down. Hey Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Happy evacuation day. Happy St. Patrick's Day. Welcome to the March 17th, 2026 meeting of the Chattam Select Board. Please note this meeting is being recorded and will be available shortly
hereafter for scheduled and on demand viewing on any smartphone or tablet device. If anyone else is recording the meeting, including the use of AI note-taking apps, please notify the chair. Seeing none, pursuant to Governor Healey's March 28th, 2025 signing of
chapter 2 of the acts of 2025, extending certain CO 19 measures adopted during the state of emergency suspending certain provisions of the open meeting law, general laws, chapter 38, section 20 until June 30th, 2027. This meeting of the Cadam Select Board is being conducted in person and via remote
participation. Every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings as provided for in the order. A reminder that persons who would like to listen to this meeting while in progress may do so by calling the phone number 158-945-4410
conference ID 203 386491 pound or join the meeting online via Microsoft Teams through the link in the posted agenda. While this is a live broadcast and simalcast on 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 order of business is to establish a quorum. Miss Davis >> present. >> Mr. Dykins present. >> Mr. Matter is present. >> Mr. Smith >> present.
>> And the chair is present. Uh we have uh no minutes this evening. Um, next item would be public announcements and agenda item requests. Are there any from the board? Any from the public? Don't see any, >> Mr. Chair.
>> Yes. Oh, I'm sorry. You have Forgive me. >> Just a reminder to the public that the second installment of the FY 2026 real estate and personal property taxes will be released next week, the week of March 23rd, and they're due by 400 pm on May
1st. Thank you, Jill. Um, we have no public hearing and no consent agenda. So, the next item will be um public comments on the business agenda. Uh, you can make them now or contemporaneously with each item. I don't see anyone, so
we'll proceed. First item is to consider seasonal liquor license renewals. Uh, and I will turn to um Shauna and Neilie. >> Yes. Good evening. Shauna Neily acting as your licensing agent. It's time again
for the seasonal liquor license renewals and I'm very happy to report for I think it's the third year in a row that everyone has put their fees in, put their applications in, everyone's up to date on taxes and utility bills. So, there are no conditional approvals
required tonight. >> Uh Sean, I had one question on the all alcohol. The last item is the Chattam cut. Now, they have closed and they're for sale. So what's the status of their all alcohol license? >> So as liquor licenses are assets of the
business um they have renewed for the coming year. It would be an asset when it is transferred or sold. >> Okay. So this would be somewhat similar to what happened on Coral Road with branches where that license was held for a while. We extended it I think for a period of time. >> I believe they will operate if they haven't sold.
>> Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. >> Any questions or is there a motion? >> Mr. Chairman, I move approval of the uh renewals of the seasonal liquor license as recommended. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. I'll call the role. Miss Davis. Hi. >> Mr. Dy. >> Hi. >> Mr. Matters. Hi. >> Mr. Smith.
>> I. >> And the chair votes eye. They're approved. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Shauna. Next, uh we have a number of uh 2026 annual town meeting articles for review and to vote and to place and recommend. Um, I'm going to
take um out of order uh with the permission of the planning uh board uh folks um two petitions uh two citizen petitions submitted by Mr. Seth Taylor um at his request. The first is a citizen petition article to reduce the
tax deferred interest rate. Seth, welcome. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, member of the boards. I'll be quite brief. We had some considerable discussion about um what we could be doing to help our um more
vulnerable taxpayers and residents of the town previously and I had uh told you at that time that I would be bringing a couple of more petition items before the town this this year. Um these two articles are can really be seen as
companion articles. Uh historically the trouble that everybody got into was that 16% uh interest rate that was being charged against tax title accounts. And it it's pretty easy to see that if uh an
individual that that was short on money got into a bump in the road. I mean a relatively small bump in the road uh and they got behind with that 16% interest rate. They could never catch up because all of the money they tried to pay against their taxes went against
interest first. Plus, they had the New Year's taxes piling on top of them. And pretty soon was conceivable for them to easily be staring at a high five figure demand of back taxes, which is very much a reality. And as you know that there
are um examples in current day. What we can never know is how many of our historic families uh members of historic families were chased out of family homes historically because they saw their equity going down the tube and they had
no alternative but to sell the property at fire sale prices and move to a trailer in Florida. Um I I I know that Corey and certainly Shireen know people as I do that that that has happened to. um these two
bills which I call or articles that I call companion articles. The first one um and I don't know how they are listed in your agenda is to reduce the taxdeerred
lean interest rate in chapter 59. um lowincome senior citizens are allowed to defer any taxes that they can't pay up to half of the value of the property
if and um the article addresses the specific language of a law that allows us at town meeting to reduce that interest to any number. I've chosen to reduce it or asked the town to reduce it
to 0.5% 510 or 1%. Because I just don't see that the town's in the business of, you know, uh being a credit card uh company trying to profit from the
difficulties that people may have. The companion bill to it, I call it a companion article, is asking uh voters to approve uh a request of a special act of the legislature. uh because that's the only way I see
that we can lawfully take these horrendous tax title um accounts that still exist today and roll them into a tax deferred account
for eligible low-income seniors. And if we combine that with the reduced rate of interest and the people that are currently under threat of both of these uh sorts of leans, the tax deferred lean
and the tax title lean, which we have people that are facing both. If we turn it into one and or the legislature allows us to turn it into one and we treat that under the rules of the tax deferred
status with the reduced 0.5% rate of interest, people that are doing the best they can to get caught up on their taxes are going to have a chance to probably catch up on their taxes. Also, if you think into the future, if we have young people that don't qualify for tax
deferral, but they're a family that's working hard and wants to stay in town and they get behind and because they're not old enough yet to qualify for the deferred tax benefits of chapter 59 and they do fall into tax title, when they
get to the age where they qualify for deferred tax benefits, I would see us being able to roll that over and again give them a chance to get back on top. What this does when you take the two together
um absolutely and to a lesser extent individually they give our lowincome individuals who are having a hard time meet their tax rates. We're not making them leave their home because their equity is going down the drain. We're giving them the
opportunity to meet a payment plan that interest won't drive them away from. So they would have the choice of I want to stay. I want to stay in my family home. I want to stay in my ancestral home. I can make an arrangement with a tax
collector that that I can catch up to because I'm only paying 510 or 1%. And that's what I want to do. At the same time, they can still do what they've been forced to do previously, which is to realize they better sell right away because their equity is going out the
window. But right now, that's what they have to do, unless they're incredibly stubborn and just aren't going to leave home because it means so much to them. We have we have a couple of those as as you're well aware. I I just don't think we should be chasing people out of town if we don't have to. And I see this as
right in line with what we're trying to do with um affordable housing to try to make the town as affordable as we can for people who can't afford to be here. And I'm talking about people that are already here. That's really all I have to say unless
you have some specific questions. >> So So Seth, let me just ask um on the interest rate. I know you were here before on these and um so the statutory interest rate right now for this is what? 8%. 8% statuto >> they reduced it from 16 or whatever it was right 12
>> tax title was 16 November 2024 it reduced to eight but when you've been paying 16% for >> 15 to 20 years >> you you have a massive debt >> I I would like to believe Dean that if
we got the special act of the legislature passed that we would clean up the past injustices with the opportunity hopefully that we never had to face that again. >> Yeah. >> But the opportunity to deal with it in
the likelihood that uh a non senior citizen got behind on their taxes and they couldn't avail themselves of the tax deferred program and the the tax collector had to put him into tax title. that as soon as they reached the age um
they would be able to roll it over and stay in their home if that's what they chose. Or if they chose to to take the you know the the sell price and move to a trailer in Florida, they could still do that, but they wouldn't be forced to.
