Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the December 23rd, 2025 meeting of the Town of Cadam Select Board. Please note this meeting is being recorded and will be available shortly hereafter for scheduled and on demand viewing on any smartphone or tablet device. If anyone else is recording the
meeting, including the use of AI note-taking apps, please notify the chair. Seeing none, pursuant to Governor Healey's March 28th, 2020 2025 signing of chapter 2 of the acts of 2025 extending certain COVID 19 measures
adopted during the state of emergency suspending certain provisions of the open meeting lawsuits general laws chapter 38 section 20 until June 30th, 2027. This meeting of the Cadam Select Board is being conducted in person and via remote participation. Every effort will
be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings as provided for in the order. A reminder that persons who would like to listen to this meeting while in progress may do so by calling the phone number 158-945-4410 conference ID 203 386491
pound or join the meeting online via Microsoft Teams through the link in the posted agenda. While this is a live broadcast and simalcast on Chadam TV Xfinity channel 1072, despite our best efforts, we may not be able to provide a
real-time access. We will post a record of this meeting on the town's website as soon as possible. First item of business is to establish a quorum. Miss Davis >> present. >> Mr. Dyken >> present. >> Mr. Smith >> present. >> Chair is present. Mr. Matters is not with us this evening. Uh we'll first
take up the um minutes of December 3rd, 2025. Is there a motion? >> Move the minutes, Mr. Chairman. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Are there any corrections? >> I have none. >> Chair has two minor.
Page three, third paragraph, second to last line. I in the parenthesis it says FF and F. I think it means S. I think you mean FF and E. fix furniture, fixtures and equipment. And then on page six
>> um final page um in the roll call of to for adjournment. My my name is missing. >> Thank you. With that I'll ask for a vote. Miss Davis >> I. >> Mr. Dykins >> I. >> Miss Mr. Smith >> I.
>> And the chair is I. That's four to zero. public announcements and agenda item requests. The chair has a few, but I'll defer first for the uh board members if you have any any from the public in the in the room.
Seeing none online. Seeing none. Well, first I want to um publicly note the passing of a couple of people. First, um,
we were notified that, uh, a longtime member of the Railroad Museum Committee, Bruce Evans, passed away Saturday, December 20th. He served on that committee from 2018, 2025. Um, a very devoted member of the
committee and um, he will be missed. Secondly, I want to note the obvious um sudden and um sad passing of Dr. Robert Duncinson, our former director of natural resources, who retired just a couple of
years ago on Monday, December 15th. Quoting from um the main sheet article on Friday, Dr. Bob, as he was infect affectionately known, served our community for 37 years before retiring
in August 2023. During his tenure, he oversaw the management and implementation of Cadam's comprehensive wastewater management program. He represented the community's interests in numerous regional capacities, led the town's efforts to protect and
preserve our natural resources, and calmly guided our community through the CO 19 pandemic. I would just offer a few additional observations of my own. Having uh worked with Dr. Duncin uh for
these past 11 years. Uh obviously I think we are all deeply shocked and saddened at his sudden passing. Our thoughts go out to his wife and friends. I think he was an extraordinary model of public service and I want to emphasize
the word extraordinary. He had a wide portfolio portfolio of responsibilities which he managed with skillful leadership with comprehensive command of the issues and unsurpassed knowledge of
project history, details and facts. Whenever he was at the podium here, he knew how to read the room. He knew what to say and how to say it with considerable patience and respect. He will be widely missed. We were very
fortunate to have had him in our employee. May he rest in peace. Um, a couple of other announcements. We want to congrat congratulate, this is happier news, Dr. Robin Millan, who was
appointed last night as the next superintendent of the Monteoy Regional School District by the Monoy Regional School Committee. I personally think this was an excellent choice. I suspect my colleagues on this board agree. As many people know, she was the former principal of the Chattam Elementary
School. Next, a reminder that all town offices are closed beginning Wednesday to December 24th at 12:00 noon through Friday, December 26th. Offices will will be open on Monday, December 29th. The
transfer station will be closed on Friday, December 26th, but will be open again on Saturday, December 27th. And finally, a reminder that that that there will be no select board meeting on December 30th. The next meeting of the select board will be held on January
6th, 2026. With that, we will proceed to the um next item on the agenda, which is a public hearing uh to consider the taking pursuant to general laws chapter 79 of permanent
easements on private roads for the installation and maintenance of sewer mains and as necessary of remedial takings of previous easements all regarding water and drainage for sewer phase 1 F-1 which involves private roadways specifically Lorenzo Buckway,
Joshua's Way, Rumson Lane, Harold Lane, Steven Drive, Victoria Drive, Nelly's Way, Woodpecker Valley Road, Beacon Hill, Songbird Lane, Crosby Way, Aunt Zilpas Road Extension, Evergreen Lane, Island View Lane, Jedadia Way, and Shady
Acre Drive. With that, I will um ask um that we open the public hearing by having the um board clerk, Mr. Smith, read the public hearing notice. Town of Cadam Select Board public hearing notice notice is hereby given that the Chattam Select Board will hold
a public hearing on Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the large meeting room at the town hall annex 261 George Ryder Road to consider the taking pursuant to GL chapter 79 of permanent
easements on private roads for the installation and maintenance of sewer mains and it has necessary of remedial takings of previous easements all regarding water and drainage for sewer phase 1F-1
which involve private roadways Lorenzo Buckway, Joshua's Way, Rumson Lane, Harold Lane, Steven Drive, Victoria Drive, Nelly's Way, Woodpecker Valley Road, Beacon Hill, Songbird Lane,
Crosberry Way, Aunt Zelpas Road Extension, Evergreen Lane, Island View Lane, Jedadia Way, and Shady Acres Drive. All interested parties are encouraged to participate in person or remotely via the link in the posted
agenda. Thank you, Stuart. Call on our director of public works, Rob Philly, to present this item. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, so this public hearing, uh, as mentioned, is to establish permanent easements on private roads for the installation of maintenance of sewer mains under sewer
phase 1 F1 and to a lesser extent to clean up previous easements regarding water and drainage. Uh many roadways in Chadam are private uh meaning the road is owned and/or maintained by abudding property owners. Uh to install sewer and other public utilities on private roads,
permanent easements need to be established in accordance with state statutes of Massachusetts general law chapters 79 and 83. Private road easements are only for the road layout or right ofway. The town is not taking ownership of the road or any rights
outside of the road layout. Water and drainage facilities have been included in the order of taking document as prior research has indicated that not all roads have clear easements for water installed in past years. Notification of this hearing was mailed
to the 145 affected residents along with an ab butters list of all properties impacted. I'd also like to note that this is the first public hearing of this nature in roughly 10 years. Previous town council supported having the select board approve easement takings, but
current town council advised to a more transparent process where the public is notified and can participate if desired. Uh, previous appraisals conducted for easements of a similar nature indicated no damage would be incurred by property owners because of the easement taking.
Um, with that I can run through some of the maps if that's desired or answer any questions. Why don't you proceed with the maps? But I would note for the record as you just said these are easement takings on private property.
>> Correct. On private roads. >> Yes. That um for which um the determination is being asked that there be no damages. This is an eminent domain proceeding. Why don't you give us a little bit of explanation and then if there are any questions from the board
then we'll open it up to the public because it is a public hearing. >> Sure. is just a rundown of some of the uh some of the roads that are impacted. So, I want to um mention that all roads uh the the taking is two rods wide. The rod is 16 1/2 ft. So, the taking would
be 33 feet wide. Uh except Island view that would be a 40 foot wide taking and that's because of the depth of the sewer. Um there would need to be a wider impact on that road. So this is Lorenzo Buckway and Joshua's
Way showing all the abuing properties. Um next is Harold Lane. Sorry the scale is pretty small. Steven Drive, Rumson Lane, and uh George Ryder Road South was a previous uh taking easement taking
that we had performed. Uh this next map is Victoria Drive and Nelly's Way. Then we have Woodpecker Valley Road, Beacon Hill and Sgbird Lane
and And Zila and Zilas Road. I think that's in Zilas Road extension. Yes. And Crosby Way. Evergreen Lane is on this map and this is Island View Lane.
Up top is Jeda Daway and in the bottom is Shady Acre Drive. And that's the last of the maps. So essentially, again, we're we're taking easements within the private roadway. >> That's correct. >> We're not going onto people's lawns or driveways.
