Good evening everyone and welcome to the Cadam Select Board meeting of May 19th, 2026. Let the record show that we started promptly at 5:33 pursuant to Governor Healey's March 28th, 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 law general law chapter 38 section 20 until June 30th 2027. This meeting of the Chattam 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 that order. A reminder that persons who would like to listen to this meeting while in progress may do so by calling the phone number 1508-945-4410
conference ID 20386491 pound or join the meeting online via Microsoft Teams through the link in the posted agenda. While this is a live broadcast and simoccast on Chattam TV Xfinity channel 1072, despite our best efforts, we need we may not be able to
provide real-time access and we will post a record of this meeting on the town's website as soon as possible. First order of business is to establish a quorum of the select board and I will do just that. Mr. Smith >> present. >> Mr. Niccastro >> present. >> Miss Potach >> present. >> Mr. Meadows >> present.
>> Mr. Dykens is present as well. Um, in the first order of business, uh, after the, uh, establishing a quorum or the minutes of May 12th, I'll entertain a motion to move the minutes of May 12th. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Okay. Any edits? Uh, I look towards uh, Mr. Niccastro. Any edits this evening?
>> No edits, Mr. Chairman. >> Well, let the record show that we established a no edit evening. Anybody else with an edit? I I don't have any. Do you have any any Any anybody else? Okay, we'll take a vote. Mr. Smith, >> vote to approve. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dcastro. I Miss Botach
>> abstain. >> Okay, Mr. Meadows. >> I >> and Mr. Dykin says I as well. It's 41. Um, next order of business, we have public announcements and agenda item requests. I've got a I've got a couple comments and some announcements as well. I just wanted to thank Dean Castro for
his chairmanship over the last year. He's uh great leadership, dedication, and uh thoughtfulness. So, I just wanted to publicly thank him for his his service as chair. And I would also like to welcome our new clerk, Randy Potach. Congratulations on winning the a
well-fought election, an excellent election, but welcome and congratulations. And typically, it is your duty to be our clerk and and I look forward to having you read all those beautiful public hearing notices. >> Thank you. I look forward to it as well. >> Okay. Um that being said, I have a
little bit of sad news. Uh Mrs. Jane Moffett, whom known to many of us, passed away on Monday, May 18th, 2026. Jane was a charter member of Chattam Maronei, a former director and a driving force behind many of our museum's early themes and exhibits. She is survived by
her husband, director Emiritus Reed Moffett and their family. Um, she was also a member of the historical commission. I believe she served on the uh community preservation committee as well. A memorial service for her will be held on Saturday, May 30th at 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting
House, 819 Main Street, Cadam. And I don't have any further information at this point, but our thoughts and prayers are with Reed and his family. Just a moment of silence. And I thank you very much. The Chattam Memorial Day ceremony will be held on Monday, May 25th, 2026 at the Community
Center at 10 a.m. All are welcome to attend and to come. And please remember those who gave all to our country. Monday, May 25th, 10 am. I just want you to know the public the public comments on the business agenda was accidentally left off of this agenda
um which is our normal routine and our but our current board select board policy allows for public comment on any and all agenda items unless otherwise stated. Matters related to personnel um typically we don't take public comment. So this error has been corrected and the item will be on all future agendas.
Unfortunately, it's also not on our agenda this evening. If there is a somebody that wants to speak to our business agenda before those items come forward because they need to leave um or feel that they have a burning issue they need to speak to, then certainly you'll be recognized. Um that being said, Fire
Chief Justin Tavano will please introduce the town's newest firefighter, EMT Connor Nicholson, and Sean Mechani to the select board. Chief, welcome, Chief. Welcome, folks. >> Good evening, everybody. Uh, select board member Potachesh, congratulations.
Welcome to the board. Uh, greetings member of the board, uh, member in the comm members of the community in person and tuning in from home. Uh, very excited to introduce our two newest, uh, family members here at the fire department, uh, Connor Nicholson and Shauna Mcinany. Um, Connor comes to us
as a Monoy High School graduate, Harwitch resident. Um, family ties in the community both in Harwitch and Cadam. Um Connor has spent the last two years up at Southern Maine Community College um in their live-in firefighting
program. So he's uh graduated from there officially as of Sunday. He didn't attend the graduation um with his associates degree in fire science. But with their live-in program, they also get opportunity. They live at a fire station and h get experience actually
going on calls. Uh so he comes um even though he's a a new student and a new hireer here through his um his time as a student, he's gained two years of experience up there. Um we're really excited to to have him join us. Um Shauna is a graduate of Barnstable High
School um where she was a standout athlete there. So another Cape Cotter. Um she then went on to the University of Windsor in Canada where she got her uh bachelor's degree in psychology. um and then landed back at home um and for the past year has been working as a call
firefighter EMT with the West Barnstable Village Fire Department. Uh so super excited to to welcome the two of them to the department. Um I just want to say too that this round of hiring um we saw it was probably the most uh competitive applicant pool we've seen in quite some
time. Um which was really encouraging. Um we we took in 50 about 50 applications u for the position. Uh normally if we were to take in that number of applications, a number of them are people who are totally unqualified. They don't meet any of the minimum qualifications for the job. Uh these two
did as long as as well as almost I think we only had one person that did didn't meet the minimum qualifications. So uh really exciting stuff for the department. That being said, um a lot of really qualified candidates. Um these
two stuck out um to us um when we're looking to hire folks. uh we try to find a balance. We we look at their knowledge, their skills, and their abilities. Um and all that stuff is great if they have some experience and they're and they're qualified in those three areas, but we can we can train and
we can teach knowledge, skills, and abilities. Um what we often can't teach is values. Um so in line with the community's values and our department's values, um these two really stuck out um and set them apart from the rest. So we're really excited to bring them to the department.
>> Well, that's great, Chief. Thank you so much. Uh, welcome. It's neat to see uh folks uh from local schools. I'm I'm tickled by that. Monoy and Barnable. That's great. Any comments or questions for for the chief of the the new recruits? >> No, welcome them. I mean, familiar face.
Uh senior kid plays a pretty good soccer game. Uh but yeah, welcome both of you. Thank you. And uh I wish you many years of service with Chadam. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Super good news about the application pool. That's great. >> Yeah, great. >> That's good news. >> All right. We unfortunately had to turn
away many really good candidates, too, but we're keeping them in mind for future spots. >> Hey, Chief, thank you so much. >> Thanks, guys. >> And next, we'll have uh Police Chief Mike Anderson presenting a dispatcher Dana Grim a lifesaver award. U welcome,
Michael. U short timer. Sorry. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Welcome, member Potach. Congratulations. Uh Chief Devano, welcome your two newest members to our public safety team. can't wait to work with them. Um, so this is an incredibly
proud moment for your police department. Um, thanks for having me. Uh, why we are here tonight is I'm going to try and sell again our reassurance program. You've heard me sell it many times. Uh and for those of you who are not aware,
it is a program where basically uh a loved one who usually lives alone or may need some type of special assistance calls our police department every morning. If we do not hear from them by a certain time, we make a contact by
telephone and if that phone call goes unanswered, uh we do a house check, a house visit, personal call. Um, and uh, the program has probably been in service for at least 35 years. And we
have had a number of saves. We've we've saved a lot of of our citizens uh, from injury, uh, from illness, from danger because we don't hear from them. We check on them and they might have fallen. Uh, they might have had some
type of allergic reaction. But we we've had a tremendous amount of saves and we're going to talk about one of them tonight. If you're interested in the reassurance program, uh it's on our website. Uh it's forward facing from the town of Chattam website if you go into the police
department section or you can feel free to come by our police department and pick up a hard copy. Um so let me introduce to you uh our dispatcher. This is Dana Grim. Would you come up here, Dana, and you could stand right here.
Uh Dana has been with us for almost three years and uh he is a a model employee. Uh we use him uh as an asset to train our prospective dispatchers or our prospective police officers that may
have to work the desk. He has received many uh awards and recognitions, but I don't think anyone is uh any one of those is as u significant as tonight. What happened that day uh was not just Dana. Uh it also involved uh two other
police officers uh Clint Collier and Devin Nileley and some members of Chief Tavano's staff who closed the the medical loop on this. So I will read what the award reads and
then I will present it to you. Okay. On April 2nd, 2026, Dispatcher Grim was answering calls for the reassurance program. Dispatcher Grim noticed and determined that there was something wrong with his
conversation with a citizen. Dispatcher Grim asked if an ambulance was needed, asked a couple of other relevant medical questions, and the citizen declined any medical treatment. uh based on his experience and his gut
on his own he dispatched police and fire to uh this citizen's residence. On arrival it was determined that the citizen was in the early stages of a stroke. The citizen was hospitalized and has made a recovery from the stroke.
And what's important here is that the medical officials at the hospital confirm that Dispatcher Grim's actions probably saved her life. One of the acronyms in the things that you recognize uh for stroke recognition is the letter
T and T stands for time. So with that, I am proud to present Dispatcher Grim a life-saving award. Usually
Usually if an officer receives this, they have a pin that they have uh prominently displayed on their uniform. Instead of a pin, we've got you a nice plaque for your desk. >> Thank you, sir. >> Okay. Congratulations. >> Thank you, sir.
