manager to see if I can use the remaining grant funds to pay the some of the security enhancements that we got through novice. Otherwise, we do have to send that money back as unused funds in the grant.
So, are you using the funds? Okay. And you haven't heard back yet? No, it's uh the report is due tomorrow. Sarah Hook from the state said that she is uh gonna review it and get back to me today. So still waiting
here. Okay. The CCC grant that funded Vadar uh I submitted the grant closeout report and we I apparently there was a misunderstanding because there's 11,000
roughly left in that account. And uh it would people were under the impression that that could be used to fund the second year of radar because VAR costs $15,000 a year. That all that money had to have already been expended. It can't go to the next
fiscal year. So the money there we just have to send the check back would be $11,000. I saw that. Okay. Um, I received a letter from Edna Wanderer on the planning board on July 7th, uh, giving the select board official notice of vacancies. I
forwarded the notice to all of you guys. Yeah. Um, so now since seven days has passed, the board may now proceed with planning a joint meeting with the remaining members of the planning board to appoint interim planning board members. There has been some interest. I have names and contact
information that I supplied to you guys. So we have three people interested. Yes. Um in the planning board. Yes. Um so there's two vacancies. So we can go about it a few different ways. Um
there's two vacancies and there's also a assistant planning board position. I'm not sure if we can point that or not because it's not the only reason I know about it is that Edna was talking to me about it then I think that you may appoint
okay you may appoint in conjunction with the planning board until the next annual town election look so the question was the assistant member that doesn't even exist right now
so what their role is the assistant planning board member would attend the meetings and in the absence of a forum they can vote. Yes, we dropped that in the bylaws. Yep. Yeah. But no one's holding that position right now. So the question is whether we
can appoint someone to that or we have to wait and have someone elected to that position because it's not like someone has resigned from that position. It's just an empty spot. It's an empty spot. So it's was that in the notice of vacancies from Ed? No, it
wasn't mentioned that that assistant position was not meant to be. But there's a couple options. So, we have been talking about doing either special town meeting or a special town election. Yeah. To act to to get a non-bining residents
regarding their input on the three different things. the the new Eversource or the um up substation the substation the um solar and Bessie. Um if we decide to do an election for
that, we can tie in an election of these positions instead of doing the if that's something. It is supposed to be five. Yeah. And we would truly make four.
There's three, right? There's three on there. Yes, it's Brad Garfield, Sarah. Oh, her last name. She doesn't feel well. She's had some things, but that's She's still a member. Yeah. Thank you.
The problem is that for any sort of um votes, special permits, anything like that, you need 2/3. So you need um four people instead of just three. Yeah. So they can't move forward with any votes on anything until they have
Okay. All right. So we have to think about what we want to do in terms of do we want to meet with planning and do the appointments because now we have three people. So we would be um working off the recommendation of planning and who they would want to appoint to the two
positions that are the you know voting positions and then the assistant positions. Do we want to just include that in a special town election if we're planning that we want in the next few weeks anyways which we would work with town clerk or do we want to just do the
vote for the Bessie and two other things in a special town meeting where we could do a um a ballot. So those are our options. We need your thoughts on that. Do you want to speak to the election?
Yes to the election. Um there are multiple deadlines for a special election. So we couldn't do a special election probably until September October. Okay. So that would be a little ways out. Okay. So then that would be out. So
then we would need to move forward with the appointments, right? Um so we can go ahead and schedule our next select board meeting with planning board. So that would be today's the 14th. So it' be two weeks out the 28th with
planning board and at that point we can ask planning board to present us with what the two candidates they'd like to be and then the third form. So they should look at it first. Yeah, we're looking for input from them.
Go ahead. Okay. Um Joanne, can you make sure that the next um our next meeting is a joint meeting with planning and just make sure that they know that
28th who's going to send the note to who? Edna. So yeah, you let Edna know that we want their input in input by that day. Sure. I will. I just uh was unsure because I thought we were doing our department program tables. Yeah,
we are. We are, but we definitely look like we have to make that soon. Yeah. Okay. So, could we start earlier and do you know just to throw it out there at 5:00 have them come in and then we just stay for
the rest of our you know have our department level meetings at 5. Is that what you're saying? So, we'll start at five and then we do the department level meetings. Yeah. TJ
is terrible, George. All right, we need a sound guy. Um, we Yeah, sorry, you were still going. Go ahead. That's okay. It's sort of along the same vein. We received a petition. U Miss
Super has uh handed a petition. There's a copy in there for you guys. Yeah. And I believe a copy was also given to the town clerk. Uh it is a petition in relation to um protection of Glamford's wildlife and safety from unsafe solar
and battery storage. Um the ultimate request is that a special town meeting with board of health, fire planning board, select board and zoning within 45 days be held to adopt a best bylaw to regulate these projects. uh
strengthen zoning bylaws to protect safety, wetlands, and scenic vistas and require robust input to commercial properties for resilient master plan. Enact a vote of towns persons on any bylaw changes moving forward.
I think we already Yeah. Um and hire legal counsel to challenge the project's compliance. We already have legal counsel working on this. Um, and as far as the bylaws, we can't adopt
any bylaw that does not align with the states regulation. So, let's run this through legal and see if it aligns with the states and then we can come back with if there's any
changes to any wording at our next meeting. Well, there's no there's there's there's no wording of the bylaw in here, right? So, it's not So, we'll run it through legal, see what their recommendation is um for wording on this. Um and when we do this special
town meeting, we'll tie in the other three questions. We'll just have to do the secret ballot. I think at that meeting I think if somebody has to request Sure. So if somebody requests a secret ballot, which I think would be likely because people that own businesses in
town and such don't like to vote. Do you have all the signatures or they uh they already checked through um do I give these to you or is this are all the signatures checked by a town clerk? Yeah. Yeah. So they've been certified already said.
So do they stay with town clerk? I would think so. Yeah. Great. Thank you. So, Christina, you'll send that through Mark. Yeah. Thank you. Um, and the lander also asked that myself
and review a PBPC contract. It's basically the normal contract that they do for local town assistance. Uh well, as I've said in the past, we don't sign vendor contracts even if it's leg. So I took all the information, we
put it into the legal format, right? Provided by our attorney, I sent it to legal. Um the school services are to assist with the review and development applications as needed, which in subdivision plans, special permits, and
site plan submissions. Uh develop and update zoning bylaws. Assist in strategic planning efforts and implementation of resilient plan as needed. Assist in board professional development and training. Provide technical assistance to the planning board on planning board related matters
on an as needed basis. This is a contract not to receive $5,000 for services for the year of fiscal year 26. It I sent it to Edna this morning because that's when I got it back from legal.
uh it's with PBP PVPC right now. If they sign it as is with the edits and corrections and this format, it would then come back to you guys in that time. And that's for service with Valley Planning.
