. >> Cuz the friends also signed up some people to work. Betsy did. She signed up at our last friends meeting. >> Okay. But that's in their space. I'm talking about in our space. >> Oh, okay. Yeah.
>> To three. Okay. about I think I signed up for the transfer station, but I could easily switch and help Owen >> at the Newton Street. >> Okay. Um Okay. So, I had you down for
Sunday. I didn't have you down for Saturday. >> Oh, really? >> Yeah. >> Oh, for Sunday. What time on Sunday? >> Sunday at the transfer station. >> Yeah. Yeah. Right in the middle of the >> I don't think we were looking at this transfer station for Saturday. Mostly trying to cover Sunday. I believe that
was the original plan. All >> hands on. >> So, Ken, are you're going to come over on Friday and pick up the item, the the booth supplies. You guys are going to set up. You'll be there until noon and then Ellen and Dave, you will take over
from 12 to 3. And can you guys take the booth down? Okay. >> No, we'll have to we'll go back and take it down at the end of the day. We'll have to take it down. >> Okay. All right. We're gonna have I'll be available all day long. Just take a few breaks going
in and out, get a sub, whatever. >> And there's not if we're not doing the whole rig up with thing on the back wall, then there's not it's not as intensive to get it set up. >> So, we have the what do you call those things like easels? Yeah.
>> And we may need any two-way stuff to stick it to the easels like two-way tape. >> We can do that. something we can make sure they stay on the easels. >> Yep. >> Kind of thing. >> And is there another easel? Because there's a poster size of our version of
that with the QR code and dates. >> There's only one left. >> What? >> We'll have the town meeting dates and the QR code. >> Oh, that's true. >> It's just a larger version of about why the senior center. >> Yep. So, I've got I've got the four page
um brochure back there. I've got um a couple of the friends things and then uh yeah, so we've got the four easels and there's the town of air tablecloth. Um >> so
>> would the poster could we tape the Could we put the poster on the table or could we hang it from >> It'll be on a hard It's on a softboard. >> I can get you an easel if we need an easel. I got a couple in my basement. >> Okay. The only issue with the easels is
it's almost always windy. So, you know what we used? It worked out. We used a camping chair. We put it. It fit perfect. >> Perfect. >> And it was, you know, one, right? Yeah. >> She did a great job. Really good job. >> Um, >> amazing. >> I mean, I have some I think I Well,
>> well, it's we we all live close enough to we have to go back to a house, pick something up to make it work. >> I used to have some A-frame sign things. Yeah. I don't know if they gave them away, but they were really well-built plywood that you can put the sign on. >> Yeah. >> And uh it ain't going to blow over in a
small breeze. >> It's not going to It's supposed to be very long. >> It's going to be I think it's going to be mild and warm. >> I'm talking about >> Yeah, those eels will stack. Put one down lower and one up higher. Don't extend the legs. You don't need to go four wide. You can do two or two. Um
>> what happened when we did it last year and we put them on the back. It was good because people could walk into the booth to look at them. So there is an advantage to be able to have them in the back >> then you trapped them >> and then kind of walked around behind them. >> Yeah. So maybe we should mesh
it till you say yes there if you want it. So it's there. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I'll look into that. I'll see what I can pick up tomorrow. All right. Um Okay. So, thank you. Um
Ken, Dennis, Ellen, Dave, >> Sunday at the transfer station. >> So, then I had Bonnie and Ellen signed up for Sunday, October 5th. >> Oh, what times? >> I was thinking 10:30 to 12:30 and 12:30 to 2:30. So, what shift did you want? >> I would go if it's only two people, I
would I would suggest them going together. That's my recommend. >> Okay. But what time is better? Um, so we were there and it was pretty >> busy. >> Yeah. He and Frank said that Sundays are busier. We were there 10:30 to uh to 12:45.
>> Okay. >> And it was like one little lull, but other than that there was it was a steady flow which was actually good. But I I would recommend going together. I'd also recommend reading, you know, the information we all been because you get so many different the gate question came
up a lot. moving the gate. >> Yeah, really one of the first gate >> because people know about that and people don't know where it is. >> They know where it is on bishops once they find out it's by St. Mary's cemetery they know they they know the gate. So that came up a lot.
