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Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=hJq4r1XxkgY

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That was a tease, John, because I thought I only had >> If you bring any more over, I'm gonna throw a cup of water. You just saying >> your hand here. 30 seconds. Okay. Look at both the same. >> Our microphone is working.

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>> Okay. It being 6:00, um I'll call to order the June 29, 2026 uh meeting of the council select board. And if you could join me in the pledge of allegiance to the flag to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under

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God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. And just a reminder that this meeting is being broadcast live by Chancellor Tele Media and recorded for later rebroadcast. And we have one select board member who is joining us remotely. John Kurlin is joining us by

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Zoom. Um so we will start with public service announcements. Are you ready for those signatures here? >> I'll just I'll work at it through the night. All right. So, the only we only have a couple of

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public service announcements tonight. It's uh the schedule for the Independence Day program. On Friday, July 3rd will the arts festival will start from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Center for the Arts. The country fair will go from 5:00 to 9:00 on the center

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common and the kitty train rides will begin sponsored by the Charleston Rotary at the rear of the public gardens. From 5 to 7 there'll be a concert with the Jilly Martin band sponsored by the Cherade Committee also on the common. They will take a break at 6:00 when the

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suburbanets will come out and perform. And at 7 o'clock, the Chson Community Band will also do their annual concert on the Center Common. Uh, Saturday, July 4th. The county fair will start at 8:00 a.m. on on the common. The flag raising in

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the police police and fire will also be at the center common flag pole at 8 at at 8:00 a.m. At 8:30, the arts festival will open at the center for the arts. At 8:45 there will be the reading of the uh declaration preamble by Carl Sweeney of

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the conquered minan. 9:30 the annual John Carlson two-mile road race and at 10:00 a.m. the the parade will step off. And that's it for those. It's going to be a great couple of days. We also have

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a public notice for the fall 2026 annual town meeting. The town will convene the 2026 fall town meeting on Monday, October 19th of 2026. Articles to be included on the warrant must be submitted to the office of the town

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manager, Victor Bara, prior to 400 p.m. on Monday, August 3rd, 2026. Petition articles must carry signatures of at least 10 voters. For more information, please contact the town manager's office 978-250-52.

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That's all we got. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. Now, we're at this uh part of our agenda for public input. Uh if there's anybody here that would like to address the board on any topic, you can come up to the microphone at this time and do that. Um I don't see

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anybody heading towards the microphone. Is there anyone on Zoom, John? >> No, I believe they're all here for public hearings. I don't see anyone raising their hand. >> Okay, very good. Uh so we go on to committee vacancies.

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This one uh came apart, but that's that documented. Committee vacancies as of July 1st, 2026. We have uh two open seats for unexpired terms at the C CCA Town Hall Advisory

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Committee. We have one unexpired three-year term for the clean energy and sustainability committee. There are five seats for the commission on disabilities. There is two seats for the council on aging. There are two seats for the cultural council. Uh two histo

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on historical commission, one on the historic district commission and five for the holiday decorating committee. The uh military covenant task force also has two three-year terms and north north town hall advisory committee

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has one available. Parade committee welcomes all applicants and yeah, we're in the home stretch, folks. So, it's a great it's great committee. Think about joining them next year. Uh zoning board of appeal has one three three-year term

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and that's it. Um, if you are interested in serving on a town board or committee, please complete the online application available on the town website. For more information, please contact the town manager's office at 978-250-5202

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or TM officem.gov. >> Okay, thank you. Okay, we have a public hearing this evening uh for Press Cafe uh for a change of manager LLC managers and ownership interests um in the all all alcohol beverages license at Press

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Cafe. Is there anybody here for this public hearing? >> Yes, Madam Chair, we have three individuals in the Zoom room. We have Jenna Flores, Charlie, and attorney Dennis Quilty. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Can you hear me? This is Dennis Quilty. I My camera is on

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the fritz here. >> Okay. Yes, I can hear you. So, if you want to talk a little bit about the changes you're asking for. >> Thank you very much. I appreciate it. I'm sorry I I could not figure out the camera this afternoon. So, uh thanks for for hearing us tonight. My name is again Dennis Quilty. I'm an attorney in Boston

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representing the Press Cafe. Uh we're we're here tonight with uh Jenna Jean Flores who's the proposed manager of record replacing um S Samuel Patel and we're here also for uh changes within

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the corporation if you will uh reflecting a buyout of one of the two uh owners by the other. Uh the existing uh license is owned by um two

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individuals Roy Spindler and Samile Patel. Uh Mr. Spindler at 57% and Mr. Patel at 43%. Mr. Spindler is proposing to buy out Mr. Patel's interest thereby leaving him the

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sole uh owner and LLC manager of the lency entity. Um that's a straight if you will buy out between the two individuals. Um we are also seeking approval at the same time since Mr. Patel will be uh exiting his

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responsibilities that he be replaced by Ms. Flores who's with us tonight. She is a US citizen, a mass resident, familiar with the rules and regulations of of the the town and the ABC regarding service

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of alcohol and has extensive employment experience um both with uh Press Cafe and other well-known operators in and around greater Boston. Um and again, she is here. She is tips trained. She's here

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with us tonight. also with us and I apologize I I didn't include him, Constantinos Logiotus, who's the operations manager for Press Cafe and is here to answer any of the questions concerning the business transaction that you might have. And of

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course, Miss Flores is here for your questions as well. Um, with that, we'll we'll uh I think we'll we'll take your questions unless there's anything I missed. >> Okay. Does anyone on the board have a question? Any questions for this

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applicant? >> Yeah, I have a I have a couple. Um, I noticed that the uh building department indicates that um uh we need a revised floor plan layout depicting the removal

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of stools and added four five four seat tables. Um that I didn't see any plan. Is that is that something that we're going to be seeing? >> Yes, Madam Chair. I can address that. the um >> the in speaking with staff today in the town manager's office um James noted

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that uh we did receive that floor the floor plan and Jose just did not have a chance to update the um department comment sheet >> so that's already been >> but he said it was received >> so it has been addressed >> it has been addressed it's just that the

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department comment sheet was not updated >> okay >> I I had dro sorry Sorry to interrupt. I had dropped it off a few weeks ago. Uh both to uh James and to uh Jose's office. Uh but Jose was not in the um in

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his office at the time. So I'm not sure if he did not receive it, >> but I personally delivered it. >> Okay. Thank you. Um John Kwan, did you have any other questions? Did we >> He's muted.

