##VIDEO ID:rKpA29JJYSU## uh good evening everybody I'd like to call to order the town of air select board meeting for Tuesday October 15 2024 this meeting SL hearing of the air select board 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 SL hearing will not be suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the virtual broadcast 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 and channel 8 the public May access the proceedings by joining Zoom meeting ID number 897 98 0793 or by calling 92925 6099 for additional information about remote participation please contact Carly antonellis the assistant Town manager at ATM a.m. us or 978-772-4864 under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all um next up is um review and approve the agenda are there any I have none and changes none okay um hearing no changes I'll go ahead and take a motion I'll make a motion to approve the agenda is submitted seconded all those in favor I and chair says I um we do have a couple of announcements this evening for the first one I'm going to turn it over to um Chris all right thank you Mr chair um it is with sadness that we share the uh share that Rich scotus has passed away longtime resident of air he served on numerous boards and committees for the town such as the rate Review Committee a member of the air parks department member of the woodlon cemetery Association and is one of our town constables he was also a Shriner and a mason he was witty nice man who was well-liked by everyone who met him and wherever he went to his family we give our heartfelt condolences thank you thank you Chris um next up on the agenda is something special and I'm going to turn this over to Janice thank you Mr chair you know I put it as something special because I think it is something special and I think it's something fun and it's something I have to stand for because I'm much better when I stand for these things tonight we're saying happy birthday to Ernie girton who is in the audience with us tonight so it started about 16 years ago when he decided to put a sign outside wishing his daughters Happy Birthday within a few weeks residents were requesting a sign for their family members and thus history was born notes would appear on his windshield in his mailbox requesting signs for people and where some people may have decided nope not doing it Ernie embraced these requests his favorite story is of a young girl whose mother requested her name be put up videotaped her daughter's reaction to seeing the sign for the first time and how the young girl was so excited about making the cut and that is why Ernie continues to do it because of the positive reactions it brings maybe you can come up and stand with me even this morning seven-year-old Vinnie was honored with the sign and got his photo taken with it I personally was excited when my name got on the sign time and I had my picture taken with the artist a town favorite was a few years ago when a bulll from Littleton got loose and Ernie placed a run bu run sign out and was even interviewed by the media yeah that's true and of course most recently A Sign expressing how we all feel about nishoba Valley Medical Center closing these small signs with well- wishes positive words have become such a treasure to all of us newcomers of course will be like who is this guy and immediately hundreds will respond that's our Ernie and we love him along with his signs he has shown us how he follows this one particular vehicle that is very bad at parking which looks surprisingly similar to his own car the same uh reminds us how parking on sidewalks has a ripple effect to those who are disabled and can't get by so please don't do it okay when the Market Basket strike was going on he kept us up toate on events and became known as customer 72 I remember that frequently teases an unknown food critic who is not always pleased with his food choices and we all laugh over it because it's silly and fun and sometimes I agree with the food critic yeah sometime I do too and when he gets bored he likes to stir the pot so with that I got him a very special pot in which to stir love it so when you see her stirring that pot you know he's up to trouble he is a well- loved member of this town he is The Unofficial mayor of the town of air and he recently celebrated his 80th birthday and received tons of cards from fellow residents he makes a smile he keeps us in check he reminds us to stay grounded it is because of all this that tonight we honor something special or actually someone special and on behalf of the board I'd like to present the certificate of recognition this certificate is presented to Ernie giron in recognition of the simple joy your happy birthday signs have given the town of air thank you and we wish you the biggest of happy birthdays signs Sean C SC Copeland chair Chris e Taris Vice chair and Janice Livingston clerk this day 15 October 202 wow this is the first had to recogniz it wow you surely did up 10 minutes you're going to get out of here 10 minutes later I know how you are with meting yeah thank thank you very much thank you we appreciate it thank you you want to do a Qui than you here picture with the board and your pot my pot yeah no pot middle there so ni come on come on Don like a dwar a dwar oh yeah you can sit ready no I want you um Donna can you move your your Ernie's hiding your face with perfect awesome thank you wow thank you for getting you here I know you this is something you would like oh yeah now be you so much thank you for being here oh you have to negotiate with negotiate not s the thank you very much everybody