Pen 10. Sorry. Yes. Yep. Um at our last meeting we had discussed reaching out to certain entities. Uh Dan Alli being one counselor from
Westfield Dan Alli. I did reach out to him. I have not heard back. Um also requested that I reach out to NSAR regarding their proposal of the expansion of the substation. Uh I reached out to their attorney who submitted the petition. I didn't get a
response from the attorney, but I did get a response from Michael Payne, who is a community relations specialist for Eversource and he's stating that they're onboarding a new community relations specialist and
he's temporarily covering Blandford for community relations. Um, he said, "Thank you for the offer to ask additional questions. our substation that he did I and it's not what I offered to him. I asked them
to attend a meeting so that we could ask them questions about their project. So, um should we have our attorneys reach out then? Well, it's this isn't an attorney. This is just a guy from Well, that's what I'm saying. Since we got that response said, should we have
Mark reach out to their attorney? Well, what did he say? We started to read it. What did he He said, "Thank you for the offer to ask additional questions. Our substation project team would like to know what the process is or any questions the select board may have specifically. If it's easier to discuss offline, please call
my cell phone. I do not want to have this conversation offline, so I responded in writing. Um, in other words, they're asking for tell us what you need to ask us prepare for this. I said it seems there may have been a slight misunderstanding regarding the intent of our initial communication. The
select board is requesting that Eversource attend an upcoming select board meeting to present and discuss your petition regarding the proposed expansion of the substation located on North Blford Road. This would allow your substation project team to provide an overview of the project, clarify any technical or logistical aspects, and
address any questions or concerns raised by board members or residents in attendance. Select board meetings are typically held on Mondays uh at 6 pm. If you could provide a few dates when your team would be available, I'd be happy to coordinate with the board to add this item to an upcom upcoming agenda. If
Mondays are not ideal, we can explore the option of scheduling a separate meeting at a time that works better for your team. Please let me know. This was last Tuesday. I've not gotten a response. Last Tuesday? Yeah. And did they um they spoke to our meeting last year?
So they had that was a different Yeah, that was confer. Yeah, but that wasn't this that's not that was that was for plan and Mr. Gates will be here to discuss that. He's just got a conferation meeting right now, but we do have an update on that. This is in relation to
this is the substation expansion, right? This is the the fact that they had already gone over the bill by law, right? So what happens? So do you think that we would get an
I don't I don't think so. Honestly, but if you would like for me to ask the attorneys to reach out, I will. I think we should try. Um my other question was were you able to post the update on I know you were just adding
So I have it right here. This is um the update that I wanted to post on the website regarding planning board vacancies um best facilities. Do you want to read that or Yeah, sure. I can read it. Um I mean I think we all know what the planning board vacancies are just so that I know
there's people. So, you know, we are aware of growing community concern regarding the sighting of large-scale battery energy storage systems in Massachusetts and specifically in Blford. On November 20th, 2024, Governor Mora Healey signed into law an act promoting a clean energy
grid advancing equity and protecting rate payers. This legislation shifts permitting authority for best projects from local governments to the state with oversight handled by the DPU, which is the Department of Public Utilities, and the EFSB, which is the Energies
Facilities Sighting Board. Please keep this in mind. No board or committee in Glamford will be the permitting authority for larger BEST facilities. This act is passed at a state level and as such removes a lot of our ability to impose oversight. So what does this mean
for Blanford? For large best projects which are greater than 100 megawatt hours, developers must first obtain a comprehensive zoning exemption from the DPU. So not from our zoning, not from our planning, not from us at all. They
go right to DPU before then applying to the DFS feed for final approval. Local permitting authority is overridden once this exemption and certificate are granted. So again, this is not in the hands of us. This is in the hands of the
state. As of today, no vest application has been filed with the state for facility in Gland and there are no active proposals on the EFSB docket concerning our town. So what this means is that none of these facilities have gone to the state for permitting. That
doesn't mean that they haven't reached out to us. They're well aware they've reached out. They've tried to have meetings with conservation planning. We're aware of that. But just in terms of the larger facilities that are being permitted by the state, nothing is on the docket as of yet. Uh what we've done to date as uh
board and community. On May 5th, the select board adopted a formal resolution drafted by town administrator opposing the state overreach and raising community concerns. That resolution was sent to all relevant state officials, Mass D,
the DPU, the EFSB, and the Springfield Water Sewer Commission. Ongoing outreach has included conversation with Jonathan Blue from Senator Paul Mark's office, expressing the immediate concerns surrounding a possible sighting of a best facility and what the state is prepared to do to assist small rural
communities in this situation. I have reached out to Westfield City Councelor Dan Ally. I have not heard back yet. I have reached out to surrounding towns such as Beckett, which is facing similar issues. I have contacted Springfield Water and Sewer regarding their support
in preserving Glampford's open spaces and environmental preservation. And we tonight will be uh approving support of the town of Oakland's uh advocates for conservation of Oakland's rural natural and safety. They're called the Acorns. It's a nonprofit formed to
protect the health, environment, and rural character of Oakland, Massachusetts. So I've been focusing more on what we can do legally, right? Administratively, what can municipalities do in this
situation? And really the only thing that I have found is something called intervenor status. So once a facility is on the EFSB docket, right? So if say one of these big facilities goes to get the permit through the DPU and then they go
to the sighting board and say hey we want to put a big facility in Bford, we would get a notice that something is on the docket. We have 14 days from that notice to file what's called a petition a petition for intervenor status.
Um, so intervenor status would give the town legal standing allowing us to submit evidence, file motions and briefs, cross-examine, propose permit conditions, and appeal any decisions. So intervenor status goes beyond public
comment. It literally gives us a seat at the table. My suggestion would be that we would have legal counsel be the representative of the intervenor status. I don't think that that's something we should put on a board or a committee. Yeah. Um
the town would be eligible to petition for intervenor status if a developer applies for a zoning exemption under Mass General Law Chapter 4A section 3 and if the proposed projects meets the EFSB threshold. So again, over 100 megawatt hours. The DPU approvals
affecting Blandford are requested. Um, and then just closing it out, uh, I'm just asking for a call for respectful participation. Uh, it's essential that we move forward as a united community working collaboratively and constructively. The select board
encourages public attendance and engagement at meetings. However, we also stress the importance of civility and respect in all interactions both in person and online. As more information becomes available, we will continue to provide timely updates to all residents through the town website and official
channels. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. I put my email and then I put links to the uh sighting boards docket, the Department of Public Utilities, a link to the uh Governor Giley's climate act
and um information on the petition to intervene. So, I this I haven't put this on the website yet because I was waiting for Mr. Gates to give his update on his um site meeting the on-site meeting that he had and I would add that then here but I was just waiting so that he could address
those things. I didn't want to put incomplete information on the website. So that would be included once I do that and then we lastly here well not lastly but we have we received a check um from the
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. It's for uh the forest stewardship plan. It's a reimbursement check. So the check we have here um I'm going to send this to Sarah, but this needs to go in the conservation account
because they need to pay the forester that did forest stewardship plan. Um so that is that check. Okay. Yeah. And then this everybody has a copy of
because I don't know I don't know what to make of it. It's What is that? It's about the Eversource adjustments, rate adjustments. I mean, I just wanted to give it to you guys. They're saying it's a 4% to 9% increase. And the reason for the
increase is to recover investments in energy efficient programs. Oh my. So, full circle. Yeah. effective July 3 and semester. And just so everybody's aware, this
isn't just for the town, like the residents are going to be affected as well. Like your your rates are going up. Um there's a whole spreadsheet of how much it would be per month. And also, interestingly, I'm assuming this is across the state. Yeah, it is across the street. Sure. Yeah. And there's a different amount
depending on where in the state that you live. Yeah. Um, interestingly, if we did have uh because it has been brought up in the past an electronic vehicle charging station, we would be charged an additional $2254 a month
just by having one. Um, folks that are standing, you're welcome to take a seat up here if you like. I'm not taking questions right now. We're going to do a public comment um at the end. So, I apologize for that. Um, so did you have more for us?
I did not. No. Okay. Um, we are going to back up to our meeting minutes since we skipped those. Yes. Sorry about the late.