>> We're not done. The individual who I'm speaking about is here tonight and I am very, very happy to introduce her. Uh, this is Mary McDermott. And Mary, I'd love to see if you could make it up here. And Dane, if you want to help her, we'll we'll bring
her right up to here. So, while while Mary's making her way up here, I had a chance to visit her after this incident happened, and we had a nice conversation, and there were two things that I thought were very important that I wanted to convey to the board. Number one, I asked her when this
was done if she would have been able to self- diagnose her condition, and she said no. So again, kudos to you, Dana. And when I was leaving, Mary, that's fine. Perfect. Right here. When I was leaving her
residence, uh, one of her visiting nurses came to tout the program and echo what we all feel is the the program still maintains a human component to it. It's not a system where you just dial in and hit a
number or dial in and leave a message to some AI software. This is a human contact. And Mary, on behalf of the Chattam Police Department, I'd like to present you with this.
>> Oh, thank you. >> Thank you very much. Does Does anybody want to say anything? Dana, would you like to say anything? >> Yes. Hello everybody. Um, I think it just goes to show that dispatching is more than just answering a phone. Trusting
your gut is really what it comes down to. I think this is a prime example of that and that the reassurance program really is a great thing. >> Does anybody have any questions for Dana? >> I do. >> Yes, sir. >> Yeah. Uh, so what was the what was the tell, if you will, in your conversation
with Mary that that alerted you to the fact that she probably needed an intervention? It was that that telltale of a slur speech, you know what I mean? Um >> just I mean I talked to Mary. I'm the day the day shift dispatcher so I get the liberty to talk to Mary every morning and I could just tell that there
was there was something different and off and you know that spidey sense with the hairs on the back of your neck standing up and just felt right to send somebody over there to make sure she was okay. >> Yeah. Well, good job Dana. Thank you. >> Thank you sir. >> Anybody else for questions for Dana or the chief?
>> No, I was going to say thank you very much. you've done the community proud and you know it's you know I'm just I'm so grateful that we have these positive experiences that we that you can share with us. So yes, thank you. Of course, >> Mary, would you like to say something? >> I just want to say hi and thank you. Um
I know some of you from years past when I used to be able to serve the town better than I could now, but but um this program this program is unbelievable. My friends are very envious that their
parents' towns don't have something like this. And you just know that if you don't call, they're going to call you or or come. And again, some of you know I'm pretty
stubborn. And when um when Dispatch Grim said, "No, you I don't like the way you're talking." There were two police officers in an ambulance at my house in I don't know, five
minutes. And um in that tea, that time thing, they told me at the hospital, "Oh yeah, this wasn't a TIA. This a big stroke
coming. So, it's mostly my speech that's affected right now, but they say I'll be okay. So, thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Dana. Thank you, Mary. Mary, great to have you here. Great to see you're doing well.
>> Really is. >> Thank you, D. >> Thank you, Chief. Thank you very much. >> Okay, our next item is uh >> public announcements. >> Yes, we are. I'm sorry. Yeah, and we have agenda agenda item request as well.
>> Yeah, I have I have a request uh regarding um uh interviews and appointments to committees. Uh I'm going to be away the next two weeks and out of the country and I'll be back for the meeting of June 9th. Um, I would encourage you and the board to continue
with the interviewing process, but I would like to request that the actual votes on appointments to certain boards be deferred until I'm back so I have a chance to vote. And specifically, I'm talking about the regulatory boards, uh,
the airport commission and the, um, affordable housing trust. I'd like to be able to vote on those positions and I will watch the interviews that you conduct while I'm away. Okay. Uh and I would encourage you to make appointments to any of the other
boards and especially the council and aging board. There is a vacancy there and I know the they met yesterday and there is a candidate that you're going to interview I think next week and I um I I know that they would like to see that that individual appointed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
>> You bet Dean. Thank you. Any other agenda item requests? I I do have one and it's not not um of critical import. I want to consider it after Dean gets back, but I would like to continue our conversation on citizens petitions and
the process and the procedure for it. Um their consideration. I I just want to put a placeholder there. Again, we'll consider it. Um we're going to need town council, I think, but I want to consider it after Dean gets back. Any other agenda item requests here? Agenda item requests from the floor. I believe we
have at least one, Mr. Lenel. >> Good evening. My name is uh Matt Lenel. I don't think I can beat that. That was That was pretty good. Um I would like a general request on the fish pier lease on the south side. As far as there's been some issues down
there. I read the minutes on the uh on their committee. I read the lease. It seems like we have a little problem down there as far as payment goes for some of the fishermen. Um it was two or three months for a few of the guys to get paid. They had to hire a lawyer. Um I
don't want to see this get into a because I might have to sell some fish on that side this year and I don't want to be cha I'm getting too old to be chasing my money around. Um I think before these boards I think before we used to have a performance le the lease used to state that the buyer had to have
like a million dollar credit line of credit or something. Um that's not the case anymore. So and it seems like these lease I my perspective on the lease the town has a lot more protection than the the guys that are fishing. So I mean we unload most of our fish on the self jog.
So but as the truck as the limits are going up the trucking is getting to be an issue. So, we're going to have to unload some of the dog fish over there this year. So, I'm just trying to nip this and Red's Best has been fine paying. >> Okay. >> They pay every uh So, I would like to
see that. I would like to see them have some kind of explanation for why they're not paying the guys on time. >> Okay. Thank you, Matt. >> Yep. >> Yep. Okay. Any other agenda item requests either from the floor or online? Okay. Seeing none, we'll move on
on our agenda. Uh we do not have any public hearings this this evening. We do not have anything on the consent agenda either. Um I will entertain public comment on the business agenda. Um again, it's uh fairly moot because we allow comment. We're going to allow
comment on any any of the other uh business agenda items this evening. Okay. Seeing none, uh our first order of business on the business agenda and we have a few. The seasonal selfish closures. Then we're going to consider the approval of July 2nd entertainment and fireworks event license. Then
consider the select board committee liaison assignments for 2026 to 27 seeing that Shireen is no longer with us. Consider select board representative representative to the affordable housing trust fund board of trustees as Shireen's term has ended and then consider our summer meeting schedule and
other committee appointments notably on our advisory committees. Um but first of all we have Renee Gier to consider shellfish uh seasonal shellfish closures in Muddy Creek, Champlain Creek, Mil Creek, and Taylor's Pond. Renee? >> Yes. Um um good evening. Thank you, Mr.
Chair. Good evening to the board, and congratulations to our new select board member, Randy Potes. Um so this is our major um seasonal closures for Muddy Creek, Mil Creek, Taylor's Pond, and Champlain Creek. And I'm afraid all of
these notices need to be read out. >> That is correct. Uh so Randy, that as as the new clerk, you do read the notices. U sorry I didn't give you a heads up. >> Yeah. So and I think we need to a motion to approve the closure. >> I move that we approve the seasonal closures of Muddy Creek, Champlain
Creek, Mil Creek, and Taylor's Pawn with an effective date of June 1st, 2026. >> Second. >> And Mr. Niccastro seconded. Okay, we'll take a vote. Mr. Smith, >> I. >> Mr. Niccastro, >> I. Miss Potach. >> Hi, >> Mr. Meadows. >> Hi, >> Mr. Dykins says hi as well.
>> Miss Clerk. Read away. >> Okay. So, shellfish ruth and regulations May 19th, 2026. Um, effective June 1st, 2026. The waters and flats of Muddy Creek southwest of a line drawn across the mouth of the creek as defined at low
tide and northeast of Route 28 bridge are closed to taking of shellfish by permit holders until further notice. um closed effective June 1st, 2026, the water flats and all tributaries of
Champlain Creek northwest of a line drawn from uttermost piling at the town boat ramp northeasterly to the no shellfishing sign in the marsh on the opposite shore are closed to the taking of shellfish by permit holders until further notice.
closed. Effective June 1st, 2026. The water and flats of Mil Creek, north of a line drawn from the western breakwater to the eastern breakwater at the mouth of Mil Creek and south of a line drawn across the mouth of Taylor's Pond are closed to the taking of shellfish until
further notice. Closed. Effective June 1st, 2026. The waters and flats of Taylor's Pond north of a line drawn across the mouth of the pond are closed to the taking of shellfish by permit holders until further notice.
>> Miss Bes, thank you very much, Randy. Now, um I do have a couple questions, Renee. Okay. Uh just we close Bucks Creek on the 15th and they close these June 1st. Is there a reason for the disparity between the two? So those decisions are made uh are based on water
quality and that's those decisions are based on um from the division marine fisheries. So um and that actually began back in the 1990s when they still when they first evaluated uh the shellfish growing areas and it was simply that Bucks Creek water
quality is more precarious at an earlier date than the other other areas. >> We have to do something about Bucks Creek's flow. It just gets no flow. It's all It's all It's just no flow. So anyway, we have to keep that in the forefront of our minds. And just one further question. I apologize in
advance, but red tide up north, what's going on there? >> Um well, as you know, uh Chattam Harour that the closure on Red uh on in Chadam Harbor was lifted last week. So SC 52, which covers the the Monoy Flats, uh is open. And we're still waiting to hear
from the Division Marine Fisheries on the Pleasant Bay closure. We submitted um blue muscle samples on Monday, so we should hear back more more than likely. I was surprised I didn't hear back this afternoon, so more than likely tomorrow. >> And and will that translate into razors
and soft shell clams and cohogs as well? >> That's correct. Cohogs are actually um open throughout this closure. That was my question. Which was uh a little off to me. Um but that was their evaluation. Um they're uh they're the actual entity
that um that prescribes what is closed and what is not closed and what species are closed and not closed. >> They take animals and test them. >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. But aren't cohogs filter feeders as well? >> They are, but they're in they're they're in the sediment. Okay. >> Um Okay.