appreciate it Happy Birthday Ernie you happy birthday all right uh we're going to move on to public input um is there anybody either here or online for public input not seeing anyone um move on to the uh Department of Public Works report um good evening Dan hey good evening Kimberly I'm here with h Kimberly tonight to to present our items um so the first up that we have on the DPW report is a change order for the Jonathan drive cross country water main project uh the project is substantially complete and what the project is just a reminder for for everybody uh it's a connection between Pleasant Street extension and the Rosewood AV neighborhood so it'll create a redundant connection for that whole Northwest segment of town and also help with pressure and water quality in the area um so the change order was to include a new uh 12-in gate valve that we needed for the project um and also to repair a leak on an existing 12-in main just outside the project area that we noticed when we turned some valves um so it's for 12,35 $50 for Signature by the chair so if you have any questions any questions I have none no um I'll take a motion I'll make a motion to approve change order number one for the Jonathan drive cross country water main project in the amount of $2,350 for Signature by the chair second all those in favor I chair says I motions approved all right the second item is an execution of a contract for the RightWay sewer pump station upgrade um so this project we've has actually been out to bid once before second bid we actually changed the scope of work we're doing to save cost on it um and it's a very important one the the station is in uh is in very poor condition um so we need to get this done as soon as we can so um important project over off the right Road area neighborhood and the low bidder was richardi brothers who has worked in town a few different projects um over the years and I've worked with them and uh the amount is $759 795 and that would be for uh signature by the chair as well questions any questions no okay no all right motion uh I make a motion to vote to execute the contract for the right uh way sewer pump station upgrade project in the amount of $759,900 for Signature by the chair seconded all those in favor I and chair says I motions [Applause] approved uh the next item is a water supply update so similar to last update we've been very steady and we're very pleased about being very steady um we've even been able to get some um hydrant flushing done which has been really excellent um so we've been so steady and we are confident that we can actually make the recommendation to lift the water supply conservation sorry yeah water supply conservation um so um if I don't know if you have any questions but we have a suggested motion on the yeah the docket yeah just we're heading that winter demand pattern and so very similar to last year we did this as well um so um yeah okay I think that's will be a pretty um popular yeah no one's going to push her yeah so um I'll make a motion what Oh I thought you I thought you were trying to get the chair's attention all I'm sorry okay um I'll make a motion to lift the state of water supply conservation effective November 1st 2024 second all those favor I hi chair says I okay thank you very much thank you um the last thing is an execution of the contract of the Wastewater Pump Station generator connections This was um um opened um we it went out to bid it was a little under budget or over budget and so we went to udag funds which will be um reimbursed but the total price is 121,00 $257 um to do b electrical contracting um and this is basically the we had purchased a mobile generator and this is just to get the connections in on the the Wastewater pump stations okay any questions I have none none okay take a motion I'll make a motion to vote to execute the contract for the Wastewater Pump Station generator connections project in the amount of12 $1,257 seconded okay all those in favor I and chair says I motion passes thank you by the chair just by the chair that's it thank you all right thanks guys thank you thank you thank you guys all right um next up on the agenda is the town manager's report and turn it over to Mr Paul brand Mr chairman members of the board board uh good evening in terms of the administrative update you have the town warrants that have been reviewed and improved uh since the select board uh last met in terms of the administrative update um first I want to thank everybody that was involved uh with the Newton Street uh Festival that was the fourth annual year it was a great uh success we had fabulous weather great crowd uh everybody I think had a great time a special thank thanks to police fire and DPW for all of their public support for that event and then to the volunteers on the this year's committee uh specifically Samantha Beno uh Christina Zer uh Jonathan cran Alicia Hy Barry schwarzel uh and Chuck Schultz and um DJ Zer um put off a great event so we're looking forward to the fifth year which will be next year so had perfect weather order that up so a special thanks just three other quick things under the administrative update it's all things FY 26 budget preparation at this time of year uh the rate Review Committee uh met this afternoon in the public hearing on the solid waste uh rate recommendations will be Monday November 4th at 6 PM as part of um the select board meeting the capital preparation directive went out October 1st with capital requests du back October 31st and we have the first meeting with the capital planning committee tomorrow which will be largely to get