You know, he watches um >> likes that. >> It's too low. >> Too tall. >> Much better. >> She's heads above everyone. >> Yeah, right. >> That's just natural though.
It is comfortable. Okay. If you hope and not see us came in today Hi. Can you see us? >> I don't know who that is.
>> Is it Thank you. Thank you. Somebody here. This is not >> just his grace review and we never gave a copy and I left a copy here in my garden. So I had to make another copy in
tonight. >> You had already read it. This was the one that I put together. >> So if you could find >> Yeah, you got to sign with that. We got to wait for folks to go back.
>> Oh, you letting her in. >> No, I'm trying to do that. Yeah, >> I know. That's what I'm trying. >> She does to me, too. I thought it was jam bus, but egg.
>> She used to work on the ham in it and cheese and then I put egg scrambled it up the egg. I'm like, I'll make a bunch and put it in the freezer. You can pull it out
there, right? Apparently, nothing is printing. >> My This doesn't print. I can't print. >> I don't know if that's fine. I'm just going to send it to you guys. It's okay. >> What is it? >> So, you had to send the series of emails about different things to discuss and
just end of year stuff. So, I put together something. >> Oh, that was all printed. my printer and then >> did we the Joy? >> I did
a we talked about it last week. >> Oh, I don't know. >> Okay. Uh, select board meeting begins. It's 6:01 May 26th. Please stand for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for it stands under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> I was going to say I know um no gives a
gives a different feeling after yesterday. Yesterday was a great day. It was um I thought I thought it was a very I mean I haven't been around long enough to know what the what the turnouts have done for that but the folks that put it together and and Joanne's work is just
phenomenal. >> I know it was a lot of work. I said you've got to start delegating because when you retire no one's going to be able to do what you do. >> She's way too much. >> And uh Doug Emo did a fantastic job. I mean it was super touching his whole
wasn't it in your brother singing >> thank >> but it was it was a good day it was good day um all right so first thing on the agenda we have a couple things on the agenda race going to u for a little bit on the agenda here in a little bit and George
um what we wanted to talk about first I think on the agenda is the updated personnel policy um I did update the policy to reflect the fact that we're going to be paying
for licenses for the guys in the or gals or >> if we ever have any gals in the in the highway department. >> Um hopefully one day we will. Um so that's done. There's a couple of things in there after reading that I
want to review with you guys before I publish. Um, you know, it's it's one thing to write and then it's another thing to apply it when you start applying some of these things. I want to make sure that it's completely accurate before we go out to publish. Um, so
we'll talk about that at one of our next meetings, but at the end of the day, we will publish. There has been discussion about also possibly putting something in there as it relates to the drug testing that we've been talking about. If by chance we could get something together
and get it done within the next couple weeks, we could just publish it with that and we're done with the share. So if if you you spoke to me a little bit about that. So if there is something that we can get a blurb in there, get it to legal or whatever we have to do, we could do that. >> And we want this all done and
distributed to all employees and treasurer collector by July 1st. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> Correct. Because it'll be in effect July 1st. Um, so that's where that is. Okay. But it's coming along. I mean, there's
there's definitely uh just there's just one question that I have before we go to publish. Um, you want to talk about next item on the agenda is approve and the reverse 911 quote. Everybody has a copy of that.
>> Yep. >> If I do, I don't. Is that DLT? >> Yes, I believe >> connect site. They have different names. Mary, >> it's when I log in, I log into connect site. I'm looking for
that. I did. You know, one of the things that would be really good, Christina, is if we could get it a list of people that can do 911 reverse calls. You do it. I know you have me know how to do it. >> I have done it before. Yeah.
>> Okay. >> I know that >> I don't know if I have the password anymore. >> So, there's a lot to uh town administrator, water department, fire, police,
>> highway. >> I'm not saying that they're aware of what their login information is. That's not what I'm saying. I'm just saying that they >> Water doesn't do it on their own. They always call you. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, you're the primary person that does it, though. >> Okay.
>> Okay. Any questions about the quote? >> Do we know when it was last year by chance? >> Um, so it's not broken down in the budget, but >> I'm sure it's already in the budget. >> It is actually. So, I had spoken with them prior to putting the budget
together and we've already budgeted for it. They just sent it as a formality I guess because it's that time of year. >> Okay. I need to vote for approval. >> So motion to approve the um price quotation for um DLT connect
for $1,829.3. >> I second. >> Any questions? All in favor? >> I I >> Okay. Do you need a signature or anything? No. Christina, are you good? >> I'm good. >> Okay. >> Okay. We definitely need it. It's not
like we can live without it. You got to have it. >> Okay. >> All right. So, the next thing on the agenda is I just had the agenda in front of me. >> Uh, new business discuss legal council's response to public use of gymnasium for
regularly held events. >> Okay. >> And you spoke to legal. I did, correct? What was the outcome of that discussion? Um he said that any event that is normally held in the gymnasium that has been normally held in
the gymnasium um is okay to do with the approval of the select board. >> He suggested that perhaps we have a written policy about use of it. Usually it just goes to Joanne. Joanne will come to the board and inform the board you
know but George you have to wait till public comment. I'm sorry. Well, you can't interrupt us. >> I can't hear you. >> Oh, okay. >> Your sound system isn't working >> at all. >> Well, you're I can't hear you here. >> Can you hear me now? >> Little bit better. >> Okay.