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>> Okay. I'm assuming John Kurland's question was answered then and doesn't have any more. Um any other question? >> No, I'm sorry. It was not answered. >> Oh, it was real quick. >> Just real quick question. Um the the um membership uh interest purchase

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agreement uh which you provided to us, when was that executed? Charlie, can you grab that one? >> Uh, I believe it was executed a few months ago. I'm not sure exactly when it was finalized. I know was the process

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began a few months ago and I think it was finalized probably three months ago, four months ago. >> Okay. It was just undated. So, I just wanted to >> Yeah. Yeah. It was uh so Roy uh Royy's been the owner of Quest Cafe. He's the founder of the company. Him and I have

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been working together for 19 years. uh 12 years Press Cafe. Uh and he had a partner at the Chelsea location. Uh but he but yeah, Roy just brought out the interest and uh decided to move forward

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uh for operator. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Anything else, John? >> No. >> Okay. And nobody else on the board has any questions at this time? Okay, this is a public hearing. Is there anybody

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here that has any questions or concerns about this application? Don't see anyone. And John, is there any >> No, no one in the Zoom room. >> Okay. All right. Given that, uh, are we ready for a motion? >> Okay. I'll make a motion that we approve

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the amendment of the existed license for the change of manager, the change of beneficial interest, and change of LLC managers to the press cafe. 33 330 Bill record road ch >> second the motion. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. We'll do a roll call vote. Uh John

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Kurland >> I. >> Aaron, >> yes. >> Dave, >> yes. >> Jen, >> yes. >> And I'm a yes. So, it's unanimous 5-0. So, uh thank you for coming this evening and uh you're all set now. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Madam Chair. I just want to say too, your staff person was extremely

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helpful in the process. >> Okay. Thank you. We will thank you >> pass that along to him. >> All right. When we have two licenses this evening, first is a one-day um wine and balt maverages license and expansion of the entertainment for uh uh Diggies

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doing business as Brick House. And um I think we have somebody here to talk about that. Uh so we were just here for our our third straight year. Um looking to >> Do you want to identify yourself please? >> Oh sure. Uh owner of Brick House Diggies

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LLC, Jimmy Spalding. My wife here Diana Spalding as well. >> Uh so we were just looking to be a part of the July 3rd ceremonies um and request the same as last year as the uh one day entertainment license and beer and wine um license to have that on premises outside.

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We'll have live entertainment as well uh running from about 4:00 to, you know, 9:30. >> Okay. And and we did receive letters from the police chief and fire chief. Um you know, they they'll be they'll be they'll be around the area and if there are any complaints and and they want it to be ready for inspection the day

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before, obviously. >> They usually um in the past the lieutenants come by and marked off where exactly where we need to put our barriers, our max limits. So we work we're in touch with them and told to come by, spray paint the lines, and we'll we'll put the barriers there. >> Okay. >> Yep. All right. Anybody have any questions

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for this application? >> I think everything was good with me. Y >> Okay. And I know they've done like you know you've done this before and >> um it seems that it's been going well. So >> we're excited to be a part of it. It's I mean it's certainly a substantial amount of work for me and Diana. So especially

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with the heat. So it'll be uh you know as Jeff said should be a great couple days and being a part of the center in town. So >> Okay. >> Okay. We will take a motion then. >> Okay. I'll make a motion that we grant a one-day wine and malt beverage license and expansion of entertainment license

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to Diggies LLC doing businesses brick house center 1 center square on July 3rd 2026. >> Second the motion. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. We'll do a roll call vote. Uh John Kurland, >> thank you all. >> I Aaron, >> yes. >> Dave,

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>> yes. >> Jeff, >> yes. >> And I'm an I. It's unanimous. 5-0. Okay. Well, >> good luck on Friday. Thanks, guys. >> Okay, so we have another license, a transfer of an auto dealer license from Duffy's Auto Company to Three Sons

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Collision. Um, and we have somebody here to talk to us about this. >> Good evening. Uh, my name is Mike Hines. I'm the owner of Three Suns Collision in Chsford, formerly Duffy's. >> Okay. >> 50 Tingsboro Road.

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>> Okay. Okay. I have a question. Where does the name come from? Three sons. >> Okay. We have another location in Waltham and myself and my partner have three sons each. So that's why we we kept that name on and then we came here.

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We figured it was it was doing okay. And uh Walam, so we continued. >> Okay. All right. Uh anything else you want to tell us about the about the business? >> Um well, I've been in the business my whole life. My father started in 59 in in Alustin and we've we're a family

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business and we have ext expanded to a a few locations and what we do is we have an owner operator there at all times. So I have a partner that's there every day working every day and I go around and his name is Raphael Flores

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and we're going to conduct business there the same way we got to know Mark Duffy very well. um really a very positive experience purchasing it from so it came very easily and we're not selling we we're asking for a transfer of the used car license but that's not

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our what we're our business is our business is auto body and collision but it's nice to be able to have the opportunity if you need to sell a car here and there but we're not really in the business of selling cars we're in the business of fixing them >> but today in today's world the

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bureaucracy of retitling and then going in and going through the whole process is is is a much easier situation for the shop. So, we really plan on just continuing the same way he is has been throughout the years and um being a good

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neighbor. So, we're trying to clean up and make it you know increase the curb appeal and um and that's basically it. >> Okay. Does anybody have any questions? >> You answered the one I had, so I'm good.

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>> Okay. Anybody else? All right. If not, we'll take a motion. >> All right. I'll make a motion that we transfer the class 2 auto dealers license currently issued at Duffy's Autos to Three Suns Collision of Chumps LLC to be exercised on the premises of

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50 Tingsboro Road. >> Second a motion. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. Do a roll call vote. John, >> yes. >> Aaron, >> yes. >> Dave, >> yes. >> Jeff, >> yes. >> Yes. So, that's unanimous. Thanks very much. Appreciate your time. Thanks a

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lot. Happy fourth. >> Okay. I'm going to take um out of order one of our um appointments. We have uh the applicant for this appointment here. This is the select board appointment to the CTI board and Christina Anderson is is here. I wonder if you want to come up

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and tell us a little bit about why you're interested in this in this position. And uh >> Certainly. Uh my name is Christina Anderson and I am the deputy director at the Chelmsford Housing Authority. Uh I have been in the

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property management business for about 38 years working in market rate and affordable housing and I'm just looking forward to, you know, working with CTI and learning a little bit more about what they do and being able to help their board continue to grow.

