Okay, the time being 6 o'clock, we'll call the meeting to order. If you would all join us in the pledge of allegiance. Thank you. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Okay. Um this meeting is being um uh broadcast live on chumps of telemeter
media and YouTube and being recorded um for future viewing by the general public. And with that we'll start with our first item on the agenda which is public service announcements. Pat. >> Okay. Uh first off we have the medical sharps waste drop off days. This is for
Chford residents only. Um, you probably know that throwing your medical sharps in the trash is dangerous and against the law. So, they the board of health is having four drop off dates this year, March 12th, June 11th, September 10th, and December 10th. Um, sharps will be
accepted on the above dates between 9:00 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the board of health. Um, they they ask that you put your sharps in rigid plastic containers with a lid such as a laundry detergent bottle or bleach bottle. and ask that the the container be at
least threequarters full when you bring it in. And just I just want to note too that these dates are different than what's on the recycling flyer if you received one of those. So you should check the town's website for these days. Uh next up is dog licensing. Um every
dog license expired on December 31st. Um so you should if you have a dog you should have it licensed or uh if you don't have it licensed by March 1st. There'll be a late fee of $5 per month added to the initial initial uh tag fee and the fees are $20 for a spade or
neuter dog, $25 if unaltered. Um the 2026 annual town census um has been mailed to every household um in January. Uh the town clerk asked that you uh fill out the the census and
return it. It helps you stay active on the voting list and it helps chumps u provide better municipal services. You there is a an an option to uh respond online if there's no changes to your census and the instructions for that are
on the census form itself. And the town clerk is also asking people to get involved and run for local office. There are several open seats both townwide and town meeting representatives. uh especially in the town meeting representatives, there's
about 12 uh vacancies right now that nobody is running for. So if you have any interest in getting involved in mun local municipal office, that's a good way to to get started. So that's it for PSAs. >> Thank you, Pat. Okay, the next item on
the agenda is general public input. Do we have anybody wishing to speak before us this evening? Okay, seeing none, we'll move ahead to committee vacancies. >> Okay, we have the following committee
vacancies. Um the the following committees all have one vacancy. the age friendly implementation committee, the agricultural commission, the CCA town hall advisory committee, the clean energy and sustainability committee, uh the conservation commission commission,
the council on aging board, cultural council, historic commission, and the military community covenant task force all have one vacancy. The commission on disabilities has five vacancies. The holiday decorating committee has four vacancies, and the parade committee welcomes all applicants. If you're
interested in serving on any of these boards or committees, you can fill out an application online or come into the town manager's office for more information. >> Thank you, Pat. Okay, next up is public hearings. Um, first up is National Grid uh and Verizon
poll petition for North Road. >> Good evening. Could you state your name and uh address for the for the record, please? 11:01 Turnpike Street here on behalf of National Grid. >> Uh National Grid is seeking the town's
uh petition approval to install pole uh 6950 in the public way in order to facilitate uh new system reliability upgrades. >> Okay. Does any of the board members have any
questions? No. Is there anybody in the audience that wishes to speak for or against this petition? Okay, seeing none, I'll take a motion to close the public hearing. >> Um, I'll make that motion to close this public hearing.
>> I second that. >> Okay, I have a motion and a second. All in favor? I >> Okay. Um, >> um, not quite done. >> N there yet. Sorry. We'll get you out quick, though.
Okay. Um so any further discussion or comments or anything on this um poll petition? >> Straight forward. >> Okay. Seeing none, um we will uh entertain a motion. >> Okay. I'll make a motion to approve uh
poll petition uh 31344236 for a poll on North Road as presented. >> Second that. >> Okay. Motion in a second. Uh all in favor? I >> opposed. That's unanimous. You're all set. Thank you. >> Okay. Our next item
is um all alcoholic beverages license restaurant license for House of Cheryl um LLC DBA Udam Suck Thai Kitchen and Bar 313 Littleton Road Unit 2. Somebody here representing them this evening. >> On Zoom.
>> We're on Zoom. Okay. >> Good evening. Could you uh state your name and address for the record please? >> Okay. My name is Baong um from the Udomation. The address going to be 313 Latitan Road Unit to
>> Okay. And can you tell us a little bit about what your um you've just taken over this uh business? Yes. >> Yeah, I just open it about 1 minute and a half. >> Okay. Are you uh anticipating any changes or anything like that or
>> Well, everything is still the same. Yeah. Um just change the table. So they change the wallpaper, something like that. Something else to the same. >> See, you're going to change some furniture. Is that what you said? >> Wallpaper? >> Yeah. In the future, the furniture about
the table and the chair, something like that. >> But you don't anticipate any increase in occupancy or anything like that? >> No. Okay, great. Okay, any uh questions or comments from the board? >> Um I have a question on on page two of
the application for a new license. Um under the uh the proposed officers, it says um um offre um on premises for restaurant or directors or LLC managers, at least 50% must be US citizens. And
then you you list yourself as the only manager and you uh clicked on no for US citizen >> uh green card but I have the green card. Yeah, it >> permanent >> permanent resident. Yeah,
>> but it says it doesn't say or you know it doesn't say or um one of them has a where you can do that if you have um the right to work in in this in this in this country. But this says on
premises at least 50% must be US citizens. Period. >> Yeah. Do you see it? Yeah, you have it right there, Paul. >> Um Isn't that what it says? >> That's what it says. And the ABCC will look into it as well. So,
>> yeah. I mean, this is an ABCC form. So, I guess, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Because I saw the new the new application, they allow for the green card. >> Yeah. >> The the document that they required. Yeah. It it allow for the green card.
>> Okay. Well, as as Paul said, I guess the ABCC will um will let you know if that's sufficient. So, okay. >> Um for example, ladies, let me see here.
Yeah, it around for the king card here. >> Good. >> Can I talk to the lawyer already? Yeah, the lawyer said she'll be okay. >> Okay. Can we make this contingent? >> Well, it's going to be contingent anyway. >> Contingent on ABC approval anyway.
>> Okay. Okay. All right. Good. >> So, we can give our approval. Yeah. >> Okay. Any other questions or comments? >> All right. Um, take a motion to close the public. >> But you didn't ask if there are any >> Oh, I'm sorry. Right. I'm sorry. Uh, anybody in the audience that wishes to
speak for or against this uh petition? Okay. Seeing none, um, I'll take a motion to close the public hearing. >> Okay. I'll close the public hearing on this all alcohol license. >> Second that. >> Okay. Have a motion and a second. All in favor? I >> opposed. That's unanimous.
Um All right. I will take a unless there's further discussion or comment. I will take a motion to um approve this license. >> Okay. I'll make a motion to approve an all alcohol restaurant license for the house of Chiron doing business as Udomac Thai Kitchen and Bar and 313 Littleton
Road as presented. >> Okay. May I have a motion? >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Um, all in favor? I >> opposed. >> You're You're all set. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um, the next item on the agenda is
an all alcoholic beverage license amendment for the alteration of premises and pledge of license. Kinesisa, Inc., DBA, Chumsford Wine and Spirits, 133 Princeton Street. Good evening. Could you state your name and uh address for
the record, please? >> David Keel. Nine. My office is at 9 Bill Ricker Road in Chsford. I'm here on behalf of Kissa. Uh as part of the ABCCC guidelines, which were originally approved by this board approximately three years ago, um they were approved based on a building that was approximately I'm just going to round
numbers 34,000 square feet. Since that time, the building has been altered, modified, and approved by the planning board. It's now approximately 24,000 square feet. uh under ABC guidelines, we have to petition the ABC to advise them that the the premises in and of itself
has been altered. In addition, as part of commercial financing, um an alcohol license has a value to it. Um as part of that commercial financing, we have to pledge that license to the commercial lender in the event of a default. And that is the uh second uh part of this
amendment. Uh and we would seek the board's approval on that. >> Okay. Do we have any um questions or discussions? >> Um I just uh would would ask Paul to explain what the pledge of the license actually means in this situation.
>> I mean it it doesn't really mean that much in in Chsford, does it? >> Well, I mean we the licenses in Chsford typically haven't had a monetary value, >> right? >> Um although licenses are limited in the town of Chsford. Um so there is a value
because at this point the board has not seen or acted to seek a you know a waiver or or special act that would increase the value of the license. So there is a value of the license itself and as we know to the intrinsic value to the businesses they cannot operate
without the license. So there is a there is a value and that's why a lender or others would not provide the financing for for an establishment without that license as a pledge. So >> it acts as collateral. >> As collateral >> it acts as collateral. >> Yeah.