>> Correct. Then when we install sewer, we will stub it out to this proposed right ofway limit. >> And some of this is essentially housekeeping with respect to previous takings for water water lines. Is that the case? >> That's correct. Yes. >> Um and although this board does almost
all of us have been involved in some takings previously of similar nature for the sewer system, I remember when Dr. Duncin presented them. Um this time the property owners are being notified in advance. >> Correct. We I guess prior to uh Pat
Costello being town council um we have the current town council now and there were hearings at that time. >> Okay. All right. Any comments or questions from the board? >> I want to hear from the public. >> Okay. All right. So this is a public hearing. If anyone like would like to
speak to this, please come to the microphone or raise your hand if you're online or if you're on the phone, call call uh call it to our attention. Have an opportunity to present or ask any questions. Yes, Brian Phillips.
Brian Phillips, 374 Road. This is to uh chairman's question about um taking people's lawns. You said you're doing 32 feet, right? >> Uh 33. >> Some of these roads are not that big. So would that wouldn't that go over onto people's properties?
>> Yes. Thank you. In some cases, the easement would incorporate um some of the frontage on the properties, but it doesn't mean we would be impacting it. that would just allow us the right um when we were constructing uh the sewer project that we may impact some of the front of those properties. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Any other questions or comments from the public? I don't see any anyone else in the room and I Yes, sir. >> Yes. And please identify yourself. >> It's Paul Mandus 35 and Silas Road. Just
checking on the easement widths. Um, again, our road is maybe 20 ft wide at the most. And, um, just wondering if there's possibility to get a copy of the plan that shows easements on our individual properties if we contact you
through the engineer. So, I know copies of the plans are in the um, select board agenda packet, but they're very small scale. So, um I do have we do have originals that are 24 by 36. Um I have to file those with the registry of deeds. Um we can try to make
something available at least electronically that you can maybe print or we can print it a slightly later. Just go. >> Sure. You could come to the department also and look at them in person if you'd like. >> Okay. >> Okay. Anybody else? All right. I'll bring Yes. Is someone else?
>> No, I Okay. Bring it back to the board. M Mr. Dykens. >> Thank you, Dean. So, is the uh most of these uh is the are the sewer lines going to be deep enough to be gravity fed, if you will, with the with the connections? Um were we going down deep
or what's the deal on on most most of these roads? It will be gravity. I'm not saying that there won't be some properties that may be on a like tail end of a road that we can't have gravity reach there. They may have grinder pumps or properties that are on a lower elevation than the road, they may need
grinder pumps as well. I I had a question another follow up on Harold Lane and uh Steven Drive. Um the going down that's that's going to be the spine in that area. So you've got Eddie, you've got Ralph, you've got all sorts
of other streets coming off that. Is it how do you get the sewer back to those side streets? Is that a will that be a private undertaking? Is it anticipated or what? >> So I know it's gravity out on George Ryder Road extension. Um, >> yeah. >> And I know we've we've run into some
issues. Uh, I don't have the final plans yet. We were we're trying to get the easements first. >> Yeah. >> Um, so I can't tell you like lot, you know, lot by lot to tell you exactly which one. >> Yeah. My basic question is you're running a spine down Harold and this is an example. It can be any other area
that has other roads going east and west or north and south, whatever. Is it then the the is the objective to have individual property owners then tie into the sewer to that spine or >> Oh yeah, absolutely. So we would stub the spine out to their property line and
then it would be the property owner's responsibility to make the connection. >> Again, my question is there are other are side streets that that they'd have to build a whole infrastructure, a whole sewer infrastructure. >> Now most of these are uh small neighborhoods kind of dead ends and culde-sacs. So we're just cleaning up.
So the spine was built on Route 28 was installed a number of years ago. So these are just >> kind of cleaning up some of those neighborhoods so they can tie into the gravity sewer. >> Shouldn't should am I not answering your question? >> No, I we'll talk another time, Rob. I >> I apologize.
>> Thank you. Yeah. >> Um you mentioned grinder pumps. I don't want to get into a whole t tangent on them, but the status of that is that the town has identified Do we have a contract yet with some Mahoney? So, there was some language that was going back and forth between town council and
their attorneys. Uh, so it the final document is in FR Mahoney's hands and we're just waiting on signatures at this point. >> And the town is going to provide a free grinder pump to anyone that is compelled to connect. >> That's correct. >> Needs the grinder pump uh plus $2,000
for help with the installation, which largely is an electrical thing. >> Correct. >> Okay, great. Uh, >> it's FR Money. It's the E1 Okay. Any other comments, questions from the board? Is there a motion?
>> I move to approve uh and execute the order of taking for easements and private ways for public sewer, water, and drainage facilities as described in the the agenda. >> I would just offer an amendment that it be without with zero dollars for damages awarded. >> I'll amend my motion with zero dollars
for damages awarded. I'll second it. >> Second. Okay. I will take a vote then. M Miss M uh Davis >> I >> Mr. Dyken >> I >> Mr. Smith >> I and the chair votes I
>> thank you close the public hearing. So thank you. Next we have the consent agenda. If anyone wants to speak on an item on the business agenda uh they can do so now or concurrently when the item comes up. I don't see
anyone. I'm sorry I said consent agenda. We have no consent agenda items and the public comments I just described. So I don't see anyone who wants to make public comments. Proceed to the business agenda. The first is to consider an amendment to the
previously approved temporary closure of Uncle Tony's LLC doing business as Notlanding Bar and Grill. Mr. Riley. Uh good evening. This is the I'm the junior partner filling in
for Mr. Norcross. The u the situation uh as it's been developed at Knots Landing uh the contractor initially was only able to work uh from February to
April and that was uh kind of jamming the work in. uh he's been able to uh get free sooner so he can begin work on January 1st. That will ensure that the work is done uh in a much more worklike manner and make sure it's complete in
time for the opening on April 1st. So we'd like to u extend the closure u to include uh January as well as February through March. >> Any questions or comments from the board? No. Or is there a motion?
Um, Mr. Chairman, I move to amend the temporary closure of Knots Landing Byron and Grill to January 1st, 2026 through April 1st, 2026. Is there a second? >> I'll second that. >> Okay. Moved and seconded. Call the role. Miss Davis. >> I. >> Mr. Dykins.
>> I. >> Mr. Smith. >> I. >> Chair votes. I. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you very much, >> Riley. >> Thank you. >> And your partner. >> Merry Christmas. >> Merry Christmas. >> You too. Next, we have an update on the Cape Cod Canal Bridge Replacement Project and consider a letter of comment on the
draft environmental impact statement. This is an agenda item requested by Mr. uh Steven Buckley who is uh carrying several binders of pages of an environmental impact report. Stephen uh turn it over to you. I know
you have been covering this project and you had highlighted for our information a point in th that document which I confess not to have read but I did check out the citation you gave relative to the uh consultants
view that expanding the number of lanes to and fro is not going to increase traffic coming across Cape Cod. And I must say I agree with your assessment that they're incorrect. I didn't find their reasoning very persuasive, but go ahead. It's your yours on your
>> You you said it all. >> Sorry. >> Thank you very much. Just to tee it up, my name is Steve Buckley and I grew up in Chadam but spent 25 years in Washington DC where I worked for five federal agencies and their environmental offices. And so I'm very familiar with
the law that requires environmental impact statements and there are less lesser documents. Uh environmental impact statements only are less than 1% of all related documents. It's mostly the small
potatoes and the medium-sized potatoes that get uh that take up most of the people's work. And so anyway, uh when they do write u when a federal agency is required under the law to consider the
uh effect of proposed action on the human environment, not just the natural environment, but socioeconomic the whole spectrum of the quality of life for humans. Uh that's actually uh um I just
want to take the opportunity to point out that it's supposed to look at the big picture and not just the short-term construction impacts of a project but the long term uh as well. And of course uh something like the bridges is going to have long-term effects just like the
ones that were built the existing ones right now the two Sagamore and Bourne bridges over the Cape Cod Canal built in finished in 1935 was a vast improvement over the drawbridge that was actually a
drawbridge that was over there from I don't know 19 to 1935 and um so uh and uh of course as more and more people got more and more cars particularly after uh in the post
World War II growth spurt um a lot of people yes moved to Cape Cod and it's been the graph has been going up ever since and so the the Chattam that we knew that I grew up in 50 years ago was
um is different but we Um, those of us who live here want to keep Chadam Chadam, so to speak, to I think believe quote our long range uh planning document. Um and so
the the that's the dilemma is that it's such if we're an attractive place to uh vacation and visit and and then retire and live and so forth then it creates pressure um on the people who are who the natives who live here especially
when a lot of as I know I see houses where my classmates used to live oh there's so and so's house but now it's being either torn turned down or rehabbed or bumped out or there's or or or even if they don't do anything to the
house, there's a it's uh now a retired couple who don't have any kids, at least none that attend our schools. So, and that's certainly one of the reasons for uh increasing the affordable housing is to bring in some young
younger families that are more uh produce more kids than retired people do. And uh anyway uh it's with that in mind and because I have the background in that I was I've been going to meetings for about the past 10 years whenever they started talking you know about 10
or 12 years ago about hey replacing the bridges but they've been talking about probably replacing the bridges ever for quite a while beyond that but uh following the evolution of the planning and the plans so forth finally uh g I'd
say what 30 30 days ago was it November 21st First, the Federal Highway Administration issued its uh draft environmental impact statement. And this is just one of the two documents. This is about a thousand
pages. And I not that we were going to refer to them, but there's two two more over there. Um, and one of those is the Massachusetts version of an environmental impact statement, which is called an environmental impact report.