everybody on the committee set up for the cleargov um budget platform so we're going to use uh that this year for the capital uh which should make it more efficient and transparent as we move forward and then the tax classification hearing uh with the board of assessors will be coming up on November 19th at 6 p.m. as part of um the select board U meetings so we're underway on the budget process um the 71 Sandy Pond working group is now uh been put together with the select board's appointments at the last meeting and the DPW director and I will be calling the first meeting of the of the working group and then we'll be meeting um with the consultant regarding the design and the public process we'll keep the board um updated and also encourage the board um to join in in that public uh design process so we'll get that going and then lastly I just want to mention that the devans jurisdictional framework committee was awarded a $300,000 planning Grant from the state to begin to look at uh issues on devans in terms of jurisdiction and the the town of air um put together that application and is sort of the the sponsor of it but it is for the framework committee and we the committee has appointed a subgroup to sort of develop um the scope scope of that study so we'll keep um the board updated we know that it is not enough funding believe it or not to study all of the issues but we want to start uh in that direction and I know that um Senator Eldridge uh was instrumental in getting that Grant and thought it was an important First Step so we'll keep the board and the town updated as we move on that so with that unless there are any administrative questions from the board I'll go right into the action item this evening I have two appointments uh the first one for the Council on Aging board of directors um respectfully recommending that the board vote to appoint Miss Cheryl boisey of air to the COA Board of Directors for a term to expire on June 30th 2025 the COA board of directors voted on October 8th to recommend her appointment and you have Cheryl's resumee in the packet and I think she comes to the board with a lot of great experience um and will do well in that capacity any questions no no okay I'll take a motion uh I'll make a motion that the board appoint Miss Cheryl Boise of air to the COA Board of Directors for a term to expire on June 30th 2025 seconded all those in favor I I chair says I appointment passes great and then the other one is for the rate Review Committee I'm respectfully recommending that the board vote to appoint Mr Justin Lee of noya foods incorporated as the SIU representative which stands for significant industrial user and as the board is aware the rate Review Committee is to have an annual appointment of a representative from one of the significant water sewer users uh in town um and this would be for term to expire on June 30th of 2025 and I want to thank Kimberly Abraham for finding us someone excent any questions I have none all right take this will be nice because this will bring the committee up up to Snuff um I'll make a motion to appoint Justin Lee of noya foods incorporated as the significant uh industrial user representative to the Review Committee for a term to expire on June 30th 2025 seconded all those in favor I chair says I okay uh Mr chair um members of the board if there is an objection I'd ask uh Mr Max Goodwin to come up to the table hello hello how are you good how are you good so Mr chair members of the board I'm I'm pleased to introduce to you uh Mr Max Goodwin who I am appointing and respectfully requesting your ratification of an appointment as the town's uh next Information Technology it coordinator uh you have uh Mr Goodwin's resume in uh the packet I'd like to we've been looking to fill this position for quite some time and we are forever grateful We Are Forever grateful to Cindy knox's uh postretirement plan which was to stay with us for almost another two years we don't let people out of air very easily two years and I appreciate I appreciate uh Cindy being here um as well Max comes to the position with a lot of technical skills and Technical background um in addition to serving in the United States Navy uh for six years he also did a lot of classified work for the National Security Administration and so forth so we can't get into all of those details but when I met with him he has a pretty extensive background in cyber security classified issues security issues which is a growing Dimension to this job brings to the position I think a lot of uh technical skills does have some knowledge of town operations he has worked for the Wastewater Division and was previously a dispatcher and was also a firefighter I believe in in Shirley at one point so he is a Max Max of all all trades um and he's really looking um forward to working um in this important position I should point out upon ratification of his appointment uh Max would officially start on November 1st at grade 11 step three per the non-union classification plan and we're fortunate that Miss Knox uh will be working with him uh until December 31st so November and December to orientate and transition um the department to him and I should lastly point out that Max is joined by his family his his wife uh Natalie and his two children Harper and trip are here so with that I'll turn him over to the board for any questions you may have and then be looking for a vote to ratify the appointment okay any questions oule what was your rating that was a CTI oh so I did um Arabic ah very nice Iraq was my focus I was I was really probably not the best sailor because