>> So what would happen if the bank were to acquire this license or could they? They would have the they would they would be the owner and they would have the ability to sell it, but they would have to go through the process through the board to in fact do that. They would step into the shoes of the license
holder. >> Okay. All right. I mean, we have done it before, but it's not it's not that common for us to to do a a pledge of a license. I think we've had maybe two or three since I've been on the >> This particular lender is requiring it. Therefore, we have to make it as a
condition of the ABC amendment. >> Sure. Okay. Um, so I do have a few questions. I wasn't here for the initial license um, three years ago. Um, but I have sat through all of the planning board
meetings um, when the applicant had to u get the building approved, get it reapproved, um, go through um, all of that stuff. And I think the thing that's it's a couple of things that are are standing out um, to me. First of all, it's it's a huge place. Um I've in full
transparency, I've been a store owner. I've held a liquor license. Um it and I'm sure you guys are driven by this is a really big building. Um and I think, you know, there's just there's been so much with finally getting back um at
this point. Um, there's a couple of things that, you know, I don't know if there our purview to do this, but there's the the building has has gone way out of scope. Some things have been pulled back in, but there's there's all kinds of questions still. You know, they're going to use this top floor for tasting, and then
they weren't going to do tastings. They were going to all these things. Now, I know that's allowed by license. Um, but there's all kinds of uh things that I have there. I think my concern here is that um the cost of this building, the size of this building, all the inventory that's going to have to go into it. Um
to me, it just seems it seems quite excessive. Um and again, I had a whole bunch of questions here that I'm not necessarily sure that David that you'd be able to answer. So, I think I can probably skip through some of these. I I will say that um there are a number of
open items on the um the departmental letters that um I fear that if we go through our process and approve everything that um what happens if some of these things don't close and get done. Can we come back and say they don't they don't get an occupancy permit? They don't get a permit and
occupancy permit if they don't comply with the concerns of the building commissioner and other you know boards of the town. And we could we could also do it uh contingent upon successful completion of >> that that each one of these departmentals will >> we can't we can't operate the business without that. We can't we can't even
move in without that. >> Right. >> Yeah. But I want to know that the I'm sure there's instances where an occupancy permit has been issued because the applicant said they were going to do something and it doesn't necessarily >> No, that's called a temporary occupancy permit, but they're not granted a complete occupancy permit. Best example
of that is 133 Princeton Street. there. You've got people living in those units, but they're on a temporary occupancy until the required pro elements of that housing >> devel. No, I meant 255 two the west campus. >> We're not living there. >> I meant the west campus. I'm at the west
campus on further down for instance. >> And that would be I would respectfully suggest that would be standard operating procedure with most municipal entities. >> May May I may I add to a a point of concern that you that you may have? Um we started to spin our heads actually during the planning board with respect
to this top upper deck as to um where the planning board seemed to have this massive concern with it. The upper deck is there simply because we had to put an elevator in the building and you have to have rooftop access with the elevator. When the elevator goes up when you go up
there all that was designed was it's it's just basically an open space. And somehow that turned into we were going to have a cabana up there and we were going to be doing all kinds of wine tastings and could it evolve into a wine
tasting area? We have consider I said that three years ago. Every business can evolve into something but we have no plans at all to do anything there right now. >> Yeah. I think the I think my just I'm looking at some of the inconsistencies here because there were a lot of
inconsistencies during the planning board meeting. So, I'm just doing my due diligence. So, it was going to be a tasting area and then it was going to be not a tasting area and then it was going to be a break room and according to the latest documentation, it's going to be nothing as you have suggested that it could be something later.
>> Yes. And that's where we started to spin our heads and the last meeting I actually showed up to give clarity to that. >> Okay. because I I walked in and I finally said,"I I don't know where how this has turned into what it is, but we have absolutely no initial plans at all."
Three years ago, we said to the board, the a business can evolve without question, but as of right now, there is just no plan to do anything. It's just the elevator goes up to the top, and we most certainly would invite you all to come see the space. It's it's just an open cement area. I I I I think a lot of
excuse me for jumping in, but I think a lot of it has to do with over the three years there's been on again offagain things. There's been several questions here. I followed this board's I haven't so much followed the planning board as you have, but you know I' there's been a lot of questions on and off. So, so, um,
I don't know the right word to use here, but it's not that it's, um, suspect, but there's, you know, we just want to make sure the right thing is being done, >> um, because it's kind of been an on again, off again type of situation through the three years, and he's been in a few times to modify things. So,
anyway, I'll I have a question, but I'll I'll return it back to you. >> Um, no, that's and I I think you summarized that that well, um, versus me stumbling around a little bit. And then the other thing is, and again I am a small business person. I'm a former license holder. I I support these
businesses. I think people think they're they're cash cows and and we all know that the reality is they're not. Um this is a huge piece of property um with a lot of square footage. I believe you wouldn't build that square footage if we're going to fit it up. It's the the
retail floor is half the size of a of a total wine. It's I think the first floor is 12,000 square feet >> approx. And then you've got another 12,000 square ft approximately of inventory >> for storage. >> I mean, we're talking, you know, a million dollars worth of inventory. And um and we're talking and
we're talking a note on the building again. And I'm not sure that that road is going to get the the the revenue to kind of support that building. So, I'm also looking at what happens after this. Now, I wouldn't not grant the license for that, but again,
there's just there's a whole lot of things in here that that don't um um add up for me, but I guess at the end of the day, um guys, I would I need to see that these things are going to be closed and then I'll I'll be okay with >> with moving forward. I'm not going to
hold up a business from um operating. But there's a lot of history here. This goes a history that goes back to um the applicant's store ownership in um Burlington to owning a store in Westford, then selling that store in Westford, acquiring this license, and
taking three years to get here. There's just there's something there that I just don't feel comfortable about. But I at this point in time, I I can say as long as these things are done, there's there's nothing else. But I I hope we're not dealing with a with an empty building in the future because something
didn't didn't work out right >> to some of that point. Um, so, um, Canisa, if I'm saying that correct, >> is are they just a tenant to this building? >> Uh, can well, Kissa is the holder of the
license to which yes, they are a LLC tenant of the building. That is correct. So, Kal Kalahan >> Kalana >> Kana um I don't see an A at the end of that but u Kana LLC is the landlord and owner of the building >> owner of the building. >> Okay,
>> which is very common to which the owner will own the building and there'll be a separate entity that leases the building. It's it's actually a tax situation. >> Okay. because you know when I see that type of thing to your point right you know is that second floor gonna get >> leased out for somebody else or it's
going to be used for something else and >> he's the same person >> um it's just you know because it you know we've we've talked >> many different scenarios here um and so you know it's one of our concerns that you know um now we've um you know shot
the building up and >> did he own the real and when he owned the Westford store was that do you know if he owned the real estate if there was a real estate owner with that. >> Oh, no. >> Oh, well, wait, wait a minute. You're talking the way his business was structured. He didn't own the building. No.
>> No. Uh, Cornerstone. Um, >> that's what I thought. >> Yeah, Cornerstone owns that. That's a gigantic mall owned by a gi gigantic, but >> in this case, he does own the >> absolutely. >> Okay. >> Well, his business does. >> His business corporation LLC, right? >> Okay. >> That license sold for $2.4 million plus
a million dollars of inventory according to the documentation in here. The the license wasn't 2.4. >> What was the 2.4 then? >> There was a wholesale of the business. That was a compilation of all of the things. >> Okay. But a liquor store has shelves,
inventory. >> Inventory, goodwill, telephone numbers, um, uh, licenses itself, all of that. I haven't seen a license haven't seen an asset like that sell at that recently. But
>> sir, Mr. Cunningham, it was a very successful um retail liquor store in Westford. And and I I would suggest and by the way, I appreciate your due diligence, sir. Don't misinterpret everything I'm saying. I believe the town of Chumps is going to be very proud of this building. I believe this is going to be a destination liquor store.
Um my client has had tremendous success wherever he has gone. He got caught up into the CO issue. That was a massive delay, massive issues with inflation. We also had challenges with the design. The building is actually smaller than what it was originally approved at, but I
have uh I I represent to the board here that this is going to be a destination store and this town is going to be very proud of it. And he's a chumpsford resident. He's he's committed to the area. I believe it's also going to transform that entire area. We tore down a building that has been a decades after
decades is eyesore and we're putting in a a beautiful retail store. And I understand that there are concerns with its size. But you're going to see that this store is going to be fantastic. He is going to be offering products to the residents of Westford, excuse me, of Chumsford that are going to be at great
prices because he can do bulk rate purchasing. And that's the whole strategy in his business. You articulated it very well. the margins are very small, but in his business, if you can bulk rate purchase, you can offer the best prices to the consumers, and those consumers are the residents of Chumsford.
>> I know the bulk rate purchases, and I know what kind of margin you can and can't get, so I appreciate that. You don't have to sell me on it. He's a local resident. Um, you know, he he not my style, but he put in something and cleaned up the area. I don't have a I don't have a problem with that. I just it's there's just enough there to cause me a
little bit of pause. But as I've said to be very clear, long as these things are done, I'm okay with that. If these things are not done, I'm not going to then I would want to come back to this table and ask you guys to vote differently. So, I mean, you don't
need to sell me on it. I'm I'm there. But I sat through a lot of planning board meetings where questions were answered and then they were not answered and they were not right. So, we come here for this super short meeting and um >> I'll stop that. I'm good to go. >> No, no, but I think I think we can cover
it with contingencies contingent that um you know everything all the application is fully completed to the uh >> I do want to see small business. Don't get me wrong, that's my first priority. What I don't want is a problem down the road. >> Yep. Um any other questions or comments?