That's okay. I was late getting my stuff. That's right. So, we have meeting minutes from May 12th and May 16th. Great. Um motion to approve meeting minutes from
May 12th as written. Any discussion? All in favor? I. So you would re um for because you weren't
um and then where's my um 16th is executive session. Uh motion to approve executive session minutes for May 16th as written.
Second. Any discussion? All in favor? I All right. So Ray, come on down. You're next. How's it going, Ryan? It's gone. Hello. How's everybody doing?
So, uh, the crew ended up finishing up with doing Julius Hall Road. We ended up rolling out of there and we are on Blair Road right now. We had a little hiccup. a resident ended up he was having
contractors and concrete trucks coming in off of Blair. So, we had to take everything from 23 and move it down to North Bford, which we were going to start 23 in and work our way out to North Blamford so I could start heading towards Huntington Road because I took a
look at Huntington Road and all that money we had to put into the road from the loggers when we had all that wash out earlier this spring. It's a lot of heavy rock that's just came up to the surface. Yeah, we ended up strengthening the road up so at least
vehicles could pass. But there's just a lot of stone, too much stone right now. So, we're going to go out there and get that capped off and mix it up with the grater and get that rolled out while we have the roller. That's I'm trying to utilize the time with the roller as much
as I can at this point. Um, Julius Hall Road came out great. I had the guys go out there. We had uh Tom Aley out there. He was doing a lot of hands-on training with Mario. Mario got
in the seat of the greater and he picked it up. Yeah, it's work in progress. I'm even learning stuff on the grater to this day, you know, different techniques. Um, but he really uh took a hold of it very well. So I was really happy that Tom was up there and
so the grater we're resurfacing the road. We resurfaced the road. We ended up trimming all the trees that were overgrowing the road. it started looking like going through a tunnel and we actually got a letter from uh one of the
residents and uh he just wanted to thank the fantastic job in rebuilding Julius Hall Road. I use the word rebuilding because it's essentially what the department did. The road was in rough shape. We showed attention to detail in
every single way. We finally have a ditch, not just on one side of the road, but both. The key is reducing wash outs and preserving the road's integrity. This road is wider, smoother, well packed thanks to the work that the department
did with the roller. Clearing the brush and vines that were encroaching on the road was very helpful in making the road and much more passible how it is today. In the 38 years I've been driving on this road, I've never seen in better
condition than I It is now. Great job by you and the department. That's great. Oh, that was from one of the residents up there that we ended up getting. How many residents are on that road? Do you know?
Yeah. Hold on. Three, four, eight. There's something wrong with your piggy. Huh? You didn't use it to count. No.
Um, thanks for pointing that out. Uh, so that was good that we ended up getting that road taken care of. It was a big help of having Tonolino delivering the stone in and out so could end up paying attention more to showing the guys how to operate the different
equipment. Everybody's been on a piece of equipment, the roller, the the rake. Um, we took the rake off of the tractor and we ended up putting on the pickup truck. We have a Fisher mount, Fisher minute mount setup that goes on the 550
so we could free the tractor up to use a sickle bar and start cutting one of the debris back, but we ended up having the idler pulley freeze up on it and it snapped the belts. So, I called uh Bacons this morning. I actually talked
to Laura and she said the FedEx delivery it should be in tomorrow. So, get that and get that back on the cickle bar so we can start having someone dedicated to cutting the sides of the road at least. I know that's everything's growing in town.
Uh but Blair is coming along very well. We this morning we are right by the Stevens farm. We have gone past the uh the hill from the graveyard.
Tomorrow I'm going to end up having the guys go up there. We're going to clean out all the spillways where like the culver pipes exit and make sure that everything is clear on the inlets and outlets of all the culver pipes. Another thing that I was going to end up showing
the guys was we don't have a skeleton bucket in the town, but skeleton buckets are good for this particular job since we do have so many rock dams in town. Is you just end up scooping the rip wrap on these hills out of the ditches. Shake
the bucket, you put the material back, you got all your rip wrap instead of having a pile of rip wrap mixed with dirt and then you buy more. So, we could end up saving money in the long run by having a skeleton bucket for the excavator. And um we're going to do
it by hand for right now since we don't have one. But, uh just taking a pitchfork and going at every rock dam and pulling everything out and moving it down in our three feet and resetting the stone and cleaning out the fines at least will hold the integrity of that
hill together, which it's nice and smooth right now all the way through. Is this skeleton bucket something you've been used a lot? Yeah. Yeah. Like uh probably get one used. We don't need a brand new one. Uh could call around.
You probably get one for5 to $600. That would end up working for them. Use a lot. This is my thing. Something you're going to use a lot and you can help your labor. Yeah. With that, then you should go check it out. tell us what like that would cost
as long as it's used free wood. That's all. Yeah. No, it wouldn't be sitting around and it's just another attachment that we could end up having for the mini that we have. You know, we have a grading bucket already, which is ideal for doing all the ditches on the side of the road. We
have the digging bucket to make sure that we can end up, you know, getting in tight areas. And that would be one more attachment to do that. Most definitely. So today ended up going up Blair and
ripped all the potholes out, the scare fires on the uh grater and ended up uh pulling them back in just so the potholes like I got to admit the potholes are pretty bad on that road. The only way to get rid of them is to rip them out. You can't just cap them because they're just going to keep
coming back come back. So did that. Ended up getting some ditch laid out. Tomorrow we'll end up uh I talked to Tonalo. I said to hold off on delivering tomorrow. We have some things going on at the shop. And then also uh I want to get ahead of where we're working. So when do you think Blair's going to be
done? I would say what's today? Monday. Uh I would say Thursday the latest I would say. Okay. And then we're going to race everything. Clean up. Go up uh Old Chester, go out
onto Chester Road, and then shoot down that way. Just so everybody's moving. We're just going to keep everything rolling along. Um I did talk to Milton Ren. I let him know. I talked to Allen and I told him, "Look, I am going to be needing a roller a little bit longer. So
I don't want to take all my rental money per roller." And then here comes springtime next year and we need the roller. I'm not going to have any money for it. But there is other means of getting the equipment if needed. But uh going to end up just holding on to it
for one more month just so that I can make sure everything's done in town and up to par under my sight at least so I know that it's done at least. Um, another thing, Springfield Water. I
ended up getting an email. I don't know if Christina brought it up uh to you guys yet, but uh Springfield Water is going to be logging off South Street starting on the 17th. So, we just ended up putting all this money onto South Street Extension for paving and Cobble
Mountain. So, we're going to start running logs on that road and trucks on that road. And um I was pretty surprised about that. Now I ended up contacting Nicole. I went and took video and picture of the roads to make sure that
they're covered. And I did tell her that I was going to end up doing that. They're going to shore up the road with some stone to make sure it wasn't going to break up the edge of it down the end of South Street Extension. But this is something that was uh
predetermined going to be happening. on beforehand that this was coming or just part of the IGA. Yeah. Governmental agreement that was signed off on last year, end of last year. Um,
I'm just wondering why they waited until we paid that section. Oh, I don't think I'm sure they knew. I'm very smoother transition. Um, well, but speaking of that, is there other stuff they're going to do? We have plans and those plans are on the line.
So is there any way to get what is their plan for the rest of the I can ask her what their cutting plan and even like with Dick do you receive Sprinkle Waters cutting plan? Yes. Okay. Prior to obviously it has to be
prior. How how long out do they end up getting this information? Usually it usually sort of a month ahead of time. Okay. Yeah. Well, we see the plan when they file it
and then receive the plan. Okay. Would they have to put up bonding? So, that was my next question. Before this town before this town spends another $14,000 like we have to do this
spring just on one road, right? What is going to happen? because I did reach out to our legal team because I know there was some issue with the wording on having a road bond for the town
and no one got back to me from legal. So, I just I didn't know if there was any leeway on getting any wording for a road just run it by us first because legal waits for us to give them approval to respond.
