There it is. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the December 9th, 2025 meeting of the Town of Cadam Select Board. Please note, this meeting is being recorded and will be available shortly hereafter for scheduled and on demand viewing on any smartphone or
tablet device. If anyone else is recording the meeting, including the use of AI note-taking apps, please notify the chair. Anybody in the room or online? I thought we had someone that was using
AI. >> There is I don't know if Stephen Buckley, >> can you hear me? >> Yep, >> I can. Yes. Is that you, Stephen? >> Yes, it's Steve Buckley. I'm uh experimenting with a new notetaker recording.
>> This is AI. >> Uh >> is this an AI technology? >> It is technology. >> Yeah. So we need to um I'm I'm not opposed to you doing that in general but
I think we need to confirm with our uh technology people whether the particular um device that you have or uh system you have is not malicious. Some of them are and we haven't had the opportunity to do
that yet. Sir, I'm just going to ask you, Stephen, if you wouldn't mind not doing that tonight, but at future meetings, um hopefully you can do that. I just wanted to ask you. >> Well, um yes, and I think that on that note, uh I
will do that. And on that note, um I would ask that uh instead of me waiting for agenda request that that be an agenda request about the uh policy concerning uh AI note takingaking. >> You're going to make that as an agenda
request or what did you want to say about that? >> As as long as I'm on the line now, thank you. Yes, I would ask that the policy that's being developed be uh yes uh Yeah. >> Okay. Take advantage of people who have
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, as I say, I I have no philosophical objection to it, but I just wanted to make sure that whatever system you're using is not going it doesn't have malicious capabilities that will infect the rest of the the town's
um system. So that's all >> and and I want to make sure >> we'll we'll take a look at it and be in touch with you and make sure yours is okay so that you can do it in the future. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Stephen. Um with that, I don't see anyone else, so I will continue. Pursuant to Governor Healey's March 28th, 2025 signing of chapter two of the acts of 2025 extending certain CO 19 measures adopted during the state of emergency suspending
certain provisions of the open meeting law. Massachusetts General Laws chapter 3A 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 the order. A reminder that persons who would like to listen to this meeting while in progress may do so by calling the phone number 158-945-4410 conference ID 20386491 pound or join the meeting online via
Microsoft Teams through the link in the posted agenda. While this is a live broadcast and simalcast on Chattam TV Xfinity channel 1072, despite our best efforts, we may not be able to provide real time access. We will post a record of this meeting on the town's website as
soon as possible. First item of business is to establish a quorum. Miss Davis >> present. >> Mr. Dyken, >> present. >> Mr. Matters present. >> Mr. Smith >> present. >> And the chair is present. >> We'll go right into public announcements and agenda item requests. We don't have any minutes tonight. Are there any from
the board? Uh Mr. Matters. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm going to do this a touch early. Um basically, I just want to give the uh little update on our board committee commission vacancies. Um we've done actually very quite well this year. Um filled up a lot of open
positions. Um but there are certainly some um opportunities for those who wish to serve the community um if they so choose. So just bear with me one second. Cable Advisory Committee, two open seats. Committee for People with Disabilities, one open seat, two
alternates. Conservation Commission, one open regular and three associate. Uh Cultural Council, one seat. Historic business district commission, one associate. Uh local state building code board of appeals, five regular. Probably
something we should maybe talk about at some point. Um, open space committee, two um, associates. Uh, public ceremony committee, one regular. South Coastal Harbor Plan Committee, one regular, and traffic safety committee, uh, one associate. Uh, members serve three
years, associate, and alternate serve a one-year term. So, if anyone is inclined to um, spend a little bit of their time uh, helping out the town, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. >> Any others from the board? Any from the public?
Mr. Deval Steven Dval uh representative to the from Chadam at the Monamoy school committee meeting. Just want to give you a quick update on our superintendent search. The um search committee will be presenting three candidates to the
school committee Thursday evening. Um the next step is each candidate will be here um in town Monday and Tuesday. Uh there will be candidate forums open to the community. Uh for candidate number one, that will be Monday the 15th at
6:00 p.m. Candidate number two will be the 15th at 700 p.m. And candidate number three will be on the 16th at 6:00 p.m. All those um forums will be in the high school at Monoy Regional High
School um in the library. Um and the candidates will then be interviewed by the school committee on the 17th in an open um meeting. So we hope that uh members of the committee will come and
meet the new candidates. >> Thank you, Steve. Um I'm assuming that those both of those school committee meetings will be telecast real time. >> Yes, they will be. >> Great. Any questions for Steve? Thank you for bringing us this update. We look
forward to uh getting that filled. >> Um so Steve Buckley had a um agenda item request relative to AI. I I think he wanted to know if we would develop a policy on that. That's what I heard him say. That correct, Stephen, if you're
still there. Okay. Um, next we have a public hearing to consider a petition from NStar Electric doing business as Eversource Energy to install 47 ft plus or minus of 1 to 4 in
conduit and one new handhole 23/h10 on Bridge Street. And I will ask our clerk to read the public hearing notice. >> Thank you. Count of Cadam Select Board public hearing notice. The Chattam Select Board will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 9th,
2025 in the large meeting room, the town office annex 261 George Ryder Road, Chattam, Mass and remotely via Microsoft Teams platform to consider the petition of Nstar Electric doing business at Eversource Energy to install 47 ft plus
or minus of one 4-in conduit and one new handhold 23 HA10. 10 on Bridge Street. This construction is necessary to provide new underground service to the customer
located at 322 Bridge Street, Chadam. The public is welcome to attend the meeting in person or participate via the link in the meeting's posted agenda. >> Thank you. Um so we'll open the public hearing and uh Marissa Jackson. Marissa,
are you here? >> Here you are. >> I'm here. Thank you. Marissa Jackson from Eversource. So, I'm here to address any questions if there are any. I did speak with the Department of Public Works and inform them that we would be hydraulic drilling under the road and
there would be no concern of cutting. >> Great. Any questions, comments from the board? It looks very straightforward. Any It's a public hearing. Any public comment? Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion. >> Motion to approve. >> Is there a second?
>> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Call the role. Miss Davis. >> Hi, >> Mr. Dykins. >> Hi, >> Mr. Meadows. >> Hi, >> Mr. Smith. >> I The chair votes I. >> Thank you, Melissa. Marissa, I'm sorry. >> Thank you very much. Have a good night. >> Next, we have a consent agenda and there
are two items on the consent agenda to consider the display and sale of goods and town property and the town of Cadam employee engagement committee art showcase re reception on February 26, 2025 at the Center for Active Living, 193 Stonehill Road. I do note even
though it's this is a consent agenda that on the first item uh we have um uh the employee representative uh Anna Milan in case we would like to pull and hear from her and Mr. Tanzy is here on the second one. So probably let's pull
both of them because I have an edit on one on the votes on one of them. So we'll go first with the sale of goods. Welcome Anna. >> Good evening Mr. Chair and board members. Thank you for your consideration. My name is Anna Milin. I'm the programs and communications
coordinator in the department of community services at the center for active living. I'm also a member of the employee engagement and recognition committee. Uh this will be our second annual town of Chadam employee art showcase that um is uh hosted at the
center for active living and organized by the employee engagement and recognition committee. Um, a quite a few members of the community last year expressed interest and pursued purchase of the works on display at the Center for Active Living. um throughout the
period of the show, which lasted about a month. In 2026, the event will last from January 12th to February 26th. And the committee is proposing to allow participating artists to offer their artwork for sale during the reception
event on February 26th, 2026 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. And uh I ask for your consideration in that. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments? I just had an edit on the vote. I think we should add some language where we say,
"I move to grant permission for the sale of goods on town property at the center for active li living." I would insert to the participants in the employee um to the participating artists in the employee engagement and recognition
committee art showcase reception. It's the artists that are selling the >> That's correct. >> So that's so that would be the language if you want to make that. So moved. >> Is there >> second? >> Moved and seconded. Call the role. Miss Davis. >> Hi. >> Mr. Dykins. >> Hi. >> Mr. Matt. Hi. >> Mr. Smith.
>> Hi. >> And the chair votes eye. >> Thank you. >> Good luck. >> The next is something we've had many times. The use of town roads for the Cape Cod Athletic Club 45th Chattam Harbor Run and 9inth Cadam. Ninth Cadam in the fall 10K. And Howard
Tanzy is here. I brave the cold to be here. So, if there's anyone that has any questions or comments, otherwise we'll entertain a motion. >> Uh, Mr. Chair, I move to grant permission to use Town Roads on June 28th, 2026 for the Chattam harbor run and team relay and on November 22nd,
2026 for the Cadam in the fall 10K and team relay as outlined by Cape Cod Athletic Club. >> Second moved and seconded. We'll call the role. Miss Davis. Hi, >> Mr. Dykins. Hi, >> Mr. Matters. Hi, >> Mr. Smith. Hi. >> And the chair votes I. Thank you. Thank
you. Good luck. Um, next we have the uh monthly update on Chattam Wells PAS and drinking water testing and pumping update for November. Mr. Fail. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Rob Failley, director of public works, here to give
your November uh monthly pumping report. Uh, wells have been pumping on average four to seven hours per day. Water tanks did not hit the low-level alarm this month. Uh, I'll scroll through some pictures as I discuss this next piece. The translucent panels have been completed.