And I just wanted to in case people were in case people were thinking that this was a groundhog day all over again. Yes, earlier this fall, Massachusetts put out their environmental impact report for comment. And um, so this is kind of a a very
similar. Usually, they're done together. But because the federal uh federal agencies are no longer allowed to talk about environmental justice or climate change, they didn't want to do one with Massachusetts because Massachusetts is
not prohibited from at least so far from talking about those terms. So they put out two and essentially they're the same document. they do talk both about the fact that they use they use the same consultant who put them together and so forth and so on. So I just wanted to point that out if people are like wait a
minute didn't we do this before. So anyway this is the second bite at the apple so to speak and um even though it's now going to be over Thanksgiving and Christmas and there may not be time to comment by the at least bure you know
within the town government to issue something. And I realize that January 5th is the uh the due date for comments, but um uh I would suggest that uh anything that you all say tonight
can certainly be uh referenced by myself. I mean, I'm going to make a comment and I might say, "Oh, by the way, here's a link to a video where uh the Chattam Select Board made comments." your your video of course is a public document and you can say
whatever you want and um I'm guessing that I'll at least one person uh on the board is questioning the the theory behind the fact that wider bridges will not make Chadam and Cape Cod more
attractive place to visit and also perhaps to retire. So um and basically what it comes down to is rather than is in going to these meetings and raising that concern, the consultant or rather the um
head of the Massachusetts DOT Department of Transportation office uh responsible for overseeing this project and other one the office of mega project delivery. That's the official name. There's only two in Massachusetts and it was this
office was just created like a year ago and I think it was to make sure that these uh projects got over the the finish line and uh Louisa Pwonssky is her name and uh in responding she's been basically saying well we are and I'm
paraphrasing her uh that say we have we are comfortable with our analysis >> period I mean essentially that we've paid a consultant the consultant surprise says, "No, there won't we don't want to
go there." In essence, there's nothing that's not going to happen, so we're not going to talk about it. So, in all these pages, that's all it really says is that there's one sentence that I pointed to, I think, in the packet that I gave to you. I referenced a sentence um and I won't pull it out now, but it says it
says, "Nope, there won't be any increase in traffic." Like, and oh, you know, that's it. We're not gonna we don't want to go there. And uh anyway, it's and it's called if you look on if somebody was to pull up the document and if you Google for those who are listening or
watching later, uh you can Google Cape Cod Bridges program and scroll down and you'll find the uh you'll find the uh link to the draft environmental impact statement and I believe uh forget what page it's on, but
I think I said four. It's in the packet. It's in the select board packet. They could follow you. But if you pulling reduced demand key, >> so as I understand it, there's a December 5th comment deadline to MEPA, the Mass Environmental Protection Agency
on this draft environmental impact report. Is that is that the correct >> uh yes statement of the fact? And and there's a um that's basically a a picture tells a thousand words. And I mean anyone >> Yes. the comments are due by January
5th. It doesn't mean that they won't listen to something that comes in on January 6th or later. And as a matter of fact, on that note, um I have asked the uh the county version is called a DRRI or a development of regional impact
review and that's where they look at projects and so forth. But because this isn't a uh county project, so to speak, that um the Cape Cod Commission has said, "Well, we're not going to uh we're not going to do anything about we're,
you know, this is all good enough for us in essence." But I have asked the board of the under the regulations uh a select board or the uh uh board of commissioners can ask the Cape Cod commissioners to do one anyway.
and I've asked them to do that. So there may be another thing and even though it's after January 5th, we can still do our own local well regional version of an impact statement and see if if they come to the same conclusion as the uh
people in Boston and Washington DC. So uh anyway um but I did want to go back to that one that one picture. I think, like I said, that one picture tells a lot. And there you see there's they're
planning on two bridges to replace one. So this would be the Sagamore going off Cape >> and instead of two little lanes with no with a high potential for head-on
collision, this this this is wider than the whole bridge the whole existing bridge. Now, in fact, if you look over to the right, you'll see a 10-ft breakdown lane. And the if you to even if you took away
that 10-ft breakdown lane, that would be the equivalent of the 40t that we have now. It's right now it's four 10-ft lanes from curb to curb, you know, and no no margins or anything. And so anyway, you'll see that yes, there's 10,
but and the new lanes are 12 feet like regular highway lanes are now. And then there's um but anyway, what I'm trying to say is that if you were to take the existing Sagamore Bridge, add another 10
ft and made all the traffic one way off, that's how much that's what the traffic flow would be. And to me that's somewhere between 50 to 100% that peak capacity during peak periods means that would be able to handle about 50
somewhere between 50 and 100% more traffic on and or off in both directions. So uh to say that that won't people won't notice that some soon to be retired couple is thinking about well should we retire to New
Hampshire or to Cape Cod? They're thinking about it and then all of a sudden the bridge, not all of a sudden, but they go, "Wait a minute, the bridge is gonna open in next year or something. Maybe now Cape Cod looks more familiar for retirement." So, uh, anyway, and
there was, uh, I did get a little piece in the Cape Cod Times on the front page yesterday. If people have a copy of that hanging around, they'll see that I raised the issue in in that. But I didn't say it would spur housing. I said it would spur second home housing. So,
just wanted to clear that up, too. Uh, but, uh, so, uh, there may be another opportunity if I get the someone to do that, but if you I don't want to get into the weeds on all of this, but I just wanted to get your sense of anyone's sense. And like I
said, whatever you say here, you don't even have to >> it might they might listen to you a video more than reading a letter from the board. So, go ahead. Well, thank you for for monitoring this project and for bringing this to our attention. Uh my comments earlier were simply a
reflection of how I reacted when I read those pages and saw those. I wasn't passing judgment on whether it's good or bad. I I I I do think we need new bridges. Um and because the original bridges, as I understand it, were built
for basically a two-lane passage, one north and one south. And then they made each single lane into a double lane. And that's why it's very tight there and pretty dangerous. Uh and um
the I I I just didn't buy their reasoning for for concluding that it wasn't going to affect the volume of traffic. I think in my view it clearly will uh increase the volume of traffic and there are good and bad potentially aspects to that. I
think of the workers who come in in the morning, go home at night and uh others may their visitors or potential residents and possibly younger families who come down here and whose children populate our schools, that sort of
thing. Um this would be a good thing so you don't have to wait an hour at the bridge or if you're working off Cape, you're living on Cape, um the same thing. So, um, I don't myself see
the need for the board or the town to submit formal comments. I mean, obviously our staff hasn't had a chance, none of us, to read these thousands of pages, but I'll throw it open for any comment from from the board if you'd like. Jeff, >> thank you, Dean, Stephen, thank you for
your attention to this. Uh, you know, frankly, I think the three lanes one way, um, going off and coming on is is a huge improvement. Um, I I'm very familiar with the amount of folks that commute on and off the Cape to work here. They can't afford to live here,
but they want to work here, so they do commute every day. And the amount of traffic in the morning and in the evening is extraordinary. I I do have and I I agree with your comment and the chairman's comment about the increased capacity will bring increased traffic and increased interest in getting to the
Cape conveniently. I have concerns about just went from exit 9 to exit 11 and beyond the Orleans Rotary and beyond that um that spine that two-lane highway is going to get has tons of traffic now at both times of day early in the
morning and late at night. Imagine an increase in overall capacity as well saddled on top of that piggybacked on top of that. So I have concerns about the double lane highway down our way if you will down the lower Cape. So I would like to voice that. I think it's going to be a concern going forward.