>> So So um I mean historically the legislature imposed a higher tax rate on these because they didn't want to encourage tax delinquency. obviously his that's the reason they had these high rates. Um I I I my recollection is that when you first brought this forward we
were looking at what other towns locally may have done and I thought like one of the outer Cape towns maybe more than one has had brought it down to 4%. Is that Do we have information on what other towns are doing? I I didn't I didn't research other towns. Uh Dean, quite
honestly, I I didn't see us in a position where we had to be making a profit off of these folks. Um because I think the number of people that are going to qualify is dimminimous. >> And and I I don't I just don't see us
wanting to to to add any level of pain onto people that we don't need to. If they chose to stay in their home and they're paying off as best they can and reducing their tax debt as much as they can by the time they die and the
property has to be um dealt with either because it goes to an heir, the tax debt has to get cleaned up and we're going to get all of our principal back and 510 of a percent. We're not losing money when they're not paying the taxes. It's just
a paper loss anyway. It's not any dollars going in or out. >> So, I I'm just thinking let let's do what we can to help those few people that this really has an enormous impact on >> in the companion uh on the companion
petition. Uh is that something that you crafted? Have you seen this anywhere else? >> No, I crafted that. >> Okay. Um I I believe honestly that this current administration um Governor Healey and the legislature
that's currently sitting uh on Beacon Hill um this is the same legislature that tried to clean up um chapter 60 and brought the interest rate from 16% down to 8%. I think there is a huge appetite
um on Beacon Hill and at the state level to try to find creative ways to stop hurting um the the most vulnerable of the people that we have living in the state. and and I have to believe um that
there would be an enormous appetite for a special act and and it might be something that jogs them into taking um universal action statewide uh to to create this opportunity because I just see it as something that can only
benefit uh the most vulnerable people we have on our tax roles. >> Okay. Any any other questions or comments from the board? >> Jeff, >> do you want a recommendation on on Well, they're they're going on they're on the warrant as their petition articles. Let's take them separately. Uh our
recommendation uh is either for or against it. We can't modify it. >> Correct. >> Um it could be modified on the floor of town meeting obviously, but um yeah, go ahead. >> So I move to recommend the petition um seeking uh let's see a reduction to 0.5%
of the annual interest rate against outstanding tax deferred accounts. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion on it? Uh Stuart? Uh I don't nothing no real questions. Um I want to thank you Seth for bringing this forward. This is
long overdue and um certainly will go towards what we're trying to do which is help the folks that live here and are trying to stay here. So um I'll I'll be in support of this. >> I don't see any public comment on this. So we have a motion that that is uh has
been seconded to recommend uh this first item. I'll call the role. Miss Davis. I >> Mr. Dy. >> Hi, >> Mr. Meadows. Hi, >> Mr. Smith. >> I >> and the chair votes I. >> Um, okay. So, the next um petition article is for the consolidation of the
tax, title, and text of verdict as Mr. Chair. >> I move to recommend. >> Second. >> Moved. It's been moved and seconded. I'll call the role. Miss Davis. I >> Mr. Dykins. >> Hi. >> Mr. Matter. Hi. >> Mr. Smith. >> Hi. >> Chair votes. >> Um, thank you very much. >> Thank you, Seth. >> Thank you.
>> Well done. Uh, next item, we'll go back to the regular agenda is the zoning bylaw amendment on accessory drawing units and there's a proposed bylaw. This had been referred by us to the planning board for public hearing. Uh, they were pres they
presented to the um finance committee today and got a unanimous vote of endorsement. And uh so we'll welcome Art Sprew, the chair of the planning board and um Cindia uh OGrady, got it right right our planning director.
>> I am Christine O'Grady. I'm here with Art Sprew like we had said. Um I know that many of you have already seen this presentation. So um I know that it hasn't been long since you had seen the presentation. Um, so I am prepared to either present a
shortened revised version of the presentation to you tonight or I can present the last few slides which highlight the changes that the planning board made at the public hearing and then um in answers to some questions that the finance committee asked today.
So you can tell me how to proceed. >> Okay, we're going to go with the with the revised version. So, I'd like to just start by telling you um basically ADU, you all know what the ADU is. You know that we've had them here in town since 2019. Um one of the things I want
to point out, we have confirmed that this is a simple majority vote. And the reason for this is because of um uh the um some housing uh initiatives that were that were proposed before at the state level. Um, so now I'm going to just take
you to I'm sorry, slide number seven. So what I want to go over here is that um at the public hearing on March 9th, the planning board made some determinations. And so one of the things what they they they definitely limited
the number of ADUs to one per lot. Um and these are going to be done by right which is required. Um there is no option for a special permit. Um they did not increase the statemandated n uh 900 square ft um maximum limit for the use. So it
could either be one half the the gross floor area of the primary unit or 900 square f feet, whichever is less. So they've kept that in check. Um, the third thing that they did was under the short-term rentals, and this is one of
the main concerns of the planning board, they added some language, um, after the end of the short-term rental thing that was in your bylaw before, is in order to address the town's needs for year- round housing, an ADU shall be actively rented
and or leased on a year round basis until such time as an ADU no longer meets the definition of an accessory dwelling unit as defined in section two of this protective bylaw, a one-year waiver may be granted for ADUs that are
unable to be rented due to the need for repairs or unforeseen circumstances. The reason this came about was because um members of the community development staff had sat in on a presentation with the um housing and livable communities
group and um this had come up as an option. This was something that was uh brought forward in East Ham last year um and it was approved by the attorney general's office. So, we felt this was the best way in order to move forward with helping to control the um the
short-term rentals or from being built from ADUs. The um the last thing that the planning board um made a determination on on at the public hearing was that the ZBA will have the discretion to allow um dimensional
relief for ADUs where appropriate. Um differences. I know that people asked about the differences that had occurred between the 2019, the 2022 version and now and um basically some of these things are required because of the state
and some of them again um the guidance that we received. So all ADUs will be allowed by right that is something that has changed. Um there is no limit on the number of units that can be built, permitted, constructed or leased in
town. In the past, you had um a limit of 10 of 10 units. There are no limits on the number of bedrooms or people within the bedrooms. That being said, the building commissioner and title five things play into that and those that's where those determinations will be made.
Um another item was that um the planning board had had always required one additional parking space. And so one of the things that can't happen here is that if they are within a half mile radius of a of a transit station and a
transit station is a basically any place where you embark on the bus. Um then they can't require a space at all in those cases. There's no minimum lot size at this point and um these units will not be conduct uh counted in any density
calculations moving forward. Um, some of the questions that were asked today at the finance committee meeting were about the number of units that we have in in the town right now. So, as of 2019 when you put an ADU bylaw
into effect, you had one permitted by a special permit and one by right. Since the regulations took effect in 2025, at the state level, the state regulation, which now supersedes your 2019 um bylaw, there have been three permitted and one
has been completed. So, one has been completed or built. Um after the planning board proposed this bylaw change, there are two currently under under um negotiation or being permitted at this time. Um, they also asked some
questions just as a side note about short-term rentals. So, we went back through the numbers. There are approximately 1,000 short-term rentals here in town. Again, don't get them confused with ADUs. Just keep in mind you have about a thousand and they are tracked or permitted at the local level
and again at the state level. Um, any enforcement with regard to those again is done through the building department and the board of health. Um and then the new online permitting system that we are starting to implement um in town right
now it is with the building department um we do flag any permitted ADUs that come about. So we do have notification of that within the system. It's with internal. So um staff does see those and kind of keep an eye on some of those other things. Um,
again, I would just point out to you that the um the recommendation or the report that you received today in your packets in the um article bylaw presented before you do take into account these items that I have I have addressed tonight. Um, so you have have
all of this material as part of your um as part of your package. And I would say um the only thing now is that we're requesting that you um recommend this bylaw at town meeting. I don't know if you have any questions for Art or
myself, but >> Art, did Thank you, Christine. Art, did you have anything you'd like to say? >> Uh just some simple um and it's a clarification. This is uh separate from the seasonal community piece. It applies the uh ADU law that was passed by the
legislature applies to all 351 uh cities and towns in Massachusetts. So, nobody's exempt from that. What we're recommending here is some slight modifications that are more appropriate or if we feel is uh what what um our
community uh would like to adopt. Um, I I think the one provision that we put in there after the short-term rental is uh reason enough just alone to uh vote in support of of the bylaw. >> Thank you. Um, any questions or comments
from board? >> Yes, Jeff. >> I move to support. I move to recommend I move to place. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Before you do that, I just wanted to point out I think it's a typo on
under the use schedule in the packet item paragraph number four the third line satisfactory I think should read satisfactory should be the adverb. Do you see that?
>> I'm sorry. Can you say that again? >> It's in the the actual bylaw amendment on under >> paragraph C the use schedule. Yeah. >> Uh, paragraph number four, the first word satisfactory.
>> Oh, okay. >> Should be satisfactoryy. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um, so we have a um um motion that's been seconded. Any just debate Steuart?
>> I just more of a question I guess. Um I generally support the ADU concept the but your addition uh or yeah your addition that we were supplied with
uh requires the ADU to be rented to and leased on a year- round basis. such time the ADU no longer meets the definition of uh a one-year waiver may be granted for ADUs that are unable to be rented due to the
need for repairs or unforeseen circumstances. What is what I mean is there an example of an unforeseen circumstance? Um, so this language again, we took it from the Eastam bylaw because we knew that it
had been um approved by the attorney general's office. Um, unforeseen unforeseen circumstances, you know, a storm. It could be >> a fire. It could be a a failed septic system. It could be several different items that are they're unforeseen. They
happen. It would prevent you from actually continuing to operate in >> but it might not but it might not be a repair or require a repair. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. What what So would the uh owner's inability to rent
the ADU to a year round uh folks? Would that be an unforeseen I mean what if they're unable to rent these? I mean, we're requiring them to be rented to year round, folks. I get that. Okay. But what if they can't?