Uh, the retaining wall was constructed. Duct bank around the building has been installed. Underground power, gas, and fiber optic lines have been run. We're just waiting on Eversource and National Grid to connect to the site. Um, heating system has been installed. Uh, chemical
feed tanks partially installed. Room has been painted. and uh you know other trades are all ongoing. Um it's coming along nicely though. Um still anticipate a spring 2026 opening prior to summer.
As far as the irrigation meter updates, um again uh kind of reiterate what we sent out 300 sorry 635 letters in August. Um, as of now, uh, we sold over 469 irrigation meters, which is just over
$93,000. Um, 355 of those have been installed already. So, we currently have,10 operable irrigation meters in Chattam. Um, now there are 54 properties that are now in a well. uh 39 properties
completely disconnected their uh irrigation from the town's water supply and there are 40 properties on the exception report. Nine properties as of the writing of this memo still have not uh we have no response from and they've been charged uh fined over $17,000 so
far. Uh water sampling uh nothing noteworthy there. um station maintenance. Uh third bullet down the pre-clarane tank at Morton Road cracked. A new one's been ordered. Um we did hook up a temporary
tank at that location. Um because the new one won't be in until January. So you'll see later in the port where well 67 and 9 there's a gap where they've been out of service for uh for a couple of weeks. You'll see that later on in your report. Uh well 2 was offline because of a new
master meter install. Uh that's been installed. Um and well four we discussed last month. We made those repairs to the shaft and that's all ready to go for next spring, but it's shut down for the season as we typically do every winter. Uh nothing else noteworthy in the meter
readings are system maintenance. And we go to the November comparison to November of last year. Um we're pretty close uh within a percent of uh of last year's pumping. Um nothing really noteworthy there.
Uh you can see the daily fluctuations on the chart. Um you know, November of last year is in the dark blue. You can see some pretty severe swings in their daily fluctuations were a little bit more consistent this past November. And again, here's a bar chart with that
similar information. And here's the monthly pumping report per well per day. And you can see the gap uh well 67 and 9 where the chlorine tank it was cracked. We took it out of service. By the time we coordinated with a company to try to get a new one
ordered um there was a gap in time there when we figured out it was backordered. So then we were able to hook up a temporary tank just to keep it in operation. So um that's why there's a gap there. And here's the uh bar chart with the
monthly comparison. the year-to- date pumping report. Um, we're still hovering, if we look at, uh, monthly totals this year compared to last year, around that 13 million gallons less than last year. It's been pretty consistent the last few months.
Um, it's good it's good that it hasn't we haven't closed that gap, I guess. Uh here's the year-to- date pumping uh based on the month and the activity and here is the unmetered water usage.
Again, um flushing and blowoffs are typically uh the higher amount this year. I mean this month, but uh you can see well treatment operations have been a little bit higher this past month and I think that was just because of the maintenance on those couple of wells that we were conducting.
And here's the unmetered water usage graph. And then we go to the 5-year pumping comparison report. You'll notice in the green uh 2024, the pumping hours were pretty high, 201.
A lot of that had to do with Morton Road plant was offline uh from November 1st to November 9th. And once that came back online, all the other wells were offline from November 10th to November 30th
through the rest of the month. So, so the beginning of the month, all the other wells were running, but at towards the second half of the month, it was only the Morton Road plant that was running. Um, you could see in the yellow for this past November, um, again, it was Morton Road that was offline for a
couple of weeks and I think that drove the pumping hours a little bit higher for all the other wells. That was last year, >> right? But um in yellow is uh is this past November. So it's a little bit higher. You know, if you look back to
the previous years is 127,24 114 is pretty low pumping hours, but the last two years is a bit of a spike. And there's just those are the reasons why. Uh USGS observation wells, you could see this is Cadam. We have started our seasonal recharge, which is good news.
We're still a little far behind from where I'd like to be, but um but we're making progress. We've had some uh some good rain recently. If we look at the Brewster observation, well, it's a little bit more um I don't want to say bleak, but it's uh it's kind
of hovering around that trough. It's uh it's starting to recharge and then it's it's just fluctuating a little bit. So, um, as you know, Brewster is kind of the bell weather for all the observation wells on the lower Cape. Um, so we're hoping to see this, uh, some improvement on this soon.
And I apologize, the uh, Massachusetts drought task force only met yesterday morning. So, I just, this was not in your packet. It's just some screenshots I took during the meeting um, to review the conditions. Um, so rainfall has been good in November, 3 to 5 ines on Cape
Cod. um stream flow, groundwater and evapo transpiration have all been below normal. And this is what the recommendation is to the secretary of energy and environmental affairs to remain at level two
uh for the next month and they'll meet again in January to discuss the conditions. >> Great. >> Happy to answer any questions. >> Just a couple comments I guess. Uh 10 and 11 are doing great. Well, 10 and 11, no issues.
>> Well, we had the the PA spike and we're working with Weston and Samson uh to get a proposal together to look at our options. >> Okay. And then the other water sampling was f is fine. >> Yeah, no problems at all. >> Super. Thank you. >> You're welcome, >> Stuart. Rob, on uh page three, you mentioned um
you highlighted the uh pre-chlorine tank uh crack. Just out of curiosity, any It's not a very old tank, but is >> it's Yeah, it's a pretty new tank. It's just I don't know. It's that nobody like bumped into it or anything. It's just it had a crank and it had a small leak, so
we had to take it out of service. >> And um >> was it warrantied? >> I think it's beyond the warranty at this point. >> And the uh Viola staff replaced an undersized KOH
It's been undersized since they built the the building um the plant or is it did it become undersized for some other >> It it's been they've had to fill it frequently so it it's not necessarily undersized. It's been too small for our
utilization. So they just wanted to upgrade the size so they weren't filling it so frequently. >> Great. Thank you. >> Welcome. >> Any other questions, comments? Uh well, I can't imagine any other piece of data that
could be conceived for to to require an additional chart, but this is a very very thorough report. We appreciate getting this every month. >> If if you'd like me to streamline it, I >> No, I think it's great. I think it's great. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Um
any public comments on the business agenda at this time? Otherwise, you can make them contemporary in any way. Seeing none online, none in the audience, we'll proceed with the first item which is the um Veterans Park restrooms availability for first night
chatam. This was an agenda item requested by board member Meadows and um I think Mr. Philly's going to present. Corey, did you want to say anything in introductory? Um no essentially um you know first night committee came before
us and and part of their and asked this year was to ask about the the restroom facility um at that time unfortunately when we had learned about the the significant vandalism that occurred to the facility um which I'm
sure we get brought up to date on but I guess we're just a question is um the viability of it and then as we get a little bit deeper into it um the work that we want to put back into the building, the work that we're going to need to put back in the building and all
that fun conversation. So, I'll I'll let um Rob kind of kick it off. But, >> thank you, Rob. >> Sure. Thank you. Um yeah, so as as we know, the the Veterans Park restrooms were vandalized. I think it was October 9th. Um and we were we were about to
close them for the season anyway. I think we closed them a week or two prematurely. Um, we looked at, um, doing the repairs, but there were a couple of ADA issues. A couple of the toilets needed to be located 18 inches from the wall. So, we have to do some plumbing
issues, and we said, you know what, it's closed for the winter. Why rush it? You know, let's let's make sure we do it right. Uh, and then the issue came up with um with first night. So, that restroom, as far as I know, at least in recent history, has not been used for
first night. It doesn't have heat. It doesn't have insulation. So, we usually before the cold weather sets in, we winterize it. We drain the water and keep it closed for the season. Um, doesn't mean it can't be heated and and insulated. So, I did we did get a couple
of estimates. Um, either way, it nothing will be done for first night this year. Um, you know, the community center is 200 feet away. It's open for the duration of first night. But the um the heat, the least expensive
option is electric heat and that would be $13,000 and then the insulation would be approximately $9,000. So tied in with the plumbing cost, you know, the plumbing cost we were absorbing into our normal facilities maintenance budget. So that was going to be accomplished anyway. There'll be some
additional costs just to get it compliant with ADA. Um, but you know, we're happy to uh pursue whatever um pleases the board. >> Any comments or questions? Corey. >> Well, I just want to I mean, I think
it's worth the conversation. Uh, just quick question. The uh restroom facilities, is that plumbed also into like the um snack shack for the ball field? Is it that kind of kind of one in, you know, hand in hand as far as shut offs and draining? And
>> I'm not sure the snack shack has any plumbing. I don't I don't know. >> I thought they did. >> That's nothing that I think that our facilities team uh controls the the shut off. >> Okay. The independent hopefully. No, I'm just trying to understand because
obviously um figure out clearly we're going to need to do some work to the inside of the facility. It's it's it was quite the cons. It was not just a little bump and bruise. It was a pretty significant u vandalism um
unfortunately. Um does it make sense to put some upgrades into the facility um for I mean first night is is a big event for us. Um obviously we have a we draw a lot of people down to that area. Is it worth keeping that as a restroom facility or not? Um is you know it's
obviously a parking area that we're driving a lot of people to. So there's volume. Um but regardless of what we do, if we winterize it, we don't winterize it, we I'm guessing we should probably look at some security components too, camera or something because um you know
to to eliminate any vandalism in the future. So um that would be an extra cost recognized >> and we plan to pursue the cameras. We'd have a camera under the overhang and another one in the vestibule is what we had planned with our IT department. >> All right, I'm just throwing out for conversation. And I think it has some
value at least to be let the voters or you know the the taxpayers consider it if they they they feel it's worth it. We could throw it into a town meeting article. If not, you know, then so be it. But I think it's definitely worth a conversation. >> Stuart.