>> I think I think the bridges are I think the bridges are phenomenal. I mean they're going to really really help, but they are going to be um it's going to increase traffic. >> Yeah, I think I think the the bridge proposal is a good one. >> Me too. Um, I I agree with you about this neck of the woods. I'm glad you're
using the old exit numbers because I I couldn't even tell you what our exit number is. I pay no attention to that nonsense. >> But but um sorry, >> but but >> should we vote on that? >> Yeah, but I I do think in in the last 10 years that it's gotten worse.
>> Oh, it's unbelievable. >> Shireen, I think you had something to say. No, I'm just fascinating to add Stephen. Thank you. I you know for to have somebody um looking out for our interests um during these meetings is is pretty key and to bring back the
information to us is is good. Um obviously the bridges are antiquated and quite dangerous. You know, as you had noted, the head-on collision genre, you know, like scenario is possibility and it happens often and there is a lot of traffic that goes daily across to and
fro on the bridge that is workers, you know, that work here and also visitors and residents. We all try to time our departures off the bridge. you know, oftentimes if you know, any of if I'm traveling, Ernie and I are traveling, we're always thinking about when's the
best time to leave the Cape to get to the airport, you know, things like that. Um, but I've I've seen the presentations that the Masdot has done. Um, their website is pretty informative. Um, I think the the safety issues the are
outweighing some of the other issues. Um, there is no doubt that a wider road is going to bring more people. and you're right in your analysis. Uh so, you know, I I concur with you on that. Um if that's enough to say. Um but I
think that, you know, we also have to look at the improvement as as what the cost benefit is going to be. And I really truly think that the benefit is going to outweigh some some of the costs. I think we have a lot of issues around,
you know, people coming to the Cape and investing in the Cape and we're losing our identity and all that. there's multiple layers. So, um you know, I think we have a lot of work to do around that as a community to begin with um to to push forward and um um and to
mitigate that a bit, but um I think that's I'm going to stop there, but I I do want to say thank you very much for keeping attention to all the details um in the report. >> Any other comments from the board? Um I don't see any from the public. My
sense is is there consensus that we would not >> submit any formal comments. >> I think we made our comments on publicly. Yeah, >> he can bring back. >> Okay, that's fine. I say people like to watch videos more than read paper.
>> I would want would point out one thing personally. I I'm not saying by raising this concern, it doesn't mean I'm against >> bridges like like you all. You know, it's it's there are some unintended consequences. I believe that and and it's like if you're going to write a
2,000page document then something as fundamental as that should be because it's going to be used as a planning document they'll when we're planning for our infrastructure not just well we're in better shape with
wastewater than most >> towns but now they're planning and funding expan you know new wastewater and so forth and and if they get a document that says that's accepted without contest without that says oh don't worry there won't be more people
moving here or during peak periods because they when you design a wastewater treatment plant for instance you design for peak >> you don't design for average you know like who's living here no wait a minute how many people are going to be here on the fourth of July week you know things
like that that's what you design for is the peak and if the peak's going to be higher then that should be then the And this should be as accurate as possible. Not not it's it's not supposed to be a I mean they do talk about a preferred
alternative but uh it should be as informative and so by being having a blind spot there which I understand because a lot of times it's like we we have a schedule we want to build it by thus and such a date. the governor wants this and that and and um so there's a
lot of pressure to stay on schedule and to raise an issue any anytime you say wait a minute did you missed a spot so I understand there's a natural bureaucratic reluctance to tap the brake or in any way shape so anyway but at least now like I said there's going to
be a video I mean by having this we'll be able to say and my comments too there'll be a record that you know 50 years from now and they go wow did Do you think about this back in a day? You know, we'll be gone, but they'll say, "Oh, hey, there's a video." Because all the videos, all this is going to be
archived someplace somehow. And then, uh, artificial intelligence will be able to say, "Hey, did you just be able to ask one question, it'll go back, look through all documents and all videos, and it'll be able to come back just like that and find out, oh, well, gee, this
is what the select board said and what we said." So with history in mind, I just wanted to be able to say at least I raised some concern and they go and we can say and then they can still put in something in the final version that you know without slowing things down and
hopefully there'll be something there so it won't be eyes wide shut. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much Steve and keep us informed going forward. Thank you. >> Next item on the agenda is a discussion on the board of health transfer station affidavit for commercial solid waste
haulers. This was requested by Vice Chair Dykins uh on December 16th and so I'm going to turn this over to Jeff for initial comment. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yeah. Um Mr. Graham Milly wrote us all an email that we received earlier this month raising
concerns about the signing of the affidavit um as they um depart the the uh transport station attesting to that they have uh no uh waste from out of town. And we were I mean we were told
back in I think June at some point that Mr. Millie did service the Moran Regional uh high school which is obvious which is in Haritch and has a dimminimous amount of trash that comes from outside Chadam. Deminimous meaning 5% or less which he described to us at
that meeting. And um so he he rightfully I think asked a very good question about well we thought we had this kind of adjudicated what's up. Board of Health is asking all the haulers to sign an affidavit that they're bringing no trash from outside Chadam. The point being we don't want to have a whole bunch of chat
trash from outside Chad and coming to Chadam then we're paying for its redistribution back to the incinerator etc for recycling whatever. So um and I said to Graham I put we'll get it on the agenda and we'll pursue it. I think you're raising an interesting issue and an issue certainly that affects his
business. This is a business that's been here for generations along with the Nickersons. Um, and frankly, my strong feeling is that I would do anything in my capacity as a select board member to support those businesses that have been here for generations. That's should be what we're all about. Um, these folks
have houses here. They have children in the schools. Um, these these businesses have been handed down or purchased even from from parents, etc. And there's a lot of hard work that's gone into their their building. Um, so anyway, I want to hear from Graham and I hope you guys
will have a warm year and somehow we can figure out what the heck we're going to do here because I think he's raising a good issue. >> Thank you. Thank you, Jeff. I want to note something for the record. At our June 10th, 2025 meeting, since more than a majority of the select board members
are customers of local trash haulers, the select board voted consistent with the state conflict of interest law, Massachusetts general laws chap chapter 268A to invoke the so-called rule of necessity, thus allowing all members to
participate in this matter. And that vote continues to apply to this agenda item, which is essentially an ancillary part of the broad matter of the transfer station fees, which was on the agenda back in June. With that, um, if there's
no one else on the board who wants to talk at the moment, I will throw it open to the public, but I notice the Millies are here. If Mr. Graham, did you want to speak? Because you sent the letter that we have in the packet. Please go to the microphone and identify yourself.
My name's uh Graham Millie, co-owner of Millie Trucking and uh we've been challeng uh since 1928. So, as you mentioned, we were in this room discussing the transfer station fees back in June uh June 10th. And at that time, the board of health affidavit
was brought to light. At that time, it was my recollection that the select board did not exactly agree with the proposed affidavit and the meeting minutes from that June meeting even reflect, quote, there will be a future public hearing held by the board of health on those regulations at a future
date. End quote. To my knowledge, there was no meeting held and no holler was asked for their input. This affidavit was slid in at the end of our permit application and done so after claims that there would be a public discussion about it. So, I'm glad that we're here
now finally discussing it, but our permits do have to be renewed um by the end of the month. Um so, this repeated disconnect between the rule makers, the trash haulers, and the selectman is starting to become exhausting. Um I think we're very lucky as a town to have
two small local haulers. Very few other towns on Cape are fortunate to have two longtime small hauling businesses. Most of them use large corporate haulers now. Um and they're using trucks three times our size and they're dumping obviously much larger waste and they're hauling it
off Cape by themselves. Um so it's easy on the surface to tell us to dispose of any trash picked up outside of the town um to be dumped out of the town. And this is where that disconnect between the rulemakers and our business um
becomes blatantly obvious. First and foremost, we don't want to operate out of our town. Chattam is where we've always operated. We like operating here. We use the small trucks that don't have the long range um that these bigger corporate haulers have. But the reason
we do operate outside the town, it's a necessity to maintain our customer base. A great example is Monoy School District. We offer trash and recycling service there every day and the pricing remains consistent across the district.