>> Katie, it would it I would imagine that they'd just be like any other rental. You they're on unoccupied then. >> No, it's Well, >> I uh Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I could, uh Katie Dunovan, um director of
community development and assistant town manager. Um I wanted to mention that the existing 2019 bylaw also had a provision similar to this. Um we did take that into account understanding that they may
not be able to be rented and because of that there was um we had noted that it would be worked through with the building commissioner. somebody could call the building commissioner, tell them that they're not able to rent um and at a point in time
we would um just ask them for verification of that process. So that was that was how we dealt with it 2019 bylaw. So this is very similar language or a similar requirement to what we had back then. >> Yeah. Yeah, I mean it it it in the uh first sentence it says an ADU shall be
actively rented and or leased on a year shall be actively and you're saying that if they're not able to rent it, they're able to get some sort of a waiver from the from the building commissioner >> and that yes, that's that's how again how we dealt with it previously. We
haven't had that happen at this point in time. Well, we have we don't have many many ADUs, but >> so I I can't say but we did we did understand that there may be issues where somebody can't you know they may go three or four months without finding somebody to be able to rent and that we shouldn't be penalizing people for that
>> and because that's not included here that that provision that that relief valve is is is allowed for unless it's somewhere else in the bylaw that I'm not familiar with and you know should should it also
include a sentence to say uh you know if you're unable to rent it then the building commissioner will make a determination as to whether you gave it >> part part of the relief uh that is set up previously if you didn't have it
rented a after a period of time then you had to remove it there's no requirement that it has to be removed uh underneath the current law >> that's somewhat draconian to to to to remove an ADU if you don't use it so That's probably that's the way the
previous bylaw was written. >> Yeah, that's like our uh Yeah. Okay. That's like the animal control bylaw last week. So, um I mean, you know, I I like the intent of this, but uh I also would like to give some
assurance to the people who are going to invest in this. Hey, if you can't rent it and you do your due diligence in in trying to do so, then um then then you'll have some sort of a relief or waiver from the for some period of time
from the from the building commissioner because this this is somewhat says you have to do it period. >> Is it the building commissioner that grants the waiver or is it the zoning board? >> It had been under the previous bylaw. So, I would I would assume that that's the way we would go,
>> right? the the ZBA is dimensional uh requirements and that's that's the only provision that they have in >> right >> because everything else is by right. >> Stuart had a question pending. I mean I interrupted but I had a followup but
>> uh well that was my you know I know it's kind of on the spot but is there a uh is is there an appetite for that? Is there a seems to me because it's so specific that you have to do this but
we're also verbally saying however if something happens uh you know you can get a waiver from the building commissioner for some you know I I'd certainly feel a lot more comfortable with and people probably on town meeting floor would feel a lot more comfortable with that provision.
>> So that's what I was going to say to you. We could potentially put something together and then bring it at town meeting floor. There's nothing we can do right now um since the the planning board has held their public hearing, but we can put some language together and then propose it at that point.
>> Is that something you'd be interested in? >> I I would be open to that. Sure. And I think our board members would be also. >> Okay, great. What can you do in the instance where they can't rent it year round, but they're surreptitiously having a
short-term rental? Is that is there someone that's going to check that? I know our short-term rentals are registered. Is there sort of some cross-checking between departments? I mean, I'm not saying change your bylaw here. I just >> So, so currently the the building
commissioner works very closely with our short-term rental inspector. Um, and I do think that if we were made aware that it was being rented on a um a short-term basis, then we would take any other enforcement similar to any other zoning action.
>> Okay. And there's enough enforcement mechanisms elsewhere in zoning to to make that happen because enforcement always is a >> Yes, there's actually a section in our zoning bylaw related to enforcement. So, I think that would be >> that is that is strict enough that people would be deferred or deterred from doing that sort of thing
>> whether or not $ fine is that I hope >> we have we would have well up to in the bylaw we um we're allowed to fine up to $300 a day. So um you know certainly there is teeth in the um enforcement section of the bylaw. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? Otherwise I'll call
the role on the motion to place. >> Okay. Miss Davis. >> Hi. >> Mr. Dikkins. >> Hi. >> Mr. Matters. >> Hi. >> Mr. Smith. >> I. >> Chair votes. Is there a motion to recommend? >> Move to recommend. Mr. Chairman >> second. >> Moved and seconded to recommend. Any discussion? Seeing none, call the role. Miss Davis. Hi.
>> Mr. Dikkins. >> Hi. >> Mr. Matters. Hi. >> Mr. Smith. >> Hi. >> Chair votes.ai. Is place and recommended. Thank you very much for the concise presentation. >> I will take this uh to our board to discuss and see what we can offer at >> We appreciate the the the great work of the >> comments,
>> great work of the um planning department and and the board. Um, next we have some budget transfers for storm related expenses and um, our finance director Carrie Mazero will present this. >> Hi, good evening. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Um, so, um, I don't have a I don't have a presentation. Um, but as you guys are all aware, we had quite a few storms this year, um, and snow and ice. um
related issues. Um so um this is a budget transfer for uh the annual town meeting um to cover our snow and ice deficit. Um it's currently in the um 28,000 in the deficit. We appropriated
95,000 for FY26. Um and then also we had the um blizzard in February um which um there was estimated uh costs of around $300,000
for that. Um so this would come from 100,000 to cover the snow and ice from insurance budget and then um 110 from debt service and 300,000 from debt service to cover the blizzard expenses.
Um, let's see. Um, as you guys are all aware, um, I'm sure that you know that when we submit to FEMA, we submit in increments. And so we submitted our IDA, which was for
$300,000 to them, which is the initial damage assessment. Um, and then you have to, um, meet a threshold for the county. Um the county threshold is like 1.1 million that you have to make and meet
and then you have to also um meet a threshold for the whole state which is around $13 million. Um we won't know if we'll get the FEMA reimbursements. It could be a while before we get them. And because we have the funds available now in our budget
instead of raising and appropriating our, you know, the costs for snow and ice, it would be prudent that we cover the costs with the money, the funds that we have available. >> Thank you, Carrie. Uh, I notice in the motion on the um article, I think
there's a line missing. Um, second line, the first line ends abruptly. It says available funds for the and then the next line begins to meet. >> Oh, okay. >> Something missing. Want to take care of that before it's put in the warrant.
>> Um, absolutely. Any questions to Carrie? >> Um, or comments, Steuart. >> I had a couple of >> um and and we had I had actually called Carrie earlier, but it might be helpful for the public, I think, to digest this.
the 75% carry um if we get reimbursed um that let's say when we get reimbursed either a portion thereof or all of it >> um what happens to that money uh
>> so it will get deposited to the general fund >> to the general fund >> um which is separate from free cash >> correct well it just go into our revenues yeah that year whenever if we do receive of our 75%.
They go through a whole process to see what's eligible and what's not eligible and whatever we receive will go into um the general general fund revenue line. >> And anything above what we anticipate for our revenues for that year will get
close to free cash. And that's how that kind of works. >> I'm sorry. Anything >> anything above what we've estimated for our revenues that we're going to take in for our budget usually gets closed out to our undesated fund balance >> which is the free cash.
>> Mhm. >> Okay. Um Okay. Well, discussion for another day, I guess. Um and the the the the 25% the town is responsible for. >> Correct.
>> Uh the state doesn't share that. >> Nope. >> Shocker. Um and um could you just help me with um maybe some of the details that are uh in
the first page of the memo? um the 300,000. Um these costs in included extended snow and ice operations. Well, that's certainly understandable. Uh equipment usage.
I'm not sure what that is, but in any event, materials overtime. Well, the overtime I get. Do you have any other details that might be >> So, um yeah. So, um, we have, um, when we track for our FEMA, uh, expenses, we
have a spreadsheet that everybody was using. So, it's a, um, combined effort with DPW, fire, police, natural resources, and everybody kind of used a spreadsheet and we all entered um, the expenses that they incurred. So, um,
fire was tracking their overtime. So, their um overtime costs estimated was $29,826. Police overtime was $1,989,000. Um the DPW cost for snow removal costs
was 71 almost 72,000. And then we had debris removal of 160,000. Um and then there were some other um uh costs for um damages to a generator that
incurred um the warming center costs. Um then there was also um cost to refuel the generators while we were up um and running on generator. And then also there was um some vehicle damage to vehicles during the storm. And there was
also um NAV aids that um were got lost I guess during the storm. That's those are the um the ones that they purchase every year for the $20,000. >> Um okay. Well, thank you. It certainly
glad we're adding to our snow and ice next year. >> Yeah. >> Um Yes. >> Hopefully we won't have another year like this, but I mean that it's an expensive endanger. It's over half a million dollars. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. All right. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Questions or is there a
motion to place? >> Motion to place. >> And a second. >> Moved and seconded to place. Any discussion? >> If not, I'll call the role. Miss Davis. >> Hi. >> Mr. Dyer. >> Hi. >> Mr. Meadows. >> Hi. >> Mr. Smith. >> Hi. >> Jes. Is there a motion to recommend? >> Motion to recommend
>> and a second >> and moved and seconded. Now call the role. Miss Davis. >> Hi. >> Mr. Dyken. >> Hi. >> Mr. Mats. Hi. >> Mr. Smith. >> Hi. >> Chair votes. I >> thank you carry. Thank you very much. >> The next item is um
acceptance of the request from the estate of Priscilla Ford for the property at 63 George Ryder Road. This is continued from March 10th, 2026. When we left it last time, town council was to um revise the language somewhat in the um
article, which she has done. Um and I'll turn to Gloria McFersonen to present this. Gloria, welcome. >> Hi everyone. Hi. Um, town council edited the language. Um, the request was made by the select
to ensure that the language was broad enough that it would accomplish um any of the three options that were listed um in the warrant article in the staff report. There was option A, B, and C. A to retain the property, B to sell the pro property with a deed restriction for
affordability, and option C was to um sell the property without a restriction um but use the proceeds from that sale for affordable housing purposes. And originally that was the option that wasn't quite um reflected in the
original language. And so town council has updated the language. Um I'm sure you have it in front of you. If you'd like, I can share my screen, too. Um or if you have any questions, >> would you please put it up on the screen because I had a question um about a deletion that town council made.