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And just a little background on this, we've um I just found this out recently that we have had a member of the CTI board pretty much forever and it's been Paul Cohen. So that's why we need somebody new in that position. And in fact, Paul before he left suggested

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Christina and so we reached out and and she's interested. I think you know if you read her, you know, her letter of interest and her resume, she definitely brings the qualifications to be on that board. So, does anyone have any questions for Christina about this

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position? >> Okay. If not, we will take a motion. >> Okay. I'd like to make a motion to appoint Christina Anderson to the uh CTI board as of 6626. >> Second motion.

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>> Okay, we have a motion in a second. We'll do a roll call vote. John, >> yes. Aaron, yes. Dave, >> yes. >> Jeff, >> yes. >> Phenom. Yes. He's so congratulations. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> All right. We are on now to reports and

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presentations. Uh first one, the town accountant Darlene Musier will give us a an update on the budget. >> Good evening, Madam Chair, members of the board. Um I'm going to just give you just a brief

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brief update um on just our general fund fiscal year 26 where we're at. Um everybody thinks that um tomorrow when we're on the last day of the of the year that we just push a button and the year just automatically closes, but

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unfortunately that's not the case. So we have a lot of work to do um after June 30th. We are allowed by statute to actually run two additional warrants for fiscal 26 into 27. Um the auditors or

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the actually the the the um the statute gives you up till the 15th of July to run prior year um warrants. So we do have two more warrants that we're going to be running in July. So we have one running up that will be closing this

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week. This week actually on the third and then we will have um another one after that. So the numbers I'll be presenting tonight are still are still fluid because we're still have some expenditures are going to be hitting and we've also we've not completely closed out all we haven't closed out our

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revenues for for June. So the revenue numbers I'm showing you is actually through May and then the numbers that I'm giving you for the expenditures are through the last week's warrant process. So again, there when you see these numbers, they're flu. They're going to be fluid um coming going through these.

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Uh just to talk a little bit about our revenues and where we're at. Um the first half of our sheets is always the uh local revenue receipts. Uh our biggest local receipt is motor vehicle excise. And uh we've we've actually

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exceeded our budgeted amount um by we have a 606 $6 million budget. Um but total today would be actually collected 6.2. So we're just about about $81,000 over um our budgeted amount and we did

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exceed the number that we had collected for last year. So those these the med the motor vehicle excise has been very strong and steady for the last few years. So, we're happy to see that. Of course, a lot of it is just due to the cost of the vehicles that are really

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driving that, not the really people are running out to get vehicles. It's just the cost of those vehicles. Uh local option meals tax is another one there that we always keep an eye on. Um people frequenting our restaurants. Uh happy to say that we do see see an increase in um

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in revenues in there. Again, the cost of food has also gone up too, but uh we we've we have an increase from the same same time period from last year just about around $8,000. And um we we've see an increase um over

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the la from from the last quarter, third quarter of last year to what we added this year. And then as of today, actually, we received our June our this would be this would be through March through May collections. We just received $233,000. So that will push us over our budgeted

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amount by just about six grand, but at least we're going to be going we'll we will be hitting that budgeted amount of the 900,000 that we have in there. Uh hotel and rooms tax. Again, we've um we've we've seen just a small increase

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from the prior year. Nothing really large there, but we did we are going to make our budgeted number. Again, we did receive our March through May revenues today. They were $147,000. So that's going to bring our total revenue about $636,000,

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which is our budgeted is $575. So we've made that budgeted number. So we're happy to see that. Their fees, uh, we're seeing an increase in fees of about 13% from the prior year. Um this really is due to the last

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it's actually been about a year and a half the the departments are actually looking have been looking at their fee structures and some of them have been increased some of some of the fees. So this is actually helping our fee like our fee numbers um I think uh Paul Cohen

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or former Tom Hager had been looking at some of the fees and in some of our surrounding areas and felt that we were a little low. So, we know some of the departments had adjusted some of their fee schedules and fines. Building permits, um, we have a large decline from last year. We're just not

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seeing any large projects. The last couple years, we've had some big projects that gave us some one-time um, permitting money. This year, we just don't see that. But we do, we are still going to exceed our budget for about $40,000. um you know like last year we actually

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exceeded our number by almost a million dollars. So this year's at least we're still making our budgeted number but we're not seeing any any big projects that are and we don't really have a lot in the horizon either. The number that's really um that's

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exceeding our budgeted amount is our uh interest earning and investments. Um it's increased about 3% from the same period last year. We when when this number was budgeted, we really didn't know what was going to happen at the with the Fed Reserve and

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if they were going to be reducing um their interest rates, but because they kept the interest rates steady, we were we're seeing a good return on that number. So, we've actually exceeded the budget amount by by about $700,000. That's really going to help us on our

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bottom line when it comes down to for our certification of free cash. So some of the line items that we are seeing a decline in or that we're just about making our budget, this number will help that help the the other budgeted numbers. Real estate and property taxes

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uh always remain solid. Um tax collection has always ever since I've been here, we've always had at least a 94 to 95% uh collection rate. And so I just uh the total general uh general fund uh is is slightly a

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little bit higher in total than fiscal 25. Um but I don't see a huge number where where when I'm I haven't quite been able to come see what my free cash number is going to be or I'm trying to do an estimate, but we do still have two more warrants to go. So there's those

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expenditures, but we're I know we're not going to see a $4 million free cash number this year. uh we'll probably be looking at somewhere around two to 2.5 million. There will still be a positive number. We just won't have that the large number that we've been seeing in

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the last only because we're just not seeing um any any big line items onetime monies for all these revenue line items. Any questions on revenues? Uh you're looking at the expense the

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expenditures on the departments. Looks like some of these people have um you know there's still funding and some of them look like they have large funding available especially if you're looking at public safety. What on public safety is the the next the next payroll which is still

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cons it's still a 26 payroll they get paid out on all of we do the all of their holiday pay and all of that gets paid out. So, a lot of that money they they'll have a large payroll that that money will be

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um be expended. Um all the departments will probably have a little bit of turnbacks, but looking at the this week's warrant and I expect for next week that um if the most of the money will be expended and if not, I know I've

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been talking with Christine Clancy at DBW. She does have some money she'll be encumbering because she does have projects through facilities in DHPW that she's not was not going to be able to get done before June 30th. A lot of her stuff is is more summer is definitely

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summer work. So, she'll be encumbering some some of her money from her facilities and uh DPW line item. Other than that, all the departments are within their budgeted uh benchmark numbers. I don't see any concerns or anything. We had gone to to at

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springtown meeting, we did do some budget adjustments on some on some department line items. So, we're all set on all the departments. So, I don't see any issues there at all. I didn't um print out all of the all the other accounts. I I'm expecting to come back

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and to present final numbers to you in August. Um because by that time I will have a better probably have my balance sheet into the do we'll have a better uh I'll have a better number for you for free cash and we'll have final numbers

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close out numbers for you by that time too and um and that'll probably be the last time that I present to the board. >> Okay. Hey, does anybody have any questions for Darlene? This is probably your second to last chance to ask questions.