I never actually Ste foot on a boat I went to I went to a ship need to die actually I went down but mine were for different reasons I was a woman I saw the chief's son in San Diego one time when I was in California that was the one time I went on a ship other than that I was on Army base the whole time um I worked at the NSA down there in Georgia and uh uh that's kind of like all I could say right now but Iraq was my target so I I did um Arabic I've actually worked for every single person in this room that's so funny funny hopefully they're not like giving you a thumbs they're hiding it well um yeah ironically my first Barracks I had to stay in was Army I was Navy really nice you know yeah down at uh Fort Meyer in uh Virginia did you have the warning don't cause dust as bestus in the honey I I swallowed asbest as a kid I mean we're a tough generation you know so we just we were like Dustin in it so you know that myus exposure I got over that years ago I've had so many of it so yeah um and where were you station again I was in so I went to DLI which is in montere California okay that was two years and then I did four in uh for Gordon Georgia it's I think it's like Fort Eisenhower now or something like that yeah they just changed it recently nice two really good golf locations Pebble Beach and Augusta so okay and uh and worked for NSA nice so um so I understand where you're coming from there's uh the need to know yeah and none of us have it correct oh um welcome thank you yeah resume speaks for itself agree all right no other questions take a motion I'll make a motion that Mr Max Goodwin be appointed as the uh Information Technology coordinator effective November 1 seconded okay all those in favor I I chair says I and thank you very much I'd say welcome to the town but and thank you Cindy for staying on all this time and you know what's nice is when I said welcome aboard it actually meant something to him because never was on a ship yeah Mr chair just briefly since she's here tonight I just want to again um congratulate Max and and welcome and I know he'll do a great job and I really want to thank uh Cindy Knox for all of her efforts as she was the town's uh first it uh director many moons ago one of the first people that I um hired and she really built the department and uh I'm looking forward to um the transition into moving forward but we're forever grateful and um especially for the last two years and we know where to find you if we need you you do oh boy so but I just want to thank Cindy and welcome Max and I think it is in is in good hands and has been in good hands so thank you if we don't if we don't know where to find her I bet Max could help us yeah special skills set great uh thank you to the board um the fall special town meeting update just briefly want to remind all residents that town meeting will be on Monday October 28th at 7 pm in the auditorium of the high school um there are 10 articles uh the warrant has been posted as approved by the select board it is on the town website as well as posted throughout Town we're going to be running the article of the day are going to start uh later this week where each day will feature a synopsis of each of the Articles uh the town meeting page we're in the process of populating which will have all of the supporting information for each of the Articles so I as far as the update I think we're in in good shape uh as we usually are for a good town meeting I don't know if there's any questions from the board but um I think we're in good shape okay and if I may the uh warrants are going to arrive tomorrow at the post office and you'll be getting them probably within the next couple days exciting yep perfect right thank you Carly um lastly on my report is the nooba Valley Medical Center um update and just a couple of of things um to highlight uh the governor's working group had its inaugural meeting its first meeting uh last uh Wednesday and one of the things that came out of that meeting is um the state is going to be using health care for all to do um some specific uh canvasing starting October 16th in the nooba valley towns including air um for two purposes one is to gather um additional specific information um both quantitative but more importantly as I was stressing qualitative because I think that the state and others need to hear though I believe they have but here even more so the specific impacts and stories so this hcfa effort um they're a nonprofit it's contracted through the state is going to start this on October 16th so the first piece is information gathering the other piece they're going to be passing they're going to be sharing some general resources um for uh residents um uh moving moving forward but I think most of the focus is going to be uh information gathering um additionally uh as the board is aware there's a $250,000 Grant per Community up to 2 million uh that the state has is going to be announcing or has announced that's can be used for equipment emergency response equipment since that time I have heard from all of the fire chiefs including Chief johnon but all all of the Chiefs in the region that though we're appreciative of that grant funding for equipment and vehicles and so forth the immediate pressure point right now is on personnel and overtime costs so we've put in a formal request or I did on behalf of the Chiefs to the dph that's overseeing the grant to see if they would change those Grant parameters so that they can be used there are equipment needs and air has some specific equipment needs but that they take off those restriction so it can also be used towards the