>> Well, clams are also, but their siphon goes all the way up. So, a soft shell clam and and you don't get that with with hard shells. So I suspect their ability to accumulate the toxin, it takes more time than let's say uh a blue
muscle that's um on top of the sediment and also a soft shell clam that's where the siphon goes all the way to the surface. >> Gotcha. That that actually makes a lot of sense. Yeah. Gotcha. Thank you. Any other questions for any Mr. Smith? Yes. >> Thank you. Uh just kind of related to
that, um what's the soft shell uh uh clam uh prognosis for the summer? We're looking >> I hear mixed um um mixed thoughts. Um it's not as good as last year, but the prognosis for prices are very good. So,
it actually might even out. There is a very good set of of cohogs outside the harbor and inside the harbor. The folks that are harvesting right now are doing very very well inside the harbor for cohogs. Soft shell clams where they were. I think people are are are experimenting around. They're they're
heading a little further down Monoy and testing some of the those old sites. Um I can't really disclose where those people are going or else. >> Yeah, >> but people are definitely adventuring a little further. >> Great. Thank you. >> Okay, Renee, got your closures.
>> Thank you very much. >> Okay, next item on our agenda is to consider the approval of of a July 2nd entertainment and fireworks event. The Chattam Athletic Association's representative, President, Mr. Steven West is with us and I know that Chief Devano was weighed in with quite a memo
and uh why don't you walk us through the the ins and outs here Chief if you might. >> Sure. Yeah. Hello again. Uh Fire Chief Justin Tavano. Uh just you got you have the staff report uh memo. Um I'm just going to kind of go through and give the highlights of it and then I'll be here
for any questions. Uh and then Mr. West can weigh in as as necessary as well. Um just for some background um as always um you know public safety administration is always reviewing previous events whether it's an emergency event as we've done with storms um or planned events that
are going on around town um and adjusting our risk reduction measures and operational response plans uh based on those lessons learned and best practices. Uh myself and Chief Anderson spoke with u Mr. West representing the Chattam Athletic Association back in the
fall. Uh during which time he requested our endorsement for this year's July 2nd fireworks display. Um, after receiving that request, um, and in the time leading up to now, public safety has continued to review and give careful consideration to factors such as
the site layout, the fireworks product list, crowd management considerations, emergency response capabilities, and lessons learned from prior events. Uh, during that review, several concerns were identified. Um some of those concerns uh number one is the safety
perimeter limitations. Um despite technically meeting minimum code distances, there are several challenges that the veterans field and surrounding area um presents. Some unique challenges. Uh one being the weather conditions can be very
unpredictable in that area. Uh winds can kind of swirl. Um, and because the footprint is is a fairly small footprint with limited viewing areas, when we continue to push the safety safety perimeter back out farther, um, than
what's required by the minimum code, uh, that cuts into space available for spectators, obviously. Um, second, secondly, um, emergency access and evacuation challenges around that area. Obviously with the fire station being right there um some logistical and operational challenges for us um
congestion around Veterans Field um has limited uh in the past emergency vehicle movement um and evacuation routes have been somewhat constrained um due to the location of spectators up around especially around the depot road and hitch and post road areas.
um overcoming those challenges um in the past and going forward would require us to continue to stage apparatus personnel and equipment over at the DPW building uh to maintain townwide emergency response coverage. And then thirdly, uh crowd control and
staffing challenges. Um it's a well attended event. It's a highly anticipated community event. Uh very well attended. Um, when we've expanded the safety zones back, there's been a requirement to to add additional law enforcement
personnel, um, additional CERT volunteers. Cert volunteers are fantastic. Um, but, uh, Chief Anderson and his staff, they can't quite rely on them for actual road closures as far as much as they can for, you know, crowd direction and stuff like that. Um,
public safety staffing during that time of year remains difficult. It's the busiest weekend of the busiest week of the year. Um, our other neighboring communities are all hosting events, so mutual aid requests um can often go unanswered due to regional events occurring simultaneously.
That all said um we do have some recommended uh risk mitigation measures um to help overcome some of these challenges. um expanding the restricted area. Um so moving the safety perimeter back sign significantly beyond what's required by
the um the minimum distance within the fire code. Um restricted areas would include uh if you can see on the map up here um everything outlined in yellow. So the fire station lawn areas would would now be restricted um which haven't
been restricted in the past. uh the area um up on the the Centerfield Hill um opposite Hitching Post Road at the end of the bike trail would now be restricted um along with the railroad museum property and adjacent tennis
courts. Um and we've expanded the area back um to include some additional green space um between the playground and the baseball field. Chief, what do >> what do the V's stand for?
>> So V's are where um we would uh we would position volunteers, cert volunteers um and then the P's would represent um patrol officers uh assignments. >> Thank you, >> Chief. The the you've got the tennis
courts, you know, as as off limits and they seem to be quite a bit quite a ways away. Um how come? Um we we typically in this time of year, that time of day, see the wind out of the south or southwest. >> Uhu. >> Um so a lot of the fallout and smoke
tends to drift in that direction. Um it's an easy place to cordon off. That came at the recommendation of the of Pyro Technical Inc. which is the fireworks contractor uh to limit that area as well. >> And where were they stationed? The the pyrochnic company. >> Uh as far as where they actually
launched from you can see the the setup straight in center field there, the baseball field. There's some some stuff right in the middle of the field. That's where they actually set off from. >> Jet, not to interrupt you too much, but okay. >> Historically, have we used Veterans Field? Did we not do it over Oyster Pond at one point, you guys?
>> Uh, Oyster Pond was was traditionally for first night. >> For our first night. Okay. >> Y um which wouldn't be a suitable location for July 2nd with the number of boats in the water as I'm sure uh Stu can attest to. Um
so yeah it uh the for the July fireworks it's um it's typically been done at Veterans Field. >> Thanks Chief. >> Um some additional uh risk reduction measures would be uh fully closing off Depot Road uh to vehicle traffic um at
700 p.m. Um so that would be closed down at Post Office Road where you can see that orange barricade to the right. Um and then kind of beyond what you can actually see in the map um at Old Harbor and Depot on the other side. So closing off to vehicle traffic at 7 p.m. Um and
then closing off to vehicle traffic coming in from Hitching Post at the elementary school lot once that lot fills up. Um and then traffic would be rerouted down Old Academy once the elementary school lot's full. Um, additionally closing off pedestrian
traffic on Depot Road um, beginning at 8:00 p.m. Um, traditionally pedestrians have been allowed to walk in front of the fire station almost right up until the time of the fireworks display. Um, once we lose control of that crowd, um,
it just it it just grows. Um so by blocking off that area in front of the station beginning at 8:00 p.m. um that's just going to give us a better opportunity to really maintain control of the street. What we've seen um at times in the past, if I can just walk up
to the screen to show is the people that show up late um tend to congregate the intersection of Post and Depot. The folks that show up late tend to congregate in the intersection of Hitching Post and Depot here. Um, blocking off the street. And then the
same thing on this side here. Folks, uh, showing up by foot from from the old uh old harbor side just get here and then the road is blocked entirely in each direction. So, by closing that off sooner, uh, we would have a a better chance of
just uh maintaining crowd control on the street. Chief, I get a logistical question. So, safe to say it's going to be a big crowd. I mean, we're hoping that from a merchants perspective, but it's it's going to be a big crowd. So, you're going to have all those secondary streets hitching post and whatever. I
would assume a lot of people are going to park off the side of the roads and hope themselves into there. So, you're going possibly coming down to, you know, the right of the screen. You could have a lot of foot traffic coming in there. How are we going to disperse them? So
they would get they would get rooted back down post office road to Main Street >> to access the community center that way. >> Big old loop around. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So people are coming late. They're going to be missing it basically. >> Yep. So part of the message we really want to put out there if this uh if this
plan is is is approved is to show up early. Y >> um you can see represented with the pink lines there anybody that's parking up in the the Hitching Post, Old Academy neighborhoods, tip cart, that area. Um once Depot Road is closed to pedestrian traffic, they'd be rooted behind the
station and can access the playground area by the the crosswalk leading to the staircase. >> All right. And second question, up at the top of the ball field, is that inclusive of the parking spots that are um over between the red nun? >> No. Nope. Um if if if the yellow line
does encroach on that a little bit, it's only accidental. >> Okay. I'm just assuming people are going to try to park their car right there, get a front row seat. Just want to clarify that. >> Yeah. Regular parking in the parking area will be accessible. >> Gotcha. Thank you. >> Uh and those spots tend to fill up. >> Yes. >> Rather early.