>> Where are we putting the gate? >> 400 ft to the west >> but it's not at the triang. >> No. >> No. >> But so those are the do our project or the edge of the TPW project. on that project
>> and and again no one asked me or I don't know if they asked no one asked about the tax impact but like all those things we have to have ready if people ask and another going forward especially at the um high school meeting. >> We never the capital um committee asked
what the impact tax impact was for businesses and we never really answered that. I think we have to have both those figures ready if somebody asks both. >> Did Katie hear that? I'm sorry. >> Cat's impact for business and
>> businesses and business. >> We can't figure out the the business because every business is appraised at different >> It's all different. >> So, >> but it's almost twice what the rate >> we know the rate is, but we don't know what the >> Well, what is the rate? >> The rate. >> You're absolutely correct. I took No,
>> I didn't. I took it out. I It was in there. >> No. 140. She's nothing about the taxes in >> Well, I just printed 50 more of these today and now I have to recycle them. Okay, I will I will fix that. Thank you for catching that >> because what? >> There's nothing in here about the tax
impact at all. >> 143. >> Yeah. >> Big long section about the proposed funding plan, which is very large. Um but nothing about the impact. >> And I like to use the figure how much it was like per day because it sounds so minimal. >> Yeah. you know, oh, 40 cents a day or.7.
It's, you know, it does. >> Yeah, it's like 43 cents a day. But you can also say which is one of coffee a week. >> I seriously >> you must be drinking cheap Dunkin Donuts. >> But it's a week. >> A week.
>> Or you, you know, you give up on a newspaper or a magazine and then you go to the senior center and you drink that magazine. >> But but the senior center doesn't have the the they don't have my newspaper. maybe. >> And the other thing I think we still
will need the friends like aggressively at the end with the vote yes. We had you know very positive feedback. We had a lot of interest. That doesn't mean it's a yes vote. Doesn't mean they're going to vote. So we really >> as much as I was encouraged we still our next step is we need these people to
show up and vote. So >> So do we still want them to come the weekend before the election? >> It's a long time before now and between now and then. We'll have we'll have plenty of time to figure it out. Well, do you want them to come other dates? Cuz they had said they could come other dates.
>> Where they also show one of our meetings >> to the transfer station. >> So, I think the the weekend before the town meeting and the weekend before the vote are the most important times for the friends to be there. So, if we can focus their efforts on those two
weekends and we can cover the three weekends leading up to that, that would be ideal. And then I I think we've all agreed we need to tag team it with the friends on the on those final two weekends. So Bonnie and Ellen, are you
going to work 10:30 to 12:30 or 12:30 to 2:30? >> We do the morning. >> Yeah. I mean, if we're the only ones working, we can work 11 to 1 if we want. >> You can go earlier, too. It's just we picked the time frame that we were told was like the peak, but you
>> I would rather work like 10:30 to 12:30. Fine. >> And then go home, eat lunch, and then Jeff and I are >> So the camp chair, are you talking about not the sling ones, but just the regular camp chair? >> The foldable ones. That's what I used because I didn't have any. >> Okay. And you put the the printed material. >> I wedged the poster in there. And then I
had the bucket of pliers. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I thought the idea that she had Linda did a great job all around, but the idea of having something if it it attracted people to to the spot. Yeah. >> They said something's going on over here. Yeah, they want to find out
>> and they they it worked because they're all coming that spot anyway. They had to get there. >> So, where were you? You were standing literally right between the two. >> So, you know where that little green houses in between? We the sign was right there. And just be careful you don't block people's pathway because in the
beginning no Yeah. So, and we kind of were there and >> there's something in there I want. >> Whatever that dumpster they were I don't So, it's recycling. >> So, cardboard was to my right. The other one there. So when people were dumping, I didn't go up to them. I said, "Oh, we're passing out um information on the
new post senior center that's going to special town meeting this fall." That's what And then people I said, "Would you be in?" And then most people said, "Yes, sure. I'll take one." >> You know, you So it really we weren't aggressively going up to their cars, hey, do you want, you know, so it worked out really well, I thought. >> Yeah. They were coming that way. And if
someone came into the back, you could just simply turn around in that direction. They parked in the back of, you know, the other side. >> Yeah. It was okay. It was very >> I thought it was very easy. It's along good. >> A lot of questions. You do get it's we
get a lot of questions. >> One person who I will not mention their name got out of the truck and told me right away you don't you know I'm a Novo. And I said yes I do know that. And then we had quite a chat. >> Thank you for playing. >> Yeah. You have to thank them for your your opinion.