immediate need which is personnel and overtime which is not going to go away so we're cautiously optimistic that will happen the second piece that has been stressed is that $250,000 per Town it can't be a oneandone thing to solve this problem um we're looking at um significant uh financial resources that are going to need to come from the state um and federal um sources on that the other thing that is being pushed um at the on the working group uh specifically by me and some others is to get the working group quickly to focus on three areas all of this is important they want to look at all of the issues and you should in any effort however given the immediate situation The three principal areas of immediate need and concern are the hospital the Emergency Medical Response and the access to the outpatient resources that have been lost since it's closed so there is another meeting uh tomorrow where I'm hopeful that they begin to shape into these subgroups and really focus on these three priority areas while looking at the whole the whole picture um the medical records issue remains a disaster um the blame for that lies with Steward we're even hearing I'm hearing anyway almost daily people's challenges getting medical records it perhaps points to the issue why maybe there should have been 120 days um I understand and I believe this will be coming out in more formal detail that the courts are actually going to be getting involved in this issue because Stewart is legally responsible for the medical records and under the whole bankruptcy and so forth people aren't getting their records and it's un fortunate that it's going to have to come to this but I guess what I would say publicly this is also on the Forefront of the working group's concerns is people's Medical Records I on a smaller note but I just want to point out um and I want to thank selectman Livingston and Chuck Schultz our facilities director the town of air was able to save a majority of the historic artifacts that were up at the hospital so if people ask asking there have a safe home here in air for now our goal is hopefully in the not so distant future that they get returned back to the new hospital but some people have asked is a stained glass window for example we have upstairs um we Sav those things because otherwise they would have ended up in the dumpster um there's been no response um to any of the formal requests not only from the air select board but the towns from the governor and I think what I would conclude my report because board members may have updates or questions trying to think of a NE a Next Step action item and I know you just approved another letter um to the governor perhaps at this point the board mate might consider authorizing a specific letter to Apollo Management which owns the building and the grounds and as of October 4th steuart is completely out of there so now Apollo is has this empty building and this land which is zoned medical and there's no intention to change that but perhaps of the board authorizing an initial letter inviting to maybe meet with Apollo Management to just as an introduction and start the discussion okay what a some type of dialogue on the site something for the board to consider you don't have to make a decision tonight but I was thinking let's you you've sent this third letter we'll be going to the governor let's take a different tact and maybe look to talk to the property owner um this remains a priority it remains extremely um frustrating uh as we uh try to solve this issue so with that that's sort of my report um um people have asked about because it is the governor's working group and the meetings are not public however my co-chair and I two key points one is we want they to be as there to be transparency and also an opportunity for the public to be involved So to that extent I think one of the things we're talking about tomorrow is is more public connection for the working group and I have also proposed that the working group though it's meeting on the zoom platform should consider having a meeting out here in air sooner than later to interface with the public and the working group has 32 people on it of which I would say half of from out here and half of from Boston so that's sort of my update right now I don't know if the board has any questions or comments but uh we continue um to work on this issue and if you go to the nooba save nooba page um this just just problem after problem you know with steart and and the issues just continue so thank you thank you you know it would be great if you can get the working group to meet here because maybe that's why the governor doesn't come she doesn't know the way so you know maybe then she could carpool with one of them you know yes I do intend all the sarcasm um I had contacted you know so it's some know the doctors that were originally going to stick around are leaving yeah quite a few of them are okay um and this the reason why is because I guess this uh deal or some type of I'll I'll go with deal that they had with um Holy Cross or whatever Holy Family Holy Family in Hil fell through after 30 days so these doctors unfortunately have you know I mean they you know we hate to see them leave but they kind of have no choice because they have no access no privileges at any other hospital and it would take six months to get now I I understand you want your doctors certified 100% agree with that but there should be like some of like oh you were certified at this Hospital fill out a couple extra sheets you know maybe wait 30 days and you can get approved here you know or the state should step