>> Hey Rob. Um do we know who the uh do the police know who the vandals? No. No, >> we don't. No. Um, and I guess maybe Corey, was your vision to
uh keep the those restrooms open for the entire winter or just through the f just through the New Year's? >> I'm thinking um it could be operational through New Year's. I think if it's winterized um they don't necessarily have to be
accessible certain all every day you know November December but we have the opportunity to keep them open um obviously because there's cleaning and maintenance and everything else but because we have such a large event um to improve the building have it open a little bit later into the fall because
we are busy and there are people going to the playgrounds and whatever um shut them down appropriately during the week maybe keep them on weekends but after the first night activities and New Year's. I I would I would suggest shutting them down until probably, you know, April or whatever you, you know,
May, you know, when the spring kind of kicks in. I would I would not keep them open January, February, March. >> Yeah. Um I mean, I I think that's a I think it's probably a good idea. the um do so would that level do you think Rob
that that level of uh renovations be necessary if we weren't going to keep them open all winter >> and the Sorry. >> No, no, we would just do the plumbing repairs and the ADA compliant repairs which we would kind of absorb in our in our facilities budget but we would skip
any kind of winterization. Yeah. Do some sort of light heat or something light. Yeah. >> It has the electric capacity already there. That's why we chose that option. It would be the least expensive option. >> Yeah. Okay. Um >> but you'd be doing the heat if you're going to keep it open in the late fall,
right? You'd be including the heat. >> Well, it depends on when we close it. We typically close it around the middle of October. >> Yeah. But if you follow what the suggestion that Corey was offering, which is to keep going till after first night. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. We would need to pursue heat and insulation.
>> Oh, and insulation. Yes. Just because of that >> insulation. >> And yeah. And the ADA issue is >> intriguing. Did the ADA rules change from when that building was built until now, or was it just >> I think they've been in place since the Federal Register came out in I think it
was 1989. >> So, they were just built not to ADA codes. >> I I think it's the the toilet is I'm not sure if it's too close or too far away from the wall. It has to be 18 in from the wall. That's pretty standard dimension. >> Right. Thanks,
Jeff. >> I'm fairly ambivalent to be honest with you. It's a it's a not a must have. It's a nice to have. The community center is right there. Um the community center is open all winter. Um somebody can convince me that the 22k is worth spending to have it winterized for
weekend use only through January 1, then 22k is kind of short money. But I'm I'm fairly ambivalent to be honest with you. I'm not all driven up about it, Shireen. >> Well, it's not just 22K, though. It's also um operational costs that you'd
have to consider. Um I I I'm kind of leaning no on this, but I mean, if you want to pursue it, I'm happy to to go ahead and do that. I just think that, you know, for one event, um uh you know, this this, you know, just getting it
repaired and open for the season, I think is is very doable. Um, that's it. That's all I have. Um, I'm kind of >> see Elaine Gibbs online. Miss Gibbs. >> Uh, yes. Thank you. Uh, my question is,
was the vandalism, the damage to, uh, the toilets, sinks, mirror, and other equipment. Was that covered by our town insurance or do we have to pay for that? >> We have to pay for that. It did not meet our deductible. Uh, so the damage was
roughly5 to $7,000. >> Okay. Um, I would agree with Corey and Stu that we need cameras. I think we have to have cameras on all of our public properties. This isn't the first time it's happened. I think it happened down on Bridge Street or something. No,
the old Harbor Master's office. So, putting a camera up after the fact is kind of not prudent. So, I would hope that cameras go into all of our facilities so we don't experience this again. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other public comment? I
don't hear any. So, kind of had a mixed um somewhat mixed or ambivalent. I'm I'm kind of where Jeff is and on it. Cy, >> I mean, I'm I'm not dismissing $22,000, but I think and regrettably, we're going to have to do some work to the building.
I think it does make sense to probably improve the facility because we I'm assuming we're going to have more first night activities, you know, in the future. Um, it would be a nice amenity to add on top of the, you know, the community building. Is it an absolute am I going to stand on a hill, you know,
waving a flag saying this absolutely has to be done? No. No. But I think it's got merit and and if we could put something forward and and if it, you know, if we a standalone article for town meeting and they it's supported and it's great. If it's not supported, then I I don't I'll lose no sleep over it, but I think it's
worth a conversation. So, that that's kind of where I stand on it. >> It's too late to get this before CPC. I mean, it's part of the recreational complex. Jill, would we do this if we were to look for funding? Um would we um
have it as a separate warrant article? >> That's an option. And the other option is looking to include it under our capital, our annual capital where we have um our maintenance and
Rob, help me out here. There there is um there is a line item through our our operations department and in facilities for maintenance. >> I was I asked the question because we could, you know, throw this to town meeting and let them decide if they want to do it as a separate article. I don't
think it would take too much staff time to put the article together and we can debate it again and we can vote for or against it. >> Did you want to say something? >> Well, I I guess I was just going to reiterate what somebody I guess has already said and that is if we were considering it or we somewhat ambivalent
about it. This would probably be the time to do it since it's already damaged. >> Yeah. >> Uh Rob mentioned that there's electrical service there uh that's adequate to run so we don't have to deal with that. So that'd be my only comment.
>> Well, may I suggest that that we ask the staff to prepare an agenda, a warrant article, and present it to us for consideration at some point and we can discuss it all over again. >> Yeah, we'll start that review end of January, beginning of February. >> Okay.
>> All right. If if I may, Mr. Chair, should we look for uh possible internal funding uh first or do you want to put this to the town voters uh at ATM? >> I'm inclined to put it to the voters, but because we can always use internal funding for other things, but that's
just my thinking. Corey, >> uh the only question I have is um it's going to need to be fixed anyway. Um mechan, you know, mechanically, what's your recommendation? because you're going to have to start doing something now or soon at some point. So,
>> we'll address the plumbing issues now. We can always do the electrical and insulation at a later point. >> Fair enough. If you did internal if you found internal funding, you could get the project done this year rather than wait till >> Correct. I mean, if we want to do it, that's what
we we should look for funding if you really want to do it. >> Well, why why don't we do that? Why don't we modify this? I'll suggest that you look for funding. If you find it >> then we do it >> then you do you want it to come back to us or do you want to just charge him to do it >> if he finds they can find the funding
just do it doing the work there anyway so it makes sense to >> do it and if you can't find the funding then prepare an article for us to consider for town meeting. >> There you go. Perfect. >> Okay. I think there's consensus on that. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Next item is to reaffirm acceptance of a
donation of the US Coast Guard boat house to house the upweller at 90 Bridge Street and to execute an updated memorandum of agreement for the donation. And Greg Burman is going to present on this and I know we have the donor in the audience.