>> No, I'm good. Thank you. Thank you. >> Is there anybody in the audience that wishes to speak for or against this uh petition? Okay, seeing none, I will uh take a motion to close the public hearing. >> I'll make a motion to close the public
hearing for this u alcohol license. >> Second that. >> Okay, I have a motion in a second. Um no further discussion. All in favor? I >> opposed. That's unanimous. >> Okay. >> Thank you for your time and thank you for your >> We're not done. We're not done. We still have to vote. >> Oh, I'm sorry.
>> We just closed the public hearing. Sorry. Um, okay. Um, any any questions for anything else? Okay. I'll take a motion to approve the uh petition. I'll make a motion to approve the application for the alteration of
premises and a pledge of like license on a all alcohol beverage package store license for Kissa Incorporated doing business as Chunwood Wine and Spirits contingent on completing all of the department signoff um inputs received um
on the premises at 133 Princeton Street as presented. >> I'll second that. I >> have a motion and a second. All in favor? I Thank you. >> Thank you for your time and thank you for your excellent questions. Good luck. Okay. The next item this evening is request for me memorials, monuments,
memorials, renaming the food pantry in honor of um Sandy Dunovan. Um and I see that this was put together by Pat. So I guess Pat, I'll hand it off to you to uh um give us an idea of what
we're talking about. >> Okay. Well, I think it's pretty straightforward. Um, I was we had we had an event out at the food pantry um last fall where we received a a donation from somebody and and I was just thinking at the time especially since and we also
have the new the new um trailer out there which is the new food pantry and I was thinking you know Sandy Dunovan did so much for this community. I mean she's the one that founded the the Chford food pantry and she served there for you know almost 30 years. Um, I think it would be
appropriate to name that food pantry in her honor. Um, the and I I talked to a member a couple members of the food pantry board of directors. They brought it before the full board and they are in full support of it. Um, and they're
willing to help, you know, decide where it should be placed, maybe some of the wording or whatever on it. I guess my I would envision something similar to the plaque that we have outside this door of this room for Dennis Ready where there would be, you know, maybe a profile of of Sandy and just a couple of words
about what she did and when she did it. >> Okay. Excellent. >> That's what I thought. >> No, I think it's a great idea. Um, I worked a lot with Sandy back in the day early on and I remember when they were over in the CCA and we had to do
make the dramatic and traumatic move from CCA, the little 10x10 room over there over to the first trailer that we put together for her. Um, and I will say that all of my three kids all uh did community service under Sandy at the
food pantry. So, um, she, uh, she really did exemplify the, um, the spirit of Chumsford, and to really start an entity like that that has taken grasp and hold in this town the way it has is really amazing. So, uh, you know, I've I'm a
big fan of, um, what that entity does out there, and I was all for getting the new trailer in, and it's beautiful. I think they're running much better right now. So, uh, I think that's a very appropriate request request and, um, um,
I would support it wholeheartedly. So, >> I agree. >> So, can I make a motion? >> You can make a motion now. >> Make a motion. >> I'll make a motion to approve the request for the naming of the food pantry in honor of Sandy Dunovan as presented. >> I second it. >> I have a motion in a second. Any further
discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? I opposed. That's unanimous. Congrats, Pat. >> All right. Thank you. >> Um the next item on the agenda is a discussion about airmark requests for
the state delegations. Um and we have a housemark request in front of us. Paul, you want to talk a little bit about this? >> Yeah. with the governor's release of the proposed FY27 state budget at the end of
January, the last Wednesday in January, um the state budget cycle begins. In fact, the governor this Wednesday will be doing her first hearing before the legislature on the proposed budget. But in summary, the legislative budgeting process has begun. And last week,
Representative Simon Catalo uh contacted our office and said, "Hey, you know, we're less than two months away from the House of Representatives submission of its proposed budget for debate, and therefore what earmarks may the town of Chsa be interested in?" Um, as you know,
we have the three reps, Representative Rcier, Representative Catalo, and Representative Elliott. Um, and um, as is customary around this time of the year, we submit the request. the my first reaction was gee money's kind of tight um because it's you know it's the
fiscal conditions but on the other hand as was pointed out to me it is an election year and so they do anticipate that there will be earmarks in the state's uh upcoming state budget um so with that the discussion tonight is you know what might the town be interested in I think we don't if we want to have
more consideration we don't have to have a final answer tonight but I think because they have meetings with the legislative the house leadership you know, prior to April, we should have it um completed with, you know, within two weeks. Um what I've presented to you in the memo that's displayed and in your packet was where we were a year ago and
that you see that date was March 6. So they're getting bit of an earlier start this year. And at the time we received these three earmarks that we submitted. One was the traditional $25,000 for this food and nutrition programs at the senior center. Um the second one was for
the Freeman Lake water aqua for water quality study which did get funded and you'll see later this evening has actually been approved by the department of environmental protection for superseding order after the local order of conditions was appealed and um and then the third one was for the tree
canopy restoration invasive species management program. Um, so you can see those totaled, you know, um, about $150,000 uh, in in the aggregate. I did reach out to our public works director, Christine Clancy, and, you know, said, Christine,
you know, I'm sure these are still valid ideas. Are there any other suggestions that you might have? Um, again, her thoughts were very similar uh, in terms of lake management study. You know, last year we did um, we did Freeman Lake. We
we we could do one at Hard Pond because that's the other and that would actually be a regional one because we share Hard Pond with the town of Westford and that would be around the same dollar amount. Um also she mentioned, you know, there are other um watershed areas that could
be studied uh as part of the storm water master plan. Um we're also in terms of the design and configuration items and as Pat know that the our NIM northern Middle Sex Council of Government is in the process of developing a transportation improvement program for the upcoming years and part of that
involves design work. And so and NIMCOG may be finding providing some design funding. And so what Christine said, either through Nimco or through this, we we we are getting concerns, you may hear about them for the reconfiguration of the of the intersection of Boston Road, Harvey Road, and Hazen Street, uh
because of the, you know, the recent um state work that's taken place there. Um there's also ongoing items that in terms of traffic assessment is we're continuing to look at whether we should upgrade the five existing traffic signals in the town center. Um, also
another one that she mentioned that's also regional would be the Bruce Freeman um, rail trail maintenance, you know, because we know now that the rail trail is maturing, we're getting issues with the tree root systems and invasive management along the rail trail. Um, and
then also again back to the tree canopy and tree planting. As you know, um, we are doing the front yard tree planting program and that's proven to be quite popular coming out of the box. And then finally, the last one that she noted was a townsponsored
pilot curbside composting program. Um, so those are type of items and again usually what the legislature wants to do with specific you know identifiable contained projects because it it's sort of recognized that when the event occurs
you can say oh that was done in be behalf of the state legislature and with the assistance of you know representative or senator you know so forth. So, that's that's kind of the the um we did ask is there any funding amount and limit and it really isn't a prescribed limit and I think it really
would be as if there's something the town has that's unique and wants to achieve. Um because in the case of like Representative Catalo, he represents multiple communities as does representative RCO and Representative Elliott and so generally you know there isn't sort of an allocation well this
much for this town that much. it sort of fluctuates and if you look at the earmarks over the years the money levels do eb and flow depending upon what a community is seeking. So that's a longwinded answer to your question is is it can be anything you want it to be but it's you know but those are some ideas that we're thinking of.
>> Would it be a detriment at this point because you'd mentioned some other some other excellent projects and Boston Road being one of them. Um just because that's a that's a >> it's problematic down there. >> Um >> would it be a detriment to wait two weeks till the next meeting? I don't
think so. Um >> you know because now we're broadcasting this tonight. You've just mentioned a lot of other projects and it will get people thinking and I think if we come back and if we can see the full list maybe next time so that we can kind of uh and I don't know if there's budgets you know attached to those other items.