in she has not even tweeted about this issue I mean it it is so off her radar it it's so sad and when you go to the nooba saves page it's heartbreaking I did contact I sent an email to uh Senator Eldridge and representative Cena about the doctor's leaving and everything um and and I did hear from uh representativ uh Cena who agreed that this was not supposed to happen we were told it would not happen and the doctors told us that it would not happen until they had to tell us turns out it's going to happen you know um so the vacuum of all Medical Care is is leaving but at the same time I if the doctor can't get to a facility how is he supposed to treat his patient yeah you know so but but the the silence the Crickets as our town manager has so eloquently put um The Crickets coming from the state is mindboggling definitely mindboggling she made it as far as chumford so she got to chumford so she kind of so we kind of know she can get to you know somewhere near here you know chemsford is not far from here but you know she went and visited the beaver all four I'm glad the beaver got saved but I'm just saying she could have swung by yeah surprised us walked in I drive right through Chums her on the way home from work could have picked her up right in yeah yeah so you know I just look we all comment you know wherever we live about you know oh this the mayor the governors whatever uh They Don't Care About Us but honestly I've never seen one who really has fit that description um usually they you know lip service right we haven't even gotten lip service at this point I'd be like happy because then I'd at least know she was aware of us um but you know it just was just nope even when the 120 her answer was oh yes it should be and she walked into another room and it's like how what why you have you're the governor why didn't you fight for that you know um but she's you know helping campaign for the New Hampshire Governor which I have to laugh and I and I want people to understand this and I'm going to use this person just as an example because she's always in the media so it's why I picked her if I wanted to contact and talk to Nancy Pelosi I couldn't because I'm not in her just jurisdiction I can send her an email she she might give me that form letter reply of I got it but we can't you know we can't connect right because I'm not in her jurisdiction so somebody want might want to remind all these elected officials that are in all the other states you know that's not your jurisdiction get out get into your jurisdiction and do the job it it's really time for that to get straight out you know so now I'm on a rant so we need to stop me okay well thank you um yeah I mean speaking to um Robert what you were saying about reaching out to Apollo um or try to to get the um working group to meet out here in some way I mean I think that's a great idea um at least move forward trying to arrange that as you know I'm someone that the more you meet and you talk to people the better um hence why we keep on trying to ask the governor to come out because you know you sit down face to face with someone or you you know get more public involved the better um so I I I personally think that's a a great way to go you know um right the worst they can say is no but it it the worst thing we can do is stop trying and you know just throw our hands up and say yeah so it we keep on I've said we're on what uh option double z now but we'll try for triple z um and um that that's that's an effort so can we um I don't know how you two feel should we go ahead tonight and authorize a letter to Apollo at least get that started yeah I agree yeah I agree especially since it's what November 4th that stewards completely out October 4th they're already out October 4th okay yeah even more so yes definitely I had my head November so yeah okay um I'll make a motion that a letter be authorized to where is it again to Apollo Management Apollo Management I second that all those in favor I chair says I so I will send the draft to the board for your review and input take it all and then we'll get that out and it'll include you know inviting them to meet with the board you know just to start the discussion about that so very good and then on the agenda as I mentioned Wednesday with the working group is the specifics about having the working group come out here for a meeting and I've already offered up the air town hall for that so we'll keep you posted and hopefully that will happen soon and then we'll continue with the governor's efforts as well I just think where you just sent the most recent letter we'll see where we're at on November 4 should we invite her for Thanksgiving she make dinner I mean can we ask her if we can come to her I think one of those yeah I mean should we just show up at the door see if she'll let us in hey you know hey we're here we thought we'd say hi um more to come okay more to come perfect so Mr chair with that that completes my report unless there's any questions from the board if not I thank you for your time this evening all right thank you um next up is new business or select board member questions which there are none listed any tonight no nothing and then it bring us to the approval of meeting minutes from October 1st 2024 I hit s issues yep uh looks fine to me all right I'll take a motion uh I will make a motion to accept the um meeting minutes from Tuesday October 1st 2024 seconded all those in favor I I Chair say I and with that and with that Mr chair I'd like to make a motion to adjourn seconded all those in favor I Sheriff says I and we are adjourned thank you very much