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Okay. So, uh we will just go right into then the town accountants uh performance appraisal for the for the prior fiscal year. Um this is the last official performance evaluation we'll we'll do for Darlene since uh as we know she'll

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be leaving us as of uh Labor Day. Um, I mean, we could go through everything, but it I think generally, uh, there were there were three goals that Darlene had had set. Um, and they all I mean, I think we all agreed that

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they were per they were adequately covered over the past year. Um, I know most most of the comments were positive. I don't know if anybody wants to have talk about anything specifically. Um I think one of the

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things that I mentioned in in my comments was uh we are going to miss Darlene for sure her experience and um uh in how and her capabilities and her being one part of that that tripod that we have of our finance team. You know

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she's a played a critical role in that and uh that's going to be hard to replace but John is going to pick up now all three of those all three of those legs. >> I'm looking for an extra job. Uh, so does anybody have any specific

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comments they'd like to to make to Darlene at this point? >> I think Darlene's performance speaks for itself. I mean, you know, the fact we've had that AAA bond rating for so long just looks at how hard that three of them work together and and I'm confident that the new person coming in is going

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to continue that that work. Hopefully, I would assume whoever we hire as a new town manager will will see that effectiveness and carry that forward. >> Yeah. I I thought after meeting with Darlene just um you know the the the

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preparation that she's put in in her staff over all these years, but in particular in the preparation for the new town to come on board. Um, I think the department is well set up for um for Darlene's uh retirement and I'm sad to

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see her go. Um, but I do appreciate all those years of service and you know achieving these goals not just with herself and her department but with the town manager and John Susa as well. So I appreciate it, Darlene. >> Thank you. >> Okay, Dave.

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>> Okay, John, anything you'd like to say? >> Yeah, I just wanted to thank Darlene for all of her years of service. She's really done an exceptional job. Um I I left some comments off because I really was not involved um in supervising her

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uh this past fiscal year. Um but I do know that in past years uh she's been exemplary and uh she's going to be hard to replace, but I wish her well on everything she does. >> Thank you, John. >> Okay.

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Um Okay. Thank you. And as part of our evaluation, typically on the section three of the evaluation, uh there's an overall um evaluation that we give that uh everybody is is required well is asked to check one of the boxes and then

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as a board we decide which which of those boxes to check for the overall evaluation. And those are does not meet requirements, requires improvement, meets expected level of performance, consistently exceeds expected level of

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performance or exceptional performance. And those that uh that indicated um one of those evaluations uh uh myself I I selected exceptional performance. Uh Jeff Hardy suggested s

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marked consistently exceeds expected level of performance as did Dave B and Aaron also selected exceptional performance. So John Kurlin I guess you're the tiebreaker on that. >> Uh I'm giving her an exceptional

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performance based on all the years not just this past year. >> Okay. So if we could have an official um motion and we'll take a vote for that. >> Okay. I make a motion that the board um submits Darling's final evaluation as an

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exceptional performance. >> Second motion. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. We'll do a roll call vote. John >> I. >> Aaron? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Dave, >> yes. >> And I'm a yes. So that's >> Thank you so much. >> And we do have one more one more piece

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of um >> of business this evening related to Darlene. She did have a contract which expires tomorrow. um rather than go through and you know all the uh negotiations and everything to create a new um contract that would

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last for what five weeks or not five weeks but uh nine weeks >> one two three yeah it be like a it'll be almost it'll be six it'll be eight weeks but it'll be five p there'll be like just five >> come on you know exactly how many pages

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how many hours >> to the minute right >> so Um so rather than go through all that, my suggestion would be that we we continue um all the that the contract that she's working under right now, but with the the increase that she has been

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getting with each successive year of that contract, which is a 4% on her annual salary um until the time that she officially retires. And I don't know if anybody else has any questions or concerns or comments about that. >> Sounds good. >> Sounds fair to everyone.

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>> Yep. So, if we could have a motion to to that effect. >> Okay. I'll make a motion that we continue Darlene's contract until which time she retires >> with a 4% increase. >> With a 4% increase. >> Okay. >> Second motion. >> All right. We have a motion and a

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second. We'll do a roll call vote. John, >> yes. >> Aaron, >> yes. >> Dave, >> yes. >> Jeff, >> yes. >> And I'm Yes. And just on the other the only other pet of my piece of my contract was that for keeping if I had kept my certification, there was just a

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there's a $2,000 stipen, >> right? And I I assume that since we're continuing the contract, that would be part of it, too. So, yeah. Abs. Absolutely. And longevity or whatever else is included in that. >> Yeah. Okay. Perfect. >> All that other all that other good stuff. >> All right. Anything you'd like to

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>> Well, it's it's bittersweet. I'm going to really it's it's like it's becoming reality now and it's just like it's it's not that I'm I feel nervous. I almost have like little butterflies, but it's very mixed emotions, you know, but um the the the person coming in that that

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that's um that's taking the job is is she's very wellqualified. So, I know that she's I'm leaving the town in good hands. I know she's very capable. I mean, we and I will be working with her for a couple weeks before um I leave. So, and I, you know, I'm not going

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anywhere. So, if anybody, you know, when the auditors, cuz she will be probably dealing with the auditors and they'll be, anybody can reach out to me, ask me anything. I'm, you know, I'm going to be local, so I'm not running running away or anything. Um, so I'll be able to help her out if she has any questions or anything like that. So, I won't leave