>> Yeah, they're approximate numbers. Yeah. But again, if I think more also if there's other ideas that you think of or Jeff may add at the next meeting or anybody in the public, we're open to it. And I think this is sort of an open time as we're doing budgeting and the legislature is if there's something that specific to Chelmswood that we'd like to
see done because oftentimes the thing is oh great idea we don't have the money to do it. Now is a chance where you could get an earmark to do it. >> Sure. The answer yes is yes. >> I think Dev up at the senior center and and um Christine do really good with
limited funds when they get them for things like this. So I I will continue to support similar types of projects. And and we would typically do four. Would that be a >> It can be It can be anything. I mean, it could be one large one that you have all three sign on for, or it could be indivi individual individual ones for three or
or could be multiple. Um, you know, there some things that, you know, sometimes we get for grants, we don't get them. So, for example, we're still waiting the word on the body warn cameras for the police. That could be one if we don't get that grant award. And we thought we'd have that answer by now. So it's those type of sort of unique items that are like you said
tangible, identifiable and specific that um you know could be sought in in an earmark and again it's it it can go to anything. you know, could be, you know, extra hours for the library, you know, because we we've lost the Sunday, you know, could be those type of things. And
as you know, when you see those, they they they go into the appropriate section of the state budget and they specifically say what it's for >> and then we get the grant paperwork from the state on how to use it. And >> so, yeah. So, it's um it's it's that
it's that open and meaning like it's >> whatever anyone thinks is a sound idea that we'd like the legislature to help us with. And uh correct me if I'm wrong, but we have had success in the past several years getting some air marks. Um
I guess the other thing, not trying to read into the tea leaves here, but you know, the other thing maybe, you know, just a three or five year look back saying we got this much this year, this much we'll give you the previous year. >> And if we kind of average it out and
say, okay, you know, we were successful asking for this, why don't we keep it in the same range or something like that. Uh, and that may or may not work, but I think it's worth looking at the uh, data to just see if um, it uh, weighs on anything one thing or another.
>> Although I I guess I I wouldn't I would maybe ask for more than we think we might get rather than >> Absolutely. Which we >> never going to get more than we asked for. >> That's right. That's right. >> Right. Right. They have knocked it down the levels we've asked for funding in the past. >> Yep. >> Okay. All right. Great. >> Okay.
>> Thank you. >> All right. Any further discussion or comment? >> No. Good. Thanks. I would uh um we don't need to do a motion on this. We'll defer this for two weeks and we'll pick it up and put it on the agenda for the next meeting. Thank you, Paul.
>> Okay. Town manager bid awards and just one bid award for your approval this evening. This is for the uh town offices and senior center elevator modernization project. Um, basically this was bid uh by public works and fortunately because
of the bidding climate that we're in, we received seven bids uh as noted. I know you'll never read that font on the screen, but it's but there were seven bids um that were received um the lowest responsive and responsible bidder um was
Enterprise Equipment Company in the amount of $897,210. Uh and that's what we're seeking the confirmation for the award. If you now that I've increased the font you can see the bid prices were the 8.97 210 and
then you see other prices 915 968 965 974. So obviously and then it goes up to you know 1 million 104 and 1 million 178. So you one, it shows a healthy bid market, but two is I think you got confidence
that yeah, this is a low bid and they kind of are in the ballpark of, you know, you'd get real nervous if if there was a big gap and you say, hey, what did they miss? And we've seen that in the past. But everything we've checked out, the references and we've um we've worked with this company uh and they're on
contract for a similar project um with good experience so far. So again, we seek your confirmation to award the town offices and senior bid project to Enterprise Elevator Equipment in the amount of 98 $897,210. >> Any questions or comments?
>> So Paul, this is going to deal with the elevator itself. >> Yes. The whole >> some additional HVAC that's going to be required to bring it up to code and electrical work that's going to bring it up to code. >> Yeah. >> Excuse me. And that's why we're seeing a lot of cont general contractors
>> looking at this work and not because I know how much trouble we've had in the past trying to find any elevator companies to bid anything here for us and fire stations we got one bid you know schools we get one bid you know so >> um so this is good I'm glad that we approached it this way and uh
>> um >> and I think u the numbers are very tight so um I think that bodess well for the town so having said that I would entertain a motion to approve the town manager bid award. >> Okay. I'll make a motion to approve the town manager's bid award for the town
offices and senior center elevator project to Enterprise Equipment Company in the amount of $897,210. >> Second. >> Okay. I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, um all in favor? I opposed. That's unanimous.
Thank you. Great. >> Thank you. >> Okay. The next item is uh Tom manager reports. Yeah, just a few items this this evening and I'll try to go through them in the appropriate amount of time. The first one is sort of a starting point is we since our last meeting we
did receive approval from the Massachusetts office of the attorney general in a letter dated January 29th 2026 of the action taken on general and zoning articles at the fall annual town meeting. As you can see, they approved all of the articles in their entirety um
except for article 16, which it had to do with the use regulation schedule. And what this was this and their concerns here pertain to the Dover amendment, which is basically allowed uses by right. And interesting thing here is and what people need to realize is when we
submit a zone, this concern that's written by the attorney general wasn't a change at town meeting. What it what it was was when the attorney general reviews the zoning bylaw or general bylaw amendment they examine it in its entirety and when they when they examine as entire they said hey wait a minute
you've got provisions out here that may conflict by requiring special permit for what are allowed by right uses. So that's what they've noted to the town. This has been been obviously shared with town council and the planning board and so planning board with council's
assistance will address this concern at you know town meeting you know this fall because it's too late for this hearing but the good news is is all the actions you can see you you know the considerable number of articles from 15 through 32 were approved um and again
this this issue arose when they were reviewing the the articles in their entirety. And then there was a a comment if you go later into the thing about you know guidance I guess regarding the ADU bylaw which again they didn't reject anything they just point out well gee
make sure when you administer it you're mindful of this and again councelor shared that and that's that's understood. So, so that's good news in terms of you know um previous action of town meeting and now this will go to general code and then the town's bylaws
will be updated online with all these changes from the fall and also it's been posted by the clerk's office to make it official in the town. So that was relatively quick. The other thing I have for you which is takes a little bit more time but it's to be very quick about it is two weeks from tonight when you
gather you'll be signing or scheduled be requested to sign the warrant for the spring annual town meeting. Um traditionally it's always the second meeting in February. I provided you with a draft of you can see 36 articles for that warrant. Most notable thing to note with the Springtown meeting is its
primary purpose is budget. So when you look of the listing of articles, you know, the first 25 articles are finance-based in terms of the operating budget and so forth, CP, community preservation committee and so forth. And then the last part of the warrant has to
do with bylaw amendments, mostly zoning bylaw amendments. Um, as you can see by the planning board, they've been advertising hearings. I know Aaron's attended those. Um, basically having to do with um zoning articles. I did put the petition one first as I indicated. I
would at the last meeting. Um, and then then there's the outdoor lighting is coming back again. Uh, as and that requires a zoning bylaw amendment as well as a general bylaw amendment. Uh, because you have to sync the two much like we do with our our cannabis bylaw.
Um, and then then they have other zoning requests. Um, and then at the end is utility easements for the fire stations construction project for national grid because you're bringing in underground conduit. And the last one is a street acceptance for Port Pro Proctor Road. So
that's where we're at. I've sent this draft warrant to council for legal review. And so again, I expect to receive those comments from council next week. And then the warrant will be presented to you for a signature um at your next meeting, two weeks from tonight. And then as is custom, the
finance committee will conduct its hearings in in the next several weeks. And then the select board that's seated um after the April election will consider this at its first main meeting in April as we go into town meeting. So that's what >> as far as approval >> for approval and recommendations. Yeah.