Okay. Maybe that's why you didn't answer or respond. But yeah, just reach out to one of us first and I'll email you and speak to you. But it's okay approved that they can get back to. So I know the road bond we talked about this months ago. So has there been any speechs of
no putting the wording right to make something happen because um we realized that we had no way to uphold what we had previously. Um so I believe this was that we were going to research what some
other towns had heard. um bonding bylaws on the roads and how they upheld them. So that's kind of where it was left. Okay. So um I would say in relation to this, I don't know how much of your bond would apply
due to the IGA. I don't know. Yeah. Which is why we have the IGA with them. Yeah. Yeah. Um Yeah. Because this was uh this was signed on November 16, 2016 by the Springfield uh sewer and water commission and the
select board at the time. Is that just South Street or do they have just South Street that they have on here? Um we have multiple ones. I don't know. Yeah, they're going to be I haven't gotten any more. It's last minute. I'm guessing they're going to be sending them out, but
I uh I hope that there's no damage done out there on these roads. But at least uh I did contact uh Nicole and the best I could do at least to preserve the road. And one thing I did end up mentioning to her was to make sure that
we have the proper road signing. Not we, they do have the uh proper road signage. Um she did get back to me and said that she did end up re uh reaching out to the loggers and they will stay dedicated on South Street instead of turning off a
crooks and going down to Cabbell Mountain and then turning on to Cabbell Mountain. So uh one thing that I ended up stating to her was it's very important that they end up putting truck entering signs on 23. I know 23 is a
state road, but our residents of Bamford travel that road. Last thing we need is someone pulling out like a logger and you have someone flying down the hill or coming up the hill and not seeing a truck pulling out. It's a narrow entrance into South Street, it has to be posted. I told her,
"Please make sure that's posted on the 17th when they start hauling, you know, hauling u equipment or logs out of there." So, absolutely. Um I was will you just forward any other IDs the way I get to you can see the other ones.
Yeah that would be good. So, what's the acting do? Um, we need more research into what other towns do that's feasible for them to um uphold and then we need to
send something to legal so get a toy situation. Okay. open. Has the town had we I've heard that we had road bonds in the past.
We had one that had been approved. Okay. But then once um I don't remember the specifics, but I know that Springfield had been going to do some work and it came up that it was an issue with how do we uphold it? We went back and forth with legal and they agreed there's no
way you could um you could say this damage was done on prior to the road without doing you know all sorts of you know work at that time that you weren't doing. So what's correct and so that is why we ended up doing the intergovernmental agreements
instead um on the roads that they are working for Springfield for Springfield but any other private logger We don't have a bond for other issues. Yeah. Okay.
I think that would be in the most importance to make sure we end up getting that taken care of. Once fall time comes, winter time comes, a lot of these private companies, they start getting in there, they do the logging, the grounds frozen, they're
pulled stuff in the woods by springtime. I just want to make sure that we're not having a repeat of this past spring. Y and costing the town money instead of putting the money where we do need it. Town I wonder if it makes more sense to do
agreements with specific companies that let us know they're going to log in. I think the bond would be good. I'm not going to rank on that because then at least they do pay attention to what they're doing when they go in and out of
our roads. Um, definitely copying another town would be good legally, but if we need to end up uh chiseling our own bond out and the wording, definitely having legal part of
it to make sense for Blamford would be the best. Do you mind um talking to a couple of highway superintendents and seeing what they if they have something? I think the wording is probably less of an issue. Please reinforcement.
Who's the enforcement? And then the amount of the bond we were asking them to get before they started project was I think excessive and that was the issue with um do you have you had any headway on repairing the bathroom at cutway?
So I ended up reaching out to uh Baskin Builders in Mson. They they do a lot of work for uh municipalities, federal, state level. Um their department is putting together a quote, okay,
for the bathroom. And I just I haven't heard back from them at all. I looked I looked in my emails this morning. I didn't hear back from them, but So on the 28th, we should be able to quote. And did we say we needed more than the one or
so? There's three. After reading the 30B, there's a bracket that we're in and it we're not doing new construction. We're not building a building. We're just repairing. We need the three attempts and for the full job. For the full job.
Got it. Okay. So, we should You think we'll have either three attempts or three quotes on the 28th so we can um try to move forward? Yeah, we need to move forward with this because I don't know about using a porta potty in the winter, but I'm not going to be I'll be coming down here literally.
Talk about it for 46 weeks. So, what helps me because you know, you're right. We can't have these guys going, we have to do it legally, too, at the same same. So, once once if anything, the next the next company I
was tempted to reach out to is Sage. They're a building company. But I don't know if Sage would end up being interested in it. But you know what? At least it's one more attempt, right? Cuz I ended up contacting the Steve Plumbing Service that was the other contractor that would be coming out.
Yeah. He said, "Look, I don't even have the time to write you up a quote saying that I cannot do it." He was like, "That's why I cannot come and look at it. He's making more money and where he's going." And I said, "Look, okay, I'm sorry. you know, I appreciate you getting back to
me, but if you can send me an email at least just saying that I mean, the response is fine as long as you can document that you reached out to them in the same exact manner that you reached out to the other two. So, what you're the services that you're asking
for, it has to be copy and paste across the board to each vendor. So, copy and paste it, put in an email, send Steve and say, "Please respond." Yeah. And if he says nothing or even says, "I'm not interested." That's an attempt. That counts. Yeah.
All right. So, we'll be ready to move on with that. Our next meeting on the 28th. Um and then my next question was um is there any progress with the um company, the Beaver Deceiver company? So, uh
Beaver Deceiver. Beaver Deceiver. Yes, I did end up reaching out to them. They did end up sending me uh four different types of uh say designs that they end up want to put out
there. Um the prices range from $5 to $7,000. Uh annual cleaning is going to be anywhere from about $4 to $600. That's yearly. They come out. Any
issues, it's covered. So, speaking with uh John, Mike's kind of stepping back from it. John's been taking over. Yes, I did end up speaking with them and
I just haven't I've been so busy with everything else. Just the water levels been staying steady. Hasn't been flooding the road since we had Jean Derby out there. So, I can get back on that. Yeah, unless you get something in place prior to winter and then
So, you want beaver deceivers out on the private properties out there that we're going to maintain? I don't think you can go on private property and on either side of the road. It's not within our We're talking. We got road frontage, but that's not
where the We got a culver pipe there to get set up. That's not where the That's not where the beaver dam is. Beaver Dam's 400 yards in the woods and it's 250 yards long going across to state lamp. Could we contact people and do like a um
what is it? A memorandum right something. Same like same same kind of thing we did with the property. Um if they wanted you to go on their property and install them, we would have to have it in writing and express permission from the land owner that they
can go there. Not only that, but that this company can come annually and do an inspection and cleaning. Right. I think that that would be in our best interest considering everything. The two the two property owners that I spoke with, they are more than willing to work with the town. They
gave me emails. I even got to meet one of them that drove all the way up from Connecticut. Okay. Um and you have contact information. Y they uh they were in they were uh
completely in agreeance that yes the water's been encroaching on their land and he gave me a freeall basically on the email saying whatever we do need to do including the trapping I'll go right ahead. Okay. So, I got a big file at the shop
of Beaver Curtis Hall that's uh in there with all the permissions, you know, written permission for being on the property, any means necessary to take care of the situation. So, and I can include them and tell them the process just as long as the town is ready to be
able to encumber the money to maintain these from here on out. That's the thing. I don't think the maintenance is at 4 to600 a year. I think the upfront cost 5 to 7,000 per device.