This pricing would change dramatically for just the Haritchbased schools if we had to dump Haritch trash outside of Chadam. And so now Monoy is faced with a tough decision. Do they pay extra for the Haritch
schools to us to cover those disposal fees? Do they hire a corporate hauler just for the Haritch schools to save money or do they hire a corporate hauler for the entire school district to make their billing and logistics simpler? So
just like that, Millie Trucking loses a longtime Chattam customer just because of this affidavit and its phrasing. Mind you, there are Cadam residents, students that are going to school in Haritch producing this trash.
And these I I have numerous examples of this. I mean, they're endless. Um the Cadam restaurant owner, but he lives in Harwitch. He doesn't need two haulers, one for his home and one for his business. So when his home in Haritch, the price skyrockets over there, he'll
consolidate and he will choose the one corporate company for both locations. So we will lose a Cadam business as well as that Haritch customer. So I can go on and I know the point being that it's not as simple as it seems on the service. It
is a small percentage of out of town trash that we do bring to Chattam, but it has a larger impact on our overall business as well as the community. So at the end of the day, I think I'd kind of just like to know what the goal is here of the affidavit. if we're trying to
limit the huge corporate haulers that are dumping, you know, the 20 tons of trash per day, um, or are we trying to just handicap to local businesses? Something as simple as limiting the transfer station commercially to businesses that reside and pay taxes in
Chattam could still prevent those large corporate haulers with allowing us to operate as normal. So, just an alternative maybe to that affidavit. It's the same idea, but it doesn't handicap us. I mean, Nickerson and us, we're both taxpayers here. Our
warehouses are here. Our employees are here. Um, that seems to make a little more sense, unless the intention is to handle >> Could you repeat Could you repeat that idea? >> Sure, please. >> Um, the idea would be limiting the transfer station commercially to just
businesses residing and paying taxes in Chattam. So, the haulers that reside and pay taxes here. I have my warehouse here. My office is here. My employees live here. Same with uh Ben here. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Were you finished? I I
interrupted you. >> I'm open to questions though. >> I I have one initial question and then we'll open it up for more. Um in your presentation back in June and in your letter, >> Yep. >> you indicate that probably about no more
than 5% of your trash comes from outside Chadam. I I would say weight wise. Yes. >> And um is most of that 5% or what what do you have a sense as to how much of that 5% comes from the Monoy Regional School District? >> A large majority of it. We're there
every single day um during the school year or five days a week. So, >> okay. Any Jeff? And then Stuart. >> Well, I I'd like to make a you know, I'm I'm open to any suggestions to to affect a compromise to support our local businesses, Millies and Nickersons. Um
whether it's uh an exclusive or not, I don't know. But I would at least posit or suggest that um if possible investigate whether or not um town council would opine on are giving a waiver to Millie to do the Monterey
Regional School System. It's it's arguably our students go there. Our residents of Chadam are there. It's a regional effort that makes a lot of sense. And I I'd be very comfortable and I'm sure some a lawyer excuse me, but I'm I'm sure a lawyer at some point will
get in the way. But I think that makes a lot of eminent sense at at a minimum to say to to the Millies and to Graham, hey, look, it's okay to get Monway. I again just one one one thought I had. >> Yeah, I I I myself don't see a legal
problem with that, but Stuart, did you want to >> Yeah, I I just had a couple of questions. the um how many how many other haulers besides Millie and uh Ben Nick um like corporate haulers are using our transfer station would you
say? >> Um right now the only other one I would consider corporate would be Barrows and they're based in Harwitch and the reason I would refer to them as corporate is they're using corporate scale trucks um the ones that are that I talk about that are capable of dumping you know the 20
tons. And do you folks uh use any other transfer station besides Chadam? >> Uh for MSW we use just Cadam as well as Single Stream Recycling. Uh the majority of our demolition debris goes to Daniel's recycling in Orleans.
>> Oh, Daniel. Um and does this select board do we adopt the rules or is it the board of health that >> the board of health? So what are we? Well, we we I should mention that we I I at my request
Jill and um convened a staff level meeting yes yesterday which I to which I invited Jeff because he had put this item forward and we couldn't have a majority of the board present but but we had present um staff from the um
department of natural resources as well as the department of public works and the chair of the board of health. They've had a regulation in effect for decades 2008, >> at least 2008, >> which bans
um uh non-Chadam trash from being deposited at the facility. Now, in order to even haul trash through the streets of Chattam, whether you're dumping it at Cadam transfer station or not, you have to have a permit. These permits
begin at at the beginning of the year. So this is why we're close to the starting date and there are a number of haulers who have permits but we don't my understanding from talking to Mr. Philly is that most of those hollers other than Nickerson and Millie don't dump in
Chadam. So the position of the board of health and I I think Judy Giorgio is online and we can ask her to comment is that they've had they have this regulation and they're proceeding under their own regulations to put in place an
enforcement provision that is you know more definitive than it has been passed. So they've come up with this affidavit um that would be asked whereby um which uh the hollers are
being asked to sign when they apply for the annual permit and also uh a second I don't know if it's an affidavit or an a atestation when the trucker shows up at the facility to sign or to say yeah
there's no cadam non cadam trash on it. That's so that's why this is here that I mean that's we're taking it up because Mr. Millie sent us a letter and Jeff asked us to take this up. >> Okay. >> So that's the position of board of but I can ask Judy to comment further or
answer any questions if you'd like. >> Yeah. I mean I think >> I don't know if I've answered your questions. >> Well I think Judy's input would be helpful. My only are is this similar to the HBDC or we are we going to be overruling the board board of health? >> No, we can't. I we can't. I mean only
it's their regulation and only they can change it >> right >> we can make a request to them if we wanted to along the lines of sort of the waiver that Jeff has asked suggested uh the the proposal that Mr. Millie just
made about restricting the facility to only Chadam based companies is something we would have to run by town council. >> Yeah. Yeah. And that would also be a regulation of the board of health because they regulate the transfer and
depositive trash. But before I go to Judy, unless you have more questions, I'm going to turn to Shireen. >> Not at the moment. >> I I just want to clarify my understanding of what I'm hearing today is that when you were here
in June, both of you mentioned that you probably 5% of your trash is from out of town. you attested to that in public, but now the board of health is asking you to attest that there'll be nothing. That doesn't make any sense to me. The board of health knows through public
com, you know, their public um our meeting that that that's an impossible thing for them to be able to do. Um and I I think that it's it it doesn't make any sense to me. I mean, these are small businesses, as Jeff had said. Part of
what we want to do is maintain these small local businesses for our community. This is um I know Graham is a very generous human. He's serves on boards of some of the uh local charities and and um community services in town
and you know so if we're if we don't I don't want to I don't want to do something like this. I mean, we can't we we're powerless to I mean, it's not us to say, but I think the board of health has to step back and look at exactly the reality of what they're asking this the
the trash haulers to do. It doesn't um it it's impossible for them to attest um and you know, in the way that they're operating business, you know, as Graham's examples of of having like a restaurant owner has business in Chadam,
he doesn't want to holler. So you go over and grab his trash as well. And I imagine that's what's Ben Ben does. Um, you know, and then the idea that we're we have a town uh community business that's serving our schools is, you know, and that just happens to be in Harwitch.