>> Okay. So that's what we have for you this evening. Again, not much change from the last uh draft I presented to you other than this. You now have the text of all the zoning articles. So that's that resolves that and we'll let the we'll let our welcome our
scouts. Have a good evening. >> Hey, thanks for attending guys and uh girls and uh please come anytime. Um I know we're we're an exciting bunch to watch. So uh um but we love having you here and we love having people in the audience. So please feel free to drop by
anytime. >> Thank you again. >> Thanks guys. >> It's a good turnout. >> So before you go on to the next agenda items, can I ask Paul a question? >> Sure. Um, so I guess this is still a little bit of
learning. So once we pass all these things, town meeting, I didn't realize it had to go to the attorney generals to sign off on it. >> Only the zoning and the general bylaws. >> Only the zoning >> and that's messed with this law. Cities and towns would have to send their bylaws and to to the uh attorney
general's office for approval, but cities do not have to. >> Okay, >> don't ask me to explain why. It just is. So, if there's a if there was a zoning bylaw, I want to talk general about if there was a zoning bylaw that got put into place and approved
>> and then somebody tries to resend that zoning bylaw. >> Um, isn't if the attorney general already approved the amended one, would they likely reject the >> No. No. They they're they're only doing a legal review. They're almost think as
as a council. Okay. They're doing a legal review. make sure it doesn't conflict with state law or the state constitution. >> Yeah, they they you know, the town wants to wants to, you know, yo-yo back and forth on its bylaws. They don't care. >> Okay. >> Yeah. A few years ago, we instituted a
bylaw for um for billboards and then the next if not the next meeting, the next year, it was rescended. >> Okay. All right. All right. So, the next item I have is is the um town manager's proposed fiscal year 27 operating and
capital budgets. Um again, in accordance with our town charter and bylaws, I've released this budget in a timely manner. Um prior to the release of the budget, I did receive the budget request from the show and from the council of public schools. I'm pleased to say that we're
all in harmony. Um and I also can just tell you as an overview the three budgets which are entity or town meetings meaning the council of public schools and the show tech and the town it's a level ser staffing level service budget that's basically as best as it
can be because of the the pressures of inflation namely in the form of health insurance premiums you know labor costs and other incidentals uh benefits you know with the retirement assessment so forth There's no new programs, there's no
expansion of personnel, staffing or what have you. And I kind of go through the detail of that. Again, being mindful that the seated board and after April 7th will review this in detail and make the recommendation. I'm not going to pour through this extensively tonight. Although, if you are interested, John
Ser, our finance director who was so instrumental with me in producing this document, will be presenting to the finance committee this Thursday evening at 6:30 uh for this. and we'll also be reviewing the warrant as well. Um, so just to give an overview for those
watching and for you in in entirety and again I'm not you don't want me reading your slides. You have the packets. People can see the packets. Just to be in shorthand, it's $176.4 million budget. Um the what's unusual with this funding
assessment is I am basing the budget on the fact that the legislature will as it did a year ago exceed the governor's proposed chapter 7 educational funding. A year ago the governor presented $75 per student and
the legislature ended up at 150. I'm anticipating that that's going to happen again because of the uh realities that it's the last year of the Student Opportunities Act uh and the the fiscal realities that school districts are facing and the fact that
it's an election year. And so I I I don't know why the governor did didn't come out more aggressive, but I I can only control what I can do. And the and the reason that we I do this at this point in time is the legislature is not going to finish their budget as we know
until July. Um and it's too late. You know, by then the schools, both the vocational and public schools have already hired their staff. They've done their schedules and everything else. You you could give them money at in July. You give them money in September. They're not it's not going to be effective. They can't just, you know,
reassign. Anyway, so that's the leap of faith that I've taken with this budget. Um, and I think it's a reasonable leap of faith. Um, couple other things to overview on the budget. Um, again, it's 176.4 million. The council of public schools increase is 2 and a.5 million or
3.3% that funds them from the town of 78.15 million. Nshoba Techch has a 6 and a.5% increase or 263,000 to 4.32 million. You'll see why is NHOBA's increase so large. Part of that is driven by the state because the state's
chapter 70 education funding that I just spoke about the monies per student and so forth that follows the students. So what what that means is and is that as the student enrollments fluctuate relative to each other at NOA versus Chsford in our case the money follows
the students and this year both Nishoba Tech and the Chsford public schools had a increase in enrollment. However's increase was larger relative to Chford. So what comes with that is the money goes with them but then when the money goes with them so doesn't the minimum net school spending requirement that
goes with it hence the six and a half percent. And Pat who's a member of the show tech school committee knows painstakingly how difficult that is because there are communities such as the town of Aair that we heard last week at the breakfast that lost enrollment in their regional school district but
gained it at show tech and you know their assessment went up significantly and then there are some communities I think it was with was it pepper or townsen where their enrollment went down and their net school spending requirement went up. So anyway, it's it's a long-winded way of saying part of
what drives a lot of these budgets are the state's, you know, guiding hand to be polite in terms of what you have to spend on, you know, on education and so forth. Um, all right. Anyway, that's it. >> The initial pass of that wasn't 263,000
though. I thought they were it was a lot less. They thought it was going to be a lot less and and and that that was why the Nshobo Techch School Committee had to meet the Tuesday following to finalize their budget to get it out in time and you know it was again it was sort of unexpected. Um on the general
government side our increase is is is basically equivalent to the schools where 3.2% as opposed to 3.3 where you can see we're roughly half of the schools. So it's 1.25 25 million as opposed to their $2.5 million increase. And therefore, the general government of the town is roughly $40 million as
opposed to 78 million for the schools. Um again, the big driver on this is benefits and insurance. Um 7.68% increase of 2.77 million to 30 almost $39 million. And our debt service is increasing by over 5%. Uh 548,000 to
10.9 million. uh and inside that debt service, non-excluded debt service which falls within our levy goes up by just over $300,000 or 3.9% while excluded debt service increases by 885,000. Again, it's an anomaly large percentage
because we have very little excluded debt other than the public works building and now that's the fire station debt kicking in. Um and then our state assessments and overlay is basically level funded. Um, so that's sort of the top shelf. And then what also drives
things in this slide is you have to fund for things that fluctuate on a on a particular year basis such as this upcoming year we're going to have three state elections because you're going to have the state primary in September. You're going to have the um state election in November and then you'll
have the town election in in April. This year we only have the town election in April because it it it was an odd year. Um so again every other year and then and then every fourth year you get an extra election for the presidential primary. So this one is the in between one of bianual state elections. Our
legal services uh budget I've raised by $50,000 because of the increase in our hourly rate as well as the increase in our land use by the town. Um our solid waste recycling contracts with the collection and the uh disposal facility
go up by almost $150,000. the cost to to modify and operate the PAS system on Richson Road goes up as does the cost of building maintenance as our buildings continue to age. Um, and then I also just note things that aren't found in the budget that are that are
worthy of consideration. Again, we could we could always use additional police officers, firefighters, uh, the lieutenant positions in the fire department. We talked about highway laborers, safety specialists, and so forth. And so, and you'll see later on the staffing levels are are pretty much
flat and they have been flat for, you know, decades. Um, >> oh, real quick, just before you go on, and I think I know the answer to this, but the um the Richardson Road treatment system, that's the one that's on site. Yeah. >> That
>> and at some at some that's only treating the groundwater there, right? So, we've got these two new PAS plants going in for >> But that's the water >> center for the at the water district, right? And then um and this is just completely separate. It's not at this location. >> This is for the the clean the cleanup of
the >> PAS material that's in the soils there. >> Yep. >> Okay. Um >> benefits. >> I spoke about the benefits insurance increase. The thing that people I'd like people to recognize is the estimated
cost for an HMO family plan for the upcoming year is going to be $38,100 and the town funds 75% of that or 28,000 which means the employees funding $10,000 of that. So it just I think people often don't realize unless
they're in a business world of what the cost of benefits are for employees. Um, and then our assessment for the Middle Sex County retirement system because we're not full, you know, you have an unfunded liability there, that increases by 6 and a half% or 860,000. So, we're going to be sending Middle Sex County
Retirement System a check for $14 million uh in in July. Um, so again, it's significant. Um, let's try to be somewhat quick. uh capital plan and and we we pres John
presented this at at the tri board meeting as you may recall at $6.4 million going from the high school roof replacements down to um you know HVAC systems at the Adams library and the police station and DPW vehicles. Um
couple other things I'll just note again I told you I wouldn't read through it. Per people expenditure. I think this is interesting to me, maybe it's interesting to folks because people look at, well, gee, how much am I paying in taxes, but as you can see, the most recent data for the Chancellor public schools as of FY24. Mind you, we're in
FY26 going into 27. In FY24, it was $18,641. That's a state certified number. It's not some number I make up. This comes from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. So you can see in today's world it's roughly $20,000 a
student to educate a child in the Chelson public schools. So I I think sometimes people look at their tax bill and say, "Oh my god, I can't believe I'm paying $9,000 in taxes for the average home." Yeah, it's costing us $20,000 to educate a child. Um so I thought that
was interesting. Again, I spoke about the Nshobate Tech assessment. Um for Nhoba Tech, again here's the increase. We're now 28.05% 05% because our enrollment went up by six students to 216. The district's total enrollment only
went up by six students to 770. So that's why our percentage shifted. So not only do we pick up the state aid and the net school spending, we also pick up a portion of the debt service and other cost um that that goes with and then for the um per pupil expenditure in Nova
Tech. I mean, look at that. In FY24, the most recent data again, two years ago, and we're going a year ahead to 27, it was $24,000. So, it's probably somewhere around $25,000 for for the high for the vocational school. And the reason why the vocation will be higher
than a child public school is not only, you know, they're running a vocational program for high for high school students, which is more expensive than running a, you know, a third grade curriculum classroom. So that's why vocational school assessments are greater than public school assessments in general.