The problem with this location is we have four dams running out into this brook. All right. So, they set up a pond leveler system at the top major dam. One thing that he was saying, well, what's
going to keep them from moving to here to put another to build this dam up? Then what are we going to do? buy another one and put another one cuz he cannot run, you know, 300 yards of pipe down into the brook where y they're just going to move down and plug
that up. So, it's a great idea, but I really um I was just worried about it turning into a basically a domino effect of all right, now that they ended up noticing the water's flowing from here to here, yes, we're lowering the level
down, but now we're moving down. they're going to start building up this dam and then that's going to become the issue and then once you end up taking care of that that's another issue you got another one now another thing if we end up applying for a grant which is there
through the MSPCA to pay for or part of or in full of the beaver deceiver we cannot trap there anymore that is the MSPCA's rule
okay So if you put in beaver deceivers and they end up paying for it or contribute anything towards it, you cannot have a trapper come in and trap. So five years down the road they have kids and we end up having another family move in. We cannot trap that area.
So then here we are another $7,000. Let's say we have to put another system in, you know. So to have four systems sitting out there in the woods, it's just $25,000 of caging, that's going to add
up. So I've really been trying to figure out what to end up doing with that. Any other advice perfect example of your domino effect is just stick it right down on the left side next to the pipe. Exactly. beaver dam.
Yeah. That's run alongside that one. So they're suggesting that we just stick with trapping trapping. They want to sell us one. They want them. Yeah. You know, but you got to you got to see both sides of the picture. You know, if
if you can't trap there after end up putting in one of these systems, then Yeah. We might be shooting ourselves in the foot in the long run, honestly. So then we just have to be making sure that we're trapping. Can I ask why would they need to trap if the systems were in place and were working? Isn't it so if this just like I was explaining
four dams out there? This one ends up getting No, I get it. But what if you put one Yeah. to stop the domino effect. Say we had the money and said we're going to put one at each of the four dams. Where why would we need to trap after that?
because of the distance that's from the first dam to the end dam where the brook is is here to the post office. That's how long it is. And they cannot run that long of a system. And from the one of these things needs to be
connected to each other. They don't need to be, but we're going to end up making separate units if they clog up the next stand to the next stand to the next stand. That's the problem. I guess what I'm saying is if you bought four and whether you got grant money or funding or whatever and you put those four in, what would be the need to trap
after that? Because they end up repopulating and they end up spreading. These things don't work temporar temporarily they do work. So I mean that's a large investment to make on a temporary fix. I agree. So if we're going to say with
trapping that then we just need to be doing on a regular basis. No, exactly. So what's the action? Do we need to do more traffic now or student hire someone?
So speaking to another town, uh they actually char we're getting a really good deal with the strapper and being licensed it's that's the only way to go. Um, there's other towns that have to pay an initial $500 upfront to hire that
person to come to the town. Then they end up having to pay for the traps to get set in. Then if they get a beaver on their trap, they pay him for that, too. It's amazing how lucrative it is to end up being a trapper. He gives us a flat rate.
And then from there, he checks him every day, moves him around. He has to move around. Go ahead. Sorry. Is that a followup for for who? Do we need to do any more capping right now or are we good right now? Not right now. So, should we just have him scheduled to do it in the spring?
Might need to do it in the fall again. Uh but you know, next year the what? Who does that? I think if if I would be the one seeing the issues. Okay.
All right. I was wondering we are you just talking about that we're not public comments. Okay. Go ahead. Um I know in the past we've had different trackers and I'm just curious because there was one tracker we used
that had devices that drown. It was uh I didn't know what research and what could be done about you know what is right and then you can see them in your shirt.
No more information. Um we will find out Colleen what it is that they're doing and if it's anything it's all humane. Well, yeah, we'll get more information about five years.
This has been more. Okay. What else do you have? Those are my only two questions for you, Ray. Okay. Um, did you have any questions? Yeah. Okay, perfect. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah, I do have to go over some
things. Um, so by the end of the week, so I ended up submitting the fair share of did my post report for the line panic. That was taken care of. So we got the line
painting done in town. That was one thing I wanted to bring up. Do you have any issues that you want to bring up now that we address or are you in good shape? Um, no. The JCB needs some work. We ended up having an electronic module go bad in
the the dashboard. I had Alta come up. They stripped the dash apart. They're JCB dealer. We found out what it is, diagnosed it, and uh we should have the part by the end of the week. So, we have that up and going again because it wouldn't shift at a crab walk to
four-wheel steer to two wheel steer. But that's taken care of now. Uh Springfield water taken care of. Uh by the end of the week I am going to be getting our chapter 90 post report done for the bill for Cobble Mountain
South Street with the pavement. So I'll have that completed. And so what I really want you to do right is like when when we're talking like this is when we come in here make sure that you're laying out what are your challenges. Okay?
Because that's what we're here for is to help you with your challenges. which you brought up. You did free up a couple. Yeah. So, if you can't fulfill some of the things that are on here that we just talked about like bathroom becomes a challenge, whatever, we're getting close to winners. We need to really bring it
up with us to see how we can help get that done. Um, one other thing, I met with Mary Hall this week. I didn't realize, but she was here in the last meeting that we were here. Okay. uh talking about Jethro Jones Road
putting up the uh memorial sign and gonna be uh unveiled on Columbus Day, October 13th that she wants to have it done by. I ended up meeting with her husband to he came out and he said whatever materials that we need, it's not going
to be at the cost of the town. We need stone, put it on the account on full account. He's going to get us some bags of concrete for anchoring the sign. We picked out a location that would be visible from both sides of the road. Um, nice sign. So, the guys, we ended up
doing some work down there. We're on Blair. It worked out perfect. So, we'll end up getting that in. I told her, "Give me like a month and a half. We'll have everything set up down there for us. So, at least when October comes around, it's you can have her unveiling. She wants to end up doing it."
Um, great. Another thing I ended up uh going through, did you I know two weeks ago you were looking for the fleet description information on the highway department, the values.
Yep. Did you find the paper? Because I took copies of everything that I gave you. Correct. And I have it right here. If you don't have it, I can get you a copy of this if you don't. I don't think I have that here.