I I'm just finding that there's a disconnect here that that is is making this an impractical situation for everybody. >> I hear your concerns. You know, we we shouldn't as a town be in the business of asking somebody to sign something they can't
>> honestly sign. Um I know Judy's wants to speak, but Mr. Nickerson, is this Ben Nickerson? Is that >> Yes. >> Ben Nickerson, uh Benjamin T. Nickerson in the third generation of operation. So after our meeting in June, I ran some numbers. It was pre-summer customers,
which would have thrown it off a little bit because 100% of our summer customers are in town. It was 5.9% are out of town, 6% 1% of that was commercial. Commercial brings in a lot more weight. So, I mean, there's a really small
percentage of what we're doing that's out of town. >> Okay. So, Judy, is that you? Could you want to say something? Our health agent. >> Hi. Um, yeah. I mean, I think everything that the select board has um put my
camera on. I'm sorry. that the select board has said in representing the situation is correct. Um the board became concerned about this uh back in the summer when we got complaints about um odors and then the the uh board wrote
a letter in support of the fee increases. And at that time we did mention that um we were considering affidavit to keep um the collection of outside from outside of Chattam into our our landfill or excuse me our transfer
station. Um the letter the board had several meetings. It was always on the agenda and they discussed it several times over the summer and a me a letter was sent to all of our haulers of record um in September requesting that they
comment and welcome them to the board for further discussion. Hearing none um we didn't think that there was any concern over the whole situation. So, um we we had talked with uh Rob Philly
about this um affidavit and having the um gate guards have people the the haulers sign an affidavit and we also put it on our uh our application and you are correct. This is a board of health regulation. We are the regul the
authority over the transfer station. um and our regulations that have basically said that no outside trash shall be deposited there for probably at least 20 years. Um so in December Rob and I talked about
instituting the gate affidavit and uh he asked me to send a reminder to the haulers which I did. Um since then all the hollers have signed it uh except for Millie and um he did as you know send
his concerns to you and that's the first time we'd heard from it heard of it. Um I think the board you know are interested in your concerns and I can't speak for them and they'll have to discuss it. Um the situation is though that it's still in our regulations that
we are not supposed to be accepting any outside trash. So happy to answer any questions. >> Thank you. I I know that was the concern of the chair of the board of health when we had our meeting yesterday that he's got a regulation and he's kind of stuck with it. He can't speak for the whole
board. When is your next when is the next board of health meeting? >> It's uh I believe the 14th or the 15th of January, whatever that Monday is. >> So what what happens if somebody has not signed the affidavit by January 1? Are
they not going to have a permit? Are they not going to be able to haul trash through the streets of Chadam and deposit it at um >> facility >> theoretically? Yeah. I mean, they're not supposed to be coming into the transfer station if they don't have a valid
permit. >> Okay. Um any questions for Judy or comments? Shireen. >> Judy, can the permits be conditionally um conditionally given? you know, if there's I mean, if somebody like if if
um the Millie company didn't sign their, you know, they they didn't sign on to the uh to the affidavit. I mean, it can you can the board issue uh conditional permits based on, you know, like this
appending decision uh to change the regulation or to amend the the order. I would have to, you know, discuss that with the board and and check with town council. I I don't see why we couldn't. But >> I can't see I can't I can't see cutting
a business off at the knees and say you can't you can't haul trash for you know until we have a board a board of health meeting. >> It doesn't make any sense. >> I don't think that was their intention at all. Um, I think they felt that, you
know, because we were hearing complaints from the public about outside trash and the odors and the condition of the transfer station for uh tipping floor, they they pursued this to just make sure that we were getting only trash from
>> Judy from how how did they know that it was the the out the out of town trash was the odorous trash? >> Yeah. Say that. >> They don't. Yeah. I mean >> I mean we do get by way. Great question. Thank you. I'm sorry. >> How did they know that the order was trash?
>> Was the out of town trash? >> Come on. Um I'm going to ask >> I don't I don't think they do. I mean in the summer we get a lot of commercial obviously restaurant um trash and >> Right. >> Yeah. >> I have one more question, Mr. Chair. Are you fine with that? Um the other piece
to this, Judy, is um I guess this is a question that you don't have to answer, but I'd love to hear what it would be. is often times we initiate all these you know like you attest to this and and um what are the consequences if I mean what
is the enforcement or the inspection that would occur to prove that somebody did not have or did have out of town trash in their truck in their hauler and then number two what's the enforcement
uh of that consequence I mean >> um That would be up to uh the staff at the transfer station. They they would have to, you know, basically have somebody dump on the side and pick through it if they felt that there was a concern. Um I think enforcement would be
losing your right to to haul into the transfer station. It's not something we've ever done >> and and that's not part of this current enforcement plan. And that's in >> there is no enforcement plan in place is
what I'm asking. honor system. You sign the affidavit. >> Okay. >> I have a question from Mr. Millie and then I'm going to ask I I know you want to speak, Brian, but I'm going to hold off on that for a moment. >> Um and then I'm going to ask Mr. Philly to come answer a couple of questions. Uh you heard um Mr. Dykin's suggestion
about a carve out for the in your case for the Monoy district. Does that if that were done and only that were done, does that make your business model still
infeasible or I mean it's a step in the right direction, but I don't really think it's solving the the total issue here. I mean, the the restaurant owners, the storekeepers, I mean, it's it's a perfect example of they're going to if they live out of town and they're not and we can't service them out of town,
they're not going to have us service their business in town either. Okay. >> Monoy is just a great example because it's such a large portion of my business. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Rob. Can you answer a couple of questions? First, um, with respect to
the odors and so forth, the town is is doing major work or about to do major work on the tipping floor. Isn't that correct? >> That's correct. We about to bid um in the next couple of months and that whole new tipping floor will be fresh
concrete. >> So part of that whole transfer station project was to reduce if not eliminate the you know maloterous aspects of that type of enterprise. >> It should reduce it. That's our
intention. Yes. And also with respect to um the the the dumping that does take place, the tipping, how much of it is from local the two local companies roughly? >> Um so I I looked at the past three
years. Um Nickerson's roughly, you know, 35 to 40% of our overall solid waste. Milliey's about 30%. Barrows is around 3%. And then the the remainder is so we do
have uh trash butlers and coffins and suns that uh occasionally dump there. We don't have a separate account with them so we don't track them separately. Um but they contribute a little bit but um the rest is up to residential um deposits which is roughly 30%.
>> Okay. Thank you. Um I guess back to the board um um my sense is that we should
um request or I guess instruct we can instruct the staff to issue a conditional permit as you suggested Shireen.
for the beginning of the year to whoever doesn't sign the requested affidavit. In this case, it's just Millie, but asked the board of health at its next meeting to consider
this issue and specifically to consider two proposals. One of which would be the monoy carve out which as we heard is only a partial um remedy in the case of one hauler and
secondly to consider limiting the facility to only chatbased companies and for that we would need to get town council's opinion to the board of health. Um
and that that's those are my thoughts. I don't know how how others feel. Do we want to send a communication to the board of health? Shireen, >> I I I I think that makes sense. I do want to think in terms of the uniqueness of the business that that both Ben and
Graham had talked about the idea that a business in Chadam having a resident in Harwitch is using their services and we should be sensitive to that uniqueness of that um and and include that into the into it. Um I this is I I don't think
Chattam should be in the we the town should not be in the business of impeding the operation of local businesses. It's it's a it's challenging to get help. It's challenging to uh you know it's expensive to run a business in Chattam and stay make a commitment to
run a business in Chattam because of um property values and whatnot. So, I I I just want to make sure that we're sensitive to our local our local businesses >> and that aspect of the of the property owner >> who lives in Haritch has a business in
Chadam was something that we heard tonight for the first time. I think >> I think Graham had mentioned it the last time he was here in June. I think I recall that that was that was brought up. Um but >> Okay, Jeff. And then I'm going to
I'm endorsing your your motion that that you basically articulated. I think it's a I think it's a very good motion inclusive of Shireen's point about having a local business a Chattam business that has trash at their home, if you will. But I I think it's
extremely important that to do to do otherwise and to do otherwise is is is not what we should be about as a community. We re we really should be looking for ways to support viable businesses that are really part of the
fabric of the community. And that that's what I'm about. I hear it from Shireen as well and and and Stuart. That's what we're about. That's what we should be about. Now, I know we don't have the power or the authority to to stand in place of the board of health. And we have a phenomenal board of health.