>> Um, >> and Paul, I think it's important to note that I, you know, those are big numbers and >> Oh, they're great numbers compared to other >> districts compared to other districts. >> We're one of the lowest cost technical school districts in in the in the state, >> but I think across the board, I mean,
>> people moved to Chumsford and bought in Chumsford just like us and a lot of other people because of the quality of the school system. So there is a direct link between >> the value of your property and the value of our town with the with the school spending doesn't mean we don't need to be tight with our spending and
responsible but >> but it's also interesting that you know what it cost you to send a kid a child to UMass LOL on the same it's on the same thing. So again you're getting value for that. Um let me just slide quickly to the to the
equivalent employees just to show people the um the um the sense of slide way move it up to just to get a sense on on you know I think sometimes people don't recognize
the staffing levels again in 20 years we've added 7.6 6 employees in the general government of the town and the last five years we've added.7 employees because I think sometimes people think oh we're just here at the town offices just hiring people and you know but and you know our population's
increased and our and then the demands have increased and even on the school side in five years they've added 15 employees on on the school side you know so again when I keep talking about level staffing it's level staffing and then if you look inside the departments
you know that That's you you can just see the data from ' 06 to last year to the upcoming year. It's basically flat whether it's you know the library to DPW, the police, fire and so forth. And the reason is it's not that as I said earlier it's not that you don't have
legitimate worthwhile and and and honorable requests for staffing in departments. It's just we just can't afford it within the levy limit because that's the governor on on the town is the two and a half plus the growth. And that's why we're concerned with state aid. Um, again, you see the big budget
drivers. School department, health insurance is number two. Debt service, retirement, um, wages, not excluded debt service, noet, solid waste recycling, Medicare tax. A lot a lot of that isn't discretionary. It's
not like we're, as I said earlier, it's not as though we're saying, "Oh, wouldn't it be nice to do this or that the other thing?" And then on the revenue side, you can see we're constrained by the allowed two and a half percent increase projected new growth in which and the reason it's nine. It's the last year of the 255
Princeton Street which adds a few hundred,000 to what would normally be a year. The excluded debt service and again what we anticipate the increase in state aid as I said with $150 per student as well as local receipts um and available funds. That's the
reason that's a negative number is we're paying off the sewer um debt service with betterments and that's why it's a decrease. So it really doesn't affect what we have to spend to operate the town. Again I I do five and 10 year comparisons. The most important thing to
note is 77% of our revenue comes from the property tax. Um as you can see in five years our unrestricted general government aid has only increased by 16%. That's why you saw the MMA pushing for that. And of course, they didn't get it. Um but um
and then you can see even over a 10-year period, it's it's grown from the burden on the property tax from 75.6% to 76.6%. Um, any other thing to note on property tax and we we talk about this, um,
you know, if you were to take the 9219 average single family property tax bill and sort of break it out by where the budget goes, obviously most of the money goes to the schools. 44.7% or 4121 of that 9200 goes to fund the schools. benefits insurance being second
that funds um you know 20% of the of it just of the tax bill goes to fund benefits and insurance and down the line. Uh the other thing that we note in town as you did when you said the levy um we're now 8515 for residential versus
commercial valuation. Again years ago we were closer to 8020. It's out of our control because of the commercial market. And then here's probably the most important thing perhaps to think. That last column, this is average single family property tax bill, state rank.
Number one is the highest. That's the town of Weston. And as you can see, 20 years ago, Chford was ranked 61. Go back 10 years ago to 2016, we were ranked 70. This year, we're 86. And last year, we were 80. So yes, CH taxes,
property taxes are going up in Chsford, but they're go we're not going in in fact as much as our peers because we're we're slipping, you know. So I know people don't like the property tax. They don't like the don't like it. But the bottom line is taxes are going up in Charleston, but they're going up everywhere and relative to elsewhere,
you know, we're we're now 86 in the state. Uh as opposed to where we were in the high 60s and 70s um until fairly recently. Um and then again this data and how you you know how we you can see it's same
thing with our neighbors relative to what they earn and so forth. Um and then lastly inflation is the driver in all this. That's the key thing. You can see we're in the threes now in inflation after the 7.1% in fiscal in calendar 22.
But you can see prior to that it was it was closer to the 2% in the Fed standard. And that's what's higher because if you if your increased levy is two and a half percent and inflation's running above three, the math doesn't work. And unfortunately, that's not expected to change. And then lastly on
the capital plan, and again, John went through this in the um tri board meeting. As you can see, we've got 6.4 million of capital requests. Uh and they're all detailed in there. So that's an overview of the operating budget. As I said, um it was first capital budget
was first previewed at um tri board meeting and it'll be discussed at finance committee and all the detail sheets are there and then it will be discussed at um you know ultimately at town meeting in April. So that's that's the summary of the capital and operating
budgets. Um >> I have a question. Sure. Not sure you can answer but um well you probably can but um so from a global point of view um I don't need a detailed answer but you know we were through the tri boards we
were talking about you know a couple of million dollars a few million dollar deficit >> um how did we cover that is that covered um strictly by revenue or did um did everybody give a little to get a little? The big thing that helped and I'll go to
it right now was what happened with our health insurance. We were to we were looking at a 13% increase in our health insurance premiums. What ended up happening is in um they ended up cut cutting eliminating the GLP1s
um which are the weight loss pills and and injections now um for for non-diabetic uh patients. Um, that's what you see on all the commercials that cut our health care premiums by 5%. So instead of having to
fund a 13% increase, it basically ended up being an 8% increase. That was significant. I mean that, you know, we're, you know, and and that really is what made the day is otherwise we'd be here making cuts >> in personnel and services. Um the state
group insurance commission is scheduled to meet this Thursday morning and they're expected to do the same thing for the state group insurance program that some cities and towns as well as the state employees are enrolled in. We've already seen the private insurers uh implement those actions. Blue Cross, Blue Shield, you know, Compass, which is
Tusson, Harvey, Pilgrim. That's the big change and and no one enjoys that making that situation, but that's the reality because the actuarial value on that was was just a big question mark. Um, and so create created
the financial burden. So that's how we went from the larger deficit to where we were today. The other thing is quite frankly the school's request was originally was 3.5 million the superintendent paired it down to 2.5 million. So there was a million right
there and then you got the other one from the health insurance uh you know GLP1s. The problem is again it's the issue of what do you you know this what's the next step because this is not sustainable. We're not going to have the GLP ones to eliminate a year from now.
And at some point, again with inflation, you're not going to be able to just, you know, cut cut. And that's why when we were at the tri board meetings, we talking about things that were sort of I think I mentioned them as coming attractions. You're going to be looking at tra issues of trash collection and
fees and so forth. um in in in the in the years ahead because that's that's it's it's those are the tough choices you're going to have to deal with the community. What what I didn't do and we don't want to do is we you know we we and that's why I did the thing with
assuming the state aid is going to be above what the governor suggested because you don't want to say oh well we cut this and then you come back and the legislature funds it in July and say oh never mind. How do you do never mind? Um, so that's that's sort of what it is. And to to give you the situation on the
the drug thing I have in the packet, this is our tw 24-month history. And you can see that the the trend was better in the last 12 months than the prior 12 months. But more importantly, the other slide is in the calendar year 25,
the town spent $839,000 in GLP1s, you know, and that was growing because the prior year was 251. So you went from 251 to 839 and and this was before the pills came out and everything else and and that's
you know it it would have been worse and and that was why you know the insurers and everybody had to make this choice. But what you're seeing now is you're seeing uh industry for lack of a better word or are you know you know basically stepping
in and filling the void whether it's you know your wholesale clubs or Weight Watchers and so forth. I mean they're they're trying to do what we can't do as an insurer is to basically condition it to so we'll see where it goes but but that was that is the story. Um but the
problem is that and that's why the governor just appointed a task force on controlling health care costs because okay you've now dispensed with this thing but the bigger driver beyond the GLP1s was was the whole issue of of prescription drug costs particularly specialty farm as well as the industry
costs because you got the hospitals failing you've got it's it's there's no solution there that nobody has been able to identify and that's going to be a driver um in in and in the years ahead, you know, we and so
that's the concern going forward is many of the things that were driving this year are going to be there next year. We know we're going to get an assessment it with the new actuary evaluation from Middle Sex of at least 6 and a half%. You know, we we know health care costs are probably going to be somewhere around double digits going forward. You
still got your ongoing labor cost and so forth. And so again, it's going to be a question of what does what what do towns do? Sadly, and I know Pat heard it particularly because she's at Nshoba Techch, there are communities in the Nshobate Tech region, particularly those in the western part of the district with
regional school districts. I was talking to the manager today in Pero. I mean, he's got a million dollar deficit in Pero after dealing and a million dollars in Pero is worth more than a million dollars in Chsford. His GLP1 saved him $100,000. His words to me was $100,000
doesn't solve my million-dollar problem in Pero. Um, and so it's, you know, it's it's just becoming a real challenging budgetary situation. And I think that's why you're seeing the questions about where does the state go from here
because this is the last year of the education funding formula. Uh, and then you saw the MMA coming in saying, "Well, wait a minute. You're not even helping us appropriately on general revenue sharing." And then you get all these ballot questions and everything tells me if the state well I don't want to get