>> And if you speak up, it's even better. >> I'll I'll do my best, George. Um, where was I? >> Uh, oh, have a an unofficial policy, but a pol something in writing that people can reference um on the general use of
town owned property. town owned properties, right? It's broad. It's it's across the board. Yeah. >> Right. And we didn't have a policy. >> We had a procedure that >> Okay. >> You know, people This is how we've always done it. You know, was in charge of the calendar specifically for the
gymnasium, but I think more for townwide properties in general, you know. Um there should be something people can reference so that they know. >> Yeah. >> Was there any discussion about insurance? Otherwise people
>> of course so um when I say regularly held events right like so if it's if it's a meeting of some sort or people want to gather for some reason >> that's a regularly held event and our insurance already covers that if you're doing something that's not
>> regular which is a broad term obviously. >> Yeah. >> But you know anything that would >> we would have we would have to have um our certificate of insurance and make sure that everything is covered for whatever event. But again another reason why it has to come before the select board um
>> so we know >> right in this particular case was we did find it um the um the other thing is and so you've written up a pol you know a draft
policy right >> and you want to just read it you want to read it out loud what do you want to do >> um Sure. >> You want me to read it out loud? >> You can. Sure. I don't think I talk loud enough. I think I have this frame.
>> Um, I'm usually pretty loud, but just for George. >> Oh, no. You just unplugged your >> no. >> Is it working? >> No. Oh, yeah. >> The lights on. >> Can you hear me, George? >> Yes.
>> All right. So, >> so the purpose of this policy is to preserve the neutrality of town government, ensure fair and lawful use of town property and resources, prevent distribution to municipal, I'm sorry, disruption to municipal operations, and
establish uniform standards for election related activities occurring on town property or involving town resources. This policy policy shall be administered in a viewpoint neutral, contentneutral, and non-discriminatory manner consistent
with applicable federal and state law, including the first amendment to the United States Constitution, article 16 and 19 of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights, MGL 54, MGL55, and MGLC 268A, State
Ethics Commission guidance and applicable opinions of the Massachusetts Attorney General. Nothing herein shall be inter interpreted to prohibit activity protected by law. Section two is equal application. This policy shall apply equally to all candidates,
incumbents, political committees, ballot question committees, organizations, and members of the public. No provision of this policy shall be applied in a manner that favors or disadvantages any candidate, office holder, political viewpoint, or ballot position. Section
three, political signs and campaign materials. Political signs, banners, posters, placards, or campaign materials supporting or opposing any candidate or ballot question shall not be placed on town owned buildings, grounds, parking
areas, vehicles, equipment, or municipal rights of way except as otherwise permitted by law. This section shall not prohibit temporary hand carried signs or other constitutionally protected expression. Town property shall not be used to store or distribute campaign
materials absent prior authorization through the town's facility use process. Use of municipal property for organized events. No organized gathering, rally, campaign event, meet and greet, solicitation activity, or similar event
shall occur on town owned property without prior approval through the town's facility use process. Requests shall be reviewed using neutral criteria including facility availability, public safety and municipal operations, compliance with occupancy insurance and
facility requirements and prevention of of unreasonable interference with town services or public access. Town facilities otherwise available for public use may be used for election related activities on the same terms and conditions applicable to all other users. Approval of facility use shall
not constitute town endorsement of any candidate, ballot question, or political position. Political activity at town sponsored events. Town sponsored events, ceremonies, meetings, and municipal functions shall not be used for organized campaign activity unless
expressly designated advanced as a nonpartisan candidate forum. No person shall be afforded pre preferential opportunity to campaign, speak or distribute materials at a townsponsored event by virtue of candidacy or incumbency.
Nothing here herein shall prohibit attendance by candidates or members of the public in their personal capacity. Elected or appointed officials from performing official duties or nonpartisan candidate forms providing substantially equal opportunity to all
certified candidates for the applicable office. Use of municipal resources. Town funds, equipment, technology, vehicles, facilities, supplies, staff time, communication systems, email accounts, websites, or social media platforms
shall not be used to support, oppose, or facilitate any political campaign, candidate, political committee, or ballot question except as authorized by law. Prohibited use includes, but are not limited to, use of town copers,
printers, equipment, or supplies for campaign purposes, display of campaign messaging on town vehicles or equipment, campaign activity during compensated municipal work time, or use of official town titles, insignia, or communications
in a manner implying municipal endorsement. Nothing herein prohibits lawful political activity conducted by municipal employees or officials under a private capacity and without use of town resources consistent with MGL268A campaign and signature collection in
municipal building buildings. The town recognizes that lawful petition circulation and signature gathering may constitute protected activity. Such activity may occur in public accessible areas of municipal municipal buildings during normal business hours provided it
does not interfere with municipal operations, public access or safety. No person engaged in campaigning or signature gathering shall obstruct entrances, exits, walkways, parking or access to services.
Two, interfere with town operations. Three, harass, coersse, or impede members of the public. Or four, enter employee only or non-public areas without authorization. The town may impose reasonable contentneutral time, place, and manner restrictions necessary
to ensure safety, accessibility, and orderly municipal operations. Electioneering near polling places. Electioneering shall comply with MGL54 and 65 and other applicable election
laws. No person shall solit votes, display campaign materials, distribute political literature, solicit signatures, or otherwise engage in electioneering within a polling place, within the building where voting occurs, upon the premises where the polling
location stands, or with 100 ft of an entrance to the polling place during voting hours. 150 ft. >> Did I say 150? >> You said 100 miles. >> 150. >> 150 ft. 150 miles. The town may establish reasonable physical markers or safety
measures consistent with state law to maintain orderly access to voters. Administration. The town administrator in consultation with the select board and town council as necessary shall administer this policy uniformly and consistent with applicable law.
Questions regarding interpretation of this policy shall be referred to town council. The effective date this policy shall take effect upon adoption by the vote of Bford select and may be amended by the vote vote of the board. >> Yeah. So that's just a draft. I've sent
it to legal for them to look at. They've not gotten back to me yet. >> Okay. >> But I just think it's a starting point. It is a lot but um I think it's necessary. Otherwise, we're just saying, "Well, this is how we've done it." Or, you know, now we have a structure to it, right? >> And it's >> right.