>> Chief, uh if I might maybe it's outlined here, but what is the minimum uh setback for the code when it comes to the firework? >> The field. >> When it when it comes to the code, um we tend to look at uh we use roughly the
code actually says 70 feet per inch of firework. Um we tend to just just round it up to 100 to 100 feet per inch. So we're looking at a 200 foot radius in all directions from the launch site. Um which in the past we've been able to accomplish by allowing folks pretty much
right up to the middle of depot road. Um but we've just we you know based on the weather conditions here and the wind conditions, we just don't feel comfortable and what we've observed um firsthand with with smoke drifting and debris uh drifting. We just we like to
to go well beyond what's required by code. Um so what you see on the setbacks here um the closest setback I believe is right at home plate the bleachers. Um and that was about 300 ft. And then the
next closest as you come around the right field side toward the playground where that V is for volunteer. Um that's about 350 ft from the proposed launch site. So, for the size fireworks um presented in the initial permit, they initially um requested 2-in fireworks,
which would require a 200T setback. Um they've actually suggested scaling those down to about an inch and a half. So, that would be about 150 foot setback. So, we're we're more than doubling the distance required by code um for our safety perimeter.
>> Thank you, >> Chief. Can you just comment on the crowd size represented in this picture in reference to when the actual fireworks were launched? >> Yeah, so what you're what you're looking at the the overhead view here is is taken from the drone actually about um a
little bit little bit more than an hour um before the the fireworks display. Um so you know you can see the little league field is is it's still pretty sparse there. There's plenty of viewing. Um what I don't we don't have an overhead. it got a little bit too dark to get a
good view. Um, and the crowds were a little bit too big to fly the drone overhead. Um, but this is about an hour ahead of time. So, obviously at the time of display, it it it gets significantly more congested. Um, but what we're also what we're hoping to achieve is not
having those la late last minute arrivals showing up and there's nowhere to go but in the street, >> right? And last year in front of the station and to the east of the station that was open for pedestrians
>> uh for pedestrians. Yes. Um but they were they were required to be on the south side of the center line. So depot road uh we maintained one lane um of depot road for emergency >> for you >> access
uh and response on the on the fire station side of the road. But you're routing you're routing foot traffic around the whole comp. >> The foot traffic will be routed behind this uh is what we're proposing. >> Yeah, that makes sense. >> And there's actually the the green space
in front of the uh the green outlined areas in front of the elementary school. You know, we did we did some walk some walk site walkthroughs, the the police and myself. Obviously, right behind the fire station. Um you're going to be blocked a little bit by the fire station. Um, but you'll you'll look up
in the sky, you're going to see the fireworks. Um, from the areas closest to uh, you know, behind the railroad museum. Um, and at the front elementary school lot area, you actually have a pretty clear view of the of the the launch site for the fireworks themselves. So, you know, that's that's
over 500 feet away. That's a nice nice safe distance for people um to to be able to still get a pretty good view of the fireworks. >> Randy, do you have a question? >> Yes. Thank you. Um so thank you for your presentation. Um I have um one question
and two comments. Um as far as a rain date, one of the memorandums uh notes uh a rain date is that still >> there there is no rain. >> No. Okay. Yeah. I I still do have a little bit more to present. I'll I'll answer your questions right now, but I will I do want to get back to a couple more things, but
>> Okay. Go ahead. >> So So my two comments are and I just want to make sure that I'm clear. according to your memorandum, if you don't have the staffing that you think in your discretion you need, then you could call it off. >> That That's correct. Yeah, we need to be
able to do it safely. So, I'm I'm going to summarize it all with with the the proposed conditions that need to be met >> um in order, you know, for our recommendation. >> And also, I know you're going to summarize it, but the other comment that I was going to make is if you think the wind levels are not safe, that would be another reason why you could in your
discretion cancel it. Yep. That's all within the code. >> Yep. All right. Thank you. >> Um so those are the road closures um that we've discussed. Um staffing requirements um as you just mentioned, adequate police, fire and and volunteer
u search staffing uh would be would be required in order to move forward with the event. um the designated viewing areas. We'd really like to push um the bleacher area behind home plate, the little league field, the playground in the community center lawn behind the community center.
Um really advocating for people to get there early. Um enjoy the music that Mr. West has lined up. Um get downtown, shop, um and then, you know, make your approach back for the fireworks from from the downtown area rather than showing up last minute.
um our fire department operational plan. Um we would be recalling offduty personnel uh to stage an engine, the ladder truck, and two ambulances at the DPW building uh while holding additional crews at headquarters for any issues associated with the fireworks themselves.
Um as I mentioned, the P uh Pyro Technico Inc. the fireworks contractor has proposed using a slightly smaller sized product to reduce the fallout area of debris and smoke. Um and then lastly, um some liability
protection. Town council's reviewed things. We met with town council, um and um town council's drafted a license agreement between the that would have to be executed between the town and the Chattam Athletic Association. There
would be no fiscal impact for the town. Um public safety staffing um would be covered by the CH Chattam Athletic Association. So, our recommendation to the board, um, we acknowledge there's an increased community interest in this event. Um, it's a it's a it's a one wonderful
event. It's just a it's a really difficult footprint. Um, but I think the risk, uh, mitigation measures we have in place that we've collaborated on. Um, get us to to something that can be done with relative safety. Um, and our
recommendation is that there's a a conditional approval if all these mitigation measures are fully implemented. And just to to summarize and refresh those conditions would be the expanded safety perimeter um implemented as presented on the map. Um
the depot road vehicle and pedestrian closures um securing public safety staffing. Um sponsors responsible for public safety related costs. Um the fireworks contractor is to submit an updated permit um with the updated site
diagram and product list as um as discussed and there's a fully executed license agreement prior to the event. >> Okay, chief. Well done. Any any further questions, comments for the chief and Steve and then I'll certainly let Steve speak. Stuart then
>> Sure. Thank you. Um this uh am I correct? I I don't go to the event. I hibernate at home. Um but it looks like maybe twice
or a little bit more the exclusion zone of pedestrians than in previous years. >> I would say that would be a good >> and and um if we don't have enough personnel, we we won't have it. Uh when
would you know? I mean, you'd have to have notice to the public. Um, so when would you know that? And two, how many uh police and fire and uh the and the search team people do you expect that
you'll need? >> So speaking for the fire department, we would start filling that uh recalling those offduty people and securing staffing about a week in advance. Um, I'm not sure what >> part of the part of the things that we talked about and the three of us have
have met multiple times on all this. Um, and Mike can come up and confirm or deny, but you know, 11 police officers are what we've got planned for and that's what's on the chart. Um, as far as the as far as the the timing for cancellation, we actually did have to
cancel it one year because of weather. So, um, as long as the fireworks people haven't left, um, Vermont, New Hampshire, they're in New Hampshire now. If they haven't left New Hampshire, so it's by about noon on the day of. So, you know, if he if he
either one of them would let us know before noon, then then we cancel before they even left the with the fireworks to bring them down. And even if they have left, he can they either one of them can cancel at any time. So, >> yeah. and and but I would expect that at
that late time it would be a weather issue >> or a bunch of people. >> Yeah. If if it's a if there's forecasted bad weather, these folks aren't going to want to come down from from Vermont to cancel it that day. So, you know, as with any fireworks display, whether it's
for a wedding at Chattam Barzen or any other event, um we're watching the weather several days in advance. if there's if there's anything that that at all looks um unreasonable, you know, we would try to make that call. Um the thing that we obviously can't account
for is if there's a you know um sudden thunderstorm that pops up that wasn't necessarily forecast, >> right? >> Um anything on the forecast, we're looking at, you know, we would hope to make that if it's a weather cancellation, we we'd hope to make that at least the day before. >> And the uh and how many of your
personnel would you think that you're going to need for this? So, we've we've discussed this. We would be putting um we would have seven regularly on duty. Um we would be reassigning three of those to the DPW. Um plus bringing in an
additional seven down there. And then uh two personnel at the launch site themselves, which is uh what we do traditionally do. >> And uh the C folks >> and folks, we've put in a request for 15 to 20
Okay, thank you. Mr. Mads, gonna ask a very delicate question, but I'm going to throw it out there anyway. large events like this October Fest first night yield large scale events um the growing need by requirements for
fire police you know search team all the requirements that we are dealing with they're making the diff they're making the budget for these events really balloon um and I'm not going to say these are going to be coming the events
may become less and less over time um but what kind of conversations we had about that because it is going to take a big part of the budget just like any other event. Um what is the balance between having these events occur um with being able to budget for a you know
the required requirements of how public safety? Well, from our perspective, it's getting more expensive and more difficult to justify having these events, but quite frankly, we're doing it because it is such a well attended and well-liked and
a sesqua centennial event for the country. And uh um you know, we thought we thought that we would do that again and we'll reach out to a lot of different folks and hopefully we'll raise enough money to to at least get close to covering the cost. So for like
this particular event, you really are relying on a lot of donors to step forward and absolutely help fund this. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> And excuse me, Stephen, what what is your budget for the personnel? >> Our our budget for the entire event is almost $40,000.
>> And is >> the personnel is is well, I don't know if you guys want me to say, but you know, the >> Yeah, we do. >> Okay. the the the police is is going to be in the neighborhood of $7,000 and the fire department is significantly less than that.