Believe me, I'm the liaison. I watched I watched them during during the McGrath thing and during CO and they've been they were they've been phenomenal. But on this one, I think we can do better. I think we need to get it right. Um I share your appraisal of the board of health. I've publicly commended them for
the reasons you have stated. Um I do understand the predicament they're in. In order to change their regulations, they have to have hearings. Um it's a long process. Um and uh but at the same time maybe there's something that can they can do on an expedited basis short
of that. Um so I'll ask Brian Phillips he wanted to speak if there's any other public comment either online or in the audience we'll take that too. >> Brian Phillips 374 lens road. Um I think we should just kind of take the uh you know look at the intent of the law and
I'm I think that's probably to have it so you know Haritch haulers or whatever don't bring all their trash here. you know, maybe use our rates or whatever. I don't think the intent is to, I guess, for a lack of a better term, handicap our, you know, local businesses. And if anything, we should be doing things, you
know, as uh Mr. Dykin said, to promote it to promote it. So, instead of being maybe 5%, maybe move it up to 20% because we should be um, you know, promoting them, you know, to get more uh clients in Orleans in Haritch. And I think they're they're paying to bring the trash to the dump anyways. Um, you
know, to take away from some of those, you know, large commercial haulers. So, I think they should, you know, be promoted and to be able to go to other towns. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other public comment? >> Judy, did you have any final thoughts or is there anything that we should know about the board of health schedule or
process? We we know that they would ser I know they would pay attention to a letter from us. They make their own decision and it would be respectfully sent to them. But >> uh yeah, I just wanted to um encourage uh Mr. Millie and and Mr. Nickerson had
come to the board of health with their concerns. And we, as I said, we were working on this all summer and sent the letters to them and and really got no communication back. Um, so I I would hope if we do put this on the agenda for early January that they would um agree
to come because I think that would really help the board of health understand their concerns. Um, and um, yeah, and we'll we'll I'll definitely take all this information back to them and and we can move forward with resolving this situation, I hope.
>> Can can you can your office notify the haulers when the meeting is scheduled? >> Of course. >> Yeah. >> Rob, did you have anything you would like to say? Is there anything we're considering that would complicate life at the transfer station from your
perspective? um you know not really. I you know I think the um the amount of uh solid waste brought to the transfer station is manageable. Um you know there were some comments made about expanding uh the scope that would just bring more uh
solid waste for us to manage and uh that would be there would be a tipping point at some point. We'd have to really do an analysis of that. How about a um the issue of a temporary conditional permit as Shireen outlined?
I know that's something I who it's the board of health that is >> it's a board of health issue really. So we were we were being supportive of their affidavit, but we don't have any concerns. Yeah, >> they have to they have to stop at the scale house on their way out anyway. So signing it wasn't really an issue. So we were trying to be accommodating. Jill,
did you have anything you wanted to offer on this in terms of the suggested motion? And I know Stuart, you might had some you had some other questions, I think. I'm sorry. >> Uh, yes. So, I think what we'll need to do is so the the board of health issues, the hauling licenses. So, we'll have to put some note to file presuming that if
if Graham's willing to renew his license and that it's um the contingency factor. We have a new platform. I think it's easy for us to put a note into the file. And just wanted to add this is the first time although the regulations have been in place for uh many years this is the
first time that the attestation actually appeared on the hauler's renewal license. Uh but we could there's something we can work out internally with that. >> Yes. So it's kind of a two-part process. One would be this conditional permit and the other would be to ask the board of health to take a look at their
regulation in the longer term and can they modify it some what either to have a dimminimous exception or whatever Stuart I'm sorry you've been waiting for some questions. No, that's all right. It's uh you know,
just sort of a complex issue, but um no, I agree that we we ought to be uh trying to promote our local businesses, of course, and I'm not sure why we're allowing, you know, we live in such a fragile environment here. I'm not sure why we're
allowing out of town corporate haulers to come into our disposal area and dispose of only to be trucked back out of here. I think that that doesn't make any sense. So hopefully town council will take a look at that. The other thing is I'm I'm assuming that um
under the board of health section 9 regulations on enforcement that we're not going to be we're not going to enforce staff's not going to enforce that that provision. >> I think the sense would be that there would be a pause on that.
>> Yeah. Okay. Um, that would be the sense as far as the issue of restricting non-Chadam based companies. That's something Jill and I had a conversation with town council yesterday. He raised some concerns in that area, but what was
being suggested by Mr. Millie was sort of broader than what we talked about. So, okay. So, do you want to offer a motion? >> I'll offer the motion. >> Yeah. Yeah, please. Because I think you already articulate. I mean, but I think you did a fine
>> I'll move that the board request town staff to develop and implement a conditional permitting process um and uh so that uh hauler permits can be um made
effective uh for the upcoming calendar year. And at the same time that the board communicate to the board of health a request that the board consider amending
its regulations to allow for um a dimminimous um carve out for uh non Chattam
trash that's hauled to the facility. Does that summarize it? I didn't specifically mention the Monoy district because I don't think that solves the whole problem, >> but we can >> as an alternative. >> Well, I'm going to go to the meeting as the leazison, so I'll be there as well.
>> If we want there as an alternative, fine, but I'd rather give them the broader. >> Yeah, I think the broader strokes >> or the consideration of specific waiverss >> or the consideration of other specific waver. >> All right, I'll take that as the part of the motion. It's been moved and seconded.
>> And that we pause enforcement of >> Yes, we'll add that in as well. >> Got all that, Kathy. Kathy, you got that? >> Okay. So, we'll take a vote on this >> when you're ready. Okay. >> You're all sec.
>> Um, could you please repeat the part about the pause and what was the last part? Sorry. >> Uh, just pausing enforcement under section 9. >> Section nine of the board of health breaks. >> Yeah. Temporarily pausing enforcement. Okay. All right, take a vote on that. Miss Davis, >> I. >> Mr. Dikkins, >> hi. >> Mr. Smith,
>> hi. >> Chair votes I. So, what will we do? I'm >> sorry. >> Yes, Shireen did. >> Shireen, >> should we um have a letter to the board of health? How do we want to do that? Can staff draft a letter and I'll sign it or
>> or an email? Whatever. >> We'll try we'll get it out tomorrow morning at least. Um I mean we can say at its meaning the select board voted to AB and C. >> Can you change take do I need to >> Typically I just transmit I have a standard transmitt form that I send
after a board vote that I can use. >> All right >> and you'll copy us. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. I think we're done with this. Thank you Judy. >> Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Millie. Mr. Nickerson. >> Thank you Judy. Thank you. >> Thank you everyone. >> All right. Next is the ratifi consider
ratification of the town manager's appointment of the deputy director of public works Tom Ber as the Chadam tree warden. And I'll turn to our town manager Jill Goldmith. >> Thank you Mr. Chair. So uh this is a little unusual. Um when we had the
retirement of Dan Tobin, we didn't necessarily have a staff that was a or a staff person who was a certified uh tree warden. um the person uh prior to the deputy director Tom Bar um acted in that capacity temporarily. So uh in the
interim we I asked the board to appoint Dan Tobin at postretirement as the interim tree warden and in looking at the the charter there really wasn't a mechanism to appoint a tree warden. So and and Dan Tobin had had it for like 35
years. So, uh, with Tom, uh, working hard on a certification that's very difficult. He just received it. I thought out of continuity of a progression of the select person's vote that you would reaffirm my recommendation to appoint Tom Bar as our
tree warden. So, that is what I'm respectfully requesting the board to do. >> So, this is kind of we're following the advice that was given to us back in 2023 by our former town council Pat Costello, who basically said, I looked at the charter. I looked at the bylaws. The general laws say that if the town has a
bylaw provision or takes a vote um and I would assume that means a town meeting vote, the tree warden is appointed. But he says, well, we don't have that. So the charter says that appointments
if there's no provision else-wise, the select board make an appointment, but it also says the town manager appoints department heads and so forth. So I guess out of an abundance of caution, he advised that the select board at that time of a a vote to appoint um Dan Tobin
as the interim tree warden. And now uh we have someone who has been certified to take the position has been acting in the position. So that's where we are. And um if there are any questions or comments, Stuart? >> Sure. Um,
I mean my I wasn't here obviously in this capacity in 2023 for Mr. Costello's I I think what he was trying to address because it kind of it says it in his email uh that he was trying to address the interim tree tree warden
appointment. Um, and I'm I'm not sure that there's a select board role here. It seems to me that this position is appointed like any other position under the charter or most other positions and that's made by the
town manager. Very simple. Um I maybe Mr. Costello was trying to address some some oddities at the time. Um but uh you know clearly in 1-6 of the charter it says where
provisions of this charter conflict conflict with provisions of town bylaws, rules, regulations, orders or mass general laws or special acts this charter shall govern. So um I mean we
can vote on it but I I don't see a role for the board here. This is you know this is um in my mind very clear appointment by the town uh manager and the select board appoints uh election officers town council and the town
manager and that is outlined in uh under the select board's uh 3-2. So, >> okay, >> at at a minimum, I mean, I I guess I don't see a harm in doing this other than I don't want to set precedent for
future issues because if we're going to use this theory, we're going to have a lot of appointments coming before us. That were never the intention. The intention was always that the town manager was going to make these appointments and we were going to supervise the town manager, the
select board, uh, and town council and election officers. um as provided in the state constitution. So um at a minimum I I I'd like to hear from uh present town council's um opinion
because I I do believe he was trying to address an interim position that had some had some issues at the time. >> Okay, I understand your point. Shireen, >> I think we can amend the motion just to support Jill's if that's if if the board's comfortable to support her her
uh her um designation of the treatment. >> So, you're suggesting the town manager make the appointment, but we endorse it >> or take no action. And I I don't really want to dilute the the hard work that Tom Bar has done to get certified, but it also I mean there's hering wardens,
there's other positions that are I believe the select board appoints, but this is really about I was a I was going to put it in my town manager report and then looking back the only appointment on file is an interim appointment that
has since expired. So, I'm fully comfortable making the appointment, but I wanted to be just very public about about the interim being expired and that the public now knows we have a tree warden and it's Tom Bar. >> So, what if we had a motion to endorse
the town manager's appointment of Tom Bar as the tree warden? >> It's all moved. >> Does that help? >> It's the same thing. So, um if there's any question, no actions needed. you I'm informing you of the appointment of Tom Bar as the
>> treat I I'm I am perfectly comfortable with Jill's appointment of Tom Bar. That is not the issue. The issue is the issue is we have a process and I've and where there's been errors or omissions or whatever in the past, we ought to fix
them. And this is a clear one. this if if we're going to do this sort of thing the next time uh in two years when the shelfish constable is up for appointment then she's going to have to come before us and get endorsed and I I don't think that that's the process that we adopted
30 odd years ago when we adopted the charter. Okay, >> Shireen. >> I'm then I we should take no action, but we should acknowledge the uh um the hard work of Tom and congratulate him on getting certified. >> Congratulations.