>> Yes, thank you very much. Uh Greg Burman, your director of natural resources. very pleased to bring this updated memorandum of agreement uh donation agreement to the select board for consideration. Uh that means we are
very very close. This is really the the last step before we can schedule moving the boat house from Quincy and start its travels back to 90 bridge back to Stage Harbor. Uh within the agenda report I include the information that we
currently do have an expired agreement. One of the things that we've been working on was exactly what step was going to happen where. The area up in Quincy wasn't big enough to cut the floor. Um really at 90 Bridge Street
wasn't appropriate for that either. New Bedford seems like the most appropriate facility to remove the floor. um it does have some lead paint and creassote within that and that facility is designed to handle that kind of material
versus at 90 bridge. Additionally, at 90 Bridge Street, if we if we just bring back the boat house and put it on the pier, that means we can keep that extension pier open the entire time even if the upweller pier is being, you know, still worked on. So, we can have a
usable facility pier over on that side. uh potential fiscal impacts. Um it's staff's understanding that the Coast Guard boat house is the preferred housing for the upweller. That was kind of reaffirmed at the special tow
meeting. That's what we've included in a lot of our grant applications. Um so it's our you know uh respectful recommendation that this would be um put forth approved allow the town manager to
enact the agreement and you know if this is approved this evening we are moving forward very quickly at this point. Uh within the next couple of weeks it would probably be moved from Quincy to New Bedford. Uh then the next step from New
Bedford to 90 Bruce Street uh probably wouldn't happen maybe as early as February, but at that point they're going to be looking for a weather window that's appropriate to bring it across. So we we've kind of likely going to give them until May just to make sure they
have that nice wide weather window to be able to get a flat uh calm stretch across. And uh happy to answer any questions. And we do have the uh donor in the audience if you have any questions. You know, we the donor has
been very patient and helpful during all this process. It's been a long road. >> Thank you, Greg. Uh Dave, did you want to say anything or Jack? Appreciate it. I just had one curious question. Where in Quinsey has it been at the shipyard? The old Quinsey
shipyard. Okay. Um, any questions or comments, Jeff? >> So, it's going to travel to New Bedford first and the floor is going to be removed. Then I assume the window they're going to bring it back across Buzzard's Bay through Woodsole Gut and then up Vineyard Sound to Chadam. Is
that the preferred route? I would think that would be the only that the only way they would get here. >> Yeah, that Well, when they when it left here, >> they went down to Elizabeth Islands and through the >> Yeah. Yeah. >> down that way to the through the canal. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. We we haven't assigned the means
and methods of travel. It's going to be whatever the contractor believes is the safest way. >> Will be by barge. I assume >> yes by barge. >> Yeah. Well, it's this is a fascinating project. It's a very interesting project. Um extremely unique and exciting. And so um
>> if if there's no further discussion or questions, I'll entertain a motion. Move >> to approve. >> There it is. There is the motion. >> I do. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Ela Gibbs. I didn't see you, Elaine. >> Yeah, thank you. Um, just a couple
questions. Uh, according to the new contract, we will be accepting delivery in New Bedford rather than Chadam. And so, uh, are those going to be additional costs to us to move it to Chadam? And
these are all interrelated because number three said we will ac accept title as is condition and all future expenses when we accept it. So in other words, we're accepting it in New Bedford so that if anything happens in the old
contract, we didn't have to accept it until it got to Chadam. Something happens in the interimm making the crossing from New Bedford to Chadam, is that on us? And my third question is when was the last time it was inspected? It seems like I hadn't
heard that. Was it 2021? Shouldn't we inspect it before we accept it in an ASIS condition? >> Thank you. I'll ask um Greg Greg or others to respond. I I do think with respect to the legal liability, I read I
read the agreement the same way you do, Elaine. I think once we take ownership of it in New Bedford, we're responsible for anything that happens from there on. But Greg, did you could you re please try to respond to Elaine's questions or turn to whoever else?
>> Yeah, certainly. So, um the the town would take possession and ownership in New Bedford with this agreement. Um we have explored an insurance policy through our insurance agent to make sure that it is covered during that transit. Um we're working with RV
>> transit from New Bedford to Chattam. >> New Bedford to Chattam. Yes. >> Okay. >> Uh we also have a um a uh potential change order in place from RBO that the town has requested a quote to be able to move it from New
Bedford to 90 Bridge Street. Uh we've run that through town council. In addition to the agreement, we put the change order through town council. We also have uh correspondence with both the engineer and the project manager indicating that this is the best way to
do it at this point. Um there will be incurred cost with that change order, but I'm very happy to tell you that during that special town meeting, um our costs are still projected to be significantly less than mentioned at
that town meeting. So, at the town meeting, I believe it was just over an 11 million project. Now, we're closer to a $10 million project, and the uh overall savings to the town with grants is potentially a million less than we
projected at that special town meeting. So, even with these kind of moving parts, the increase of change order, you know, we still don't have the procurement finished on phase three. That's when we'll really kind of know what that final price is going to be. But, you know, we've we've kept on
budget and under budget this entire time, even accounting for this change order. >> How about the question regarding whether an updated inspection has been done by the town? >> Yes, it has. I I don't have that date on me right now, but it was certainly
within the last um three months, I would say. Okay. So, an an updated inspection has been performed. >> Is that consistent uh Dave with your knowledge? if you would like to come forward, Mr. Doherty. >> Sure.
>> Um, he's correct. It was also inspected when it was at uh Kushnet Marina in Hull. Uh, people from the town went up and inspected it. >> That would have been in 2019, right? >> Uh 20 21 >> 21 I think. >> Okay. >> It was done at there and then um at the
request of the town, I had the building shrink wrapped uh to preserve it. So it's was completely shrink wrapped and then as you said previously that uh they went up again they they asked us to check the blocking on it make sure it was properly
done. So and the team went up there and they were satisfied with that. So everything seems to be in order ready to put it on the barge and move it to New Bedford. >> Thank you Greg. Who was part of that? Who was on the the town's inspection team recently? >> So that was our uh engineer GEI. Okay.
>> I hope it did that inspection and I believe the subcontract it was tie bond for the structural analysis. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> All right, Stuart. So, we're going to uh the town's going to incur the cost from New Bedford to Chattam. Is that Did I hear that?
>> Yes. Yeah. >> Uh and you mentioned insurance that wouldn't be on the tow company's insurance. we would have to have an extra insurance on the building even though they're we're contracting with somebody to move it.
>> We've been exploring that. It either could be with the contractor, but it could also be with the town because we're going to have a a a builder's risk insurance as soon as it gets to the pier. So, we can just kind of blend that transport into the builder's risk and it seemed less expensive to do it ourselves
and have the contractor assume that. >> Thank you, >> Josh. Want a motion? Yeah. I move to accept the donation of the former US Coast Guard station C Chadam boat house and authorize execution of an updated MOA by the town manager memorandum of understanding I should say. Yeah.
>> Second >> agreement. I mean >> moved and seconded. Any further discussion? Hearing none. I'll call the role. Miss Davis. >> I. >> Mr. Dyken. >> Hi. >> Mr. Matters. Hi. >> Mr. Smith. >> Hi. >> The chair votes I. Five to zero. Thank you Greg. >> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you Dave. Um, next is a discussion of the impacts of coastal change and consideration of a letter of support for the state uh dredge grant program. This was requested by uh three members of the select board,
Miss Davis, Mr. Dykins, and Miss Smith, Mr. Smith. So, Greg's here with um Katherine Ricks. And before they begin, I will ask any of the board members that requested this if they would like to say anything now or do you want to wait until the presentation?
>> Good. >> Okay, >> Greg. >> Great. So, I I'll kick it off and then tag out with Katherine, your coast of resilience director about halfway through. Um, you know, we we are thrilled to be able to provide to you this evening the the DNR trifecta of
really trying to get some of these agenda items off of our our list and bring them before you as you've requested. >> Trying to get them off my my list here, our list. >> Everyone, it weighs on me too when I see them if they're >> Yeah, >> we're making progress. Um so this first
one is discussion of impacts of coastal change and we would also like the select board to consider a letter of support for the straight state dredge program which we'll include in this presentation. So very briefly um this is a very
dynamic system. That's one of the things that attracted me to Chattam with a geology background. You know just looking at these um historic images back from 1938 you can see the entire barrier beach system has changed significantly over time.