>> So, it's probably 10 between the two of them. >> Thank you. >> Any further comments or questions for the chief Stephen? Anything else you want to add? Welcome. >> Well, well, thank you. It's good to be here. Randy, welcome to you as well. Um, you know, I had a I had a spiel, but u you know, and I I'll go through it.
won't take 90 seconds, but you know, um, we're excited to be having this event again this year. Um, I'll I'll reiterate what Chief Davano said. You know, we're fully on board with his requirements and we will comply with everything he's listed and, uh, we'll get Jill her her
licensing agreement signed and executed. So, um, we're on board with that. We're excited to be holding this. It's the fifth annual event. Um we we're bringing back Dan u D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D Dan Clark, the the the singing trooper, u who was here for the first
two events, he and his wife. Um does a fantastic patriotic medley of songs. Um he he's going to be on from about 8 to 9. I'm kind of jumping out of order here. The event will actually start it's the same footprint as last as the footprint of entertainment as we've had
in previous years. Event starts at 7. We'll have face painters and balloon makers for the kids um up behind home plate on the field. Um that will go on until about 8:30 when it starts to get dark. At about 8, Dan Clark will come on
with his wife and start his medley. Uh and he will perform right into the into the fireworks, which will be at dark, which we anticipate being about 9:15 or so. And um they'll last about 15 or 20 minutes like they always do. and uh you
know I'm I'm confident that we'll put on a safe and uh exciting and fun event for everybody. >> Yes, Miss Potach. >> Yes, thank you. Um so I understand that drone light shows are getting uh very popular. Would you consider for next
year just looking into that? >> Absolutely. And to to have any kind of the anywhere similar pizzazz and oomph that the fireworks do, you're talking a significant increase in cost on the
drones. Um, a drone show is going to be a lot more than a fireworks show. And as far as back to Cory's question about the budget. So, well, thank you for your comment, Steve, and good luck with the fundraising. I think it looks like an exciting event. We have two little different pieces to
this to this uh agenda item this evening. The first is I think approving the plan that Chief Tavano was outlined and Steve West has endorsed and the second is to sign off on the licensing agreement. So I think we should take um take them separately. So, I would take a
motion for the approval of the recommendations by the chief to make the changes uh um that he's described thus far, including um the line items of recommendations that he enumerates in his uh in his memo. >> So moved. >> Second.
>> Thank you. Any further discussion? We'll take a vote. Mr. Smith, >> I. >> Mr. Ncastro, >> I. >> Miss Bodash. >> Hi. >> Mr. Meadows. >> Hi. >> And the chair says I as well. And then we have a license agreement as well. Unless it's an agreement that um I think
we need to approve this evening. Um I will take a motion to approve. Uh I I didn't get it until a minute ago, but anyway, Mr. Castro, >> Mr. Chairman, I I uh I I will move to approve it. There is one minor edit on page two in line six.
>> Okay. >> Um the word limit should be limited. >> Okay. >> Was waved limited or modified. >> Okay. And so I'll move I'll move approval. Okay. >> Yeah. I also saw in line nine um that
forms of the second line down forms of permission. It should read as may be necessary. >> Super. You know that's why we do have two lawyers on this board anyway. Excellent job. Thank you. Okay. So we had a motion and we second. >> Thank you Corey. I didn't I didn't hear
if we heard a second. I'll take the role. Mr. Smith >> I. >> Mr. Niccastro. Hi. >> M potach. >> Hi. >> Mr. Matters. I >> and the chair says I as well. Thank you very much. >> I'm sorry. We have one more action regarding this one. It's to grant a special one-day entertainment license.
>> Steve West of the Cadam Athletic. >> Okay. And a second, please. >> Second. >> Thank you so much. We'll we'll call the role. Mr. Smith, >> I. >> Mr. Niccastro. >> I miss Potach. >> Hi. >> Mr. Demeters. >> Hi. >> And Mr. Dykins says I as well. >> Good good job. Have fun. I'm good luck
with the fundraising and I think with an eye towards safety. You've done a great job you guys. Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Thank you all very much. >> Okay, the next item on the agenda, I'm going to just flip it just a little bit here, folks, this evening. I'm we're going to do D before we do C because I think D has an impact on on C, if you
will. So, um I'd like to consider the select board representative to the affordable housing trust on board of trustees prior to our kind of, you know, looking at our liaison assignments if that's okay with you guys. Is that is that okay? >> Yes. And I I think that Shireen
obviously was the um select board, you know, member to the affordable housing trust. Um and so I would entertain a motion or or I'd solicit interest or entertain a motion. Uh Mr. Niccastro. >> Mr. chairman. Um, ordinarily I would
submit that terms of experience and interest historically you would be the most qualified, but I I think um it's probably not more appropriate if the chair of the select board were not on the affordable housing trust. And
therefore, I don't know if you're interested in it or not. I I would nominate um um Randy Potach as the representative if she's interested. >> And uh to in response as indicative of of my interest, I would second that nomination. Uh I think it's a point well
made. Um I if I were to go on the affordable housing trust where there is deep interest, I certainly wouldn't be the chair where there was a a perceived conflict before. But I I think to be circumspect, I think that's a a fine motion. Um and I did second it. And just I want to hear from Randy.
>> No, I I would be um honored to Oh, good. If that's what everybody wants to vote. Sure. >> Is there any other express interest? Mr. Meadows or Mr. Smith? >> You comfortable? >> Good. Yeah. >> Okay. So, I'm going to take a vote. All right. Mr. Smith, >> I >> Mr. Niccastro.
>> I >> Miss Potes >> I. >> Okay. Mr. Meadows >> I. >> And the chair says I as well. And that that I think is a a pre more of a precursor to our exam our consideration of our board leaison assignments. Um
which is which is our next agenda item. So Randy, thank you. Um that that's a very interesting committee as you well know. >> Yeah. Should I have abstained? Um >> no, it's okay. It's fine. It's fine. Okay. No, it's fine. >> Fair enough. >> Y fine. Um, so we we did get the leazison assignments uh in our package
and you know we have a we have to fill Shireen's former um assignments if you will. Um I do have some just a couple of distinct uh what I think are no-brainers, but I'll certainly again turf to the turf to the to the wiser heads over here. Mr. Niccastro has his
hand up. Mr. Niccastro. >> Mr. Chair, um this summer residents advisory committee is typically the responsibility of the board chair. So that would move over from me to you. Got it. >> You have quite a long list there. I see. Um and we have two members that are to
be appointed to the OPED trust. Um this past year it was myself and yourself. Um um historically it's almost always been the chair plus another board member. I'd be willing to continue with my entire
list with that, but if someone else wants to be the trustee, I know Corey has served as trustee in the past, I'd be happy to to drop that. >> I'm fine if Dean wants to continue with the service >> on on the OPED. >> Yeah, I'm fine with that. >> And I'm I'm certainly willing I want to
continue with that. the uh in terms of my uh responsibilities or leaison assignments um I'm you know the zoning board of appeals is extremely interesting as a regulatory board um but I would be interested in um availing myself of those responsibilities if one
other talented and experienced member of that zoning board were to be interested in so assuming the responsibilities of liaison >> I'm interested if you're referring to me I would be honored to do that >> okay I I think it's kind of an easy segue, if you will. Um, you're knowing
the the landscape there and and appreciate that, Randy. So, >> thank you. Thank you. >> Well, thus far, Randy, affordable housing trust and and ZBA, two two fairly heavy lifts, >> um, power of the microphone here, the only other thing I would really like to do,
and I'm willing to give up stuff as well, um, is I I would like to do shellfish advisory. I really I really would like to do that. I I do cohog and I'm very interested in in the in the waterfront. Um so I would like to do that, but I'm also willing to give
something up uh should anybody express an an interest in any of the committees that I have other than that are listed here. Mr. Smith. >> One other thing, and um I think Randy has expressed some
interest in the bikeways committee, but um seeing you've taken on these other two, that may be too much. But whatever you >> If if you'd like me to do that, I'll do that. Be happy to do it. >> Great. >> Okay. >> Yeah, Mr. Meadows, >> I'm just going to I mean, I'm very happy
with my the the groups I've been working with over the years, especially some of the waterway committees, you know, park and recre, the parade committee. The only thing I'm going to put out there is I feel like it's kind of my responsibility. The conservation commission um sees me very very seldomly. So I feel very poorly that of
that I'm not be able to represent them as much and there's anyone on the committee that wants to trade something for that. I'm open to it or um you can you've been sticking with me for another year. J Jeff, I'm I'm short, so I'm willing to
if you're if you want to um shorten your list here. Uh you have quite a long one. Um you know, border health, cemetery commission, uh energy committee have some I have some interest in.