>> I knew it because I know who he is. And uh we had a chat but he's still going to go up. you know, he we had a nice talk. He understood what we were doing. I thought one of the more there was some really interesting people there just some really great people. Number one, people who had any kind of a
construction background were were pretty much receptive. You know, one gentleman asked a few more technical questions, you know, on the building, something like that. But they were all pretty good. I would say some people came right up and said, "I'm voting for it." You know, we need it. Just came right up and said,
>> "Oh, >> we do." But I I thought I I just I said it before. I don't think we're going to find a place that would get more people >> than we do get right. >> It's it's great. I mean I in an hour and a half or two hours I handed out 70
flyers down at Town Soccer. So I think I think you're on something like it's a great >> We need lots of different avenues to >> So do we should we be sending up something at the church if we can? >> No, there's nobody there any
>> Yeah. Okay. So the other thing that's interesting is we have to think about after we do these outreachs at the transfer station, by the time we get to the third or fourth week, we could end up with the same people. >> We have to think later in the month, you know, is it going to be worthwhile
again? Because we're going to end up seeing the same people that go at the same time because we all kind of do that. We have kind of a a schedule. >> So, but the weekend before the election, I think it's good to as a reinforcement that it's Monday. >> Sweet. Oh yes, >> we're gonna have a little bit of that
taken care of for us anyway. So this upcoming weekend, the fourth and the fifth, we're not available the fourth. We're all at New Street Festival. The fifth with Bonnie and Ellen. >> It's good. >> The following weekend, I would love to have helpers if anyone
is able to help with the friends with the Harvard flea market. Um people carrying things, you know, hanging out, just helping. Right. So, we're not going to be at the transfer station if we're doing that. And the following day is the rain date. So, that's one weekend
already that's skipped there. So, and then we have the weekend of October 18th and 19th and then the 25th and 26th. So, there's just >> it's good timing actually, >> right? I mean, I don't think we're going to overdo it. I mean, the yield may be lower as we go, but I don't think you
can overdo it. >> Now, let me ask you a question. If you all did it from 10 to 2:30 to 12:30, do you think it would be better to do it later in the day for people? >> Yes. >> Instead of um you catch different
on a different day, too. >> Day. Some people are the habit same day. >> Well, maybe the next time we do it, we should try to cover the afternoon. >> I think Linda is right though because it's a different day. Some people just always go on Sunday. Sundays always go
on Saturday. >> Yeah. Okay. Yeah. >> You get the teleers that are there all day. >> So, I'll do uh >> I'll do Wednesday the 8th. Like you'll catch a different crowd of
people on Wednesday during the during the week. >> Oh, that's right. >> More seniors. >> Muslims. >> Yeah. So, from I don't know. I'll talk I don't know what 10 to 12 maybe or nine. I'll talk to Andrew and find out. 9 to
11 maybe on Wednesday the 8th. >> Anything will help. >> I can I can join you on that. >> Okay. Wednesday. >> That's sukaf day two.
>> I did call um the advent in advance um to let them know we were going to be there. Yeah. >> Oh yeah. >> And you should wear safety vests that you did. Well, >> can I give them to you? Well, I had my own. So, >> I don't have one. Okay. But I believe DPW Dan said he had some if we needed
them. >> Yeah. >> Oh, I have >> I've got mine. >> I don't have one. >> I have one. >> You have one? >> I have one. >> Just keep it by. >> I may have two. I can Okay. >> I can give you >> um >> Okay. >> If If not, they sell even just the sash
ones um like at North. They're not expensive. >> Do they let you? I don't have a I don't do use the dump. So, did they let you come in and park? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. >> So, I went all the way to the end. I asked them I I So, when you go straight in, go all the way to the end. The
metals to the left. There was spaces. They have their equipment there. And I asked park out of the way because there's a lot of people parking, you know, coming in for a quick trip. >> If you if you're planning to stay the whole entire time, pick you up and drive you home.
>> Sure. If you don't mind. I'm at Nutm Ridge, so it's pretty fast. >> Okay, that'd be great. >> Yeah, thank you. >> I can do that. >> Great. >> Okay. >> All right. Um, anything else on public input?
>> So, I'll can I'll reach out to you and Betsy and pick up some signs on Saturday. >> Well, I'm going to pick this stuff there up on Friday, which is >> No, no, no. The the sign the yard signs. Oh, when the ad signs come in, I'll get it. >> All right.
>> Just bring on the Newton Street that you have. >> That's what I would do. >> So, one is being I'll talk to you about it after. One's being reprinted. >> Okay. >> Yeah. It might even be ready. Okay. >> We'll take one to the transfer station.