U it's been a subject of scientific scrutiny for just about as long as there have been people here. It was quantified a little bit more back in 1988 by Dr. Graham guys. And I I just wanted to kind of give you a feel for how our understanding of this system has changed
over that time. You know, back in 1987 was one of the breaks and that kind of led an impetus for this study and start looking at projections of the future. So, one of the future projections was uh 1995 to 2005. And if you just looked at
the aerial in 2005, it didn't quite match, but then we had our break in 2007, so it it matched pretty well at that point. Uh then we had an update in 2009 of the projections, and this one looked at various phases. We have an
inlet development phase that we've actually been in for for quite a while. It's it's a significant amount of time in that development phase and when that ends uh it's the barrier beach migration phase where the um you know where we connect to Orleans, North Beach starts
migrating to the south uh re-establishing that protection for the rest of Chattam harbor and when we're looking at these various times uh 2027 that particular projection showed a breakup of um North Beach Island which
really hasn't happened yet, thankfully. Um, so there is a kind of a slowdown to this overall system. Um, and when we're looking more into the future, the idea of these barrier islands and barrier beaches rolling landward over time, they kind of when the sediment gets shut off
for that barrier island, it moves towards the land and starts to kind of curl towards the land as that sediment is removed. And here's our most recent projection. All three of these were by the Center for Coastal Studies. our last it's 2017 and we're just going to kind of
increment through these various dates. Uh the left hand image shows a sea level rise assumption of one foot per 100 years. Middle is 2 feet. Uh over to the right is 3 feet per 100 years and you know the one foot per century is really
over the last 100 years historically. 3 feet per century is a little bit more likely under these um experience. So, here we are moving from 2016 to 2040. And as we progress through these, you'll kind of see each one of the barrier beach migrating now that we're in the
migration phase. Um, in none of these images does it show a complete breakup of the entire system. Uh, the idea is even incrementing these higher sea level rates is it just moves a bit faster, moves a bit longer. There
will be some thinning of the beach over time. And then just kind of comparing this 2017 to the 2009, the understanding in that the 2009 really wasn't as robust as it was now. Now the impression is that, you know, you're not going to get
a full breakup, but you will have sand moving inland. This is one of the reasons why we do what we do. a lot of dredging, a lot of monitoring, a lot of aerial photography. You know, keeping track of how this is migrating, what
phase we're in at in any given point. Uh hopefully will let us understands what's needed. And this is where I'm going to kind of step over and talk about the dredge needs in town. Yeah. >> Okay. So, with the active and very
dynamic shoreline, there's a lot of dredging that's done in the town of Chadam. And with our current permit application, we have multiple dredge sites and multiple dredge disposal areas. That includes stage harbor channel, Mil Creek channel, Aunt Lydia's Cove, Pleasant Bay entrance channel, and
Chattam harbor with the disposal sites of Hardings Beach, Cochal Cove, Scatterie, Turn, uh Claflin Landing with the ability of Chattam Bars in to actually purchase some of the sand as well. And then when the army corps dredges the stage harbor inlet, they
actually dispose just offsite of Harding's Beach. And we have actually included that in the application this time as one of our potential dredge sites since it's really nice sand that they dredge out of Stage Harbor Channel. So with that,
I'll actually move over here. Did I? I went Okay. So over the last eight fiscal years, Cadam has been awarded over $3.1 million of the EOED state grant funds. It's a 50% town match and the town has
been reimbursed over 1.2 million within that time period. So that's how much we've also put in the 1.2 million as the town. So I'm sure this is very legible. Since 1989, these are all of the dredge projects. We've kept track of the where
the dredging has occurred, where the disposal site was, and the amount that was dredged, whether it was a private contractor, the county dredge, or the army corps of engineers. So, within those 98 dredging projects,
um the there was a request to look at whether the town should purchase a dredge of its own to have the town own dredge. So, Footh Engineering did a study a few years back for the town. Um, and looking at it really, it was the
benefit of having a town-owned dredge would have been that we don't have to worry about the county dredge schedule because it is tough because they do dredge all the towns on Cape Cod, the islands, and sometimes off of the Cape. So, getting into their schedule is tough. But, we also have to deal with
the permits having time of year restrictions. So, it's not even just their schedule. It's also fitting into the time of year restrictions that we have. But the drawbacks of having our own town dredge would be that we would need to hire staff that would be ex have expertise in running a dredge and
working it would be more than one person. You'd need to hire an additional survey firm to do the pre and post dredge surveys. The staff that you would hire, you'd want to retain them over the full year and not have to hire them every year seasonally. And that would mean you'd have to find more work out of
the dredge season, which is a kind of a tight season, maybe one or two months of the year that you would be dredging. And uh for the economic benefit, what was found found in the study that both did was that you would need to dredge a minimum of 90,000 cubic yards annually.
And over those projects that we've done since 1989, only six years showed amounts over n 90,000 cubic yards. And some of those included the Army Corps of Engineers dredging Stage Harbor channel. So most of the county dredge projects or
private contractor projects did not get over 90,000. So there wouldn't it didn't show an economic benefit to having a town-owned dredge. This past spring, we were able to get a dredge project done in the Mil Creek
channel, but as you can see, it was done in uh March and April of 2025. So, in May, it looked open. By August, it was already starting to shol in. So, it just shows the need for consistent dredging,
which also shows the need that we the money that has to go into the funding for all the dredge projects that we have. And crucial to that is those EOED dredge permits, I mean dredge grants. The next dredge project that we have on
the list is uh Aunt Lydia's Cove as it's shled in in that mooring area. We are hoping to get this done this coming winter. We had a meeting today with the Army Corps of Engineer Analyst who is still working on getting us our permit.
As of the discussion today, it is likely we'll have the proper draft permit the first week of January, which means to have the full permit in hand uh by the end of January and be able to dredge it in either February or March of this year. And we will work to dredge this.
And as well, we would like to dredge the area uh Pleasant Bay entrance channel, which is just off of Minister's Point, as the mooring area there has also started to shol in. So, this brings up the um letter that we've drafted and we'd like to request
the um your consideration to sign the letter for the governor because they do there is rumors that the state dredging grants will be discontinued after fiscal year 2027. >> Okay. >> Any questions?
>> Any comments or questions from board members? Jeff? Well, Greg, are you going to promise us that that outer beach is going to be there for the next 50 years? You said it's not going anywhere. >> If it in 50 years, if it's not there, I'll buy you a beer.
>> Yeah. 50 years. I I don't think I'm going to be around. Um, fascinating. I find all this stuff to be extremely interesting, having plied the waters there for years. Um the only question I have about dredging is what's going on with Bucks Creek and what kind of plans
do we have? I noticed it's not on the list for potential dredging along with Mil Creek etc. But what are we thinking about in Bucks Creek? >> So we currently are trying to get a proposal to get a study done going from uh Mil Creek channel to Harding Beach to
look at Bucks Creek because we have seen a lot of shing in that area. Typically, it would shaw each year. It would kind of have some sholing, but then it would also open up and flush out. Um, over the last year or so, it just it's shled more into the creek and less just right at
the entrance. So, we do want to have that studied and then potentially look into dredging, but it also there's a lot of habitat there, shellfish and different shore birds. So, the permitting for that will be um quite difficult. Yeah, this this was one where
we applied for that uh MVP grant to perform this study that was not funded. Now, it would have been nice to know so we could have started earlier, but now we're planning on moving forward without that funding um and doing a a smaller scale project along the Nantucket Sound
shoreline looking, you know, specifically Mil Creek to Bucks Creek at minimum. looking at, you know, how much volume needs to be put down to maintain the beach, how much may be going into Bucks Creek and then, you know, if there
are alternative methods of maintaining hydraologic flushing with Bucks Creek, be it dredging. U you know, it's that kind of study that puts the impetus to add that into the dredge permit or to do uh additional dredge permits in the future. Just just a quick followup.