>> Y >> um I don't play golf, so not the golf. >> I had I had you targeted for North Beach subcommittee. It's not a heavy lift, but every once in a while we could we do look at the the agreement with Orleans upon occasion. Shireen and I would take care of that, Stuart. So, sure would love to have you there on that one along
along with me. That is not that's not a big it's not a heavy lift. >> And I I I love the human services committee, but I I would if someone wanted to pick that up, um that's okay with me. I will stick with it if not. But, uh um they do God's work. They do a
wonderful job and I have some deep interest in their work as well. But um do have kind of a long list. >> If you want me to do it, I I was on that committee. I'd be happy to do it. Um if that have me. >> Okay. I mean I Yes. And I think that'd be a good I think that'd be good. Randy,
>> I lost my list. I somehow in this blizzard of papers I somehow >> so I'm assuming that I have that other list. So the so the other the other assignments that Shireen had that we now kind of need to parse out. We've taken care of affordable housing trust and
North Beach sub. Uh I'm actually on the open space committee. So I I'll continue to do that. Um I do attend those meetings. Um and I'll pick up shelfish advisory. But thank you so much for picking up human services because my list is getting a bit long if you will. Um but we have community housing
partnership uh still available and the representative the community preservation committee which is they do a phenomenal work and HBDC >> that looks like you know in no way will I ever es especially if she continues to
get awards will I fill Shireen shoes. Um but um she's making the bar higher every day >> she is. Yeah. >> But I do see the list of of um committees that she had. So, just to be clear, so I have the affordable housing trust and would I have the community housing partnership? I'd be happy to do
that if you'd like. >> I think that makes sense. >> And unless someone has burning interest >> and the CPC unless somebody else, but I'm happy to do that. >> No, no. Okay. >> Any takers? Okay. >> The HBDC I've already extremely well
acquainted with them and I'm happy to do that if unless somebody else, you know, >> and that's it. Steuart for the North Beach and I'm great. I'm on open space and I I really would like to pick up shelf. >> Yeah, that's great. Okay, >> Dina, are you all set? >> I'm fine with mine. I know Cy mentioned
I mean I'm I'm fine. I just I feel I'll make a point to try to they're just a tough group from for my my schedule, but >> Yep. >> And yeah, I know. Yeah, we're working on the community handbook. I understand. and and you know I I I had extreme
difficulty being a le liaison when I was working full-time extreme difficulty. rarely went to meetings um and you know watched meetings sometimes but nowhere near what I think is the expectation is for a good leaison to be honest with I've said that in public many times but it's really really difficult if you're
working full-time it is difficult >> well the one thing I will have to say on a regulatory committees >> and because I served on a planning board I was a chair >> um we really don't want select board leaison kind of standing there on a regular basis you know >> we're we're resources for if there's something that needs to happen we're
resource for them to reach out and and support them and provide whatever reference and everything. Um but for the regulatory committees, they have their duty. Um sometimes distance is actually beneficial. So um but I'm happy to I'm happy to keep the
aid I have. I very I really I really am. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> I just expand on that comment because and I know what Corey's saying like I'm historically we've always we've sort of done it that everyone has to quote a regulatory committee. Um, and by that we're talking,
planning board, zoning board, HBDC, historical commission. Did I leave one out? CBA. >> Yep. >> Uh, and um, so I have had I have the historical commission. I've had it since I got on the board. Uh, and their meetings uh, largely deal with
applications for permits. Permitting basically, it's permitting. Um and uh but they do have a portion of their meeting that's devoted to regulation, development, policy and projects and I will sit in on those
>> um or watch it hybrid wise from home but I tend not to sit in the room or you know I'll stay in the back if they're when they're doing their applications. I don't get involved in that. So some every committee is different. And I don't think the zoning board has a
generally a policym section of their their agenda unless there's something that's come up. >> They have their criteria. >> Some of these other boards. Yeah, >> that's how I I've been doing it. >> Stuart, are you all right down there down in the >> Yep. Unless somebody wants to relinquish
one. I um because I've lost one and but yeah, we can play it by ear if people get >> So Randy Randy you picked up affordable housing, community housing partnership, CPC and HBDC as well as bikeways >> and ZBA >> and ZBA. So that you know that's you you
got a >> and human services too. >> Yeah. May I read the list back so I make sure I have it correct for each of you >> know. Okay. And then and Randy I want you to think long and hard. You've got a long list there. Maybe. Okay. >> Maybe I'll stick with human services. >> I just you've got a lot of you've got
regulatory, you've got a heavy lift. >> The human services doesn't generally meet January, February, unless True. Sometimes they do. True. >> But um you know, I I don't think they're going to want to hear from me unless they want they want something. >> Okay. >> I think generally speaking. >> Okay. All right. So So you're good with
it? >> Yes. Yeah, sure. >> All right. >> Can I read them back, please? Yeah. So for Corey, I have conservation commission, cultural council, independence day parade committee, parks and recck commission, planning board, south coastal harbor plan committee,
waterways advisory committee, and working waterfront advisory committee. >> Okay. For dean, I have board of assessors, council on aging, board of directors, Eldridge public library, finance committee, historical commission, OPED trustee, railroad museum committee, water and sewer
advisory committee. Okay. For Stuart, I have airport commission, cable advisory committee, economic development advisory committee, North Beach subcommittee, traffic safety committee. Okay. For Jeff, I have board of health, cemetery commission, committee for people with disabilities, energy and
climate action committee, golf advisory, and ad hoc shared resources golf committee. uh North Beach subcommittee, OPED trustee, open space committee, shellfish advisory committee, summer residence advisory committee, taxation aid committee, and then for Randy, I
have affordable housing trust board of trustees, bikeways committee, community housing partnership, community preservation committee, historic business district commission, human services committee, and the ZBA. >> Super. I think that's I think that's ex
that's accurate. Any further comments or questions, guys? Okay. All right. We'll move on to the next agenda item. Thank Thank you, >> Mr. Mr. Ch Mr. Chairman. >> Yes, sir. >> Um, on item D that we already voted on, which was the appointment to the affordable housing trust, we didn't um
in my motion, I didn't designate a a term, and I noticed that from the memo that uh from the staff that Shireen's term expired on June 30th, 2028. we should establish that. So, we're just filling her term. It's ordinarily it's a
three-year term, right? So, if I could offer an additional motion to um specify that the term of the appointment of Miss Potes is through June 30th, 2028 unless sooner revoked or a successor is appointed. That's a motion.
>> Second. >> Super. Take a roll. Mr. Smith, I >> Mr. Niccastro. Hi, >> Miss Potach. Hi, >> Mr. Meadows. Hi. And the chair says I as well. Thank you, Dean. Okay, the next item is to consider a select board, excuse me, consider uh
our summer meeting schedule. Um, we have a suggested summer meeting schedule in the package. Um, why don't we turf this to Jill and Kathy and we'll see what what their thoughts are and then what your thoughts are. Thanks, Jill.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. So historically or at least in recent years, the select board has um authorized and approved a summer schedule which is essentially not meeting weekly but meeting every other week and calling a weekly meet another
meeting if so desired if the business um requires it. So, what we put together for the board's consideration in the packet as well as attached a calendar so you can check it out as we've uh proposed a a summer schedule. So, it'll
be Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. um starting on June 16th, then it's June 30th, July 14th, July 28th, August 11th, August 25th, September 8th, and September 9th.
Um a couple years ago we had ended the summer schedule in September. Uh one year we ended it in October and the dates that we selected um also correspond to um avoiding any kind of conflicts that would be um within the
complex like national night out is typically um or this year will be on August 4th. So uh that is if the board wants to consider a summer schedule. This is a schedule that we're proposing and happy to answer any questions. >> I just have one comment that we have set
a summer schedule but we have met should the need arise um with with some regularity. I mean and you know we have anyway I'll be quiet Mr. Meadows. >> No I mean I know people have mixed feelings about this doing a summer schedule. I be very transparent in July
and August it is very beneficial to my occupation. Uh frees up a little more time because I'm a little little you know occupied in the summer. Um, but I've stated this many times. If there's a reason need to have a meeting, we've had a meeting. Uh, I remember one year we really didn't have much of a summer
schedule because we had a meeting and then we had um on one of our off nights was was the summer resident advisory committee summer meeting. So, I mean it really wasn't much of a we didn't have many nights off to be honest with you. So, um I think I think it's beneficial to the board. I think it's beneficial
the staff in the summertime to to do the summer schedule um with the clear understanding something comes up we're going to meet. >> Thank you Corey. Mr. Niccastro. >> Yeah Jill I think you the last date is not the 9th it's the 22nd of September. You said 9th I think. >> Sorry. Yes. It's September 8th and
September 22nd. >> Yeah. I just want to echo what Corey said. I think it was the year before last when we really had very few weeks when we didn't meet. And if you look at the summer upcoming, in addition to the summer residence advisory, which takes
up a Tuesday when we ordinarily don't meet, uh we also have on June 24th the Department of Transportation hearing on Coral Road, which I think is going to be very important. And we won't have a select board meeting, although we might want to we might want to uh post that
because some of us may want to speak at that hearing. Um >> I think we should post it >> and and uh the next night the 25th we're meeting with the Haritch Select Board on the Monoy Regional School District. So um
you know it's and we have met we we've had meetings at 8:00 in the morning as I recall over the years uh when we've had the need to meet on something. So I'm okay with this schedule as presented. >> Okay. Uh Stuart or Miss Potes?
Um, so it looks like we'll be under this proposal from the from Jill that we'll be going to summer schedule a little bit earlier and going a little later. We didn't go that
late last year, did we? Do we have those? >> We went into October. >> We think we went into October. >> Yeah. Into We've done one year into October and then one year we've um done it midepptember. Yeah. Um, well,
I mean, my sense is, well, I guess the other question is, you're right, the crawl road um for June 24th is going to be important. Are we uh are we getting a briefing before then or is that going to be the briefing?
>> It will be mass dot conducting their required public hearing, >> right? You're not doing a briefing to the board? >> No, they will be doing it for the public. >> Um Okay. Okay. Well, I mean, my sense is
that um you know, I don't have a problem starting in the uh middle of the of uh or the end of June, June 30 to September 8th, but I think the two outlying dates are, you know, uh
unnecessary. Um we have a I think there were a lot of questions. Well, there were more questions this year town meeting or or less support for the budget and I think it's important that
we flush that budget out uh a little bit further. Um and we seem to get very long meetings and jammed up towards to to get through the budget uh budget process. So, um, you know, I certainly can
support, uh, June 30 to September 8th, but I think the other dates we'd be wise, uh, not to go into that far into September is my sense. >> Uh, Miss Potach,
>> I just want to clarify. Um, so is that a meeting on June 24th on that Wednesday? Is that that I was planning to go. I actually already had it on my calendar. So that is like a meeting that we Okay. But it's not at 4:00. >> It's a public hearing. >> Public hearing >> that masked out will conduct, but we'll
probably all want to attend. >> You won't be at the dis for that meeting. It would be a public hearing. That's mass. >> We'll post it as a as a select board meeting to cover quorum issues. Okay. More three or more of us show up at basically the bells and suspenders
>> and we could ask any questions that the public can ask. >> Correct. And then when was the um the meeting for the with the school? >> 25th. >> Okay. So that's the next night >> and that's another meeting that we all go to, right? >> And then what time is that?