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anybody in the lurch. So, but um I'm looking forward to I'm looking forward to my retirement, but it's going to be very strange, you know, not coming here every day. >> Well, you still could. The doors will be open. >> John, any any comments you'd like to

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make? >> No, I just it's been a pleasure working with Darlene all these years. Um as you said, you we've had a great finance team together. I will miss you. Um and I look forward to work on a successful transition with a new incoming town accountant. So, it'll be a busy August

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and September time frame. >> Thank you for all your work over the years. >> Okay. And you can stay for the rest of the meeting if you'd like, but it's not required. >> I'm going to because then John's going to give me the good story of the bond rating. So, that's >> Okay. Absolutely. All right. But before

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we get to that, we're going to talk about um the Cannabis uh control commission uh has issued new regulations that allow um home delivery of cannabis from retail establishments. And they

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also the establishments can according to the commission uh make those deliveries in towns even that don't have a retail establishment and that voted not to have retail establishments. And if if this board wanted to uh to not have that

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happen, we would have to fill out a form that would be effective for two years and then the Cannabis Control Commission would decide if it if it's if they want to extend that. U my feeling on it is um I'd be okay with the delivery in town. I

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don't know how the others of you feel about that. Um it it doesn't sound like we have a lot of control over that. We, like I said, we could ask for that waiver for two years where they would not do deliveries in town, but then the the commission itself would decide if it

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needs it could if it could be extended. So, any thoughts, Aaron? >> So, you know, I don't what people choose to do. I don't have a, you know, a stake in that or or, you know, a personal position on it. Um, but I did, you know, I researched this a little bit. you

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know, the town voted down, you know, I don't know what it was. I want to say it was 60% to not um allow shops in town. Um so if I if I applied that same methodology, I would I would think that same 60% would not

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necessarily want to support this. Um and I also don't believe in anything that I read says that we there's any benefit to the town directly in terms of taxes. I mean, it would certainly benefit those that don't want to go out um or that couldn't go out because I know there are

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people that can't do that either. Um but I just think we should should keep that in consideration that the town voted against the shops themselves. Um and this seems like a little bit of a of an end runaround, but I'd be curious to see if anybody else had thoughts. >> Okay. Anyone else?

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>> Yeah. >> Wait, I'll let Dave >> David can go. >> Okay. Um, similar to you, I just wondered if this could be in the town meeting in October and let the town decide. It's >> I don't know if he could do that or not since they already voted previously. Yeah.

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>> Well, um, I guess there's there's two things. It does say that that this board has the authority to whether to do that. Um, I don't it doesn't really give a deadline for when you would have to apply for that waiver, and I assume that that's going to happen pretty quickly that they're going to start allowing the deliveries. Sure. So, I don't know that we have the luxury of waiting until

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October to making a decision on that. So, so John, your comments? >> Yeah. Um, well, as it turned out, I happened to be at that town meeting when we wrote it down. Um, I didn't have any say in the decision. Um but the the my

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sense was at the time was that we did not want to have any um uh locations where uh um uh those products were being sold uh that could become problematic for

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other businesses in that area. Um and that's different than what this is. Uh, you know, I my feeling is that what people do in their lives are fine as long as it doesn't impact us. Um, but but I I don't want to conflate the the

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the prior decision um to not have it in town with the fact that uh uh there's at least 40% of the people who who weren't didn't find it problematic. Um but only

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20% well 60% said we you know we just don't want the shops or the growers in our town. Um and and and this is different than that. So I think we we need to sort of make some distinctions. That's all. >> Okay. Jeff

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>> I don't want to create any restrictions for future decisions and I think that this might do that. But as you all know, I was kind of opposed to that vote. I mean, currently we have a dispensary right in Drum Hill. I mean,

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it's less than 100 yards from the town line. And then we also have one right over behind the uh outback cinema area down there. And there's some people who have medical needs that may not be able to drive. And I don't want to take that

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away from them if this is going to make their lives easier. Okay. I mean, I guess, yeah, I I agree with what Jeff said and I agree with what John said that this is different than than voting to have a facility in the town. Um, so I I guess um I don't

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know I don't know if John if that meant that you would be okay with the home delivery. >> Yeah, I I agree with what Jeff had to say. I I I'm glad that uh he he um he said it because uh that was one of the

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the points I wanted to make and uh I just neglected to do it. So, thank you, Jeff. >> Okay, >> welcome John. We didn't plan that obviously. >> So, so I guess the question is is you know if how you two feel about that? I

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mean if we did a motion obvious the the vote would be to allow this to happen. Um, if you guys are strong about that and want to try to convince at least one of us otherwise, then I'll give you that opportunity. Otherwise,

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maybe we could take a motion and um even if you vote against it, just so that we have a motion so that it's it's clear that we this is the action we want to take or not take. >> And just to be clear, I wasn't either for or against before I walked into the room.

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>> Okay. Um it was I just wanted to make sure that we um had the discussion um and took that you know uh had an opportunity to make sure we looked at both sides and you know and candidly I think you know how John framed it is pretty reasonable and again I also said

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you know for those that can't get out I do you know it's why why would I don't want to be somebody that limits that opportunity so I wasn't for or against it so I would be fine with taking a motion in the affirmative. >> No I wasn't against it as well. I just wanted to know what the regular people

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thought and when I hear that 60% say no on that. But this is different. So it >> is different. >> Yeah. It it would be okay with me as well. >> And it seems pretty regulated. The only thing I don't like is that it's the state is regulating it. And as much as I

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love our friends at the state house, they're not always great at it, but I have to have a little bit of faith in the process. Well, I assuming we can give it the opportunity to go ahead and if at some point we start having problems, we can always reject that, right? >> Um, I don't know if we'd have that option, but you know,

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>> something to find out, right? >> That would we could if if uh if we found that it was causing, >> you know, increased crime or whatever in town, we could probably revisit it and see what we could do on that on that in that regard. But, um, for now, so so Jeff, if you want to make a motion then

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on that. I'll make a motion that we do not opt out of the mun municipalities wishes at this time. >> Second the motion. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. So do a roll call vote. John >> I. >> Aaron? >> Yes. >> Davis. >> Jeff.