>> Um >> okay. >> Can you see that? >> Yeah, I can. Before I go to that, uh, on the fiscal impact, um, you referenced the, um, tax owed to the town in in the amount of about $10,000, but it's also
referred to as a tax and utility debt. What do we do? You know what we mean by utility debt? So, I added that in because when I received the breakdown, it actually showed current taxes, the back taxes that are in tax title, and also some
utility fees, which I'm assuming are sewer, uh maybe not sew water, water bills, water charges. Okay. So, uh, looking at the screen, um, town council struck the sentence, which is right in the middle after his new language said bequest to be accepted with the
provision that the property be held and dedicated to use by the town for such affordable housing purposes as the select board shall deem to be in the town's interest. Now, uh, he struck that. I'm just trying to avoid ambiguity in the future, uh, so we don't have, you know, a repeat
of 127 Old Harbor Road. Um I suspect uh he's looking at the mo town council was looking at the motion which says I move that the town vote to accept the bequest and instruct the SE select board to carry out its provisions as described in
the article and the article does above in the underlined language talk about the alternatives but I wonder if there is any sentiment to rein reinserting that that sentence. I don't think it interferes with the um intent
of the of town council's changes, but I I defer to the rest of the board for comment on this. I I have not run this by town council and town manager has any comment on it or assistant town manager or Gloria >> story. I'm sorry.
>> Um that's right. Um, yeah. I mean, I I I would I'd be more comfortable with that sentence staying >> for and you know, we we asked for this addition, but I don't remember asking to delete anything, but um I'd just be more comfortable with it back in
>> as would I. >> It can always be stricken at town meeting on the floor if town council thinks it doesn't belong in there. >> Glory, do you have any comment on this? Um, I
I mean, in my opinion, I would like to see it there because it specifically references what the will says, which is um that the select board gets to deem what's appropriate for affordable housing purposes for the site. Um, that said, I think that it was probably
stricken because it may be a little bit repetitive. >> Yeah, I think that's >> but I don't see a problem with leaving it in. >> Yeah, I think that's what he probably had in mind. All right. I would propose we keep it in. Is there a motion to place this article? >> I'll make a motion to place. >> Second.
>> Moved and seconded. Any discussion, Corey? >> Yeah, we had a little bit of discussion of you don't mind. Yeah. >> Um just, you know, this is kind of the chance to put, you know, put on things on the record. Um first of all, I think I think Pat Ford putting this forward. I thank her very much for being for, you know, willing, you know, she approached
the town years back um with this idea. Um and I and I very much appreciate her, you know, giving us this opportunity to to accept the gift. Uh I really hope I really hope the town um backs favorably at town meeting because I think it's even with a small, you know,
encumbrances of the of fees um is well worth um accepting this. Um just want to put on the record, you know, my my philosophical and my interpretation of the gift is does not include what we refer to as option C. you know, I I
don't think the selling of the property was the intent, but I also admit that the language and the will um isn't crystal clear that could, you know, sway that one way or another. That's just my own personal position on that. Some people share it, some people don't share
it, which is fine. I understand the majority of the board looking for options. I can respect that. I guess my question becomes um town meeting hopefully is favorable upon us. what happens to that property falls under whose jurisdiction
because my you know and I mentioned this previous um once we become the owners of that property I would assume one of the first things we're going to have to address is the letter of of interest that has been presented on this property whether we want to accept it or not or further you
know whatever um whose jurisdiction is that going to fall under and what is the process because if we do accept it and we decide to entertain the sale of it, then what is the process from there? I would assume it's not one of those things where we're going to have to declare
surplus inventory. I'm assuming it's going to have another mechanism, another process um path. So, I'm just looking for some clarification. I I fully support this action. I just want to understand what the next steps will likely be so we we we don't go back and say, "Well, that wasn't what our
intent was." I just want to be clear from the ground where we're where we're heading with this. >> Yeah. I my my response is that I think it would fall under the jurisdiction of the select board and I think if the select board then wants to turn it over to the um turn over control to the
affordable housing trust it would require a vote from us but I mean I don't speak as town council but that's my my impression. Shireen, you were first and then >> Yeah. I just want to make sure in the process that we don't lose sight that this is a a property that's going to
need some um some care to it to shore it up and to close it up and to keep an eye on it. and that um when we've in the past when the affordable housing trust had um purchased property over in CL
road, you know, it was implied that the town would have, you know, would be looking after it or facilities would be looking after it, but I I'm almost thinking that there needs to be some sort of dedication of of like intent and we I talked to Jill when it came down to
the property on Crow Road or anything that the affordable housing trust might go forward with that that we would take it out of pocket to have somebody be like the the maintenance person or somebody who was going to oversee the property when it was closed. We don't want to see what's happened to 127
um happened here. >> Um as we get sort of bogged down impossible, you know, deliberation on what what is the best use for this. But I I just want to make sure that it's an older home and that it does, you know, that it's that, you know, the pipes
don't burst or or something doesn't happen. >> I think any property that is not specifically assigned to another department falls under the jurisdiction of the select. Okay. whether we would have to take those uh votes that you talked about Curry I don't know the answer to that question but if it falls
into if town meeting accepts this falls into our jurisdiction then I think uh in after after the annual town meeting the select board working with the town manager could address your um question
and concern Shireen but Jill wanted to say something >> yes I agree and then if it is ultimately transferred to the affordable housing trust Because just recall there's there's no funding appropriated with this article. It's just the acceptance, but it could be um transferred the interest and and the affordable housing
trust would have the means to fund it. But yes, it would fall under Yeah. under the the select board until you decide what you want to do with it. >> So we might want to immediately transfer to the affordable housing trust because they have the money y >> to maintain it. >> Gloria, any comments before we
um do we have a motion? Comment. Yeah, Jeff, I'm sorry. >> Yeah, no, that's okay. I agree. I agree that it should be under the purview of the select board, especially if we're going to abide by um the language that's in the will, which has been stricken, which I think ought we ought to reinsert. Um and I think lessons are
learned from 127 and that we deal with the property. Should town meeting approved to accept the the gift, I think we deal it with it straightforward and get on it right away. Thank you. >> I can't remember whether we had a motion. Motion accepted. Okay. So, all right. This is the motion to place this
article. I'll call the role. Uh, Miss Davis, I >> Mr. Dikkins. >> Hi. >> Mr. Matters. >> I. >> Mr. Smith. >> I. >> The chair votes. I Is there a motion to recommend? >> Motion to recommend. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded to recommend. No discussion. Miss Davis. >> Hi, >> Mr. Dykins. Hi. >> Mr. Meadow. >> Hi,
>> Mr. Smith. >> I chair votes. I >> Mr. Chair, I can grab my mic. So, with the presumption that the language that was stricken is placed backing, we voted in to keep the stricken language. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next, we have a cit citizen petition
article submitted by Christopher Ray uh calling for a new bylaw regulatory analysis. Mr. Ray, this was presented at the finance committee today. Uh they conditionally conditionally um No, this wasn't conditionally. They they approved
it 7 to two. Welcome. Cool. Uh, so I just wanted to thank Stuart for the comedy gold earlier, which is what are the unforeseen circumstances? That was pretty good. I like that.
Um, so the um article uh is in your hands and uh the idea is to present in situations where things don't have to go through the town meeting.
uh just some understanding of where things are coming from. Uh the the the inspiration for it was uh the office for the management of the budget, the federal group. Uh theirs is kind of as
you would imagine quite heavy because they deal with major agencies. But the idea is that you should just well there are three basic elements to any kind of regulatory analysis. What's the need? Uh what are the options
and how do the options weigh up against the the conclusions? Uh so um I think it's a good thing. I think it's just practical and actually I've got Dean to thank for this earlier on because he came on the finance
committee and he he made some issues about this is our right to make this choice. We don't have to explain ourselves. And I I thought about that. I was kind of going well there's two phases
to everything. One is making up your own mind why you want to do something. And then there's the second thing which is do I have the power to do it? And I don't dispute for a moment that you guys have the power to do certain
things. But I do think it's just a courtesy to anyone who's listening to explain why you think that's a good idea. And this is an open town with open town
meeting. And and I just think it's it's it's a fair and reasonable thing to ask that that's explained and in slightly
more detail than supporting struggling residents. So that's the purpose of the um of the article. Uh, and I'm happy to take questions. >> Thank you. I'm going to um kind of repeat what I said today at the finance
committee and with with and I say it respectfully. I I understand the intent of your article and I certainly hope would hope that this body and any body that has the right to do something and is elected to make those decisions would explain why they're doing it um uh to
those that elect them. Um, but I did I do have a a problem with this. Um, and I'm going to read in a moment from something town council sent. Um, you're you're asking for a the article
asks for a bylaw that basically directs the select board on how, in my opinion, it deliberates. is supposed to deliberate on an item that has on a matter that has been entrusted to the select board
exclusively by the state legislature. And the underlying issue, the underlying subject is the residential tax exemption. I can't think of another example. Someone asked me today and I I don't know of another one, but we have a state law that says to the select board,
you have the right to create this tax exemption. There's no qualification or condition expressed in it. Under the town charter and under provisions of state law, historically the select board is the
executive authority of the town. The town meeting is a coordinate branch of town government. They're not the bosses of the select board. Um they can make bylaws, but the bylaws have to be consistent with the charter and with
state laws. So, I I I really think there's a legitimate question as to whether this bylaw isn't an encroachment on the authority of the select board. Um, and I've and all the time I've been on the board, I've been very jealous of
that authority. Um, and I'm looking ahead to future select boards. It's probably never going to affect me and probably no one else on this board um um in years to come. So, um the the
article before you got your signatures was submitted to town council and um he says this and you've seen this uh because it was addressed to you. Uh he says um
uh in furtherance of well it was addressed to Kathy and she forwarded to you. Uh in furtherance of the below dialogue, I am following up with respect to the most recent draft bylaw. In my opinion, it is problematic for three main reasons. The first is that its implementation of a three-part process
every time the select board considers implementation of a statute is simply unworkable. The select board consider implementation of hundreds of statutes per year and and requiring such a process in every instance would be a significant obstacle to the function of municipal governance.