>> Well, I remember even when I ran, I was like, "What are the rules? I don't know what the rules are." If you're if you're not used to it, right? You don't know. So, this is good to have it in policy. >> Um, >> the only thing I question is, uh, you know, uh, state question ballots
>> that affect the towns. All right? And we can't say yay or nay whether the town should support it or not. I I find that uh in government intrusive because we have several bills that are coming up
that are going to be questions on the ballots and it's going to affect taxation in towns. It's going to affect a lot. >> It's not restricting you from talking about the subject matter at hand. It's just you can't display a vote no on
question one sign in here. Do you know what I mean? So you can have open discussions. >> You can you can have you can have meetings on the various questions. >> Sure. Yeah. >> All right. Okay. >> And the board could I mean the board could have an opinion? I mean or would
we probably want to >> Well, I mean I really want the attorneys to look at this first. This is me just trying to put something together so that we're all on the same page. >> Um I don't want to give any incorrect guidance.
>> Yeah, but it's a good question, right? It's a good question. >> Um is there any other questions you could think of right now, TJ, that you want to ask? Make sure >> Oh, don't get me started. >> Oh boy. >> No, that that that's basically it. I
don't think the words. It's really just so that everybody's entitled to use town property and that you know >> all we ask that the the process is followed that the board is made aware and gives approval and that's it. >> Well well well that's that's that's the
whole thing. Voting day I can understand. All right. Like uh we have uh the Democratic club that meets here. All right. And they're all they have to be uh followed under the open meeting laws,
>> right? >> Okay. >> They do. They're in a public building. I I I checked on that because I I question some of the things that go on. But anyways, uh you know, so I went to one
of their meetings and uh it it got to a point where I had to explain that you you have to follow open meeting laws. You can't if you're going to have an open meeting in public building, you have to follow the open meeting laws. You can't just say we're a
private group. If you want to be a private group, you have to pay rent. >> I think what So what open meeting laws were they not following? cuz when I went to one it seemed like I mean the process seems similar to >> well they uh there was a person of my
persuasion that wanted to make a comment and he was not allowed to >> during a public commentur during the meeting and a question answer. >> Yeah. He had a question and he would he
was stopped during his question and >> but during a public comment section just like ours on the agenda. >> They don't follow that agenda. I had to remind them of it. They have to have an agenda. Uh you know you have to have a motion a vote and then
>> that when I was there I I did I did hear motions. I I think I I saw an agenda. >> Yeah. Probably after I corrected them. >> Yeah. So maybe just the section on the agenda for public comment. >> There should be but there was
>> I'm sorry. >> So do we need clarity on that from legal or >> uh make that a question? >> Sounds like we do. >> Yes. >> I mean it's a good question. Very good question. I you know >> um so it says here open meeting law does not apply to private organizations
formed by residents even if they meet in public buildings. A public body must be established to carry out government functions or serve public purpose. So it doesn't apply to private groups because they're they're not the Blandford Democratic Committee. >> Yes, they are.
>> Well, they're not the when I say they're not the Blandford Democratic Committee, I mean they're not organized by the town. >> Correct. Right. >> Correct. They're they're private. They may call themselves that, but it's not a town organized group. >> It's not like
>> it's not like the select board approved as a committee. >> No, we just said that if you want to use our space, you can use our space, but it's not we don't endorse them in any way, shape, or form. Just >> they still have to follow open meeting laws in public building. >> I guess not. It says the open meeting
law does not apply to private organizations formed by residents even if they meet in a public building. >> Really? That's what it says. She's gonna check. I'm gonna check. She's going to check. >> No.
>> And it's, you know, it's important because they're not the only ones. I mean, there's other groups that are going to come along and we need to know understand what the rules are. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Okay. >> All right. So, that all being said, I
asked George, George, want to come up for a second? I asked George to come in because and I really the only thing I would say that in and Christina you and I spoke briefly about this I really wanted to explicitly say that you need >> the board's approval.
>> So yeah, we can change it around however you want. I just put this together. I thought that under the enforcement of it um >> yeah it didn't jump out at me that it said that. So let's just make sure that it says it. >> Um well that's um >> no that's okay. We can section four, >> right?
>> Where the use of this municipal property for organized events, >> it says um uh prior knowledge prior approved through the town's facility process. And then >> see what I mean? It's got to be right there at the >> Oh, yeah. It does need to be Yeah. more
specific there. Okay. >> So, George, you want to use the gym? No. I followed what I understood was time procedure and go to I went to Joanne and asked her about those dates and I told her what it was for and she put it on
the calendar and she said both those dates that I requested were open. >> Okay. >> And so I proceeded to organize and >> put this together. I wish I had a team of 20 lawyers to help me with this. >> Well, I mean in all fairness, we didn't have a written policy. We had
information out on the website, but it really didn't tell you how right to do stuff. So that was why we went ahead and put the policy together to make sure >> in all fairness to the town, I have reasonable amount of familiarity with
equal and fair procedures. Yeah. and taking into consideration different parts of an organization that has requested a meeting to bring people together to talk about public issues and private issues. And I went did a lot of
research before putting this on paper to look at other towns and how they've handled meeting nights for candidates for positions, how they've run them. So they were balanced and fair and how they have
done this over a period of years. I mean this isn't something that was begun last year. This was began many years ago in different towns and many towns have routinely in their schedule of activities before a town election. So that I did not shoot from the hip from this
issue. I went back and looked at what's being done now, what has been done over the last five years, and took the best and most redundant policies and practices and applied them
to Blandford's situation so that we could be as open and as inclusive as we possibly could to the candidates because the town is now so lethargic in terms of its concern about the leadership and the
people that are taking the responsibilities both for spending money as well as other activities in the town that it's almost at the point in my opinion of desperation because we don't have people running for office. We have too many positions open. We don't have
competition for positions and we don't have people speaking up for themselves and why they want to be in positions. So we're facing a election time in this community where people are shooting from the hip in terms of who they vote for unless somebody tells them what to do
and then they're basing their vote on maybe one or two other people's position. So that I felt very strongly that yeah, we could put this off a year. We could talk about it for another five years, but it's now time to get people thinking about who is running for
office, what the office is about, and what the responsibilities are. and to give those people an opportunity to speak to as many town folk as possible at one gathering, not to have to go from door to door, not to have to try to make
appointments with people in town to get their votes or to explain why they're running for office or not do it and just say, "Hey, I'm the only one running. I'm going to get elected." It just did not seem fair and balanced the way it had been going for this past year especially, but for years in the past.