into politics but there there are issues that could cause financial concerns to the state and also you've seen what is a what is a fact is the fair share of millionaires tax has now been sort of fully absorbed into the state budget process and that's why the state has
squeezed because they're funding things such as chapter 90 and chapter 70 education aid from the fair share tax that was meant to augment not supplant funding and I know a lot of people that that's what's going to happen and they've proven to be right. Um but
that's the concern is where does it all go from here. Um particularly where the state has a federal funding crisis looming over itself particularly in the issue of think about it more than 40% of the state's budget goes to health care mass mass health >> and and so anyway there that's why
there's this issue of the storm clouds on the horizon is what are you going to do anyway >> we've been fortunate >> we're fortunate this year series of events that transpired >> but >> but pain to come >> pain yeah pain to come yeah >> for lack of a better word
>> yeah be unless something changes. >> I mean, the last several years, I think we've been pretty lucky because I've looked at the budgets and paid attention long before um I had the opportunity to sit here and um this year's budget, I think, is
it's responsible giving everything we have. And I think we got lucky with yet another kind of one-time event saving us. At some point, and John's presented this and Paul's presented this for years, at some point we're going to have to start paying the piper. The reality is is I want to be clear. Nobody around
here sits here and says, "How can we raise taxes?" Right? We raise taxes up to the to the legal limit because we need to fund operations. And at some point with costs going up, like we're not talking about trimming fat here. We're talking about cutting
off limbs and we need to operate the town government. We need to operate our schools. And and so when I when I hear people or people talk about, you know, services are going down and taxes are going up. Well, first of all, we're only taxing to the legal limit, just to be
clear. And that's not enough if you want to maintain level services now or or in the future. And it goes back to what Paul keeps saying, inflation was up. Those prices all went up. They're not coming back down. Maybe it's a little more sustainable at 3%, but three 3.2%'s
higher than two and a half percent. Um, so I just, you know, I think it's really important that, you know, first of all, we're all in this together. Everybody's budget's personally getting squeezed. The town's budget's getting squeezed. And I think what um Paul and the departments and the school departments
have presented this year is is is pretty responsible. And I've been looking at and doing budgets now for 25 years. I know where they hide the fat. Um and I just don't I don't see that here. So, I want people to know that when we sit here and support or challenge you on these things, you know, we're doing it
with the best intentions of of of um of of what we think is the most responsible for the majority of the town. So, um and again, I think if you have questions on the budget or concerns, you can call any of us or call Paul and say, "Why are we doing this?" It's our job to be able to
answer those questions because it's your tax dollars we're spending. Um but to be clear, we're not just raising taxes for the fun of it. you're not we're trying to maintain the level services that we have and I don't want to tell you we can't fill the potholes because we don't have the employees anymore or we can't
you know do something else because we can't collect the taxes and process the bill bill payments and you know or guess what your classroom size is 30 instead of 24. So um I just hope that that people start to understand and you know know that we are doing the best that we
can with that situation. So I appreciate the the change this year. I don't agree with it. I think they're but the the good thing is is the um the manufacturers are going to have to step in when insurance companies stop covering these GOP one things they
because their revenues are directly affected by that pullback. So, >> but I I appreciate all the work that you and John and everybody else has put in. >> And then just in closing, there are other things outside the budget like sewer enterprise, which is its own thing. That budget's only going up just
over 3%. Most of that you know has to do with the treatment plant and the treatment of the and lol. Uh and then similarly storm water goes up um nominal amount and peg access as well. Again those are funded by fees or user fees
but that's that information is also out there. Um and then um that concludes the budget presentation. What I next time I want to me mention in my report is as I mentioned earlier this evening, we did receive from the departmental environmental department of
environmental protection from the Commonwealth the superseding order of conditions for the uh Freeman Lake treatment. This was an issue that the conservation commission issued an approval last year. It was appealed. The state has now approved it. The only condition and it's a long word thing is
they just want an environmental monitor on the project. So hopefully when the ice melts, maybe around May or June this year, um if things stay as cold as it is, but when the ice does melt and we'll work um to implement the with the conservation commission, the first phase
of the the um treatment of of Freeman Lake. Um so that was that was good news. And also the other good news is it wasn't appealed uh by the appeal deadline. So this is now in effect. Um so that's that's good news. Um the other
thing mentioned just for public because we keep getting asked is the Southwell boat ramp. Uh again it's a state project but it affects Chsford and Chsford we've been monitoring this with Representative Elliot along the way. The good news is is it's the contract u bids were
received. They received 14 bids. They awarded it to the lowest bidder. Um and that work is scheduled to be completed by the end of this calendar year. Um, and my guess is it'll probably be summer and fall is generally your low water months. And so that because they've got
to dam it and so forth. So the good news is once again evidence of a of a stronger bidding climate to get 14 bids uh for the state uh state funded and state administered project. But that is an update on what's what's going on with that. And then in closing the monthly
double poll report. Obviously, not a lot of work going on right now with double polls, but um for the month of February, as of February 1st, there were 58 double polls in the database. Um that's an increase of four from the prior month. Um two double polls were removed from
the database last month and six were added. As you can see, National Grid, which is usually the initiator, there's none with the they're holding up the process. The biggest um constraint right now is Comcast and I'll continue to push them when the conditions allow to um
take their work uh and you know get the double polls addressed. And then the last thing on my report this evening um is I did receive notice from Chief uh Police Chief Colin Spence on February 4th. He's provided his notice of
retirement effective June 1st, 2026. Um he'll be missed um and you know we wish him well in his upcoming retirement. Um this will be the second vacancy that I filled as manager. Um because I was when
I when I started Chief Murphy was here and then and then he departed we ended up appointing um Chief Spinny and then when Chief Spinny retired over three years ago we ended up putting in Chief Spence. Um my plan is same as it done previously would be to it's a remember
it's a non-Ivil service position and so what I've done in those instances is do a assessment center interview the candidates and then bring that to the board for confirmation as a department head with with um Chief Spence retiring
on June 1st. Basically the idea would be to have you know the incoming chief work with with Chief Spence for a few weeks in May. So my my expectation is that that that appointment would come to the board probably your first meeting in May which will probably be the fourth assuming town meeting finishes if not
we'll do it the first meeting in May. So obviously you start you start working backwards. You start from June 1st you know sort of a crossover period you know select board confirmation you know manage manager decision assessment
center notice to the you know uh of the vacancy and assessment center. So that like I said in a few weeks that will be going out and then bringing you a candidate um and internal I just wanted you to know it the the intention and
plan and expectation is it'll be an internal candidate. You know we have a strong roster of of you know we have a deputy and we have strong lieutenants over in the department and so the expectation is is it'll be an internal promotion. Uh but you still need that carryover from the outgoing to the
incoming chief. So that's where we are with that. Um and that concludes my report from this evening. >> Thank you, Paul. Next item, the town manager appointments. >> Yeah, a bunch um of appointments this evening. So I'll other than you do them
as a group. Um for the bicycle and pedestrian committee, Kevin Baxter for an unexpired three-year term ending June 30th, 2026. Community Preservation Fund Committee, David Hamilton, three-year term ending June 30th, 2028. Council on Aging Mindy Rosen, three-year term
ending June 30th, 2028. Historic District Commission alternate member Marie unexpired three-year term ending June 30th, 2027. Holiday decorating committee reappoint of John Floria for a one-year term ending June 30th, 2026. And then Vinyl Square
Strategic Action Plan Committee, Adam McCusker, three-year term ending June 30th, 2026. Obviously, it's not an expired term. Um, so I'd seek your confirmation of those um, six appointments this evening. >> Any comments or discussion on that?
>> I think Adam's filling the role of the u the business rep. So extra shout out there for him stepping up on that committee. They've had that lacking and he actually joined the meeting the last time because of our mismeating. He didn't >> he didn't get the vote. But uh, I think
I think that was a a good choice. So appreciate all of these folks, but Adam especially since I met him for stepping up. >> Paul, can I just ask a quick course question um before we jump to the next item? And you may or may not know this, but how we doing on
winter uh conditions. >> The diplomatic way to say it is our public works director, Christine Clancy, will be providing you with a report in two weeks at your next meeting. Okay. Theak sneak preview is our snow and ice budget is exhausted. Um that last storm
that the 18in storm was $200,000 in in cost just attributed to that storm. Unfortunately, we we then we then had an incident this storm this past weekend. These storms, if you look back, have occurred on
weekends and holidays and they've all involved significant deicing. So, it's not as though this is a record snowfall winter. But again, this past weekend, it got to the point where they had to brine and then there was enough snow they had to then go out and remove. Uh, and then
the same thing's going to happen is forecast to happen tomorrow night and they'll have to brine and then if it gets to be enough, they're going to have to remove. Um, so the short answer is is we spent a lot of money on salt uh and a and a lot of money on overtime because
of the nature. So, it's Yeah, it's gone. Um and that's a $1.2 million. Now the good news is relative. We we have this is the first time in five years we've exceeded our snow and ice budget. The bad news is you know we haven't increase that budget in five years because of
that reason because under mass law it's the one of the few budgets you can legally overexpend um you know without obvious reasons. So yeah know the bud snow and ice budget is is a disaster. Um, and you know, the the
good news is is beyond tomorrow night, we're we're supposed to go into a little bit of a warming period, and let's just hope we can get our, you know, get through to um, you know, to at least the end of March and then a town meeting is when we'll probably reconcile it. Okay. Thank you.