Second, because each statute has to be reviewed in accordance with its own language governing implementation, it is conceivable that the three-part process would be inconsistent with, delay, or frustrate implementation or otherwise infringe on the authority of the select board. Third, relatedly, statutes that
require select board acceptance provide independent discretion to the select board, and I am concerned that the proposed bylaw frustrates and infringes upon that independence. That's kind of the point I'm I was trying to make. Um the town manager referred this yesterday
to um to a town council because this was submitted to you before you got your signatures and >> uh she asked whether the opinion still stands and he wrote we just saw this I saw this after the finance committee meeting. Um he
responded and said yes I adhere to that opinion and as I have also mentioned the use of the term local option is not defined and excessively broad. I am very wary about having to implement this cumbersome process every time the select board every time the select board considers whether to implement a
statute. I wanted to get that out on the record. You had not seen that paragraph. Um so anyway, those are my thoughts on it. I indicated I was, you know, not going to vote to recommend it, but it'll be up to town meeting if it's passed. Uh
it goes to the attorney general uh for approval. And I think that helped sway some of the votes on the finance committee if I read them correctly. But anyway, I'll open it to conversation at the board. >> Jeff, >> thank you, Mr. Chairman. U welcome, Mr.
Ray. Nice to see you again. You know, I'm going to I'm going to read a little statement that I've written um kind of summarizing my thoughts. Um I find this petition in and of itself to be nettlesome and bothersome. Um I believe your petition stems from your
dissatisfaction with the residential tax exemption position um currently supported by the select board 3 to2 in favor. Underlying its genesis is a thinly veiled assumption that the select board has not considered, and you use the words qualitative or quantitative
data or in so many words has not performed its due diligence in some measure in taking his position on the residential tax exemption and therefore needs a formal bylaw to so accomplish. Every year when we set the tax rate at the tax classification hearing typically
held in September, the CH select board considers the impact of a bifurcated tax rate. I've done so for 12 years. I've been on the board for 13 years and I've voted for a non- differentiated tax rate for 12 of those years. I thought that doing otherwise would
cause drive divisiveness divisiveness in the community. But this year, uh, I've indicated that I'm going to change my vote. And I I want you to hear why. And I want other folks to hear why. Our year-round residents are increasingly challenged and incredibly challenged to
maintain their households and what has become one of the wealthiest communities on the Cape. These residents have small businesses, bluecollar workers, service workers, fishermen, fisherwoman, and professionals. They send their children to our local schools with overwhelming
seasonal market forces driving up the cost of land and buildings coupled with the attractiveness of short-term rentals and the plethora of short-term rentals, a thousand of which the prospects of gaining a year-round foothold in our town by our young people
have either entirely vanished or diminished marketkedly. COVID 19 in fact only served to exacerbate these macro trends. So for those residents who have managed to gain a foothold here in our own home and own a home in our beautiful
town, I'm willing to do my part to make it just a bit more affordable and attractive for them to perhaps stay here and raise their families to attempt to level the playing field in just a little bit. The residential tax exemption is just one mechanism granted to a select
board to accomplish just that. It is meant to reduce property taxes for full-time year-round residents whose home is in Chadam and it is their legal doicile. Our finance and assessing staff have performed extensive analyses of the impact of the adoption of the
residential tax exemption. This was not done without due diligence and a basis for for an understanding. And indeed, the select board has moved to modify their position because of their excellent input. As an example for folks listening, a
year-round homeowner, assuming the 20% exemption currently being proposed and a home assessed at $900,000 would save approximately $1,000 on their property taxes. For many, the represents a welcome and a
material savings. For many, that is a welcome and material savings, $1,000. Our overall tax rate, by the way, will still remain one of the lowest on the Cape, even with the adoption of our residential tax exemption. I also question the legality of of the
legality of your of your position that proposes to amend our bylaws. Not only has the Massachusetts General Court given authority to the select board via Mass General law, but has also recently reaffirmed that authority and increased the percentage available to the select
board in its consideration of the residential tax exemption via its passage of the Cenal community the seasonal communities act. Should this petition be passed by town meeting and I hope that it is not, it will need to receive approval by the Mass Massachusetts attorney general. In
my opinion, your petition overreaches when you include a right of review and a mandate for finance committee review by a town meeting bylaw being inserted into a process that the select board has by right via state statute two times over
has the right. In conclusion, I do not support your petition and I take issue with your inference that such a bylaw is even needed because of your perception of a lack of due diligence on the part of this select board. Thank you very much.
>> I I've allowed you Jeff to expand beyond the subject of the petition to go into that because on the agenda tonight is Mr. Bray's agenda item request. It's paragraph D. I was going to ask if we wanted to take that up while you were still here, but we might as well get
into that, but this is a review and analysis. Can I just read what it is? >> I can break in here that that was never intended to be on the agenda for tonight. >> Oh, well, it was a it was uh on the list of items. >> I saw I saw that before I got there. >> That was something I submitted in
October. >> Are you withdrawing that for >> for your Well, you know, >> do you want to respond? I >> I think >> they put it on. Can I explain? I put it on the agenda because it was on the list and I'm trying to honor your request. That's I'll just read what it is. So for the public, it's been a review and
analysis of factors causing the implementation of a residential tax exemption citizen agenda request by Christopher Ray October 14th. But go ahead. >> So So the the purpose of that was was what it was at the time. I suggest that
probably the right time to do that now is after the finance committee have produced their report and and and presented their analysis. Um but there's no new information that would require that to be an agenda item
right now, but I think it is it's still absolutely valid. Uh and and I hope that when the finance committee present their stuff that you will be moved by it. Well, they're doing they're doing a aition.
>> They they've created a subcommittee. Is that the report you're talking about? >> Yeah. No, exactly. Exactly right. >> They're looking they've got their own article which we placed last week. >> No, that's right. >> To um for a year's delay. Any >> Shireen? >> Yeah. I I just want to weigh in just a little bit on this, Mr. A. And only
because um you know, we're we're the board of selectmen and we're elected by the town's people. We're the ones that have to put ourselves out there and make hard decisions for the community and and face the consequences of our actions. Either
people can vote us off, people can vote other people in. That's what happens. The finance committee's sole role is to approve a budget. And there's been a lot of work that the finance committee has done outside of that purview in working groups and whatnot. But we're the policy
makers and they approve the budget or they approve the budget that we present to them actually. Is that how that works? So I I think this is overreaching and it's unnecessary. And I agree with um Jeff in it analysis
of why we've done this. I we've spent I think I've spent my career as a select board member thinking in terms of what actions what policies are we making in this town that affect the year- round residents on a daily basis. That's where
my thoughts though that's where I have my work has been and I've thankfully have a board that has listened to a lot of the ideas that have come forth from the community. And so I'm not going to support this as a recommendation at all and you probably knew that already. Um
but I just wanted to make that clear. >> So my thoughts are Thank you. >> Matters. No, I'm going to make a comment very simple. I mean I've been on the board since 2015. Um this board works very diligently. Um sometimes we agree, sometimes we don't agree, but we I I'm
very I'm very comfortable with the process that we've put in place, the reviews we take, the analysis. um this I understand your sentiment and I can I can respect you bringing this forward um but it's not something that I can support. I I really hope meeting um
doesn't support it. Um because I do think what we have in place right now and have had place since you know the 2015 since I've been on the board um is is is inappropriate. Um and and we have produced um I think uh solid
representation for the community. uh and you know again we don't always agree on things but I think we we do a very good job collectively uh representing the you know the v various interests of the town to the best of our ability. So Stuart
>> uh question and then a comment. Did did I did the uh finance committee um have the legal opinion prior to making their vote taking? >> No. Um they they were they asked whether there was a legal opinion at that point.
Um, I was aware of the the um longer version that I read to a moment ago and I told them there had been a an opinion a review done by legal counsel or Cath uh Carrie related that to them
at I spoke with Carrie when they asked the question and said that there had been a legal review done by council um on the draft article before the signatures were obtained but the content of that opinion was not disclosed. I was asked if I had any comment. I was
present. I'm liazison to the finance committee and um I did get up and made the same points that I made. I did not reference a legal opinion uh by anybody. So they didn't have it. Frankly, I don't think it would have mattered to them. I Let me say something if I might.