So I said, "Either George, you're gonna do something about it or you're gonna go to the slide." So I said, "I'm gonna do something about it and try to get some con community people to step up and be part of learning help the community learn about them and their
qualifications for these positions. They were invited. They did not they were in no way coerced or or persuaded in any other way than being invited to participate. And they can show up next
Tuesday night or not show up. And I offered every one of them in my open letter of invitation to call me if they had any questions whatsoever about the procedure, about how the evening was going to go. And I absolutely received zero telephone calls from any candidate
running for office. So either the candidate made the decision on the basis of I don't want any part of it or I'm going to go and speak up for myself in the position I'm interested in. >> So that's the way it stands at this point. Okay. Um, I will follow up this
meeting because people have asked, you know, they have heard about this meeting and they want to know what the results are and whether the meeting is going to be held next Tuesday night or not. And that's what I will share. And again, all
11 people um are invited. They can show up next next Tuesday night or not. It's up to them. They can change their mind any time between now and then. And it's, you know, totally up to them. >> Well, listen, I you know, um I
appreciate it. I think we all appreciate it that you took the time to do it and and um your heart's in the right place for just bringing the community together. So, we appreciate it and I hope that you have folks that show up on June 2nd. That's >> very successful.
>> Yes, >> I hope so, too. Because having lived here over 50 years, I've never seen the town so settled in their own little as a couple people in town referred to it as a house in the woods rather community.
And now we're stuck with this situation of houses in the woods where people don't know each other in spite of a couple people apparently thinking they do. Um, >> and I hope that this will encourage enough people so that next year a group
will come together not and and >> make this a better event and bigger and everything else because what I've read in the past, it has to start somewhere and it can grow and become a real important part of communication in the community or if people don't care it'll
just die and that's that. So I hope I appreciate the effort. I do. >> Yeah. Well, I hope you've kicked it in the pants to the point where people will talk about it this next year and step up and say, "Yeah, I'll work on a committee and get this done." >> That's where I'd
I think what what people see over the years that I've been involved in town is that too few doing too many things. And it's just like at the fair, we'd have a work weekend and you'd have
eight or nine people doing six, seven different things trying to get things accomplished and people drive by and look and they said, "Oh, they got too much work. I'm not going to, you know, many hands make a lot of work and it that don't happen.
>> In a small community, it should. It used to. It's gone one step farther now because we don't have the people even the few people stepping up to take on the responsibilities and that's clearly evident from the vote the list of people
who are running the people stepping >> there's another point too. So if you if you look at it from the dynamics of what's taking place over the last five or six years or longer, we're facing a real serious situation in the years to come. And
you know, the room is not filled with citizens looking to come to this board of selection to bring issues to them or to say I'll step up and take care of it. So that's where I'm coming from with this. >> You're approved. >> That's huge. >> Thank you, George.
>> Thank you, George. What time is Tuesday? >> Meeting the >> 7 o'clock the meeting begins. All the candidates are invited for six o'clock to meet with the moderator and to talk about the evening and to know what the rules regulations are for the meeting. >> So I I motion George to uh his approval
to have this um session in on June 2nd in the general. >> June second. >> Any questions being any questions? No, I I already second it. >> Everyone say I >> I >> I'll abstain from the vote.
>> Yeah. Okay. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. Thank you for watching. >> Getting pushy. >> No, >> no, that's not true. All right. Um Okay. So, Ry, you want to come up?
It says department, but um it's Ray's department, right? Okay. All right. So, a couple things, Ray. Yeah. Um, did want to give you this.
Would you sign it? Yes. Um, we haven't talked to you or seen you for a couple weeks, so we haven't been able to give you a copy of the performance review that we did with you. So, I want to make sure you have a copy of that. Um, and you can read it and give us your feedback. It's basically the same stuff
that we talked about. So, that's for you. Yeah. Um and you had requested that we um there was some challenges with the guys in their um
they were under union contract this last year and there were challenge and I wanted to bring this up now because we need to get this closed for these guys. You had come to the board and had said hey they can't see what their vacation time is. They don't know what their illness time is. they don't know because it's not shown up on their paycheck.
>> So, I sat with Sarah last week and we kind of went through it. Um, and so her team went back and looked at all of their time sheets since the beginning of January and came to the table with that information. So, I have that information. >> You went back to July 1st, right? 125.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. Because there was Mario, she went all over. >> Mario lost the time that he didn't end up using >> it never rolled over and he lost like three, it was close to three weeks of time and it just disappeared. He was quite upset about that.
>> So, >> I know we spoke to her about that. So, I hope that got squirted away. >> Not all go back. But I can >> um because you know we want to do well by our guys that are working in the highway. you know, they do such a great job and we just want to make sure that
they get taken care of. So, um, just to discuss this ward for a second, um, from talking when talking with, um, Sarah, we had them under the uni contract because we were still negotiating the p
personnel policy, right? We we just stopped negotiating the personnel policy what a few weeks ago again when we changed it to include the licensing, >> right? >> Um after going through everything, it makes more sense to and less lucky
because we got one month that's not under the union, got the next month that is. I can only voice my own experience on this is you normally don't change someone's benefits until the year end. Okay. So, we would prefer after Sarah
and I talked about it is just having them go by union contract from last year to July >> July 1 versus stop somewhere midterm and then move into the personnel policy
>> because it really really messes it up. Mhm. >> Um, so in doing so, that that's the that's the recommendation from Sarah. >> Okay. >> Um, so I don't know how you guys feel about that. They're not losing anything by doing it.