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>> Yes. >> And I'm an I. 5. Okay. Thank you. All right. And now we are to town manager reports. So John, it's all yours. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So first on the first on the report is um I'm pleased to

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report that um about a week before our bond auction standard and poor has issued a rating report which I shared with the board that as soon as it came out and the good news is they reaffirmed our AAA rating with a stable outlook and just a few highlights from the report

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they they discussed um the town's mature and stable economy um our consistent financial performance that we had an uptick in our reserves And then they noted that we had well- embedded financial management policies and practices. So all good news there uh

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from stands. So that was great to see. And then moving on to our on um about roughly a week later on June 23rd, we had a we conducted a successful bond auction and I'm pleased to report that

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um it was very successful. We had a lot of compet competitive bids. Um, we received 17 bids on 12.5 million of general obligation bonds and we received six bids on 19.2 million of bond

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anticipation notes. Um, on the bonds, that's the highest number of registered bidders that either myself or the our bond advisor could ever recall us receiving. So, uh, just shows there was very a lot of competition there. Helped the town, I believe, receive a better

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interest rate. Um, the low bidder on the bonds was TD Financial Products LLC of New York, New York with a total interest cost of 3.18345%. Uh, bonds, those bonds will be used to finance our FY27 capital improvement

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plan that you heard discussed at April town meeting. um the first phase of the fire stations project uh replacing some school elevators as well as sewer and storm water enterprise capital improvements. And then on our bond

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anticipation notes um the low bidder was Huntington Securities of Chicago with a net interest cost of 2.729%. And so um that was that was some good news there on that interest rate. So, bond council's prepared a detailed

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motion uh that I know provided to the board and respectfully I'd request the board vote the motion as prepared to um approve the sale of our bonds to the both low bidders. And uh there's a lot of detail to that, but I'll

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if you'd like to do if if the board will be um willing to do that vote and then would you like me to keep going and then do the other I'll wait for the the next thing deals with MSB. I mean, we can Are there any questions for John on on either one of these bond sales? >> I mean, that's that's pretty amazing

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interest rates. >> So, no, I just because I want people to understand at home, John, when you say it goes to the lowest bidder, I mean, we're not obviously getting the least value. >> No, it's it's actually to Jeff's question, it's the most it's the least interest cost of the town. So, all

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financial firms bid and we take the lowest interest. We we basically take the lowest interest cost that they give us. So, it's um they're all qualified financial firms, but it's the it's the firm offering the best deal to the town, I guess, is the best way I can put it.

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The lowest cost >> and and our having that that AAA bond rating definitely helps in that regard. I know. >> Yes. I can honestly say because comparing to years ago when we had like a a different rating, the number of bids we receive are better. And of course that the advantage of having that AAA is

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it's it's probably 25 to 30 basis points or 0.2 to.3% interest but we we benefit from that especially on bigger projects. >> Yeah. And and I do, you know, just to go back to the the the rating, I do want to

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congratulate the the team. You know, I was I had I had underlined that exact paragraph that you read to to to point that out that they really, you know, they really are u very pleased with the way the town is being run and you know that's that shows. So unless anyone else

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has any questions, uh we can take a motion. They can just say um >> what specific motion are we making on this? >> We're just we're just um yeah just that as presented. >> Okay. So I make a motion that we approve

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the um motion presented to as presented to us for the uh bond ratings >> bond sales >> bond sales I'm sorry. >> Is that is that sufficient John? >> Yes. And then and then we can describe that. I'll provide that to the person

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doing the minutes that bond council prepared. >> Yeah, perfect. Second the motion then. >> Okay, we have a motion in a second. A roll call vote. John >> I. >> Aaron, >> yes. >> Dave, >> yes. >> Jeff, >> yes. >> And I'm a yes. So, it's very good. So, did anything else you want to tell us

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about that at this point or if you want to go on to your next topic? >> No, that's great, Darlene. And I appreciate your kind words. I'm I'm glad it went everything went s went well with the bond rating and the sale. So, thank you for that. And then um moving along into um you'll see that I provided a

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letter from the Mass School Building Authority. So just to give you some background on that um on Wednesday, June 24th, I attended a virtual uh Mass School Building Authority board meeting. And on the on the meeting um joining on the meeting was Superintendent Jay Lang,

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um school building committee chair Patrick Maloney, and then representative from um our own is project management from left field. And I wanted to note that um Superintendent Lang made the presentation to the board on behalf of the town and the chumps public schools

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and discussed about, you know, the progress that's been made on the feasibility study replacing the existing Parker Middle School with a new facility that would serve grades four, five, and six. And um I'm pleased to say that, you know, right after that presentation, the

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board took a vote and it was unanimous. So they approved the the Parker Middle School project moving forward into what's called the schematic design phase. And so that's an important milestone in this process because um what it does is it gives the green light

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for Left Field, Yona's project manager and the architecture firm AI3 to now work together to develop more detailed uh plans and um those will be used to guide the project scope, the budget of the project and the schedule. So later

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that same day, I received this letter from the executive director, Mary Paketti, a dated June 24th. And one of the things she asked for in the letter um is first a work plan um the date of the town meeting when the project will be considered and then the anticipated

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design and construction schedule. So I did confirm with left field and superintendent Lang that the work plan has been already delivered to the um MSBA. It's just that they use a letter with standard language. um the one thing we would need to come up with is the

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town meeting date um you know for when the project will be considered. And so in speaking to Chair Wis and others involved in the process, it seems like August 10th uh might be the best date for the board to discuss this because on

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the board's meeting once in July on July 20th and Superintendent Lane will be away for he'll be out of he'll be out of town during that time and and will not be available and at least one other person. So it seems like August 10th might be the best date, but I just wanted to bring that up. So, is that for

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us to get it on the warrant article for the fall town meeting? >> No, it would be for the board to choose a date for um to just to give you some background on this. So, the board the MSBA board will vote to approve the project or not December 9th in that time

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frame and then sometime after that there will be there would need to be a town a town meeting to authorize a borrowing authorization and the and you know for this project to move forward. So, uh, we thought at that, you know, in August, that might be a good time to have

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everyone come in that's a stakeholder present this to to you as the board and then because then we need to give we need to give that timeline to left field and others working on this so that they know what to work with. >> It's very likely we'd have to have a

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special town meeting because it's not going to work for October and it's probably not going to work for next April. So, and and then we may even and then as far as the the vote, we'd need to have, you know, a vote of the from the town. We'll have to see how we would handle that. So, um, you know, I

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suggested to John that we, you know, get the the, you know, the experts from that and talk to us and we can then decide how to uh, set that timeline from there. >> And August 10th is one of our scheduled meetings, correct? That I think that

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makes perfect sense. >> Okay. So I can let folks know. That would be that would be great. >> Okay. >> It's great progress on. >> Yes. >> Think this is a very important project to the town. >> Yes. >> So for us to trying to expedite it a little bit would be great.