Okay. Yeah, that would be helpful. Thank you. All right. So, I'll get you a copy of that. Yeah. Um, another thing I ended up uh going through the budget that we ended up having that we had the
meeting for and one thing that I ended up noticing that the uh our capital expenses for the highway department wasn't brought up in any it wasn't wasn't brought up in the budget. I just
wanted to know that's a separate discussion. It doesn't it doesn't go in the budget. Okay. The selection determines what capital money's part of the spend. Okay. All the feedback that they got from the
folks. Okay. Because there were plenty of people that had capital. Okay. Is there something in particular that's concerning you or Well, we had four items that we put on there. Yeah. Um, and none of it got
brought up. The road graders number one, and I know when Rainey was here, I remember sitting in the conversation that there was supposed to be some money put aside when he was here that was for a capital investment. We do need a new grader, but we are going to work with what tools we have
and we're going to end up working on it, making sure that it's going to be adequate enough to do the jobs we needed to do for the meantime. But that is your top priority. uh top corriority was the uh the road grader used if possible but the uh calcium trailer it would be nice to have a
calcium trailer for town we do have a forkcog on the calcium and talking with Kate and Tom they get deliveries um Branville gets deliveries it's a good it holds the road together it binds the
fines so we don't lose the fines I was praying it was going to rain a little bit today But it didn't while we're dropping all the stone. But it did now, but while we're turning the road and putting material down just so it would hold the dust down because it really was flying. And having a calcium trailer to
spray the material after we end up, you know, putting it down and then rolling it would really lock it together. We got a lot of dirt roads in town. It's not like we don't. Um, right. So, that was that was one question. I was looking that over and I was like, man, that that would be really
nice right now. U even looking at like a water buffalo system and putting a spray bar on it, you know, fabricating it just to end up working for that implement to end up hooking into a truck and driving the water buffalo. Yeah,
that Dave Dave had one. all that stuff including the Vplow for the army truck went bye-bye. So that we don't have it now, but it would be good. I did contact um
uh the forestry division in Amherst and they do have uh used equipment that we can work together with the fire department and uh utilize that for the town. So I have uh started that
connection too. Another thing, I ended up getting the registration all taken care of for the guys with Bay State Roads for the chainsaw chipping course. We did end up saving $200 by having the course here in town. So, good. Friday, I got the paperwork all squared
away and taken care of. We'll make sure our chipper is up and going, ready for that. And uh I think that's we've got other folks. No, I I I understand. But I think that's uh
I think that's about it. Thank you, Ryan. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Um we don't have anything board of health. Correct. Anything. Um I did just see here on my file that we have the executive session meeting from March
10th that needs to be approved too. So just going to make a motion to approve these as read. Is there a second? Second. Um any discussion? All in favor? I All right. Um so now we're moving on to action items. We've got some warrants
to approve. Um we've got goodness 267. Is there a motion for all of them at once? All in one. All right. I'm gonna hand you my hand. Just no payroll. Just no payroll.
Okay. Straight down. No water is on. Yes. The last part is the last one. I think you already signed up. They're all technically the same.
Oh, all in favor? Hi. Hi. Hi. All right. So, now we've got review and approve the contract with Ryan. Is that digital or is there should be a
copy of it? There's a copy in here. There should be there. Um this is for um this is for taking over the mowing
and edge trimming for the locations at a which are town hall playground ball field war memorial post office and the beachfield at park. Um, so it's a seasonal contract with land. Can we add
something to it or what? Um, yeah. Yeah. Part of the post office. So the post office like the hardcape and all of that is handled by the police landscaping, but Ryan handles the back. Okay,
good. And then there's a piece of that in the uh so motion to approve the contract with I'm going to say instead of Ryan Bagel with Lford Landscape second.
Um any discussion? All in favor? I I Okay. And we've got uh a letter from OKAM Acorn Conservation. Um it came to us this week, I believe,
from um so I'll try to read it quickly. Um so the motion would be to support Opium Acorn's conservation letter. Is there a second? Second. For discussion. Um so the letter is um writing on behalf of advocates for conservation of OKAM's rural nature and
safety incorporation a nonprofit organization formed this year to protect the health environmental character of OTM mass. OPM is currently seeking a significant threat of proposed 180 megawatt lithium battery energy storage system best to be cited at 358 road
within the wear river wershed a protected area that contributes contributes to the drinking water supply more than 3 million mass residents as an individual involved in citizen le effort. I'm also bringing personal experience for years of public service. I have served in Oakan municipal government including the board select
board of health and advocated for rural towns as a member of the mass municipal association board and the local government advisory commission. Her work in the mass select board association focused on ensuring rural voice voices were heard and especially when it came to equitable funding and policy. I reached today not only resident but is
someone who understands the broader implications of this project poses for small towns across the continent. This facility posed by Rhyland Energy, a private for-profit developer, would require the clear cutting of acres of forest, destroy wetland habitat, and introduce industrial risk and quiet
rural area with limited emergency response capacity. The risk of fire, toxic emissions, long-term environmental damage to our region, and more battery installation in such sensitive areas unacceptable. And yet, despite widespread community opposition, local voices and bylaws are being ignored.
This project is now under review by the Massachusetts Energy's facilities sighting board under docket. Uh we believe OPM's fight is your fight too. Like many rural communities across the Commonwealth, OPAM has long served as natural resource guardian filtering water, preserving ecosystems and
maintaining open space to sustain both environmental health and local economies. If this project is approved, it will set a dangerous precedent that opens the door for other vast industrial scale projects to be cited rural sensations without adequate local input oversight protection. We're asking for
your help to stand in solidarity with OKAM and help protect your town and others like it processing. Here's how your community can help. Submit a letter to BFSB expressing concern about the statewide precedent this project sets. And so they provided a draft. Discuss the issue with conservation. We have
advocate regionally legislative legislatively for clear sighting guidelines that prioritize community input and water protection support other towns facing similar pressure from large scale energy developers. Um feel free to contact information. So we are accepting
um the letter that they have sent we send to the Massachusetts energy facilities site um all in favor I I All right. So you put that on that
very much. All right. Um Jackie for personnel policy. Did you have a motion you wanted to make? Okay. Uh the first motion I like about there is that the existing hygiene team
that was um basically receive the same benefits as though they were union employees that um are still working with us. Obviously no longer with us. We're going to we as a team are going to look at the union benefits
opposed to our policy benefits for the town. However, that's going to take some time. We're not going to do it like tonight. So, give her the motion. Well, how do you do the motion? Yeah, me sir. Um, you're making a motion to
I'm making a motion to continue the benefits for the highway guys as they have today, which is under the union policy until until such time we as a select board determine what the new policy
I do. Um I think that it would be a good idea to set a date that we need to take place for you guys too. Yes. Okay. Um so so we um let's set a date for a day that we doesn't have to be like it will be a
separate meeting but it doesn't have to be a Monday evening and then but the sole topic is going to be recapping the person but will it have to be like an executive meeting? No, it's just personnel policies. So what will happen is we'll post it. We'll
meet we'll go over our policies. It probably take us a couple hours. We will then have drafts that we will send to the town attorneys and then at our next meeting we will have received hopefully the drafts back and we can um finalize
our personal. So um is there a time during the day that works for you guys that we can do a meeting at like a day let's say um sometime during the week. You're away,
aren't you? No, it's so during the week of the 21st. July. Yeah. Do we want to do like um Tuesday afternoon? Oh, wait. Posting time. Yeah, we have to
post on Thursday. Monday, July 21st. Uh the Yeah, we can do the 21st. I is that what you're thinking or what? Yes, I was thinking the 22nd. I just have a something in the middle of the day. 22. What time do you want?
Whatever you want. You want to do right at noon? EOS. I would say at least two hours. Yeah, we don't have it set up. So loud. I have another motion. All right, hold on. Let me
have to vote on that one. Um, all in favor? I was the other one that's concerned because Mario had something like 60
hours of time something that he has based on the previous policy. My motion is to grant them that time. was not subject to change. So
the way I would say did you get the motion? So you want him to keep his 60 days. Yes. Um that he had acrewed through water, right? Um I assume
days 60 hours. Okay. 60 hours. So keep his 60 hours that he approved through water. Right. Did you have something? It's actually 88 hours of time at June 25th or 26th when we had
the last payroll that he had because I gota that's what he had and then when July 1 rolled over it all was gone. So he was wondering where did it go? That's so it was 80
it was like 82 hours that he had. Let's say whatever and that way we can get them. Um, any discussion? All in favor? I I Okay. And so we're good with that. All
right. So, we are going to public comment. Actually, should we have conservation update on the onsite public comment might want to Yes. So, let them do that first. Um, mayor, can you hold public comment? Hi, how are you?