>> I mean, if it makes if Sarah's saying that it makes sense for them, and I know that with all the hiccups we've had, it sounds like it'll clear that up. So, >> Right. Right. >> It's not It's not going to affect their pay benefit. >> No, no, >> no. It's actually going to be positive for them. >> Yeah. I ended up looking into the like
the meeting we had. >> Y >> I actually ended up crunching the numbers and did you end up addressing that? >> Did you figure that out? The the pay scales >> on that. >> Yeah, I gave that to you a long time.
>> Yeah, we're not talking about that. >> Let's stick with Okay. >> making sure they get their pay or their time off. So what I did is let's just start with um what's point's first name
>> you want to send that. >> Here you go. >> So for Clayton we started September 825 and so for vacation he had 104 hours. Okay. and that's of May 26th.
Based on the policy, um the recommendation is for him to roll over. There's a couple recommendations here that we're talking about. Okay? Roll over 80 hours on July 1st of his 104. >> Okay?
Or take the hours at by the end of June. >> Now, Ray, that's up to you because you're the manager, right? Well, one thing I noticed reading the policy is it says that they lose it in December. >> That's why I wanted to ask you. It's not
a calendar year we go by. It's by >> fiscal year. That's where I'm I put a sticky note on this and I was like, "Wait a minute. Why does it say December that they would lose it?" >> Okay. I'm just >> I I spent a lot of time reading this and I was like, "Oh my god."
>> Well, definitely give me the changes because then I'll update it. Yeah, I mean I went through it myself again for like the 20th time >> and found a couple of things that I don't like either. So again,
>> so we have to publish by July 1st. So I'll take your feedback, >> incorporate that and then anything that I find or we find. So he has, you know, of the 104 roll over 80 hours on July 1st or take hours by the end of June.
There's an additional three days off that must be taken by the end of June or lose them based on the new policy. So that's one recommendation. Recommendation number two is roll over 80 hours on July 1st and write in a check for the three days of unused
vacation. Those are options that we have for him. Um any thoughts like them? >> No. Is the choice up to >> It's up to us.
>> Okay. Yeah, it's up to us. What you know, you want to be as fair to him as possible? I don't want him to lose the time >> and what we're doing for Clayton. I'm assuming we should be do following the same. >> We are. >> Yeah. that my my question is
the choice is his on the recommendation. >> Yeah, it could be his. >> It could be his. >> You mean a payout? You mean >> which recommendation does he want to go? >> Well, what? No. >> No, >> these are just me saying these are recommendations from Sarah and I talking
about it. You, you know, as a board, we have decided, do you agree with these recommendations? And then we give them to Ry and say, hey, >> go talk to him and see what he'd like to do. Do you agree with these recommendations? >> You think that's fair? >> I think it's fair.
>> What do you think looking at it? >> After having Michael in the hospital in the ICU for that month, I think having time to bank for an emergency like that because being a municipality, if we end up signing up for FLMA, yeah, you get the time off,
>> right? >> But we're not qualified for paid family medical leave. We're not a private entity that we can do that. So having that money aside is very important especially we're not a big Springfield town.
>> Let me let me ask you. Do you think that he'll be you know you could come back to me like next couple weeks and say which one of these recommendations do you think that we're missing anything here that we're not thinking about? that that's why I wanted you to think about
>> you you got some options there and >> you know the guys were definitely worried about losing their time. So >> here they are trying to take vacations and it's like I need you guys to be working the roads right now. It's >> so when do you right when do you think you could come back to me after talking to him?
>> Monday. >> Okay. >> If you guys are all right with that I can come back Monday with a set answer. I'd like to get this taken care of. >> Right. And one thing you'll note here is that this is up to May 26th. Okay, this
is all up to date. It's in the system. >> Um, so from May to July 1st, you're just going to have to watch it and see what changes, right? He may take some hours, he may not take some hours, right? Um, but for everybody based on what Sarah
told me, the system will now track automatically. She's that by doing this we're making it all up to date. She has, you know, the new policy, which is basically what we've already agreed on with their vacation and stuff. Um, so they won't have this problem in the future. As of
the second, I was told today the second week of August, they should start seeing vacation, >> the breakdown. Yep. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And then I can update our payroll sheets and have I already talked to Joanne about it. We got to put another bracket in there for those selections. because
you can't combine the two and say, "Well, which one is it?" >> No. >> You know, >> so we're going to do these one at a time just so we're >> I think the breakdown. >> Okay. >> Um teach >> Ryan already.
>> Yeah. >> Ryan was pro, you know, started April. >> Hold on. >> Ryan started April 7th, 2025. He had 30 days of which was um you know rolled over another 128 26 vacation used
he used 48 I'm sorry these are hours not days 48 hours sick use he used 48 hours so his balance is 62 hours that's what he has left um recommendation there is for him to roll those over into the new year or use
some before July first. >> I'm looking at you. Do you have any questions? Does that sound >> Yeah, I just Yeah. What I would like to know is do we have an idea of the cap of how much you can bank? >> Well, to a little 80
>> only 80 >> up to 80, but he's still only got six. No, I know that. But for someone that's going to put the time in here as a career, >> like I got five years here going on. I'd like to make sure I can put some away after take care of it. >> 80 a year up to what? Is it still the
21? 21 cuz in the paperwork there's up to 21 uh days that you can bank >> in what? In which paperwork? Just so that we're >> for the for the new contract. It >> illness days,
>> sick days. >> It says sick and vacation slash. >> No, it says personal and vacation can be converted to illness days up to 21 days >> and then banked >> and banked. >> Okay.