Would would the dredge permit for Bucks Creek be any more complicated than it is for Mil Creek? They're very similar. I mean, I would think, but I I don't know. I'm not an expert. >> Yeah. I mean, I think the hard part would be it would be for uh environmental purposes, which is possible, and it hasn't been previously dredged, so it would be an improvement
dredging. You know, it it it's something that would be a bit of an uphill battle, but I think we could make the case that it's ecologically important. We can certainly make the case that it's important for shellfish. You know, just, you know, over the past month, they've
been hauling uh cohogs out of, do you remember which pond it was? Was it >> Taylor's >> up in Taylor's? So, I mean, that that's a significant probably the most important propagation area in town. Uh Bucks isn't being used right now because of the concerns about flushing. Uh but,
you know, we're taking a good look at both of those. When we got that emergency extension for Mil Creek to be able to dredge as much as we did, that was one of the justifications we put on there that we had literally millions of animals up in that system that needed
that, you know, fresh water coming in and we were heard about that. >> Just a just another followup and I I'll be quiet, but I used to give Dr. Duncan a bunch of grief about groins, you know, all along. Now, every other town on
Nucket Sound, Harwitch, Dennis, Yarmouth, all have groins, and I believe they're stealing our sand or not allowing the sand to get to Chadam because they're they're they're at their their groins. So I have no idea and I
defer to your wisdom, no idea on how complicated it would be to even talk about groins now in Chadam, but I'm still interested because I do believe that the sand that should naturally accrete from west to east is being you know piled in in Yarmouth, Dennis and
Harwood to be honest with you. So just a comment, Greg. Thanks and thoughts. >> Did Jeff >> I Shireen >> Jeff I think Dr. Dr. Duncinson gave us a a presentation a few years ago on that and you know talked about groins as a as
a method of holding the beaches and stuff and it was I I think the report out was dredging was probably the way and sand replenishment was the way to go as far as costs associated with it. Um >> so I mean if we do talk about we should
get that report out uh again just to just to look at that. Well, I I think I do remember that response and I'm asking Mr. Burman, who's new here, to see see if he has any enlightenment. Mr. Burman, I I certainly have a lot of background with talking about impacts of
coastal structures. Um, >> you know, a groin or a groin field in a perfect system, it's intended to slow down the sand as it moves along the shoreline. So it it builds each cell up to enttrapment and then it starts to
bypass around it. So it's a combination of these you know short perpendicular structures like joint groins and jetties that stop the long flow of sand combined with some of the revetments that are further to the west denying sand into the system. So we've reduced the amount
of sand and theoretically we're just slowing down the west to east transport. But when there's not enough to overfill the cells, it effectively stopped as a terminal groin. It catches all the sand. Nothing moves past at that point. Um
it's it's very difficult to deal with a you know Nantucket Sound shoreline reduction of sand. Um but bypassing the jetties is a major portion of it. You know, Mil Creek is significantly
building on the one side and should be bypassed a little bit better. That's one of the things that we're also working on right now is trying to enhance that Mill Creek dredging and jetty system. You know, the thing that's probably slowing us down the most right now is
determining ownership and permitting of that jetty. We've been working with the Army Corps and consultants, but that that's a tricky first step sadly. Um but yeah, the the bypassing of the jetties is very important and then you know the groin fields aren't acting to slow
things down anymore. It's pretty much stopping the flow entirely along there. >> Thank you, Greg. I appreciate that. I do. Thank you. >> I I thought also when Dr. Duncin gave us a report that he said one of the complications was the permitting process and putting these jetties and putting
these um groins in. Yeah, it it's very very difficult to permit groins and jetties these days. Um, there have been a couple permitted in the last 10 years that are theoretically adjustable or temporary. You might think of the ones
out in Synic attack on the vineyard um that are made of wood and theoretically can have portions of it removed, but when they get installed, they don't get touched. Um, regulatory agencies are very hesitant to put these on the beach. Um and yeah, it would be a significant
struggle. Um and even if you do get them, you know, we trying to keep them connected can be an issue, too. Um there's a lot of Nantucket Sound jetties and groins out there that um you start getting erosion
on the upland side and I'm not going to be able to name the exact water body, but kind of over by Barnstable if you look on an aerial photograph there's linear rocks, you know, hundreds of feet offshore because the shoreline moved out and the the jetty stayed there and they're just
offshore now. So trying to maintain the shoreline where it is is a difficult task and you know we're shoveling sand at it as best we can. >> Thank you >> Shireen. >> Um I just wanted to speak to the letter a little bit. I I think um I think the
letter is good. I just I I think there should be a little bit more data in there. I mean the fact that since 1989 we've had 98 dredging projects. I think we need to identify to the state that we have a significant dredging um uh program in in in this and how much you
know and even that cost associated um that 3.18 million and 50% you know has been from from the grants uh has you know I think is really an important piece to put in there. any of the other towns like Harwitch, are they looking at
any dredging programs? Harwitch or Dennis? I mean, are you aware that they're they have any significant dredging programs at all? Katherine? >> Yes. So, most of the towns on the Cape do dredge, which is why with the county dredge, it's difficult to schedule. They
tried they have two dredges now at the county. They're also looking into purchasing a smaller dredge that can actually travel by land instead of having to travel um through the water. So, it's smaller, but it'll be able to do the smaller projects when the other two dredges are doing the larger projects. Uh Pompanessa just finished a
major dredge project. Um I don't remember the volume, but almost every town uses the county dredge. They also sometimes go off Cape to do projects as well. Um, I would say Harwitch most regularly does their inlets and harbors
and right now I believe we are scheduled behind projects in Yarmouth and trying to think of who else has it scheduled right now, but I don't have but yes, almost most towns around here. >> My my point is that if we're going to have a letter, we should be doing a a
Cape letter. Um maybe this is something Capeen Islands municipal leaders could talk you know uh discuss. >> Oh and with that um actually so Barnesville County Dredge did send a letter from themselves and they asked um the advisory committee to send letters
of their own. Our harbor masters sent a letter but um I don't know if an additional Cape Islands committee sent a letter but there are multiple letters that they're trying to get out. >> Yeah. The dreads advisory committee reached out to every town individually encouraging the harbor masters and or
any you know elected bodies town managers to send letters of support for the dread program. >> Shireen are you suggesting that we would send our own letter but also that maybe Kimla would consider >> I mean I know I mean Mark is the president of the organization also the
uh commissioners county commissioners and and he's been talking about this uh quite a bit too. So just a question of bringing it up tomorrow to see if uh you know the status of whether we have already or whether we should as a as a group. Um and then I think we need some
followup um um just putting you know uh not just a letter but followup to uh Senator Seir and uh Rep. Lety and also um uh EOED just just put some pressure on him. Did
you want to offer a motion to approve this letter with the addition of language? >> Yes, I move approval uh that we sign um that we uh have staff take it back and and make the adjusted changes and that we sign this letter. >> Okay. So, it wouldn't have to come back to us, >> right?
>> Stuart, you wanted to say something? >> Well, I'll second that. And um >> yeah, I just had a couple of uh questions. I guess the FAT report uh on the purchasing our own dredge um something that I'm not endorsing at the
moment uh but I I'm curious um given the significant increases in dredging costs associated with the county program and um and private dredge uh companies. I wonder if those numbers would change
the cost numbers. you know, it's maybe everything's relative, but um we're going to be faced, but what I read is there's going to be a lot of uh scrutiny over these funds, not only at the state level, if not cutting them, but at the
federal level. Um, and whether that may change the dynamic on uh a dredge, making it, you know, a little bit more uh readily available to us. Um, I understand we only dredge a few months.
That's not due to uh the lack of need. It's due to the cumbersome, redundant permitting process. Uh, so I didn't know if you had any thoughts on that. I think it's all relative unfortunately
and having to have when it comes to employing someone that has that expertise, you'd have want at least two employees that have the expertise of running a dredge. Yeah. >> Which is difficult to find. Um and then being able to have all the survey done.
So when the county dredge comes in, they have the expertise and the scheduling and understand the permits and do the dredging. They also do the pre and post surveys. They also um have the equipment on the beach so that when it's disposed on the beach, they are able to move the
sand around. Um so I believe all those costs are additional costs that you'd have to look into as well, >> right? Um >> and the maintenance on a dredge. >> Yeah. >> And storage of a dredge, >> you know, given the given some of your charts you had up here. Of
course, I'm familiar with them, but in the GE reports, but um it it dredging is not going to become less of an issue. It's an ongoing issue problem. Uh so just food for thought. Um the other
thing, the Bucks Creek uh dredging, well, we don't have dredging in Bucks Creek, but we're thinking about that. Uh that is improvement dredging as you mentioned, Greg. Has the CMR changed, do you know, on that where it's not permitted?
Improvement dredging in Massachusetts was not permitted. We got an exemption or some sort of an exemption for ministers point area, but I I think that that prohibition still exists elsewhere >> for uh uh ACC's.
>> Yeah. And that and so Bucks Creek is not an ACC. So theoretically, we'd be able to do that. >> Yep. So, it it's an uphill battle. It's not a a lost cause. >> Oh, no. Well, yeah. Good luck on that permitting. That'll be your retirement job. Um,
so the the last thing is um you know, the county bought a second dredge. They had a struggle uh finding, to your point, Katherine, uh uh crews qualified to run it. Not only run it,
but run it simultaneous to the first dredge. Um but as you correctly point out, it's the permitting that we all of these communities struggle with and um the Army Corps being the most
challenging. Um I'm wondering whether or not we chatted about this some years ago, the uh the county um dredge group made up of the different representatives, mainly harbor masters, I think. Um,
have you ever considered proposing that the county take on this permitting um for all of these community uh on the Cape? You know, we have a somewhat different shoreline and and issue than a lot of the communities in
Massachusetts. I mean, they didn't buy their own hydraulic dredge because, you know, a lot of it's rock. Um, so it it just seems to me that they would have collectively that they would have a little bit more maybe
influence or horsepower to to uh coordinate the permitting um on a more cohesive basis. as opposed to 15 individual, maybe not all 15 use a dredge, but a lot of communities vying
for the same dredge and vying for time frames. You know, they're doing the dredging. It seems to me they should inherit or we should at least look at the county inheriting the permitting of these projects. >> Were you at that meeting? Oh,
>> I think that was about five or six years ago. >> Yes, I was at that meeting. Uh but the the Cape Cod Commission was actually trying to work with uh the county dredge program to see if they could explore a way to to regionally handle the permitting and scheduling and
uh thought they would have a you know louder voice about the time of year restrictions and all those things. >> I don't think it came to pass certainly not at that time but that could be something that we bring up with them again. Yeah, it's it's something that I think would be useful to bring up with
uh either the county commissioner, county government or the Cape Cod Commission. I don't know which I'm not >> Cape Commission was exploring that at the time. >> Yeah. Um, it just seems like that would be a a worth, you know, worthwhile endeavor to at least look into it
because I can't think of a town on Cape Cod that would uh wouldn't be very enthusiastically giving up the permitting responsibility to to a to an extent. You know, we'd still be involved, but we'd have a much more centralized approach to this, similar to
the construction, the dredge people dredging the harbors. then uh then I will Thank you. >> Okay. So, we have a motion and it's been seconded and unless there's additional discussion, I'll call the role. This is on the letter. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead.