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>> And then uh one thing I did want to mention, it just came in today. This is just an informal report is that uh my office received um for the business um known as Cre Hospitality. They they did receive ABCC approval. So, >> I saw their signs up today for the first

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time. I don't know if they just opened, but yeah, that I was Yeah. interested to see that. So, good. >> So, they come back or did we approve that? >> Oh, we we approved that. We approved it first and then they go to ABC. >> Right. Right. >> We did that a while ago. >> Yeah. I thought they came to us from front where they weren't doing liquor,

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but that could have been another one I was thinking of too that wasn't going to serve. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> That concludes my Yeah. No, thank you. That reports, uh, town manager reports. >> Okay. And next is appointments. We already did the select board appointment so we just have yours left to do. >> Yeah. So we'll move into town manager

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report. So tonight I'm seeking the board's confirmation for three of my appointments. Um the first being um I like is to reappoint Deborah Belden for a three-year term to the permanent building committee and that would expire June 30th, 2029.

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And then the second appointment um seeking to appoint Judy Omabono to the parade committee um for a one-year term. I did want to note that Judy Judy Omabono is a recent grad of the civics academy and so happened to

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>> well she came to a meeting and and came back so we didn't scare away. >> Yes. So she seems very enthusiastic about that. So see all those public service announcements about the parade committee Jeff are working. So, yeah. And then um and then third, we have a um

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a vacancy for a term that expires actually June 30th on the on the zoning board of appeals. So, just to provide the board with some background, um I did want to note that um the term that's expiring actually it belongs to Brian Rei and he chose he's not seeking

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reappoint, but I wanted to publicly acknowledge and thank him for his work. Brian has served on the zoning board of appeals since 2010 and me good number of years as chair and um it's you know if you've ever been to those hearings they're sometimes very long and can be

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emotional and I want to thank him for >> um I mean he did a great job keeping everything at a >> at a cool temperature >> and then so for that vacancy um one of the things I looked at is it's been the town manager's office uh practice

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practice over the years. Uh the former town manager uh would often contact the associate members first because they're there participating in all the meetings over the years. So it's more likely you would go to those. So I did send an email to the three associate members uh

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on June 15th and I received one application uh from Albert Glenn Diggs. And so I'm seeking to appoint um Albert Glenn Diggs to a term uh as a as a full member of the member of the zoning board of appeals.

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And I would note that uh Mr. Diggs has served as an associate member on the ZBA for since 2021. >> Okay. Anyone have any questions about any of these appointments? >> Okay. If not, we can take a motion. >> Okay. I'll make a motion that we support

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the town manager's appointments of Deborah Beldin, the permanent building committee, and Judy Omabono to the parade committee, and Glenn Digs to the um zoning board of appeal. >> Second the motion. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second.

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Roll call vote. John >> I. >> Aaron, >> yes. >> Dave, >> yes. >> Jeff, >> yes. >> And I'm yes. 5. Very good. Thank you. >> All right. And we have uh minutes from our June 15th meeting. Anybody have a

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chance to look at those? >> Any questions, comments, corrections? >> No issues? >> That was good. >> Okay, we'll take a motion. >> I'll make a motion that we approve the minutes from what was the date again? >> June June 15th.

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>> June 15, 2026. >> Second motion. >> There we have a motion and a second. So, roll call vote. John. >> Hi. >> Dave. Aaron. >> Yes. >> Dave. >> Hi. >> Jeff. >> Yes. >> And I'm a Yes. Thank you.

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>> All right. We are now to select board leaison reports and referrals. Jeff, do you have anything? >> Well, the parade lineup's pretty much done. I hope we we got together last Tuesday and worked through it. I mean,

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the committee has been we've got a lot of really fun stuff planned for this year, and I'm I'm sure it's going to be an outstanding couple of days. All I'm going to caution everybody, it's supposed to be extremely hot, so please hydrate. Let's keep everybody safe and

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comfortable where possible. That's all I got to know. Okay, Dave, >> on my end, of course, I've been very busy with Aaron and the team on the town manager committee meetings for the, you know, new town manager. Nothing personal, but it's gone very well. I think Aaron's

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done a good job managing that. So, I think we have a meeting on the 6th. >> Well, I think we need to wait for uh Aaron's liaison report before we do anything with that. >> Okay. But I was in I'm ahead of the game. >> He's stealing his thunder. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Uh I have a couple more items. I

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attended the main street main street improvements public meeting. Uh that went very well. I think there was a lot of questions. The team that was there including Christine Clancy did a really good job explaining any open items and questions that came up. Very few minor

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items about placements of crosswalks, placements of potential speed bumps and sizes of speed bumps, those kind of things. But overall the plant went plant went very well. So that was uh really well done. I also attended

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the gardener school opening. Uh looks like a really nice preschool for six weeks up to what four or five years I guess. And uh it's a really exceptional facility right now. Uh it looks like it'll be well received by the folks who bring their kids in there. I talked to

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some of the teachers and instructors. They all seem very good and knowledgeable in what they were doing. Should have went with Aaron first. >> Maybe I should have. John, how about if we take you next and we'll do Aaron after that. He's getting very nervous here.

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>> Um, the day after our last uh uh board meeting, I um had some uh a hip replacement and uh that sort of hobbled me literally and figuratively um from uh becoming more engaged. However, I was uh

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able to attend all of the uh uh town manager selection uh committee meetings uh via Zoom. Uh, and uh, I'd like to thank uh, Aaron for for his really impressive stewardship of the committee.