>> All right. >> So, they can convert it >> right >> into the sick, right? >> And then >> it was one of the areas that um we'll be talking about as a board probably next go around. And here's why. Because in the policy it
says you can't bank any illness and then three paragraphs down it says you can bank. So >> so you you're banking unused vacation into illness. So if you have illness sitting So I think that's where the disconnect is. Okay. >> If you have illness sitting there
unused, you can't roll that over. If you have vacation sitting there unused, you can roll up to 21 days >> of the >> Yes. Okay, gotcha. That's that's where the process you I just want to ask so we
make it clear >> if we're putting this on Sarah or is there a form that we have to fill out for the guys to say hey Ryan Kee I want to make sure that this is banked away for the upcoming year so that it's documented put away but unless Sarah has
that software Harpers that does it automatically nothing gets lost and everything's tracked in the process that would reflect what is happening. >> Yes. >> Just so that everyone's on the same page. You could look at it. I could look at it >> back to the 21 thing and explain it
again. >> So there's one section that says you can't roll over sick time. >> Correct. You just said and then you said further down there's a section that says if you have personal or vacation, you may roll up to 21 roll over up to 21
days of that to sick time. So you can't roll over sick time, but you can roll over personal and vacation into sick time for the next year. >> So your sick time falls off, >> goes away. You can't roll out or use it or lose it.
>> So if you have So let's just because again, how I kind of got into this more was, you know, practical speaking, put it into practice, right? So, you're saying if I have let's say I have 80 days of vacation
time. >> Okay. >> Okay. And or let's make that different. Let's say I have a 100 days of vacation. Not hours. >> Hours. I'm sorry. Hours. Time. >> And I want to roll over
20 of those >> hours. >> Hours >> into what? illness, sickness, go for it. >> That's what it is. Okay. I just want to make sure that that's I was thinking correctly about this because this is different than what I've ever seen.
>> Um, okay. >> But the big thing on 7.3 and that nonoccupational sick leave, it says right here, and I started this, it says there shall no there shall be no accumulation or carryover of unused sick leave from the
one fiscal year to the next. >> That's correct. That's correct. >> Okay. No. >> Right. >> So, it can't carry over, but it has to get banked or put somewhere. >> No, you lose it. >> You can carry over up to 21 days and make it vacation.
>> Yes. You don't lose it. >> No, no, no. You make it sick. >> I'm sorry. >> It comes from vacation. You make it sick. >> Otherwise, if you're sick more than >> six days can take vacation time, roll it into six time. sick time done, but you
can't do vice versa. >> Let's lay it out as an example. >> So, I think to your point then, um, since we're sitting here talking about this, and it is a little squirly the way it's written, >> um, we should lay it out in layman's terms and say this is how that works and
this is how you bank it. >> So, guys know, >> I think the banking should be an automatic at the end of the year. you know, if the treasurer collector harborers has whatever the limit is that they're allowed to roll over. If any
portion of that exists in their automatically roll over, >> they just need the contract, the town policy, because that's what happened to Mario. He did. They didn't have the updated contract when myself and Matt and Mario went in there with her and had a meeting. She said, 'Well, I didn't
know I didn't have this updated policy, you know, to follow. >> But in all fairness, we said from the beginning, this was all they were union. They were being treated as union >> until the policy >> until the policy was published. >> But she still has an obligation to
follow like in the past following those the contracts. So that's where Mario was upset about losing all that time from him, you know, and it's just important that was the reason that she said the ball got dropped on that for him is
because she didn't have the paperwork, >> right, >> in front of her to actually go off it because she can't do anything. You know, do she can't just >> do it because you say or someone says >> that has been going on for a while.
>> Yeah. So we now understand what we have to do and make >> yes >> but for let's go back to >> right so he's got 62 hours >> so he can take some of that if he wants up to July 1st right depending on what
your needs are as the superintendent or he can roll it fair >> so you can get back to me on Monday on that too Perfect. Thanks for Okay, so let's do Mr.
Park. >> This is Mike. Is that right? >> Yep. >> I know this is tedious, but it's so important to get it right. >> No, it's going to break this down so that >> Okay. He started April 1st, 2025. Mhm. >> FY25, he had 32 hours to roll over.
FY26, he had 128. He took 56 vacation hours. He took 64 sick days. And that leaves him a balance of 40 hours. Same thing with Mike. He can either roll that over, right? All 40 of
it, or he can take some of it for July 1. Okay. What was very, you know, just to share what was very strange for me when I looked at the union contract is it never said how many sick days you've actually allocated. It just bucketed it all in together. That was weird.
>> It didn't separate out. No. Yeah. >> Which made it confusing and you start talking about you got sick time, you got this, you know, and technically they there wasn't anything in the contract that said sick time. It was just a total time. Okay. So, here we go. Mario,
right? And this is important because it's to your point. So, she found that there was 19.69. I don't know how she got 69, but it is back in 24 that needed to be rolled. 25 128, right? 26 128.
He's taken 80 vacation hours. He's taken 72 sick hours. That gives him 123.69. >> That's from 24 to 26 as of today, right? >> Yep. >> As of May 26. >> Okay. >> Does that make sense? >> Yeah.