>> We should put one right there where right where everybody comes in and out. >> Okay. So, the next thing on the agenda was preparations for town meeting. Um the town manager is going to come to our next meeting and walk through they're putting together the draft of the warrant article and the ballot
description now. And uh he wanted to um have a discussion about how town meeting would work and what the rules and etiquette is to keep in mind for each of those things so that everybody's clear on how that will um that will work. Um,
so I'm gonna tangle that till um the next meeting. Um, we have >> I have a question. >> Yeah. >> Um, so you you just mentioned that um they were still working on the draft, but they're not working on the draft for
the um election because they voted on it and you sent it out the language for the for the election. It's like board voted on the language there last week. >> Oh. Oh, yes. Yeah. I'm sorry. So the town meeting warrant or that's what I saw. >> Oh, for the debt exclusion.
>> The dead exclusion was approved and they Yes. That's what he referred. >> Yeah. So I'm talking about the town the town meeting warrant. >> But there was something that was fascinating that happened. I and I could be wrong. >> Pretty sure Robert sat here and told us
that those articles and that that vote had to specify the total value of the project. Were we told that or not? >> Not not on the ballot. >> Not on the ballot. >> The ballot does not have a any financial >> but not on the ballot. Correct. >> On the warrant. >> But on the warrant. Yeah. >> Yeah. The warrant has to
>> but I think Okay. Maybe. >> So that's what they're working on right now is exactly what will be written in the warrant and what will be written in the explanatory note for the warrant. So that's what's being drafted right now. So um
>> does the warrant article have the tax impact total overall? >> Yes. the explanatory note does. >> And they're not they're not including the total with everything else, are they in that warrant article? >> What do you mean? >> The total with all the other tax impact for the
>> No. No. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Because they just keep bringing that up over and over and it's >> like they're trying to make it the project is the tax impact is higher, >> right? >> When they incor well whatever. I think that they're responding to a very narrow
subset of the air population who some weeks ago or perhaps months ago raised a concern about the total tax increase and three people talking that narrative becomes oh my god we need to you know we
need heaven and earth to >> we had a person at the meeting today ask that question and she had told me she had been talking about it with another person as well. So there are and she's not a >> right. So that makes
>> so a natural question to say how does this fit into the larger picture. I think that's a fair question. Um, so I think it's our job as a building committee to say $143, $143, $143.
>> And it is the larger town management's responsibility to frame for the town how the rest of the tax fits in. But I I can test I can test the fundamental idea shouldn't be connected >> that there is a large ground swell of of
opposition to this based on two large tax increase. I I have not sensed that. I have not sensed a shift in our direction. A shift any shift in our direction has gone from didn't know about it kind of neutral about it.
haven't really given it much thought to, yeah, this really sounds like a great idea. >> Mhm. >> I don't think anybody who four months ago hated the project is now going to say, I love the project. It's great. >> You're never going to you're never going to have a unanimous vote, right? Even
amongst the people that come to town meeting, you're you rarely have a unanimous vote, especially on something that is a large project. >> We have a lot of unanimous votes. 100% unanimous votes. Four or five,000 meetings in a row.
>> Consistent unanimously single one or two people telling you meetings in a row. >> 100% unanimous. >> Well, because we've never had anything to have anything really controversial on this. We need a twothirds majority vote to pass. >> We've got it before. We've got it
unanimous, but we won't get it now. >> We won't get unanimous on this. >> But again, I I think the idea is that you're not going for unanimous. You're trying to get a a representative set of people to the meeting and you're trying to get, you know, twothirds.
>> I'm not trying to get a representative set of people to the meeting. >> Okay. All right. >> I'm trying to get >> both people in favor of this project, too. >> I was He's a politician. >> I can say that I was extremely disappointed when they started bringing up the costs of other items that have
nothing to do with the senior strip. I thought the concentration always should be the $143 for the senior center. The other stuff, I'm not even sure it'll ever get through. It may never get by a budget hearing. It may never exist in the future. I have no idea. >> All these other projected costs that
bring us to $500 a year. >> No, no, those have already been approved. >> They've approved Springtown already baked in. >> So, they're already baked in. >> Yeah. So, they're saying, "What are our taxes going to be?" It's not going to be just $143. >> It's going to be an additive. It's an
additive. Yeah, it's like u $300 of stuff that was voted on at the Springtown meeting. >> Okay, so that's not our fault. Sorry about that. >> No, I'm not. But it's they do have a right to know what is my tax. >> They already voted on it, >> right? So they should already know they
$300. >> They're not opposed to it. >> They just want to know, >> you know? So, and that's the thing I think to keep in mind is when people ask questions, >> being able to read the body language afterwards and say, is this did I need a piece of knowledge and you provided it
and now I'm content? Which I I think is great. That's wonderful. Versus like, did I ask you a question because I was actually pointing out my >> Yeah. >> distaste. >> distaste for it and I it didn't change my opinion afterwards. So, all right. in order to stay in the scope of our
meeting. Um, so there's no public input. We had said before we wanted to meet again on October 14th at 400 p.m. and October 20th at 5:00 p.m. Does that still work for everyone? >> What was it again? October 14th.