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Um, and uh, uh, I'll leave the rest of the report from about that to him, but I I just wanted to acknowledge that he just did an exceptional job. And uh I'm grateful to all of the members of the committee who who spent the time uh to

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interview all of the applicants and uh uh make these decisions. So thank you. >> Thank you, John. >> Okay. So that's that's it, John. >> So John, are you one of the people that says you should have done it months ago? >> I know. >> Um I wish I could have, but I had I had

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cortisone shots and they wouldn't let me. So they said, "Oh, you had a cortisone shot, so you got to wait 3 months." So yeah, I would have that would that would have been nice. >> Okay, let's move on to Aaron. >> Not slowing them down. Um and I'm gonna take my full three minutes if you don't

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mind. >> Three minutes. >> Um so thank you Pat. Um uh so this evening I'd like to take a few moments to update uh the rest of the board on the work of the town manager screening committee. Um, and before discussing the outcome of those efforts, I'd be remiss

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if I didn't recognize and thank each of the members of the committee for their service, commitment, dedication throughout the process. And I also need to thank Christina, James, Lisa, Ted, the town clerk's office for their efforts in ensuring the screening process was organized and efficient. Um,

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their support is yet another example of the outstanding commitment and professionalism that the town hall staff demonstrates every day. And on behalf of the committee, I would certainly like to say thank you once again. This committee was intentionally assembled to reflect the many voices

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that make up our community, including representatives from town staff, the school committee, finance committee, planning board, select board, and most importantly, Chumsford residents. Many of these individuals um themselves are lifelong residents who have devoted countless years of service to our town.

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Their commitment to Chumsford combined with their professional experience in hiring and evaluating talent at every level um from entry- level positions to senior executives provided invaluable perspective throughout the process. The work required a significant

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commitment from every member often involving up to three meetings per week, each lasting more than three hours, including post interview deliberations and discussions. And equally important was the time invested outside of those meetings. Committee members carefully reviewed all the resumes, cover letters,

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and supporting materials for each applicant and work collaboratively to help define um develop and refine interview questions that would allow us to consistently and fairly assess every candidate. Candidates part uh participated in a

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panel style interview before all nine committee members lasting as long as two hours allowing us to thoroughly explore and evaluate their experience, leadership philosophies, and qualifications. Throughout our work, we remained mindful of the significance of the

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responsibility entrusted to us. In the last 40 years, the town has only undertaken this process twice. Our charge was to identify candidates with experience, vision, leadership skills, and the leadership skills necessary to build upon the strong foundation

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established by town manager Cohen while bringing their vision, their own vision, commitment, and passion to guide Chelmsford into the future. So tonight, on behalf of the entire um screening committee, I'm proud to announce that the committee unanimously voted to recommend two candidates to the

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full select board for consideration of Chumsford's next town manager. But before I finish up on a personal note, there's no way I could conclude these remarks without expressing my sincere gratitude to John, Dave, Christine, Trish, Dennis, Anita, Sam,

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and George for the trust and support they gave me in leading the committee. Your partnership guidance and thoughtful perspectives and most importantly your voices were instrumental to our success. Together we con conducted a fair, rigorous and collaborative review um

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process that enabled us to present these recommendations with confidence. I am humbled by your dedication to public service and your unwavering commitment to the town of Chumsford in our community and for that I thank you all. >> Okay. Um having Aaron having said that

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um he has suggested that we um meet with these two candidates as soon as possible possibly next Monday July 6th. So we want to check the availability of all the board members. Everybody available then um we could it's two candidates we

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could do candidate one candidate two and then do deliberations. probably would be expected to be take about 3 hours total. Uh we could start at a usual six or we could start earlier if we wanted to start at five and we'd be done a little

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bit earlier. Um so I'll leave that decision up to everybody else. I' I'd prefer to go a little earlier myself, but >> I agree. >> All right, there's two for five. Anybody else for five? >> Work for me. That'll work for me.

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>> How about you, John? Well, I'm not going to be the uh be the rotten apple in the barrel here. We can do five. >> Okay. So, we will set a meeting. We'll we'll post a meeting. I will post I'll get with Aaron and get the information we need to post that meeting. We'll post

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a meeting for 5:00 next um next Monday in this room. It will be a public meeting. The public >> are we going to receive any >> Yes. Yes. >> documentation ahead of time. >> We will you you get it no later than the end of than Thursday when we post it. We'll have to post it on Wednesday.

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>> So, you'll get it no later than that. >> Right. Fantastic. >> Okay. So, any other questions about that process >> for right now. >> And just so everybody is aware, both candidates um as of 5:30 tonight have confirmed that they will be there um and look forward to the interview process.

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So, we'll be good to go. >> Okay. Do you have any other leaison reports? >> Uh that was my big one for tonight. So, >> well, you've been meeting three times a week with this. So, I imagine >> I've missed a couple of the other ones. Yes. >> Okay. I just have two quick things. Um,

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the LRTA starting next week on July 6th, well, that's happening on July 6th, is going to start service to the town of Wilmington and and year round service to Nshawa to the n to the pheasant lane mall. >> Wow. >> Um, yeah. And the Feeasant Lane Mall bus

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goes through Vinyl Square. If you want to take a bus to the Pheasant Lane Mall or somewhere and it actually connects to a Nasha bus route in in Nasha, if you want to get somewhere in NSHA that you can get to in a NSHA bus, we can get you to Nasha now starting on Monday. >> Fantastic.

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>> So, and there's the routes and schedules are on the LRTA website. So, that's exciting. And the only other thing I wanted to say is of you know July 4th is coming up this Saturday. It's going to be as as Jeff said, it's going to be a good two days. So, look forward to seeing everybody and uh and I'm looking

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forward to the heat also. I know not everybody else is, but I am. So, with that, we'll take one more motion. >> I just got one final thought on that. Um I want people to think about it. You know, Saturday is going to be the 250th anniversary of this country. And there were militias from this town who

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actually went down and fought and protected this this land for protected them from the British coming north to Chumsford. And they also supplied some of the routes that were blockaded that for food and stuff like that to our troops. And you walk through this

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building, it's a history lesson. But I want people to stop and think when you're on the common, there were gentlemen who started there and walked to conquer to fight to protect all of us. So I mean that's something that I know the parade committee takes very seriously and kind of makes me proud. It

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kind of humbles me being in this position today. So but I just like I said, please everybody just be safe. And at that I'll make a motion we adjourn. >> Second motion. Okay. A motion in a second. So, roll call vote. John >> I.

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>> Aaron? >> Yes. >> Dave? >> Yes. >> Jeff? >> Yes. >> And I'm I. We are adjourned. Thank you very much. We'll see you a week from today. >> And everybody and we'll see you. We'll see you this weekend, too, I'm sure. >> At 5:00. >> 5 o'clock.

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>> Remember not to show up at 6. Yes.