>> Okay. So, couple options for him. He can roll over 80 hours on July 1st and use 43 hours before the end of June. That's one option. He can roll over all the hours remaining on June 30th, but can only roll over 80
hours next year. You know what I mean? he could roll. So, if he rolls them all over this year, we're going to be in a situation where he's got to get back on the personnel policy, which only allows him to move 80 hours the following year. >> So, he's got to use them, >> right, >> next year,
>> right? That's one option, >> right? Or roll over 80 hours on July 1st and get a payout for the remaining hours. And so, we write Marco a check is another option. And I put on here, we told Marco, we would
>> Mario of Mario. I'm sorry. Why did I put Marco? Um, we would honor his rolling, right, of the hours from his previous. >> So, what are your thoughts on that one? Because that one's a little bit more, >> you know, complicated. Um, not
complicated, but he's been around longer. So, >> do you think that those three options are good options for him or what are your thoughts there? Yeah, I think that's uh I think he's would make a
adequate decision on what he wants to do with that. At least he can see what he's putting away now. >> You know, >> do you think you could talk to him this week and let me know Monday? Okay. >> That'd be great. One thing I uh I do want to just ask if the board would
consider instead of just a two weeks of pay instead of banking 80 because I'm looking at this and I see the 21 days you can only do 80 a year. You're saying but you can have >> 80 hours.
>> 80 hours is two is two weeks. >> Yeah. >> Two weeks is 10 days. >> Yes. Two 80 hours 40 40. >> So, but it can accumulate up to 21 days. Am
I correct? Over their career working here. >> Accumulate. You can roll over up to 21 days. >> Their bank can grow to 21. >> That's roll over. Not bank
>> if you have extra vacation time. bank means you can bank forever, right? Just means you're rolling. >> Well, we could do a cap like a three-week cap of having that time put away because that that's that's what I'm just asking over if having someone that's going to stay here for a career.
I want these guys to stay a long time. >> It's their time. It's not like it's something that you know that it's bonuses they're getting. It's their time. >> I understand like a lot of people, they'll end up after putting their 25 years in, they'll take the their bank
and they'll retire and they'll use it. But you know what? They put their time in. That's their time that they earned and they put their sweat into the community for. >> I think personally just being able to bank 3 weeks to a a
30-day cap for a certain period of time of working here would be a benefit to being able to say, "Man, I I achieved putting that away." It's like having a savings account for themselves for any illness that happens, family issues, um
so that they have the money there. And I I would just hope the board would we could talk about it or the three of you talked about it being able to have a larger cap for them now rather than just a couple weeks like having three or even
pushing forward for the long term. You know, we don't want these guys to be like, man, this town down the road here is giving you three weeks right off the bat. You know, it's just something that it's not like it's we're giving it to them for them to stay. It's something that they achieved by not taking days
off to put that away for down the road. So, just if I could leave that with you on that, that's something that I've been thinking of. >> And well, and we'll think about it. Um, it's got to come a point though we're not negotiating any >> No. And I understand that. I do. >> Maybe we'll be able,
>> but we're talking about it now and I just it's something that's been on my mind about that and >> you know. >> So, you're looking for what is it then? 8 9 10 11 120 hours to be banked rolled over is what you're looking at. >> Yeah, that would that would be good
being able to stash that away for emergency because if you go to the emergency room, you break an arm, you break a leg, you're not back to work the next week. You know, this this is real world situations and >> Okay, we'll we'll we'll talk about it. >> Consider it. That would be Thank you.
>> Yep. >> Okay. So, you're good with Mario? >> Yes. >> And that you'll come back to me a little bit. >> I will run it by the guys. I have their sheets. That'll be good.
>> So, Ray, this was yours. I also put on there um something else. So, you had the the hours some time ago that you were having to pay back, right? >> Yeah. I almost lost Mike in a car
accident and I was in the emergency room for about a month with him at Bay State. >> So, it was really uh it was tough. I used up everything I had just so I could pay my mortgage and um you know I'm paying the town back for the little time
that was given to me in advance. I appreciate that, >> you know. So definitely uh >> um you normally would get 128, right, total plus you get sick days. You get 10 sick days from looking at your contract,
which is not not on here, but it should be. Okay. So there's still 10 sick days. >> So 128 hours and plus 10 sick days, >> correct? >> So you'll have another 128 hours this this year. You haven't used any vacation
at all, no personal time, and haven't called out sick. >> No. >> The whole year? >> No. >> Um and in your contract, it says that you get an additional two days, right? Which would bring you up to 120 at this point.
>> Okay. Um, you still owe 72. You'll you know, we'll take 24 because I think that was the agreement. >> The agreement. I didn't want to change it. It's already in paper like it's comfortable. I can do that.
>> And your bank and the rest. >> Just so an emergency ever happens like that again. >> Yep. >> I can have some cushion. >> Yeah. Um, so the other thing is I wanted to give this to you. This is I put in
your information for your raise, right? And your raise is retro to March 24th because that's your contract date. >> Yeah. >> So, the math is here. So, you could look at it and make sure you're good with it. >> And your new rate is here. So, the next time you do your payub or your what is
it called that cover letter, >> whatever they do, >> payroll sheet. >> So, I don't do payroll. you need to bring it up right to the right rate. >> And um I got this from Sarah and she calculated what that would be. >> Okay. >> Okay.
>> So, I'll do a PAF. Uh >> Yep. >> request on the retro and I'll just send her the email or she already know. >> No, go ahead and send it >> because that's the process I usually do when a guy gets a >> raise. Yep. I apologize because I
realized you needed to do that. Otherwise, I would have gotten that to you already. It's fine. >> I didn't know if everything was happening in July like the the process of this uh the policy is it happening in July or is it happening
>> the new policy will kick in July 1st? That's the plan. >> Okay. >> Okay. Right now you guys are under the contract. Okay. >> Got a lot to talk about that Monday. >> Well, just a reminder that Monday's manual >> big day. Yeah,
>> big day. I mean, you know, let me know if there's if it's quick and easy. Just send me an email and then I'll make sure that Sarah has everything set right. >> Well, we can go over this, too. I got sticky notes all through this thing. Swiss cheese. So >> definitely just so I didn't have to beat around before Monday. Monday's going to
be a long day. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> You can you can do that. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Sounds good to me. >> Okay. So I think that was it from Right. You guys have any questions or you feel good about where we're at with
that? >> You feel good? >> Do you feel good? >> Raise your hand. Um raise your hand is not good. >> Do you have a public comment or do you have a
>> um regarding the draft of the municipal property and election? Did you or would you make a motion tentative um legal >> opinion?