>> Okay. >> So, I need a vote on the appointment. Yep. >> Ready for a motion? >> Yep. Make a motion that we approve the town manager's appointments as presented. >> Second that. >> Any further comments or discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? I.
That's unanimous. Okay. Next item on the agenda is uh select board regular meeting minutes from January 12th, 2026. Any comments, corrections, or issues with those meeting minutes?
No, >> you good. You're good. Okay. I'll entertain a motion to approve the meeting minutes of January 12, 2026. >> So moved. >> Second that. >> Okay. All in favor? I >> opposed. Unanimous. >> Okay. Select board member leazison
reports and referrals. Pat. >> Hey. Yeah. Couple uh this evening. Uh, first of all, the the the one book, the Chfordwood's one book that everybody participates in reading the same book all around town for this year is the
history of sound by Ben Shadic. Um, and Mr. Shadic, the author, will be in in Chamsford at the library on April 16th to talk about his book. The books are available at the library. U pick one up. Um, it's a it's a series of short
stories. Um, I've I've read a few of them. It's it's pretty interesting. So, um, everybody should definitely pick that book up and and give it a read. Um, also when we were when Paul and I were at the MMA, uh, conference, the MIA, the
Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association, of which how the way that we get our insurance awarded Chumsford a wellness award for the most innovative wellness champion, which was very impressive. Lisa Moroni was specifically mentioned she as for expanding the
wellness program doubling participation in 18 months through engaging and meaningful programs. So congratulations to the town and to Lisa Maron specifically. And uh lastly this morning um a new patrol officer was sworn in in the
Chsford u um police department. Um Gabe Murphy has just started working for the town. So you will soon see him um in a cruiser patrolling. And that's all I have this evening. >> Thanks. Um I'll go through a couple real
quick. I finally got to go to a final square um strategic planning committee because they're we're now off cycle with them. Um uh again, always very lively meeting. A lot going on. Um they did cover um their uh spring, I guess we're
calling it the some sort of spring revival >> event thing. It's it's uh going to take place up um in North Chelmsford between Barney Park, the um fire station, the uh and the and the McKay Library. So, uh that planning is underway. So, we'll
have an event and it's going to be a townwide event that we'll uh be able to look forward to, I think, in early May is the is the current plan on that. So, um it was nice to and get an opportunity to meet Adam who's going to be a part of that um planning and now newly appointed
Um, I'm going to skip that. Uh, and, um, you know, planning board's always pretty lively. That's one that regardless of what I say here, I always think people need to, um, take the time to go and, um, and watch those meetings to get the full scope. But, they had the
uh, the public hearing on the um, Riverneck Road treatment plant going on where the center has a has a um, a plant over there. So, I I believe that got approved. They didn't write down the the vote, but I think that's going forward without any issues. There was a lot of
um public comment, but I think it was um I think everybody, you know, got kind of the resolution that they were um were expecting. And again, they've spent a lot of time putting together those planning articles. So, if you want to, you know, town meeting reps, if they want an idea of what's happening um before town meeting, you can go and and
watch those la that last meeting and they'll they'll get through that. Um and then uh I had a chance to attend um the board of health meeting and they actually approved a um uh new um board
of health regulation which does not have to go through town meeting like the rest of them um on uh inspections and maintenance of uh sewer plants. So that's going to get uh adopted here. I think it already went in. Um, so if
you're one of the 107 residences left in Chumsford that's not on the public sewer, then that's something that um that affects you. Um, and then I would like to just note um that uh I think uh Siobhan is racing on
Wednesday for her medal. So tune in on Wednesday if you can. Um, I think regardless of whether um her or John, who's a hockey player, John, >> um, sorry, Jack. Um, you know, it would be great if, uh, regardless of whether they win a medal or not, I think it's
pretty special that we have, um, two Olympians in in Chsford. Um, I think that's that's that's a pretty cool honor. Um, and I was going to tell Jeff he should should reach out to them and see if we could sneak him into our parade this year like we had. We celebrated the hockey the not the hockey
team, the football team, the baseball team last year. Maybe we could get those guys and hopefully see some real gold medals. Um, and then the last thing I had was uh our everybody knows uh Chris Ferrer. He's down in Florida with his race team and John McKenny who's our uh
local driver um placed sixth in the opening um race this year. And I think that's pretty cool, too. He's John's a good driver and an interesting guy. and to have uh have the opening race of the NASCAR wheel and modified tour place in the top 10 is a pretty good start for
the season. So that's all I have. Thanks. >> Thank you. Um I guess first thing is I'd like to um thank Chief Colin Spence for his years of service to the town um his exemplary service and uh he'll be missed
obviously. So, um I have no doubt we have many u people under his uh um supervision that uh can step up and take over and do well for the town. So, thank you uh Chief Colin Spence. Um the only other item I have is a report on the
school building committee, the Colonel Moses Parker School Building. Um at the last meeting um it's been a while since we've met but uh the last meeting we um uh approved the submission of the
preliminary um design proposal and that now goes into um mass school building authority for approval. That document I can't remember the specific numbers was somewhere as around 2,000 pages.
So the level of effort that goes into getting the MSBA on board to fund your schools is phenomenal. Um it includes things like existing conditions reports and um the uh educational program which
is a very large document in itself. Um and it's just it's a multip multitude of all these documents that goes in. So it was a huge submission. Kudos to our um project team, our architects, our um project owners, project managers for uh
keeping us on track and moving us ahead. Um so that submission did go in and we've had heard back and they asked for a couple of more um specifics in the past week and um those have been handled and resubmitted again. Uh we did have
we've been doing some um drilling um out at the Parker site to see if we can um utilize that site for the new school, the field off to the right. Um two of the borings, so it this turns out to be minor, but there's been a few meetings on this and just to let
everybody know. So, two of the borings came back with a small trace amount of acetone and um so that's concerning because you know we've got to now go ahead and figure out how much acetone is there. Do we need to report this? Can we move ahead? Can we and I think the general
finding and correct me if I'm wrong Paul but uh is that um it looks like it was just trace amounts and it looks like it was probably left over maybe from something when they built the original school and they somebody poured something out or something like that. So that was really good news cuz we were
really concerned that we were going to have another big expense on our hands. So we believe we've uh averted that. Um so the um design proposal went in to MSBA. We'll hear from them and then we have a small
period of time to respond to them. Um the other thing that we did as part of that submission and um to keep moving down the road is we moved from 13 options >> to six or eight.
>> Yeah, it's six. I think it's really six. >> It's really six. Um but and I think we've have we've got consensus. I think everybody's looking to do I think the consensus of the committee is going to be do the four through six on the Parker
site and we um pretty much eliminated a lot of the other I mean they made us look at using McCarthy they made us look at building a new parker school in back of McCarthy could you imagine you know so I mean we we've researched all these things but we have to do that to satisfy
MSBA and um so we're very confident that uh we're pointed in the right direction and things are going our way so far. So, um um once we hear back from MSBA and we respond, then we can really get down to business with some design and eliminate
the final uh or pick the final option and then uh and get going. So, um so we're uh trucking right along on that and uh hopefully be back with some good news next month. So, so is it fair to say Pat, that and this is a I'm deliberately asking
the question that because the state's chipping in over 50% of their money that they've made us go through the due diligence of making the best choices and eliminating other options and really kind of coming up with the the best solution for Chumsford. >> It it that's a fair statement. Um at the
end of the day, it's really Chumsford's um decision to make. They're not going to dictate to us what's what. But I will tell you after working with MSBA for 25 years now, um they're much more stringent in what they expect from you and how you go
about doing all of your projects. So, um they won't come out and tell you what to do, but they just want to know that you have done the due diligence >> and uh and um you know, like anybody, they're looking for the least expense
inexpensive way to move forward as we all are, but we also need to take care of our kids and do the right thing by our kids and and so on. So, um, so yeah, I I I I think myself and the committee have have a high level of confidence
that, uh, we're pointed in the right direction and, uh, eliminating the, uh, the appropriate options and and sticking with the ones that we want to go forward with, which I believe at the end of the day is going to be a four through six grade configuration at the Parker Middle School because that seemed to be the
consensus. One of the other things we had to do for MSBA as part of this submission was we had to um grade all 13 options with a multitude of of items, you know. So, um through that it it became very clear which what the
number one option was and it was that, you know, so everybody gravitated to that. It's a 13 member committee. The fact that you've got 13 people looking at the same type of thing is um >> coming to consensus. >> Yeah. So, it's good. And the fact that uh you've got town people, school people, and all the different entities
involved um all pointing in the same direction is really good. So, having said that, um that's all I have this evening, and I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Move to adjourn. >> Uh all in favor? I opposed. That's
unanimous. Thanks, everybody.