>> October 14th at 400 p.m. >> That's right after the board meeting. >> I mean, which is fine. Just >> right after the what? >> COA board meeting, >> which is fine. >> Yes. Okay. >> Then October 20th. >> Um, and the public
>> the last I can't hold any more dates in my head. >> The last public information session is the 16th. So I think we had said the 14th in case there was any other last minute tweaks that needed to be done before that
>> and then the 20th just as a final push. >> 6 o'clock on the 20th or before >> five five o'clock on the 20th. So October 14th at 400 p.m. and October 20th at 5:00 p.m. >> That still work. >> Okay. All right.
>> When's the high school supposed? >> Uh 7 o'clock. The 16th at 7 >> for the 20th meeting on the 20th. >> Five, she said. >> Huh? Five. Yeah, five. Um, so the agenda, so Katie, you're
you're going to speak at town meeting. You're going to give a presentation. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> And then who is there anyone else scheduled for? >> So we'll we can talk about that more on the 14th at that meeting on the 14th. But um I think we'll do it the same way
we did it for capital planning and fin which would be that I would give the first probably 15minute presentation which is a significant tightening over the public input session as it should be and then Robert and Barbara can speak
for the second 15 minutes about the financial piece. So that allows me to really condense what I have to cover. Um, and then hopefully, you know, people will have this in front of them that they will have picked up from our table on the way in and we'll put it
>> also on the table of things going into town meeting. And will um will John Catelyn be there or >> uh yeah, we we would like the architect and the OPM to be there and then um >> are we going to have to ask for special
permission from them to address the body or can they >> Yeah. And again, this was all stuff Robert wanted to talk about at the next meeting, but there's a process for that. And then it if that is unanimous vote, I think that's required. Um, so if you get
it, great. If you don't, like we could spend some time talking about what we think the questions will be. And it's also possible for them to be behind me. It's not like they can't come to It's not like they can't come in the room, right? >> They just can't speak in the microphone.
So, if they're standing behind me and there's a question that they should really answer, I can literally turn around and say, "How would you answer that?" And then I can turn around and repeat what they said. I >> totally doesn't come to that >> but it may be that Ken could answer some of the more technical questions or I
that is I think >> I don't know how many technical I mean that level of detail people on the floor but they might ask some that you know >> so my suggestion would be that the building committee sit down where the town department heads sit
>> you know right behind so that lower left corner right in front of the slot board those first few rows are where the department heads sit where the microphone is. So my suggestion would be that you guys all sit there and if there's >> right and then I think you guys can go
up to the mic as individuals during that period of time to voice your support anyway which hopefully everyone will. So um but then to just be closer to the microphone if there's something that >> I had one clarification Katie this I
again maybe I had a meeting on this separately or heard about it separately from Robert but the way I understood it and Dan Venkeal who talked about this as well when there's a significant project that does have the professionals working with them that was they will be making a statement at the beginning that those
professionals can speak just like town departments that's the I understood that that'll get clarified by the I think that >> I've heard both but I think Robert >> let him clarify it but they don't there won't have to be a vote is what >> okay yeah
>> that's the way I understood when there's a project this magnitude >> and the same thing happened with other projects in town whether it be a school or DPW that >> the professionals involved in the project were >> to be treated sailor by the town department who don't live in town that
have to but represent a project. >> We'll find out. We'll find >> otherwise. How do you get to speak? >> I know. >> So, yeah. >> All right. >> Ken, I guess you're up. >> A lot of stuff. So, we need >> I may screw it up, but I'll I'll get
through it somehow. >> We just have the town moderator to go back at the appropriate time like John C. >> All right. So, do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion to adjurnn. Second. All right. Um, flavor.