>> I did have one comment in your mind, didn't we? On the letter. Um so, great letter by the way. Um the only suggestion I would give is you you
certainly reference in in the letter uh the the public safety uh aspect of the importance of dredging. You may want to capitalize on that a little bit more and use the Coast Guard
um as a as a uh one of the reasons we're dredging. Um that was always handy and influential in the past. they seem to take notice to that. And um other than that, I think it's great news. >> Appreciate that. I I can't say for sure. I think our harbor master included that
in his letter, but you know, it could certainly be added to this one, too. >> Yeah. Great. Thank you. >> Well, we'll we'll make that an amendment to the motion. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, we'll call the uh role. Miss Davis. >> I. >> Mr. Dykins. >> I. >> Mr. Meadows. >> Hi, >> Mr. Smith. >> I chair votes I. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you. And next item is a discussion of public access to waterways. This was requested uh by board members Matters, Dykens, and Davis. And I guess it's the same team up
there. And I know we have the chair chair of the um waterways committee. Um Mr. Hosmer is in the audience if he cares to talk as well. >> So I'll ask the same question. Does the board want to um hear from the staff first? Okay, we'll do that. Go ahead.
Katherine Ricks, the coastal resilience director and with Greg, director of natural resources. So, discussion of public access to waterways. Sears road landing is one of the landings that didn't have a lot of parking and the parking used to be all just not marked
parallel by the roadside. So, we worked with DPW and put in probably in the spring put in these four angled spots where there used to be just two parallel spots. It's held up really well. These are composite markings that are anchored
into some sand. So, it's a natural sand that if it does get washed out, it's just washing out into where it would already be. Um, haven't had to have any maintenance yet. We might we're going to look at it in the spring after the winter storm, see if we need more maintenance, but so far it's held up really well. Um, there will additionally
be a um upcoming storm water project, but that will not impact or is not likely to impact these uh four spots. So, these are more angled spots. People can still use the parallel spots from that once these four are taken.
>> Where is the guard rail that was placed in relation to those spots? >> The road. >> Can you see it there? >> On the private property on the opposite side of the road. >> Is it there? Okay. >> And And when were those spaces put in? This summer?
>> I want to say it's spring. I want to say right about when I started. April, May. >> And how did it work out? terms of >> really gone well. I've gone out and checked on them within the last month or two and there's not much maintenance needed on it right now. Maybe a couple
shovel fulls of sand we could put in right now, but >> but in terms of the um ability to park, >> so now there's and I've seen a few people parking down there. So now we have those four spots where there used to just be two and I have seen people use those. >> Okay. >> We've gotten some very positive comments
just when we've been down at the state that people have appreciated it. >> Yeah. No, I I've used them and they're great. You did did a great job. >> Very good. >> So, Battlefield Landing is also one of the areas we've had some storm water issues. Previously, there have been some
stone trenches put in. As you drive down, you can see it's still continued to have some storm water runoff that would scour right next to the stairs there. So within just at the beginning of the summer, we had DPW put in a utrench. You can see right there in the
parking area with filled with stone. And since then, we really haven't seen any scour, very minimal scour at the stairs there. So we haven't had to go down and keep filling it in after storms. So it's handled a lot of it.
And with that, actually, I don't have pictures right now, but we've also done at Fisherman's Landing to Goose Pond recently. We had some someone kind of mention that the storm water was running off and scouring all the beach and all running right into the
pond. And we worked with DPW to put a couple more of these stone trenches in on your way down Fisherman's Landing. And it has reduced the runoff right into the pond. Um, the regulations have been around for a while to have people remove their
skiffs, dingies, kayaks, any personal watercraft that sits at the landings um throughout the summer, spring, fall. The regulations had um been said that you have to remove it November, I believe 30th, November 30th to April 1st. You're
not supposed to have any at the landings. It's supposed to be cleared off. Um, we put out additional signs this year letting people know that if they are left there inactive after November 30th, we will be removing them
or you will be fined. So, that is now going to be scheduled. Harbor Master's office is going to start going out there and removing any of the dinghys, skiffs, kayaks that are left out there. And as an example, here are some of the town
landings, Water Street West, Cowyard, and some others where multiple ones are left and they're just left on the beach or up on the marsh in the resource areas. So when we remove them or when the harbor master's office
removes them this over this winter, they will also be working with me and I will be working with conservation to permit and install new racks and new uh rails in order to kind of clean up and give more areas for people to store their
personal watercraft right at the town landings. And hopefully that will improve the resource areas and improve our town landings. >> When they are removed, where are they taken to? >> Stuart, you may want to >> I would say >> I would say the majority of the ones
that are left there have large holes in them. >> They went to the treatment plant. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Linda Maine, somebody bought hundreds of them. So, uh, Harbor Master will be cleaning up, you know, any of the illegally
placed, uh, dingies, gifts, and kayaks on town landings on public property, uh, not on private property. And if they're unable to contact the owner, like there's not information on there, uh, it'll probably be taken to the wastewater treatment facility for
storage. And then, you know, when people come back in spring and don't find them, we'll start getting calls. Okay. Catherine, I'm glad you mentioned racks because I think I don't know who decides how many racks go and where, but um I just noticed down at Ryder's Cove
Landing the other day when I pulled my boat out that there was a nice rack there. I didn't use it. I brought my skiff home, but but racks are a good idea. Uh well placed um near a landing and I think it would clean up the shoreline tour fairly well if we kind of supported their their inception
development and and placements. Do you guys make those decisions? the Harbor Master's office or >> so we're going to work with Harbor Master's office and conservation to be able to put more of those racks out. The racks over at Ryder's Cove typically are full and there's still some left on the beach. So, we're going to try at riders
to look at other areas or another way to create more storage there because there's definitely a lot of need for storage there. >> I think it's a really good idea and I think we ought to pursue it. Thanks, >> Stuart. Um the other I'm I'm sure you're working
with parks and recck because they have a similar regulation for the beaches. >> We have a meeting this week or no that's next. >> It might be next week but >> either this week or next week for all of the departments to get together to get our regulations all aligned on there
because their regulations aren't exactly the same right >> as the waterways ones. So yes, we are working towards having all the regulations the same. >> And um one thing and I'm I'm sure it's come up at meetings but for you folks if it hasn't and the public
we years ago we instituted a common launch at Little Milond. Um and you know this problem similar to the D this isn't going away and it's a struggle to kind of make it work. Um but
there are some remaining locations that you know it would take a change in uh uh you know the mindset maybe in the public to get used to it. But um everyone having their own dinghy or pram is
hugely problematic with such limited public space and the buying up of these coastal properties. The the new folks don't tend to like them. So uh a common launch might be something uh to and and
encouraging Mr. Hosmer but encouraging private businesses like the marinas and boatyards to expand their launch uh services. Maybe there's some, you know, help that we can provide in some way.