>> I think it's 5:30 here, right? >> It's here. >> Yes, it's in this room. >> Okay. Yeah. Well, I'm comfortable doing whatever the majority wants to do. >> Okay. Uh so that leaves us at we're going to
meet 526 and on 62 um and 69 and then so we're we'd meet on the 16th and really so the summer schedule wouldn't really start until June 30th according to my calendar if you will.
>> There be there's no meeting proposed for the 23rd. >> Oh, gotcha. Okay. Okay. So, no meeting the 23rd. So, we will meet the 26th, the 2nd, the 9th, and the 23rd, >> and then skip the 30th. I mean, this is
according to >> I'm sorry, Mr. Chair. So, unless So, you'll you'll meet on the 26th, the 2nd. >> Yeah. >> June 9th. >> 9th. >> And then June 16th. >> 16th. That's what I had. Okay. >> And then you'll you'll skip to the 30th
of June. We meetings >> meetings on the 24th and 25th. >> Correct. So, so I think we're going to want >> We're picking up a meeting kind of in a sense that week. >> We are. >> We're picking up two meetings that week. >> Mr. Niccastro.
>> So, when is the budget summit? >> Budget summit. Um, I can answer. The budget summit is tenatively scheduled for October 6. And um was it last was it not last year
that we went into October, Kathy? >> Um last year actually you ended at the end of September, the year before you went into October. >> Okay. I mean, I I I I understand what Stuart's saying, but
and I think with the additional meetings that we've outlined that we're going to have with Haritch, the DOT, >> and we'll always have the summer residence. >> Um, takes up a whole evening. >> We don't know when that is yet. sometime
in August usually. >> They they haven't set the date for that, but they are also having an additional meeting about the residential tax. So, that will be another night, but um they were talking about keeping it around the same time that they usually do. So, yeah, they're going to have two evening
meetings it looks like this year. >> Are they inviting the select board to both? >> They haven't gotten that far. So, I know they're still discussing it. So, >> um >> do they have their meeting, excuse me, they have their meetings on Tuesdays? this their their annual meeting has always been on a Tuesday
>> opposite because usually the select board was on a summer schedule so they would pick a night opposite so that if the select board wished to attend they were able to >> so they'll do it on the 18th Stuart perhaps or um the week before the 11th and the 4th 18th or 4th it'd be an off
off week for us if you will >> I mean I I'm comfortable I I respect what what Stuart's saying and I'm comfortable with the proposal closed schedule is in the memo and we can always meet
if we need to. The chair can call a meeting any time need be. So I'm just those are my thoughts. >> Okay. Anybody else? >> I mean I still don't see the need for
skipping the between the 8th and the 22nd of September. that would allow us to um get a little bit >> I felt that the being my first year on this end that the
budget presentation was um you know it's a good presentation but I I think getting into the more of the detail and questions would be helpful to the public and to me. So that's really my thought is I'd rather not rush
through the budget. That that's the way I felt last year. >> So Stuart, you would drop the the twoe hiatus between the 8th and the 22nd. >> Yeah. And I think that that would uh help us get a little bit of a jump start on the uh on the on the fall schedule. Yes, >> Mr. Matters.
>> My only concern with that I understand what you're saying, but that's the week following the Labor Day weekend. So staff's going to start, you know, they're not going to work over the Labor Day weekend and they're going to have to put things together in a short window to have a a meeting of anything meaningful
on the 15th. Um I mean, if we have something that we need to talk about, absolutely, but I don't want to just arbitrarily put a meeting together that may have very little, you know, very short agenda just to fill a spot. If there's something time pressing,
absolutely. I just want to be realistic of that staff's gonna go back to work on the ETH um you know and have a couple days to turn over a um agenda report. I just want to be realistic about it. >> December. >> Yes.
So if we're going to have a meeting on the So if we're gonna if I'm we're going to have miss So we're saying we want to re we would consider putting a meeting on the 15th and what I'm saying is that meeting on the 15th
is going to have to have the agenda staff's going to have the 8th 9th basically the 10th to really put an agenda together. They have a shorter week. >> I'm not sure it's too short. >> Yes. I'm not sure it's too short, but um
>> those are those are those are some of my thoughts. >> Okay. Miss Potes. >> Yeah. So, >> Miss Potes, >> I just want to clarify. So, we do have a meeting on the ETH. That very Okay. And then uh I I see what you mean uh Corey, but um >> so I think the only difference between
what Stu wants and what's down here is just that one meeting on the 15th. Is that accurate, Stu? >> Yeah, I think >> just that one meeting. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So >> I just want to clarify. >> Are you also talking about the June meetings, Stuart? Are you >> Well, I was, but I I didn't I didn't seem to be making headway on the June
meeting. Um, so, um, you know, it's really the September to kind of jump start the fall. >> Okay. I'm going to turn it to to Jill and Kathy. Jill on the notions on the 8th and the 15th. I I don't know yet that having a meeting
on the 15th we're going to be in substantial budget mode, but definitely by the 22nd we will because there's there's timelines for staff to submit their budgets and certainly we can have
the pre-budget summit discussions where you're talking about your goals and objectives and services and so forth. Um, but I I I really don't have an issue with the 15th. Um, I I would prefer to have a meeting on the 15th rather than
have five meetings in June. And that's that's the the difficult difficulty for us is having to prepare for the meeting half the week then following up with the meeting. But having a meeting on the on the 15th or we can play it by year, I I don't really see any issue.
>> Yeah. All right. Thank you. That's helpful. Uh Dave, >> can I I just introduce a suggestion here? If we were to have a meeting on the 15th, and I I don't live or die for it, but yeah, if we did have a meeting on the 15th, and I know you you will not
have had a chance to hear back from your own department heads by then and on the on your budget needs. But, you know, we have this budget summit and we have the finance committee here and we have the school administration here. We're going to have a new superintendent here, but
we've never really had a preliminary discussion of the budget just among the select board. um you know and I think it's great that we meet with these other bodies and we should continue to do that
but it's our budget and I don't know if that provides an opportunity for addressing some of the considerations that you have in mind Stuart. Yeah, I think that that would be helpful would be helpful to me. Um and uh you know, I
don't expect to be reviewing the budget. I'm sure wouldn't be near being prepared already, but um uh but there are other questions that I have from the previous year. Um and um I think that would be a good opportunity to kind of flush those
issues out. >> Miss Potes. >> Yeah. So I'm sure I'll have questions too. And so I I I I think based on everything I've heard, I'd like to meet on the 15th, but I I hate to bring this up, but don't we set the tax rate in September? What meeting does that happen in?
>> The tax classification hearing can happen um prior to that, but it typically does happen in September. >> September. >> Yeah. So that's probably all the more reason to >> It's probably a fairly >> that's going to be a critical meeting. That's a critical. So that's my thoughts. >> Okay. Those are all good thoughts. I
think the I think we'll we'll schedule a meeting on the 15th. So 8th, 15th, and 22nd. Okay. For September. And then we're not going to put the pressure on Stuart in June. Okay. We're we're going to be we're gonna have plenty of meet meetings in June. Okay. >> Okay. So >> So that's by consensus. Do you want Do
you want to vote on that? Do we need a vote or >> I think consensus is fine. My understanding is the dates that are on here plus the addition of September 15th. >> Correct. Um, and I not that this would be part of the consensus, but I would encourage
the board to consider, you know, devoting 45 minutes or an hour on the 15th just to talk about our thoughts on the budget before it goes any farther. >> It's good. >> Very good. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. Thank you, sir. >> Job. >> You good, Kathy and Jill? Okay. Consider
a committee committee appointments advisory committees with no new candidates. So Kathy, uh why don't you take this one and um see where we are here. I I thought it was a great list. Um take it away. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. So you have before you um the current list of
the advisory committee members who um have asked to be reappointed to their respective committees as well as the two um associate alternate members um that have expressed interest. Um there was one question I did receive um today
about the waterways advisory committee. There's still a member on there who has um a term is until work completed and we don't switch that to a year until they step down and the new person's appointed. So I explained that to that person because they had expressed interest and um I know that I think
Corey you were on that email um with Mr. Westgate. So um that just in case anybody else had questions or heard anything I just wanted to clarify that >> that would be South Coastal. >> South Coast. >> South I'm sorry. South Coastal. South Coast. Sorry. South Coastal. Yes. Okay. >> Um but the rest of these individuals
have all expressed interest in being reappointed to um the >> the uh incumbent members. Again, it's a three-year term. So, they would all be appointed to till June 30th, 2029. And then the associates um and the summer residents, those are one-year terms that
they would be reappointed to. >> Well, Mr. Niccastro. >> Yeah. The only question I had was on this summer residence committee, you've got two associates or what are they called? Alternates of forgot what they're called. What whatever. Um and
there is a vacancy right now on the regular side. >> There's two vacancies. >> There are two. >> Well, there there's one vacancy and then there'll be another vacancy as of June 1st. >> Really? Someone has a >> uh Yes. Um I haven't heard back from uh Mr. Rottner. So,
>> um, not sure if he's moving forward or not at this time. >> Mr. Who? >> Uh, Joel Rottner. >> Rottner. >> But I I I didn't know whether the chair he he was trying to recruit for the open position. Is he going to be
okay with um I don't even know if he's going to be the chair again, but with not advancing any either of the alternates to a full position or I don't know what he wants to do. It hadn't been discussed and I'm not sure that they've voted on it um to to elevate anyone. Um
I can >> Well, what we what we can do tonight is include them as alternates. They can always be advanced >> if that is the intention of the board um with a recommendation coming from the committee. Do we have other applicants
>> at this time? No. >> Well, there were two that we interviewed that expressed an interest in being appointed to the committee. I can reach back out to them. I hadn't heard from them at this point. >> They did they did respond relatively recently, both of them.