>> Sure. It's not directed at you, but I I want to follow up on something Shireen said, and it's going to make some people on the finance committee unhappy, but the finance committee has the responsibility to weigh in on articles
that go to town meeting. And our finance committee is not limited to financial articles. They can talk about any articles um including petition articles. Um, and there's a fine line between doing that
and becoming a shadow board of selectman. And um, they shouldn't be doing the latter. I'll just leave that. Stuart, the floor is yours. >> Those of us who remember pre-charter, they were the shadow board of select
>> and we and we and we select select board and we we we changed that in 199 whatever five. Um so I share your thoughts on that and um you know I I I ran on uh bunch of issues. This is one
of them. Um that uh this this is not a charity statute. This is a equity. This is trying to level the playing field and enable the people that are being forced out of this community to stay here. And if there's another statute that does it and it's a reasonable one, I'll support
that one too. Um, so, uh, I'm, you know, I've been on and on about this in the past. I', I've supported it before I was on this board, so I'll I won't support this, uh, petition. I'm just going to add that as a member of this board who has never supported
the presidential tax exemption, I want to say that you cannot that no one I'm not saying you you Christopher, but no one can make a reasonable inference that this board did not do an analysis. It may not be the type of analysis that's called for
in this article. It may not include have included everything. And we we saw recently that there there was a gap on the issue of trusts. >> Unfortunately, there's some new guidance from the revenue division, the revenue department on that, but um I say that in
in in in defense of the select board and its deliberations on this, but I just really wanted to get that out. So um anyway, did you have anything more you wanted to say? You're probably not surprised at anything. >> I'm not. But, you know, I do think you
need to look at the renting situation. So, the people who are really struggling in this town are likely to be renters. They've they've tried to come here. They're trying to get a job here. They they're, you know, they're they're the
struggling ones. And there is legislation out there that will support them or actually will support their landlords in a way that don't encourage them to beef up the rents to cover this extra
property tax. And I've this I've just literally got through from our senator sir and you you have just walked past this. You've walked past every bit of
legislation that has means testing or all the things that are associated with giving support to the people that need it. And I, you know, to be brutally honest,
I think you you you think the select board have done a good job. I think the fact that we've already had the trust issue, the the overlay issue tells me that the select board have done a pretty
appalling job. >> I brought up the overlay issue when this was discussed I think at the second meeting in September, October. I brought it up. >> So, so why did you get into that situation? Why did you walk into that situation?
You had the whole year >> against it, Chris. Chris, I >> I know I I completely understand and I support you and I certainly support Corey, >> but you know to pretend that this has been a kind of process.
>> Here's the thing. >> I don't I don't report to the to to town meeting. I don't answer to town meeting. I don't report to the finance committee. I report to the people who voted voted me in. They can vote me out. They can recall me. This is the point Shireen was
making earlier. So, I I I'm up here and I make the best decisions I can and and some people like what I what I decide on, some people don't. I didn't agree with the majority of the board when they voted the RCE, but I I can't I don't think it's fair. And I heard comment at
the finance committee today essentially trashing the select board for not doing due diligence. And and I think it was unfair. >> But you didn't. Well, it may not have been as complete or as detailed as your as your calling for it.
>> It didn't It ignored the trust issue. How could you do that? >> Well, the trust issue has been discussed in in previous years. I've brought it up in the past, too. So, I mean, seriously, seriously, you cannot pretend that this
has been a a smooth and carefully considered process. And I Jeffrey, I completely support the idea of supporting everyone in the town that needs support, but I'm pretty sure that no one on this board needs support,
but they're all going to be getting it. Well, the the solution is not to mandate this type of analysis. the town meeting could adopt a resolution requesting but it wouldn't be binding on the select board that this type of analysis be
done. I just I don't want town meeting and I don't think town meeting has the right to tell me how I should deliberate on this board. That's all that's >> No, I get I and I completely get that. I don't want town meeting to appine on
whether you should mandate stuff and this. I just think that normal people who walk the street would feel obliged to explain themselves when they do something that affects a lot of people
especially when it affects money. >> Well, I I'll let others speak for themselves. I think people have explained themselves. I believe I've explained myself on and on and on and on why I make the decisions I make on this board and it is for a lot of reasons
about local people and how they stay here. And so for somebody to say I'm not doing my due diligence is it's just not right. >> So what would you say to the renter? What would you say to the renter in challen who whose landlord is is going
to is going to push up? I I don't want you know I've been out before. You know what? I think we're getting off topic, but I will say, you know, when we considered this, one of the things that I brought forward was a lease to local program, you know, and we have
we are creating specific things and specific tools to address a lot of concerns. We're not going to be perfect with everything. That's not possible in a when you're when you're taking care of a a town with 6,000 people in it. It's
just not possible. But >> Senator Seir has just written to me telling me about a process by which landlords can be exempted from from from property tax as a result of renting to
local people to people. So So you cannot tell me that you have exercised due diligence because it's nonsense. Well, we actually have an article that Shireen proposed that's going on the warrant and there are other ways of dealing with this problem. I I mentioned
a couple of them up here. I I think the tax committee purview should be extended to in to to include need-based support, not just in cases of disability or elderly situations, which is what's called for now. That would require a
home rule petition. I could I would think that was and I've suggested that the finance committee could subgroup consider that. I've I've spoken uh with um um Chair Daniels about that. But anyway, um I I there's um Did you want
to speak, Brian? >> You had your hand up. You don't have to. >> Do you want me to do whatever? >> Yeah. Brian Phillips, 374 Road. Um, I did hear the finance committee's uh, you
know, opinions about renters loud and clear and um, I'm putting forward a home uh, rule petition uh, to give uh, tax uh, breaks to people that rent to year round. I think it's going to go great handinhand with lease to locals. Um, and
it um, and I just copied it from Orleans. It's not like I thought of this or anything. Um, and Mr. Dyken signed it. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> There you go. All right. It's in it's in MGL right now. You can adopt it. >> Mr. Chairman, I move approval of the petition.
>> Okay. I think unless >> I recommend recommend the petition. >> Okay. >> I recommend >> it's on the article. >> I know it is second to the motion to recommend. >> Well, you should >> Well, we have to take a make it in the affirmative. The motion
>> motion's in the affirmative. Right. That's this way. First of all, I'll second for the process. There you go. I'm going to ask. Do you have one last comment? Mr. Ray? >> No. No. No. I'll set my >> Okay. Any other comments? Hearing none, I'll call the role. Mr. Davis, >> no. >> Mr. Dyken? >> No. >> Mr. Meadows?
>> No. >> Mr. Smith? >> No. >> And the chair votes no. So, it's zero to five. That'll be our recommendation. Thank you. >> Um, and we will we will excise from the list your other your original request,
M. Mr. um Mr. Ray. Um, next, um, we have a discussion of the preliminary order of articles and the select board speaker assignments. So, Jill, turn that over to you. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, as we had
discussed, uh, we plan to ask the select board to close the more next week. That's on March 24th. So, I don't really see any new articles coming that are sponsored uh by staff other than um if there's another petition article or two
that comes in. And so, I wanted the board to start to think about the ordering of the warrant so we can get started with that and if you're comfortable after that if we could start to think about assigning motion by so not the speakers of the se by the select
board but who would offer the motion. So, we have it pretty much set up. Um, as you will see, the first 20 or so articles are all financial. Um, you'll see that the the regular ones including the fixed salary for elected
officials, consolidated revolving funds are also with included within that first 20. And and if you look on the second page too, couple of more capital articles, an article for dredging um child care voucher program and then our
other postemployment uh transfer for um from free cash. So those are all financial articles. Um then after article 32 uh we get into some of the acceptance um
home rule petitions lease to locals and then the block of community preservation um projects and administrative budget uh appropriations. After that, we have the zoning bylaw amendment um an easement
through uh for Boston Gas Company, our local options and including uh the implementation of a residential exemption delay that's sponsored by the finance committee. And then the last block of articles that we have here are the citizen petition articles.
So if you have any thoughts, we're happy to accept. >> And we have we got a new an additional citizen petition article today >> on water >> conservation and wells. >> Yes. And so that will be scheduled for your next your select board meeting next
week including we get another one in before uh that will be >> okay. >> And if not if we don't receive it in time it will go on the warrant and then you can vote a recommendation at town meeting or sometime before that. So, um, I'll just say, and I I think we've discussed this in the past, we can spend
all the time we want ordering these things, but we have found in the past when we get to town meeting, inevitably somebody goes up to the moderator and says, "We would like to take this out of order and move this up, and it doesn't take much to affectuate that, but we we
should submit it in whatever order we wanted." Uh I took a look at the list and um I was wanted to suggest because we're gonna we're looking to to see who was going to present on these um and um one in particular jumps out at me and
that's the center for active living. Ordinarily since I've been the um liaison to council on aging and I would think of myself as doing that but Stuart you were on the working group that came forward with this and I would suggest that you might want to be the one to I'd
be happy to speak to that. Um, I'd like to I I think I should probably speak on the um fixing the salaries. Um, I may have a few things to say about that. Um, and since I presented that um and uh
I I just leave it um open now for discussion about how you might want to handle this. Anybody want to step forward? Jeff? >> Well, the the chair usually does the operating budget. >> Yeah. >> You're not. So, I think Dean, you do that one. And I love doing the monoade
ones. Um, the monomering operating budget. And >> I don't mind doing the water. We can just sort of >> have a conversation here. I don't mind doing the water budget. I probably should do that as the chair. Um,
>> I think for the rest of them, Dean, if you just want to >> like just go through the role >> alphabetically. alphabetically except for >> CFL and and Jill do that. >> Yeah. Uh but I there's a couple I'd like to go ahead as well. >> Um so I'm I'd like to do the community
housing appropriation for stepping stones, the home rule petition for um year-round housing occupancy and the lease to locals. Otherwise, I will take whatever comes my way. >> So that's um number 32 and
>> 34. 4 and 35. >> 35. >> Okay. >> We will have a a consent calendar. >> I assume meeting with the moderator, the town manager, the chair of the select board, and this and finance committee chair.