Good, thanks. So, um, last week we're ident we were notified by Mass D of an on-site meeting at, uh, the site of the potential Lford Storage LLC sites.
This is on North Lford. Yes. Okay. And this is the one that's adjacent to the Ever Source. Okay. Substation. So the reason for the meeting was what's called a 401 water quality certification which the advocate has filed with
masking. This is a permit. It comes from the state group conservation commission. Okay. Um so that was the the reason for the on-site meeting with mass EDP representatives myself the consultant for the applicant is bond
and a subcontractor SWCA who does wetlandation for them. Okay. Um the trigger for this specifically is that they they're proposing to use timber mass with that
terminology space with big pieces of hardware that they put down over a lot of dry. Okay. So that that's the specific trigger for this permit and it's also linked to the fact that it's within the field water
and sewer watershed which is called an outsaving water resource. So with those factors come together as it requires this permit be filed. Was anyone from circular water there? No. And I I did call um Nicole and tell
her that this is happening and sort of she a little bit. This was invitation only and they were not invited. Correct. Yeah. Technically that's Yeah. So So we all met out there. Um
the long and short of it was with the work that's been done out done out there to date in terms of parking wetlands and parking the access road that they want to put in. Uh it was very hard to follow. It was very confusing. None of us could could
really make sense of it. Um, and again, what they're trying to do is build this access road strictly for the purpose of getting to the rear of the property to put in what's called pests or soil boards so that they could analyze the soil to make
a determination if they feel this property is being appropriate to build the best facility. So, that's that's what this is all about. Uh parallel to this they filed a notice of impact with us the conservation commission. We hired a
peerreview consult associates who work for us out there. They went out and did their assessment and they sort of came away with the same sort of feeling that things were not well marked out there and you know somebody needs to do some more work out there. Um I would say that
the DP people that were there were very thorough. We were there for three hours. Um, uh, they spent quite a bit of time looking at the wetland delineation work that's been done out there. Uh, SWCA fellow that was there actually had a
small hand a with them and they were directing them to pull up soil samples on the spot. You can tell they're looking at it if it's what's called hybrid soils or not which are wise. Okay. So, a lot of that went on. Um
the the takeaway from all this was that you know we all really couldn't make enough sense of it. Uh and the agreement on site was that um SWCA and Tyabon who returned to the site spend more time out
there to do a better job of parking their the wetlands and the actual location of this road. It's going to go in where the timber mask would be put in the wetland areas. Uh, so I mean that was sort of informal. I mean
there's no it's not memorialized in any way, but that was the agreement we all walked away with that that would be done. So I'm not sure what the timing of that would be. Um so the other thing that came out of that meeting was that uh the
applicant is actually required to uh file another permit which is called a 404 permit with an army corps of engineers. Um and this is all sort of it's all linked by the fact that they're putting these types
mats out in wetlands that are within the footprint of the sprinkler watershed. Um, so a 40 a 404 permit is it looks very similar to the notice of intent that they submitted to us, the conservation commission, but the
criteria that that the federal people use versus the Massachusetts Protection Act are a little different. So So they're going to be looking at some different things. And another thing that came up is uh is it
potentially habitat for the northern longeared bat. Okay. Um which uh is it a federally endangered species. So they're going to have to do an evaluation of that as well. Okay.
Um so uh again, so the takeaway is more work needs to be done. At some point we'll all regroup out there and take another look at it. Um, and I would just say from spending kind three hours out on that site. It's it's a very
challenging site in terms of wetlands to topography and the fact that most of it where this best facility would would end up if it ever happens would be like in a mature hemlock forest which would be clearcut. So it was very
much in line with what you just read about. Yeah. from both. Uh and ju just to update on on the other uh projects in in town. Um we've still heard nothing from the other larger best
project in terms of filing with with the conservation commission. the two solar projects. Um the one at the MAR property, they have contacted us and asked for information about filing for what's called a a request for
determination, which is the first step with the with the well protection act to kind of determine if you're affected by that regulations or not. So they're planning to file that with us sometime soon. We haven't seen it yet. Uh the other solar
project not seen anything. Huntington. So that's kind of a quick summary. Okay. And you'll keep us and and you mentioned earlier the check we received. I mean this is the document
we have for the forest stewardship plan. It's a pretty detailed thing and just so folks know it's geared to climate change to manage the forest to help us with climate change. So it's a pretty pretty trusting. Thank you. Thank you for all your work.
Question. How can how can our conservation give a permit to put a temporary across somebody else's land without them being
as you said sprinkle water by? Well, well, no, it's it's not their property, but it it's in ter in terms of the waterhed drainage and so it's in within the drainage area that that drains into the water into the
streams that that end up in the reservoir. I'm sorry. So, which property is it? It's owned by a company called Satonic Solar LLC, which is the same company that owns a property that is solar
design on the other side of the of the substation. Okay. All right. So, we're um Yeah, we're opening up for um public comments. So, um,
uh, public input, limited public comment, period, two, three minutes. Um, if you believe more time is needed, uh, you can submit a request to place on the agenda ahead of time. Um, I think that's
it. Awesome. So, go ahead, Richard. Yes. Do you want to come up to Steve or Okay. send us another certified letter to notify us and submit
when they submit the application so that um and we can take we can take that. Oh, I think I think they were
special in the state, but there were only 50. Um, still um so they they can go through the state at 50 megawatts. Is that correct? Yeah, they
can go they can choose to go through the state if they are smaller. I think everybody's waiting to see how easy it really is through the state or if it would be better off for them to try and go through the municipalities. They do have the choice.
What about all these applications? The one those are solar. Those aren't best. Excuse me. Those are solar facilities. Those are not vest facilities. No. So, it's an accessory vest. It's not
a standalone vest. That's different. Correct. Yeah. Yeah. That would be an accessory unit, not a standalone. Um, ever source, not standalone. I don't. The Eversource situation is about
expanding their substation. That's a separate thing. That's one the ever source the petition. Yeah, the substation expansion petition has already been submitted. even though even though
um get 14 notice the meeting starts in 14 days I suggest that we all for best are you talking about for the best oh for the expansion
June 24th. Yeah, that was already filed as a prior to the substation documents were filed on the 24th. That's correct. June 24th. So
emergency we've exceeded the 14 days to do the inter intervenor petition status and really more about the best facilities not necessarily the uh substation expansion. What my question is when they
starting in the state for the best what what options what do we have um to put in you know they just want
you know so right now there's nothing on the docket for best stations in the town of Lford but as soon as those are do go on the docket we will then file the intervenor status question if you want to cut to them, you got to modify all
the products and I mean building a chemical basically vessels. Yeah. Everybody in the area they want to hand that's not sufficient.