>> And uh really do appreciate and endorse that he is our dream warden, but I don't think we need to make any take. >> We'll take that as a motion. >> Yeah. >> What you just said. >> Okay. >> Congratulate him. >> Yep. express our appreciation
>> and express our satisfaction that he is the tree warden. >> Exactly. >> That's seconded. >> Yeah, I second that and congratulations on it being certified. Thank you. >> And the town manager, if she hasn't already, will formally appoint him. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> All right. So, we have that
>> moved and seconded. We'll take a vote. Miss Davis. >> I. >> Mr. Dykins. Hi. >> Mr. Matis. >> I'm sorry. M Mr. Smith. >> Yes. >> And the chair of votes. I Okay, the last item is the town manager monthly report.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, so this is the town manager's monthly report for November as well as a few current items. Um, in the announcements today, the chair noted the December holiday closures and schedule of holidays. And then also again because I also the
audience for this report is the public as well to inform them that we the board has set the date for the annual town meeting for Monday May 11th 2026 at 6 pm at the Monoy Regional School Gymnasium on Crawl Road. And with that the date of
the annual town election will be held on May 14th. As usual we're recognizing years of service anniversaries. This is for January. So the the longest serving employee uh for January is Sarah Clark serving as our central permitting
planner. Um also Chris Marrian, police sergeant 13 years and Christina Basset um 10 years. Quite a trough of employees between um eight and 13 years. And then our newest employee is Jason Jones. He's our transfer station heavy equipment
operator. So also want to thank these employees for the hard work that they do every day. And then I want to announce the new hire of Odane Pal. Odin is a Chattam resident and he has been appointed as the division labor. He
began on December 15th and he had previously worked maintenance at uh Broadreach and prior to that he worked at True Green Lawn Care. Also he served in the US uh Army National Guard where he worked as a heavy equipment operator. So, we're very excited to have him as
part of our team. Uh, promotions. I wanted to note um you saw this last week, Candace Cook is promoted to the assessing director and this was the announcement we made when she was promoted. And then we also want to
announce or or announce for the public the retirement of Dale Kelly who Candace had um promote was promoted to her position. Um, the other employee uh that wanted a very low-key announcement of retirement is police officer Jeff
Phillips. He's served as a police officer for 21 years, but in 14 years with the town of Chadam, and he most recently served as our court officer. So, he's very involved in the Haritch community, including the Haritch Mariners for Cape Cod Baseball League,
and he will be retiring as of December 29th, 2025. We do have a proclamation uh that the chair has signed as well as certificate of appreciation. There's no formal party. So, um we'll figure out something to do with the police department in order to recognize Jeff's
services. And then, as we have in the regular monthly report, there's um position openings and a really good index that Kathy puts together for all the projects and items of high community interest. So, I am happy to answer any
questions you may have. So the the position Thank you, Joe. The position of assistant assessor is open. That's Candace's former position. So that that's the staff in that department is in that division is down to just two right now. So given everything that's
going on, it's important to get that filled. >> Absolutely. Yep. >> And and um the um our director of human resources is on leave right now. So who how who's handling those functions? Uh so higher level human resources I'm
handling and the day-to-day uh items. Lisa Steele, she's our department coordinator and she's very well-versed in human resources and and personnel policies. >> Okay. Any comments or questions for Jill from the town manager report? I I
continue to like the the pictures. I think it makes it a lot easier to read. >> Jeff. >> Yeah, I like the pictures, too. just sounds stupid, but no, I I think it's a great report. Um it's it's comprehensive. The people Everybody really ought to take a look. It's online. Really folks should take a look.
It's great. >> Anybody else? >> No. Good report. >> Um I just had a >> and this may be too uh page 29. This may be too much in the weeds. You just let me know, Jill. Um the short-term rental
under this uh local receipt comparison. I mean, that's kind of self-explanatory, I guess. Um, and I and I can see that that's a it's an increase 54 56,000 or 55,000.
Um, the traditional rental is that what is what's a traditional rental? >> That's the hotel motel. >> That the hotel motel >> and um because that's a significant increase. >> Is am I reading that right? it is uh
looking at that I think they call it the third quarter comparison. >> Yeah. >> Um but overall I I know it was slightly down um as of June 30th for that entire fiscal year. So we're watching that but
um looks like the the last quarter was a very good quarter. And um I mean I'm just uh 30 negative 38,000 for solar payment in lie of taxes.
>> Is that uh >> so that's the the reduction amount. >> These are these are monies that we get for our solar panels back to us. Is that Yes, that is >> Oh, is that >> And it's red. We have a we have contracts with various entities.
>> Yes. And that's the payment in l of taxes. So, this is more of an an assessing item versus the actual >> Oh, I see. >> revenues from the panels. >> Um Okay. Well, >> so they previously would have paid taxes, but they put the panels up.
>> I'm always >> It's pretty technical. It's just showing that there's been a drop in the amount of of payment that's been made in of taxes. >> Okay. >> And the um you know, I just looked at like, okay, sewage charges, more people are hooking up to the sewer.
You would think that that would be a am I reading that right? Wouldn't that be a more of a positive number or am I >> It's 19,000. Yeah, Rob's still here. >> Yeah. I don't know if Rod sees that that
part of the the spreadsheet, but again, this is looking five months into the new fiscal year. >> Okay, I can follow up with Carrie. I was just curious about some of the they were
there's interesting numbers >> as we enter the budget season. Thank you. >> Okay. >> All right. No other comments on it. I'll entertain a motion. But first, uh want on behalf of the select board and town manager and the staff wish everybody in
happy and safe holidays over the next uh two weeks. >> Motion to journ. Mr. Chairman >> second >> moved and seconded. Miss Davis >> I. >> Mr. Dikkins. >> Merry Christmas. I >> Mr. Smith. >> Merry Christmas. I
>> And the chair votes eye. Good night Cadam. Happy holidays. We are adjourned at 7:06 p.m.