>> That's up to them. I mean, I just I I put it together because I thought we needed something so that >> Yeah. Let us take another review. Let's take a look at it. Make sure that good and then we'll do it. >> Ray, did you have anything else that you wanted to
>> Yeah, I just want to end up uh requesting the board to just get me some signatures for grant. I need to end up the community program that we applied for earlier. Uh
with the abundance of applicants, Lampford did not receive the grant. >> So the second round is opening on uh it's from 4:27 to 6:26. That's the timeline that's opening up the gap right
now. So, I just want to make sure I have everything in order. Just reapplying the same uh paperwork. I ended up submitting an email to the state asked them if there was anything that I needed to redact or change or on the uh application. They said, "Nope, you're
good. Just resubmit." There's just so many communities that flooded the uh >> you know, the application central. So, if I can get a signature on that so I can end up as soon as I get a paperwork uh together, I can end up sending that
through for that one. Grant, we'll have another one for you. >> Okay. >> So, I motion that we approve the community culbert program grant. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Any questions? >> No. In favor? I
>> I >> Yeah, that's all. >> Anything else? >> Yes. Um, I ended up I ended up reaching out to the state.
I talked to Mark Deiler at DOT District 1 and there's been a project development put together from four other communities Adams whole Rain and Bamford
that actually got suggested for a project that would be paid and funded by the state. This project is the uh Beach Hill Bridge for the construction part. >> Really? >> So after in communication with him for a
while going over some different ideas that we could do and finding out that the paperwork with Gil Engineering that we ended up taking care of, they sent the uh the E85 paperwork to the state.
They revised it. They sent comments back to Gil. We paid them. We stopped. We're not We didn't do any termining because we didn't have the funding to do that project right there. So, >> we ended up uh halting that for the moment
if I'm waiting. I talked to Dana Gil and asked her if Joe could end up coming up with a quote, signing anything. We're not getting on the hook for anything, but I need to know how much it would be to revise their paperwork and resubmit
it to district one with what they're requesting with them to do to the uh the designs >> so that it's suitable for the state's approval. >> Okay. >> Once that's done, we have a couple permits that would end up getting pulled. It'll be the Army Corps of
Engineers, D. I would end up doing a uh >> Okay. I would end up doing a uh NOI with conservation and then also obviously Springfield water because all that flows right out in the Springfield waterland. So there's there's a plan on that.
But after speaking with uh Mark, he ended up saying if I get everything in order, the paperwork gets approved by Gil out of all these communities, four like three of them because there's two in coin, we would end up having this completely paid
>> by the state. So that would be a win-win right there. Yeah, that would be a lot. >> So, it's going to be a lot of work to do this, but it would definitely sum up all the trouble that we had with the engineering part of it. So, I did reach out to Dana today at 4:00. She called me
back around 5. She said, "Joe didn't get everything completed. Told her, look, we'll catch up next week because I want it to be right. I don't want it to be budged together and just have numbers in there so I can present the board an accurate number that it's going to end up costing for the engineering to get
completed and submitted to the state. >> Okay. >> So, that's one thing I wanted to make you aware of. So, that would be a win-win. Also, >> would be a win-winwin. That's a big one. >> Yeah. No, it definitely it definitely would be. Um, another thing that I
wanted to end up informing the board is out of the two grants that I wrote earlier, um, we actually got approved and we won the dirt roller. We got the grant. So,
>> yeah, I'm happy about that. So, >> going to end up doing that. And here's the approval letter so that you guys can see it. That came out very well. Now, that has no cost to the town or the community >> as completely funded. So, the next thing
that I'm going to end up doing is I'll reach out to accounting and I'll let them know, >> right? >> The only thing is we might need to pull a low interest loan out for like literally less than a month. >> If we don't have the funding for it, >> we can do an internal borrow. >> There you go. And
>> borrow. I got to read this because this is a big deal. So, I'm pleased to notify that Blandford's application for Blandford Highway Dirt Roller has been approved for an equipment grant in the amount of $199,500. >> I mean, seriously, >> do that again.
>> Appreciate it. >> What do we do with this? >> I need that. Well, honestly, I was thinking give it to Mary. Um, >> yeah, >> she can post that in the paper or >> Yeah, be right. >> I do have copies, but I >> have on file, right?
>> Yeah. I just wanted to wait. I didn't want to end up putting anything out yet until I informed the board about that. >> One said there's two. >> Yeah. >> Culver was the other one. >> The Culver was the other one, but there was such a flood of other communities. But I'm not going to let go of that. I'm
still pursuing that because that from having the evaluation on that Culver pipe on how bad of condition it is, >> we need to end up getting it done. That would be a win-win on that, too. So, >> right. >> Um, that was definitely good. >> And, uh,
>> like I said, >> flag on that roller when you get it. >> Yeah. No, we I want to get it inside. We got to still I'm chasing down that clear span for the uh canopy up at the yard. I don't want to be leaving our equipment outside. Stuff sits outside, it goes. It
It's not good. >> That you have that's urgent that you need to >> No, I think that pretty much covers everything. >> Well, good. Thank you. >> And another. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> So, any public comment? >> Yes, George.
>> Quick update. As I promised, the work on Bsentennial Park is continuing on the 6th, Saturday the 6th. any few of us will begin at 9:00 getting things set up. We're asking for volunteers to step up at 10 and work until 2 to uh close to 100 plants that
we've got for the park. So, you'll see some signs put up uh along the street along Main Street >> for 9:00 >> next week reminding the citizens of the event. >> Okay. >> Thank you, George. Anybody else?
Any comments? Okay, it is 7. >> Have a good day. >> Thank you. Sure. from home.