But, uh, this, uh, the racks are nice, but it would be nicer and more organized if they just weren't there, but we still had an ability for people to get to their boats. >> Definitely like that mentality. That's kind of where we're going with the racks and rails, trying to provide a carrot instead of a stick of a regulation. We
want it to be attractive and easy for people to do the right thing and take things off the resource and clean up. So, if there was a, you know, very easy shuttle that was affordable and convenient, I would imagine people would use that, too. It's just, you know, >> Yeah, >> I would think so. In some communities
down in uh southeastern Massachusetts, the harbor master has taken on some of that responsibility. The issue here is we got 30 town landings and, you know, harbors all over the place as opposed to there. They're more confined environment that they have to deal with. So, it just works a little
easier. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, Dick, did you have anything you wanted to add to this, Mr. Heiser? >> Okay, Jeff, >> we were undertaking a a formal survey of all the town landings. I just wonder where that is, where we are in terms of
progress. I know that kind of the parking at the coward issue a couple years ago prompted the need to really survey every one of our town landings to know what the town owns and what kind of access the public does have to all our landings. It's wonder where we are. >> Yeah. So um that draft survey was
brought to all the waterway committees and uh the information was provided in executive session because you know there were potentially discussions about eminent domain or other methods that you know warranted an executive session. Um after taking it to the various waterways
committees we summarized that information. We brought the chairs of these committees together and synthesized that. Uh, so we do kind of have a working list going through each and every town landing, what can and can't be done. Um, and so, you know,
some of the things that came up were as simple as trying to clean up the kayaks. Um, some of the other ones, you know, we're looking over by Port Fortune to see if we can, you know, make a more robust stair system, um, you know, in a
in a better spot. And so, you know, that might be something that if the board would like an executive session, we could, you know, bring the entire survey and talk about each one. But the committees have, I I believe, you know, been vested in our planning system and
we keep them reprised as we move forward. >> Good. Thank you. It sounds like you're making good progress. Shireen, >> thanks. Um Dean, one of the things and this is just a comment and I think that I had asked con had some concerns about and I'm not sure if the harbor master is
working on this or not, but it was Old Mill Boatyard and um the relationship with Stage Harbor uh yach club next door and the uh the the um onus of parking and access for the public when there's a riotta or classes
or whether uh the yach club itself is uh doing any uh pickup or drop uh protocol that would take stress off of our of our public parking down there. Um and I'm I'm not sure if we can get a status report or um start a conversation with
that unless you have something you can share. >> Yep. So, uh the the concern was noted in early spring. Um in fact, some of the waterway committees brought that to our attention as well. uh the harbor master and myself sat down with the uh staff of
the yach club and by all reports you know they've they've been much better this year. The town landing you know directly adjacent to the harbormaster workshop area uh that's in town intended for town landings not for employee
parking or to service the the yach club or other businesses around there. Um apparently things have been much better. It hasn't been overloaded, but if people notice and there are concerns, we could start that conversation again, but it was brought up at the beginning of the
season. >> Thank you. >> Okay, I think we've completed this particular item at this time. >> Thank you. >> Great update. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. >> Final item on the agenda is to consider a select board 2025 December holidays
for town employees. This was requested by board member Smith. Before I turn to you, Stuart, I neglected to mention something during the public announcement section. I'd like us to talk about this um during this agenda item, whether the select board um would want to have a
meeting on the 20 on the 30th of December. And we can explain um the issue behind that with the town manager when we get to that, but I'll turn to you Stuart first on the employee holiday. >> Sure. Thank you, Dean. Um, you know, I
sent a memo and um and to the to the select board and uh town managers followed up with that. Um, and um, I I I figured I'd just read the memo so public would. Um, as we approach the holiday season, I would like to
request that the select board join our neighbors in the town of Harwitch and declare the following dates as select board holidays treated as a declared holiday for staff at the town office and the annex, DPW, transfer station,
weather permitting, and other administrative staff at various loces within town government. This would apply to the harbor master and shellfish personnel as well. uh while maintaining appropriate uh recall status for those functions. Um the following dates would
apply to the select board staff holiday declaration. Wednesday, December 24th uh would be a half a day closing at noon. Uh Friday, December 26 would be a uh full day closure and uh Wednesday,
December 31st, half day, New Year's Eve, closing at 12:00 noon. It should be noted that the town of Harwood Select Board voted to close on Friday, January 2nd, uh in addition to the above times and dates due to the fact that both
Friday, December 26, and Friday, January 2nd fall on a uh fall after declared holidays for the first time in 11 years. Reasons for these closures include energy savings for town buildings during this low customer traffic days and most
importantly employee well-being and extending the holiday break, further employees morale, good health and enhancement of a positive positive, motivated and productive uh workforce and um uh I look forward to uh hopefully
getting the support of the select board. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Any discussion of Stuart's recommendation? Jill. >> Jill. >> Sure. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, um, in the staff report that I provided gets into some of the mechanics of each
collective bargaining agreement, what their holiday section is or um, item is for the number of holidays. And in Chadam, we don't have select board holidays designated in our collective bargaining agreements as does Haritch,
but it doesn't preclude the board from actually taking action. So, it's just something that we do negotiate. So, um, when we looked at it, uh, we I talked a little bit about each each unit. Um, we asked the the relative department heads
to provide us what they thought would be the fiscal impact of the closure. And I think that it's it's more uh apparent with public safety, police, and fire because they get paid holidays. And so, um, I asked, um, Chief Tavano to
actually cost it out and I'm sorry and with, um, Chief Anderson. And so, it's about 27,000 for police and fire employees, uh, of additional pay for, uh, that um, those closures. So, and then the transfer station, uh, presuming
that it is closed, it doesn't necessarily have a fiscal impact. Um it will require some additional staffing on Saturday after Christmas. So um which which is fine. And regardless, even if the transfer station were to stay open,
we're down three employees right now due to some injuries. And so we'd have to bring in someone from the highway department, whoever would volunteer to be available that day to work. So um I don't have any issue with it. I agree. Our employees are very hardworking and
um I would support this if the board's so inclined. >> Jill, what's do we know what the total and I support this, but what's the total fiscal in impact among all employees? No, we know it's 27,000 for police and fire. Do we roughly know what it might be?
>> I I wasn't able to to capture that yet. The collective bargaining agreements they and Rob Faley, our director of DPW is here. Uh in our last contract with CMEA, which is the the union that recognizes the DPW as well as all uh
town employees that are not public safety, they get paid. So it's not like they take an extra day off. So it's it's and that's a probably double time or two and a half time the their rate for the holidays for the
closure. So that two half days and the full day. And uh you indicate that because um this is not currently in the agreements, you would probably have a side letter agreement with all the unions. >> Yes. >> Accommodate this.
>> I would specify this applies to 2025. If the board wants to take action at any other time, we could do that. But their collective bargaining agreements lists the specific holidays. And then with the fire agreement, they actually get uh any uh additional high holiday that is
negotiated by another unit. >> What is the pleasure of the board, Corey? >> I I am beyond supportive of our staff. We have a lot of hardworking individuals who who run this community and our various departments inside, outside, you name it. Um and it's the holiday season
and I have no issue with granting this or or recommending it at all. >> Thank you, Jeff. >> Same here. Ditto. Uh it's welld deserved. Um it's it's it's cool to have it. I'll have half a day Wednesday, then Thursday, Friday. Um that the uh
transport station will be open Saturday though, Saturday and Sunday. So because it'll be especially for those folks that have young kids and have tons of stuff. But anyway, >> so they can bring Christmas stuff there on Saturday. All the wrapping paper stuff. Anyway, I'm I'm fully supportive. >> Okay. Any other comments? Shireen. Um
yeah, I'm I'm about quality of life when it comes to uh wellness of of our community and for employees and things and I'm fine and this is an anomaly, you know. Um so um if we can take adv if if it can be taken advantage of, we should
do it. Um I just don't think I'm going to hit the transfer station on Saturday. I think that what we need to do is make sure that the public understands that that will not be open the day after Christmas. >> Yeah. Yes. We'll have to make sure we get this in the main sheet. >> Yes. And there's plenty of time to do
that as well. >> Okay. >> Maybe in the Chronicle if that's possible >> if it's um if it if if Rob >> hate to give it to Rob, but u could we somehow or the town notify the haulers so they have so they just don't have to read it somewhere? >> Yes, most definitely. We can get that
out tomorrow. We can actually there's the the the reader board to the at the transfer station that we can employ to or deploy I should say to note that closure. >> Perfect. >> Well, I'm in agreement also. So, is there a motion? Stuart, did you want to make a motion?
>> Yeah, sure. Um uh a uh motion would be to approve the 2025 holiday schedule as follows. As I mentioned earlier, Wednesday, December 24th, half a day closing at noon. Uh
Friday, December 26, full day closure. and Wednesday, uh, December 31st, half day for New Year's Eve, closing at noon time. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. I call the role. Miss Davis, >> I. >> Mr. Dykins, >> hi. >> Mr. Meadows. >> Hi, >> Mr. Smith.
>> Uh, I chair both side. Thank you. Thank you, Steuart, for bringing this forward. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Jill, for supporting it. Um, so the last thing I wanted to put on the table, and Jill and I communicated about this today, was does the board want to have a meeting?
uh as scheduled currently on um December 30th. And Jill, do you want to explain the concern here? >> Sure. >> In terms of being able to prep for that meeting. >> Yes. So, with um some members of our leadership team having planned holiday planned vacations and with the new
holiday schedule, in order to get the reports and everything done and ready for the meeting on the 30th, we have to have it posted by noon on December 23rd. And so right now the only thing on that that's program is the town manager report which we can certainly uh move up
or back. And um the only thing I wanted else I wanted to check with was select board members matters. I wasn't sure if you were remote or you're not able to attend >> on the 30th because of the lovely schedules of JetBlue. I will probably be in the air at that moment.
>> Okay. >> So no. And if for some reason we needed to call the special meeting, we would certainly call it. But at this time, I would recommend that the the board decide not to have it or cancel it, however you want to move forward. >> Yeah, fully supportive of doing that.
>> I'm inclined to support it, too. >> I am, too. >> All right. So, I I don't think we need to take a vote. We will not have a meeting of Stuart. Did you okay with that? >> That's fine. >> We will not have a meeting on December 30th. Uh the the next meeting after that will be January 6th, I believe.
>> Yes. And our last meeting of the year will dece be December 23rd. And we certainly have busy agenda for both next week and the week after. >> All right. Okay. >> Motion to journ. Mr. Chairman, >> is there a second? >> I'll second it.
>> I was looking at the clock. Sorry. >> Miss I'll call the RO. Miss Davis. Hi. >> Mr. Dyken. Hi. Mr. Morris. Hi. Mr. Smith. Hi. >> Chair votes yes. And it is 7:16 p.m. Good night, Chadam.