>> I'll look into that tomorrow and check on that. >> So, they might want to be considered, but in any event, we have these two people are already on. I think one needs to be sworn. >> He has been sworn in. >> Oh, good. Uh uh now that he's back in
town for the season. Um okay. So, I I'm okay with the list as is. I I'll move approval, but I Mr. Matters has a question. >> Mr. Matters, >> just one quick question on the parade committee. I'm assuming one member has has um submitted that they do not wish
to be um continue um which would leave an opening. I just want clear. I just want to make sure we're clear on that one. >> I only showed two were up for reappointment this year. Mr. Dbor and Mr. Olsac, >> I believe u Mr. Olazac's wife was also
appointed at the same time. >> She was appointed they were appointed at the same time, but there was one seat that was a longer term. They were filling vacant seats, so she was appointed to >> We're not losing anyone. That's that's all that's all I'm worried about. Good. >> Quick question if I could. >> Yes, please.
>> Yeah. So, um is there a deadline for these committees? like did did the public know that now you know snooze you loose on this that it's going to be too late? >> It's a rolling process is my understanding. So we're accepting talent bank forms throughout um you know once
the appointments are made for the year. We keep them on file for a year should anything change on the committees. Um but at this time you know I'm there people are still submitting. There's still vacancies. We post the vacancies every month. Um after appointments we
update it as well. Um so there are still some committees that have vacant seats that we don't have applicants for at this time but it's it's a rolling process. So the incumbents you know once they're appointed if there's not a vacancy I will in I'll when I a talent bank form comes in I will let that person know you know we've received it
but at this time there's no open seats. Would you like me to keep it on file? And then at that point they say yes or no and we go from there. >> Thank you. >> Okay. And the >> Mr. Smith, >> the policy uh Thank you, Mr. Chair. The
policy is if we want to interview these folks, we can pull them. Is that >> That is what you decided at the last meeting. Yes. >> Right. Um I'd like to pull all three of the summer residence advisory committee come in to interview. >> So, we've got two, I thought. Am I one
of I've got it. Never mind. Members Yep. >> Oh, you're talking about the regular >> It's talking about Jamie regular members. >> Yeah. seeking reappoint. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Um >> well, and I'm going to this really applies to all these other committees as well, but it's really a
question to my fellow board members. Um what what does the board do when the board has taken a clear policy uh position and a committee
takes another uh route if you will on a specific issue. um in my old world that's worrisome that uh you know the that would be really I use the analogy
uh you know when I was harbor master and uh and and the town manager was my supervisor along with uh the the department head um you know I could not like a decision I
can express that uh if the if the decision of the supervisor was lawful and it was moral and ethical basically I had to do it. Is that is is that the case in in this
world? Uh because it seems unusual to me that um that it wouldn't be. Well, we have I mean, never mind summer residents. I have other issues with members of other committ. >> That's what I said. It was not only it's really >> it's not not listed here, but I believe
that it's it's my core belief for committee assignments that you should be assigned to a committee in which you believe in its mission. >> Sure. >> And we do have members of some committees that don't believe in the overarching mission of their committees. So I think that's an issue and I feel as
un unempowered to do anything about it until a reappointment process, you know, kind of marches on until, you know, we get another bite of the apple. But I I I mean I have a I think we have glaring examples of of folks that are not
abiding by the true mission of the committee itself or the commission, if you will. >> The committee, correct? the mission itself and >> the the rules that we promulgate uh that the the the direct you know the policy directives that we take uh um it just
seems to me >> I don't know what I don't know how to correct that you know that uh >> there's not to interrupt but but but other than reappoint in my prain you
know uh there's nothing in the charter in the committee handbook, if you will, that says, you know, we can recall folks. Now, maybe I'm wrong or or but there's nothing that I that I know about this. This is my example, not yours, Stuart. >> Yeah. And you and you're right. I mean, it's during the reappoint process their
their their appointments can be revoked. This this group has done that. >> Absolutely, we have. >> Um, and you know, that's sort of >> Well, we have to wait. >> That's all. Anyway, >> it's sort of draconian and I'm I I would I'm not sure we do have to wait, but I think we do traditionally. Um, but I
don't think there's any requirement for that. And I'm not, you know, I don't mean to, it's just I don't mean to single out the summer residence folks, but because it it does apply to all of the committees. >> Does. >> Um, so the board takes a position, takes a vote, and the committee says, "Yeah, I
don't care. I'm not doing that." >> Right. >> Uh, right. >> Is that that's not okay in my chain of command book? Yeah. >> Uh, that that is there are words for that. Um, so that's problematic to me. Um, and um, you know, the summer
residents are the I'm I'm using as an example, but they're not the I think I don't think it happens a lot. >> Doesn't, >> but uh, it has happened here and uh, you know, I guess I could just accept that, but I'm not going to accept it. I'm not happy with it.
>> Okay, you've made your you made your point, Mr. Niccastro, and then I believe Miss Potes had something to say. Yeah, I I'm not I'm not going to take any sides on on on this point. I I I think you make a very valid point, Stuart. Um, I think if if you were to look at it from
the perspective of the summer residence advisory committee members, um, they can look to each classification hearing as a separate event. And
um it's still not carved in stone whether or whether or not there's going to be a classific a um residential tax exemption that has to be voted in September. So I
suppose if I were on the summer residence committee, I could say, okay, my advice to the board, they're an advisory committee, is that the board should do X or not do X when this hearing comes up in September, this September? >> Yeah, we have taken two votes.
>> Oh, I I get that. I totally get that and I know what you're talking about. >> Uh that seems clear to you're right. there is a final vote, but yeah, it's uh >> you know, I think that that's a I'm surprised that the that a committee would uh would act out like that. And
you know, I've I've watched a few of their meetings and you know, I wasn't pleased with the tenor or the uh the words and phrases that were used about uh people on this board. >> Oh, I I totally get it. I totally get what you're saying. I I have not been
>> overly impressed with some of the comments. I I've defended the board even though I I was in the minority on on the votes that we took. Um you know that I don't want to go beyond the subject matter here but okay >> I think it's important to to understand
what what Stuart's saying I think and what you've said >> about I agree Miss Potes I see you wanted to speak. >> I just wanted to mention that I remember when I was chair of zoning and I remember Jill we had a meeting of all chairs. I think you had it in two separate. So maybe there could be a
meeting with the chairs and you could bring, you know, we could bring the um the goals and objectives and say these are the goals and objectives that the policies that are set by the policymaking board. And so we would like you to make sure that your members are,
you know, hearken to it and that they understand that we need to all roll in the row in the same direction or it's really not going to be um productive. So that's just my thought. >> That's well that's well said. Uh Randy, it's it's wasting wasting time. You
know, it's you're wasting everybody's time. You're taking up a seat where if you're not with the program, don't be with the program. Don't be on the committee. Honestly, I mean, so my thoughts, it's very rare. Um, which is great because we have a an incredibly talented we we witnessed it here tonight in our subcommittee meeting, our
interviewing committee. What talent we have in this town and we welcome that talent, but you know, um, at times we make a mistake, be honest with you. Um, willing to admit it, but, you know, we should be willing to correct the mistake as well. Um, enough of that. So, I do
think we need a motion to approve this uh this lineup, if you will. I had put a motion on to approve it, but Stuart had would like to correct select out three members of the summer residents. So, I'll modify my motion to approve it minus the appointments of the regular members of the summit residence
committee. I don't know if you wanted to include the alden members here down below. There were two of them. >> Um, >> yeah, >> sure. Yeah, >> you'll include those, too. >> Yes. >> So, we'll exclude those. >> But otherwise, the rest of the list I submit for approval. >> Okay. In a second, please. Second.
>> Thank you, Miss Potes. We'll take the role. Mr. Smith, >> I. >> Mr. Niccastro, >> I. >> Miss Potach, I >> Mr. Meadows. Hi. >> And the chair says I as well. Thank you very much. >> Okay, I believe that may be it for this evening and I'll take another mo a
motion to return. >> Thank you, Mr. Meadows. >> Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Stuart. Okay, we'll take a roll. Mr. Smith, >> I >> Mr. Niccastro. Hi, >> Miss Potach. Hi, >> Mr. Meadows. Hi. >> And Mr. Dyen says I as well. Good night, Chadam. Thank you very much.