Yes. As soon as as soon as they are on there we will definitely be filing the Sarah. Did you have something? Did the town file for engineer status under the association? that doesn't pertain to the substation. Apply for intervenor status for anything
that's on the docket, right? And so the substation is on the docket. We did not apply for intervenor status. Not fast. I did reach out to the attorneys on it July. Yeah. Right. The day we got the petition, I did reach out to legal counsel asking
them how to proceed. Uh you know, if they would apply for intervenor status. um an attorney from our legal council is supposed to be getting back to me. They have not gotten back to me yet. So, we had 14 days. I think that that
wasn't something we were even really aware of was now we know now we know with the best situation then they can't stop. So I think we So I'm gonna wait and ask you to raise your hand if you're sorry Sarah are you
done? Uh I guess my next question would be what is it going to be going forward because you missed the vote. Really was comforting. So what is the plan? I think you read what our plan was going forward. Did you hear
correct? Yep. Are we going to go to the same lawyer and not get it or we have to Those are our town attorneys. Um so we are using our town attorneys. He's since appoint directed us to someone in the um
the law firm that apparently specializes in this area. Um so we will definitely and have let them know that this is a top priority for the town that people are frustrated um that there's a lot of emotion in the town around it. Um, so
they do know that it was top priority for us. That was 20 days ago. So they didn't even respond. No, it wasn't 20 days ago. It was No, I think it was beginning of July. It was the beginning of July. As soon as we received that, we reached out. We were
trying to do some research to figure out what our steps were and what exactly rights we had. Um, and unfortunately, we didn't get that information back in time for that person. Sometimes people file themselves or question.
You can go to the website and read the instructions on the website. You can um it's not you would then become a legal party to this and it's not really advisable for an individual to take that on, but no one's I guess stopping you. It's only one person.
Uh I don't know if it's one person per town. If it's I I believe there's language on the website that does say as an individual or as a group. Um, but I'm not going to give any legal advice on that, but it will be on the website
with all the other information that I'm posting. There'll be a link right to it where you can read all about it. Question. So, have all the boards gotten together and discussed this? It seems like they don't know anything that they're doing. I'm wondering if anybody
had a collective discussion about this. We've had the planning board come before us. We had conservation come before us. Yeah. One at a time. You guys sat together. Yes, we did. Yep. We had planning, we had zoning, we
had that first. When was that? I don't think April. Was it April? Okay. Do you plan on moving forward, getting together and discussing these things and presing
in two weeks? We have another meeting. Yes. Is it possible we get a copy of that? Sure. Yeah. Um if you just want to give your information to Joanne um or Christina
that they can get that out to you. Anyone else? Um, now I'm a little disheartened that we missed the window and I'm wondering if there's anything that you could persuade the attorneys that we emailed
within that to try to do something without real right now. And I spent those days reviewing the Lampard order that was approved in 2022,
reviewing this document that was submitted. And there are so many discrepancies on what they said and what they recently submitted. Most important being the amount of P megawatt
that they use. So in 2022 it was approved. They said it's 11 and they're planning back. They're now saying they have to do this huge expansion. Even though they have right now are taking 37 megawatt of solar and beds
already that facility totally handle it. Their peak wattage was 11 megawatt 2022. They're now saying their peak wattage was 24. They can handle way more than that. They have Yeah,
I mean there's nobody that can speak to this board now because don't have any status attorney and that property above the property that was just
and it is wetland. Yeah. I mean, I just think it's I don't know if there's any way to talk to attorneys. If you had that send an email to them, if you're trying to do this, if there's any way they can because we need to be compelled to
voice, this is one of six plans substation expansion. They also changed their figure from cost 37, right? And all of us are paying this.
Every person, every source will be paying this. We're gonna even if we can fight the mortgage, we're going to be paying for the other five. But they said it's going to save us money. They never calling to answer your question.
What's what we're all guessing at? They haven't given us any information. Well, have they come here and sit down and told us what their goal is? I mean, you get a little bit here, a little bit there. It's all speculation.
The first positive thing Gates just uh went through last week that where we actually talked to somebody, but no one's come here. I read the documents that were posted on the state website that were presented by other source and
then I saw them referencing the land order. So I looked back to find that original blood order that was written in 2021 and was then approved in 2022. The cyst that 4% was just approved in 2024.
All related to the the Blandford order was that order also some bland I'm sure. It was and it's all available on so it's all available if you go looking for it but they have not come here that big
folder the big bas Yeah I looked through that bonder I don't I I don't I I don't have the knowledge to understand all that that's put in there. I don't think anyone in this room does.
Nobody does. But you can but that's what I mean. We need somebody to come here, sit down, and it's always too late. Part of their thing is going to be community outreach. But what's most important right now is tonight
is to have a plan to reach out to the attorney to be able to speak for the town on our behalf to this board. That's the only thing that we have done and we have done that, but we will um reach out again and see if there's anything. Hey, you got this. We sent this email. Absolutely. That's the
but the thing is is they know they have all the answers. They know to the penny what this is going to cost. Everything is all set. They're just not saying it. Okay. They believe me these companies when they get a thought they follow it
through and they don't tell anybody until they know where the last dot in the last period on the census. They know where everything is and they know. They knew two years ago. This is going to move real quick. Just so you know, this is going to go very
quickly because they have a deadline in order to be able to reclaim these cy bonds to do the tariffs to everybody. It's going to happen. Are there any other public comments? Um Richard and then last time we had a discussion about overring consistent
laws like offsets um that the states has been yes is subject to all those job all the
um I know the one that's on proposing is screen that comes through and you know it's a 2004 offset with an amendment out in the 90s. So they have to you has
to offset. So that limits the amount of you can have batteries and all the all the laws that are in place have to be followed and that's why there
should be a parallel do in the state you know I I believe these are going to be allies looking at this and we want to make sure that everything is as if this high
so the second point is um inflation reduction by labor Um the projects have the original projects I believe have to be completed by um the
end of and the new factory first I think they're short that time so any delay um in so they can follow
Right. Go ahead. Do logging companies have permits when it's the logging companies they do they put their plans you no those three state DCR department conservation recreation they are state
foresters that those plans and they don't follow state noise ordinances and stuff that chainsaw running 5:30 in the morning. Yeah. going on for two years now.
You're talking about the one and just this last week all the woods around me have been marked for further another 100 acres. I don't know who's doing it. Trying to find out who's doing it. If there's going to be double deck logging trucks going down that road for the next two years, I'm out, you know, like we can't take this anymore.
Yeah. And I I no one notified me. I'm in the butter. I got no notification. Our road is getting deteriorated more than when the ski club was there and they were trying to maintain it. these loggers going up and down Nin Brook has ripped up the road. Um, and now I'm being told it's going to be another two years with
the property right behind me. I don't know who it is. I'm trying to find out, but my family, my I got an 8-year-old and 11 year old. They're up at 5:30 in the morning. Is the shame working. Is there someone at the state level you can contact if you don't? Yeah, I can talk to the state forester.
Okay. Pretty sponsored and find out who the logging company is. Yeah. Kyle, can you get your information to Dick Gates and then he can reach out to you? Um, I tried notifying a land owner. Not good response. I notified some of the workers
there. We got on an iron rod threat to strike me down. You didn't You didn't get the name of the company name. I mean, they're there every day. I I don't I don't know where I want to go with this. I just want to know what the heck's going on. Permit this have to be had like I want to know the start date,
stop date. How much longer do we have to go for this? My kids are losing, you know, hours of sleep every week. And I'm a teacher. I'm home for the summer now. I didn't realize what my wife was going through. Yeah. All day long. You're supposed to be notified, too. Correct.
So, Dick will get you some contact information. Um, and did you end up reaching out to our police chief about the noise? I did. Uh we've had about five or six conversations back and forth. I even sent one at 5:30 in the morning. Okay, I'll follow
like uh yeah, it's it's the point where like as a resident cannot take it anymore. Okay, I'll follow up with her as well. Okay, thank you. All right. If we have no more public comment, we um actually we are making a
vote to go into executive session um to discuss I almost forgot. Um, it's in accordance with GLC 38A section 21 A2, discuss strategy sessions in preparation with negotiations with non-UN personnel or conduct collective bar sessions or contract negotiations
with non union personnel. Uh, here's