>> Yes, we have our premeating. Typically the moderator looks for articles that have unanimous support by both the fincom and the select board or other regular reoccurring articles but not necessarily anything with high fin high
funding amounts. >> There are like 14 articles from CPC. I would hope that some of those could go on a consent calendar. >> I think some of you asked for a vote too. >> Yeah. Um, any other comments on the order or
who should be the speakers otherwise we would just go alphabetically. >> Give me whatever. I'm happy to >> Okay. >> tackle whatever. >> All right, >> Mr. Chair. So, we we typically go in order of chair, vice chair, clerk. Do you prefer to go alphabetically?
>> No, we'll do we'll do it that way. >> Okay. >> And then if if we need to, we can bring it back next week, but I think we're pretty good. So, >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right, we'll go on to the the last item, which is a re um discussion of a
potential academic research collaborative at Writers Cove, Woods Hole East. Um this is an agenda item requested by me. I'm happy to say it took me 10 months to put something on the agenda that I requested. >> Um
>> and Jeff, so I want to just say a little background before I turn to uh staff on this. Um the idea of the idea is to have to en in uh invite encourage an academic
or research institution to come into Chadam and open um a small research facility. We think we're uniquely positioned um geographically, environmentally uh for for something like that. And a
lot of universities in this country and other institutions have been doing this and the idea occurred to me in in collaboration in a conversation I had with a citizen, a resident of the town
um named John Cullen who's a very prominent businessman. Um we were having um a conversation over a cup of coffee some years ago back in 2018 as a matter of fact on at Old Harbor Road. Uh and um
we talked about possibly interesting the town in doing this. And uh we then invited um Steven Daniel into the conversation and and then I spoke with the town manager
and um we had a small group of uh staff and Shireen joined in that effort. >> Yeah, I believe we had some conversations prior to the the joining. >> Yeah, you and I did. You and I had conversations >> and um
we we had uh formulated some ideas and we actually had serious interest uh from uh one particular institution and then co hit and this has been sort of um in the on the back burner since
then and Jeff had um advanced the idea of something similar calling it Woods Hole East. Um we're not talking about a huge institution. Uh may but it would bring some employment and uh we have um
a a building um that is now being used for storage um at Ryder's Cove, the the old powerhouse. And uh so uh we wanted to bring this forward and my thought is that uh we
would um formalize a process that would be open and public um by designating uh a part a a working group. I think it the core group should be the same people. Um we may want to have an advisory group at
some point. Uh but those are my thoughts on it and and this could also lead to conferences in Chadam by institutions or organizations that have an interest in
coastal resiliency or environmental protection or whatever. Uh so that's the background. I'm going to ask Jeff if you want to say anything and then we'll go to Katie Donovan. >> May I also add after Jeff? >> Sure. Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you D. that this this idea has been one that's it genesis was
precoid um and it's one that excites me um I think it could lead to um a greater just a um a real neat approach to um partnering with an academic institution. Bowden has done it, Nor Eastern has done
it. a whole bunch of and Chadam in my in my thoughts is the perfect petri dish for for this type of approach for um study of coastal resilience working with our climate and action uh committee,
climate energy and climate action committee to work with our schools uh to tie in with our schools. um it could result in employment opportunities. Um and I think it would provide um just a really neat uh diverse
addition uh to our town. It would should tie in with Maronei as well. So I think there's a really neat way that a STEM approach could um could really impact the quality of life in the town. I think it would be it's very exciting to be honest with you and I think we're the
we're the perfect place. Perfect place. Anyway, >> thank you. I'm gonna turn to Shireen. You were an integral part of the >> Thank you, Dean. Recognizing that um we did have um uh we did gather up some
folks that came um precoid and we had representations from the science community and the marine community um who did some um um presentations to the people that we invited. we had a really robust sort of uh conversations and in
that um we were really optimistic that something would happen but of course as you had said Dina it was co that happened but I think for Chadam um we're in really good position to uh be a regional hub for coastal marine science
and research and um so I've always been a proponent of attracting an academic institute to come here um some of the things that we have in assets sets and probably Greg you're going to speak to this and I'm but um you know we have the commercial fishing industry um there and
um we have existing collaborations already with Noah um with national marine fishery service um partnerships with fishermen and NOS's and scientists are already existing here as well as um ongoing coastal resilience
projects marsh projects that are going on and the maronei itself with the with the um powerhouse. I think it would be a unique lab scenario for a a satellite um that uh could be either a hub for stationing or even just for research.
But the other piece to that is the Maronei itself has data and technology and it could be a great partnership for that organization. um we have probably we're uniquely we're uniquely positioned because we have these assets and we are basically
with the coastal um dynamics are as Dr. Bob would say we we are we we could be somebody's PhD um if they came here and they studied. uh we've got a working waterfront as I said the existing partnerships
um and um I just wanted to say that I know that presently um in pooling some of who has been working here already in the town um we've seen uh with whole oceanographic
UMass Dartmouth Smass University of Massachusetts Amherst BU MITC grant URI, University of New Hampshire and UN University of Maine. And those are just the ones that I know that are working with some of the people that I know. Um,
some of the funding opportunities that I see that could be instrumental in on the federal level is, you know, Noah Crant has a lot of money that is that well, they offer uh money for research and development as does foundational pro
programs. um the climate adaption and resilient grants from Noah are really uh EPA um coastal zone the blue economy all these all these are just out there. Um so one
of the things that I see for us is this is just this could be like a it could be a real hallmark for the town and I wouldn't you know Woods Hole East is a is an idea. However, I think it >> it it No, I think it's a realism. I
really do. I think it's the infrastructure. We have the infrastructure. We already have the relationships. We have ongoing efforts by a committee that would get together and start to invite other universities here. This is all things that could be a real positive
for the town of Chattam. And I'd be, you know, this would be one of the things that I think would be a shining shining moment for us. So, um I know I'm getting off the board, but I would be happily considered to stay on this working group. Um if I was so asked, um but I
really feel that if we develop something like this, we'd be in advancing coastal science and um we'd be in position of being a leader in in some of the work that could be done around that. >> Thank you. And I appreciate all that
background and I uh I'm glad to hear you say you'd like to stay involved in this. I do want to mention you mentioned Dr. Duncinson um because we we did have some staff people in addition to the town manager. Um the lead >> Katie as well >> lead was Katie Donovan and and Dr.
Duncinson and I think that's everyone that in the group. Um >> I don't know if I missed anybody but um >> Oh, and I'm sorry Dr. Seldon. Florence Seldon. >> Florence Seldon was involved. Yes. Yes.
And and then um um um when Greg Burman was was hired, we got to meet with with him before he was actually actually started on the job. And I remember Greg I said brought this
up to Greg and um he is uniquely qualified I think to help in this project. So, with that, I'm just going to ask Katie Donovan um and Greg um I guess Katie will go first and to talk a little bit about this and then we can
decide what we want to do. >> Sure. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. Again, Katie Dunovan. So, staff at this point in time is again looking for direction. Um you know, if there's a working group put together, certainly I believe that it'll be Greg and I along with the town manager. um
that would be working with the group. Um some of the questions that we had asked previously um I went back and looked at our 2019 presentation that we had done to the then board of selectmen. Um the questions that we had asked which I think that we have answers to um but
just to to reconfirm is you know the commitment what is the commitment level of the town toward developing such a relationship or relationships with um academic organizations. what assets, including physical and/or monetary, is the town willing to offer a potential
partner um and to commit to creating a vision for the future um here in the town. For physical needs, how long of a commitment is the town willing to consider? And would the board be willing um and if yes, to what extent to enter a public private partnership to host a
regular symposium or conference? Um, and I think that we had talked about that briefly um, as something that that could potentially happen in the future depending on who the partners may be. Um, so I think um, Greg had worked on a staff report talking specifically about
um, more about the powerhouse. Um, but I also wanted to mention that one of the other assets that we find over at um, the MCI property. >> Just one second. We're not sure we're still broadcasting. >> Oh, okay.
Don't waste all this. >> All right, >> we'll suspend for a moment. >> Okay, >> I know. >> Yeah, you should know the times. >> Did we pay our license fees? We have to let it cycle through it.
>> Okay. We we'll um but we'll go into recess for until this is resolved. Thank you. We're in recess. >> It's 79. 7:09. >> 7:08. >> Now it's 709. >> Kathy has it.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think uh before we were interrupted, I think I was discussing um questions that we had posed to the board back in 2019. Um I think I had gotten through two of them, but I think so just to round it out, um talking
about physical aspical assets and how long of a commitment the town's willing to consider and also um if the board is willing and to what extent to enter into a public private partnership to host a regular symposium or conference. Um and that I think is something that we had
talked about potentially doing but but further down the road. Um, Greg um had noted in the staff report about the powerhouse, but I also wanted to mention um one of the other assets that we had looked at was the second floor of the U
Maronei property, uh the old hotel. Um and there's some um unused space up there that um we could potentially be looking at as well. Um so I don't want to lose sight of that. Um, so as I mentioned when I first started, I think that staff and I'd like to let Greg
speak as well, but I'd like to I think from a staff perspective, we're just looking for some direction. Um, I think that, you know, once the group is formalized and working back together, I think that we can reach out to some of the um, institutions that we had been
speaking to previously and then perhaps include others as well. So, if you don't mind if I >> Yeah, I just want to say the questions you ask, I think those are questions that the working group could could tackle early on and I don't know I don't know that we are in a position to answer
those questions tonight. But >> anyway, Greg, >> great. >> Thank you, Katie. >> Thank you, Dean. And I I do remember that conversation that we had back when I was wondering if I was going to be objected to as your new director of natural resources. Um, and I I have kept
track of that goal of the select board as it's, you know, been passed down. I'm relatively new to the game, but you know, like you've said, Cadam is a jewel. It's unique. It's fascinating. You know, this is one of the things that attracted me to Chattam. Uh, just the
the amazing opportunities to learn and work with coastal resilience, with fisheries. There's not many fish beers around. Um, since I've been here, you know, I've reached back out to some former colleagues. Uh, right now Woods
Oceanographic Institution has some test tide gauges that they've put out monitoring next to some of the Noah stations. Uh, working with the Harbor Master crew. We now have a wave buoy that just got in this week. That'll look forward to that in the monthly report. But that's some amazing data coming in.
working with some of the coastal res resilience people over at Hillie and with the county. Um hopefully this will be a network of instruments. So whether it's a you know a test bed for instruments or more of a um you know ivory tower look at how we work with the
social science dealing with people in coastal resilience whether it's a look at interacting with fisheries. I mean there's there's a lot of opportunities in this you know fairly unique and desirable location. >> Thank you. And I would just add that
some of these universities despite the federal cutbacks and research are fairly aggressive and well positioned to to move in this direction. I'm going to just bring it back to the board. My my hope is that we can as a board formalize the creation of
a working group which would I I would submit should be the same people that were on before. Um we had a recent meeting at staff level when we talked about the possibility of adding on um an advisory group and there might be other people in town who might want to assist
in this whole process but anyway Stuart >> who was on that group >> it was in addition to myself it was Shireen Steven Daniel Jill John Colin um and
um it was Bob Duncin so I would expect Greg and Katie Donovan and Florence of course is no longer with us. >> Yes. And so we Florence was representing I believe Fincom at the time. We had two members from Vinc. >> That's right. We had two members of the Fin. But anyway, that's was
>> Yeah. I mean a couple of members from uh I think we had probably four on the CFL group I think were helpful >> above and beyond the town staff. Um I thought I think there was a lot of good input. So anyway, reaching out into the
community. There's a lot of talent here as we're interviewing for committee people. There's some I think there's people that could serve on that working group that would uh that would add to it. Um I >> did you want to suggest a name for from the working group? >> Well, they'll send me hate mail if I
mention their name, but uh no, let me let me I I can get back to you on that. But um >> you know there's uh if if it's going to involve you know renovating buildings and things like or adding buildings you know. >> What do you mean?
>> Well there's certainly contractors and builders out there that could help with that sort of land type >> land use people uh maybe uh some of our surveyors uh things of things like that. I you know this this discussion this goes back decades
uh this goes back when we were uh uh deciding >> yeah and during the dredging uh meetings uh that goes really far back and then when and then when we were talking about making the brick houses uh uh homes for
for folks um it goes back to that. So this and it was always a university type. Um I I think it's really exciting. I think that there are challenges that are going to come up and that relate to infrastructure. Our
>> wateride facilities are very limited. Um so that you would you know that our our harbor is difficult to get in and out of and navigate. So, all of which can be addressed, but they're they're they're going to need to be uh to be dealt with in some way. Um, but no, I think it's a
if if we could attract a university or some scientific coastal >> uh that's the group up in Province Town, coastal studies, you know, those, you know, those are >> no reason no reason that we should be on, but I mean on a broader sense than than what we have now. Um, I think would
be very exciting. >> Sure. >> I think there's two tracks here. Obviously, there's the concept piece and then there the as Stuart said the infrastructure piece. So, so which would all result in like what I'm I would hope we would look at what are what would benefit the town.
>> Yeah. >> Um >> uh you know as far as uh who would come here and what what that benefit would be especially when it comes to um some of the marsh restoration and also the coastal resiliency issues. Those would be like I think maybe the working group
would want to do a top priority list >> and then that would attract not just have somebody come. I mean we've had people that came last time and they were like we want to work on robotics and and that was really cool an idea. There is some robotics work going on in town
presently with um I'll come to me soon but >> be some federal funding for that. >> Well, there's always going to be some sort of funding that's going to happen but there's a lot of different things. It just I think what we have to look at is infrastructure defining it figuring
out is it housing is it just a lab is what would be needed um and also that space issue around moorings and all that but also if it's a marine science-based thing but um also you know what what would be really good for the town you
know as far as what would we want to see ultimately >> and we're not looking for any money tonight or I mean the idea would be that this group eventually would come up with a proposal Exactly. On our >> bring it back to the board. >> We'd have to go to town meeting if we need some funds. >> Yeah. >> Cy,
>> just a couple things like I mean I've been I always been aware of these conversations you know way back when >> and they were starting to get a little bit of traction then co hit and unfortunately you know it's been quite a few years that you know since then. Um Chadam is the ideal situation for this.
I mean we should absolutely start pursuing this not not pursue it we should secure it. um getting the working group together, moving this forward. Um we have a couple identified options, whether it be the powerhouse or another part of the Maronei complex. I think um
have a lot of validity. Um if we do get to that point, there are some site elements I would like to discuss when the appropriate time comes. Um that tie into other projects that have been in that area. So, I'll I'll I won't get too ahead of myself, but um I do think this
has a lot of um strong potential and I don't think we should waste any time and really we should kind of get on this because um it makes a lot of sense to pursue this. >> Jeff, >> so what do you want tonight there, Mr. >> May? May I suggest the working group's a
great idea and rekindle the the prior working groups a great idea. Um I think you'll generate you already generated a lot of excitement right here tonight. So I mean I think that's the next step. >> May I suggest that there be a motion to formalize the creation as a working
group of the board? >> Um the individuals who were involved previously with the understanding that if additional names are are proposed we can add them consider adding them second
afterward. So, I'll vote that I'll put that forward as a motion. >> A second. >> Okay. Um, is there any is that a Okay, Jill, we can have a working group of the board. >> Sure. >> And it would be subject to the open meeting law, the usual. >> Yes, >> that's that stuff. Good.
>> And and there may be times when we have to go into executive session because some of these prospective >> applicants, you know, may not want their identity disclosed, but we'd have to make sure we qualify under provisions of the open meeting uh for that. So with that uh unless there's any discussion,
Katie, >> Mr. Chairman, just um thinking from a name perspective, the name that had been previously used was the Chattam Academic Collaboration Initiative. I'm not sure if that's something that you'd like to continue. We've also referred to it as the potential, you know, Chattam potential academic research,
>> the ARC, the Academic Research Collaborative. That's the Steven I think gave it. >> Yeah. So >> I'm inclined to keep that name. >> Academic Research Collaborative. folks okay with that? >> Okay, it'll be the formal >> it'll be the >> I fancy
>> it'll be the academic research collaborative working group. Okay, I'll I'll um it's been moved and seconded. I'll call the role. Miss Davis. >> Hi. >> Mr. Dyk. >> Hi. >> Mr. Matters. >> Hi. >> Uh Mr. Smith >> I. >> And the chair votes I. Thank you. Jeff Greg, before you go, what's the status
of the boat house? Where is that? They discussed this this morning at the historical commission. So weather has pushed us back a week. Um it it wasn't safe to lift it in New Bedford on Monday and between that and the weather window, it's just been
pushed off an entire week. Hopefully we'll get better and more news on Sunday and potentially hopefully just one week delay. >> Okay, great. Thank you very much. All right. >> We would like to see, you know, water spraying out, somebody escorting the
people in. I'll I'll talk about that. Big big American flag. >> Let's go. >> Look forward to it. >> Okay. >> Keep us in the loop. >> Final motion of the night. >> Motion to adjurnn. Mr. Chair. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded to adjourn. I'll call the role. Miss. Davis. >> Hi. >> Mr. Dikkins. >> Hi. >> Mr. Matter. Hi.
>> Mr. Smith. >> I. >> Chair votes. We are adjourned at 7:27 p.m. Good night, Centam.