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Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Hi Chris, thank you for your help. Can you hear the audio okay? >> I can hear you, yes. >> Oh, great. Thanks for your help, and thanks for sending that separate invite. That was really helpful. >> Of course, you're very welcome.

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>> Hi, I just wanted to let you guys know we can hear you in the room. So, um thank you for being here and they can you hear me, Emily? I can, yes. Thank you. So, you're a little further down the agenda, but we're going to probably uh so if you guys will stay muted, we

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will let you know when we get to you. >> Yep. >> Awesome, thanks. >> Great. Chris Chris had just asked me to join to test the audio. Okay, great. >> Okay, I'll call the meeting to order. Good afternoon and welcome to our June 18th, 2026 Select Board meeting.

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Um member Trask, could you please guide 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

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justice for all. >> Thank you. I would have the Madam Clerk um read the agenda item for us. >> Sure. Approval of the minutes of June 2nd, 2026. >> So moved. >> Do I have a second? >> Second.

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>> Any discussions? >> Yes, please, Mr. Chairman. Um under select board comments, um I'm attributed to saying that I attended the tour of Essex Tech, which I did not. I think that was Mr. Tress's comments.

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>> Yes, um Mr. Tress, Mr. >> Is that the only Is that the only item under your section that was not yours? >> None of my comments are listed. >> Okay. All right. Do you want to move this um to be approved at the next meeting? And we can just table it for now and I can

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correct that. >> up to the chair. >> Well, um Yeah, why don't we do that? >> it. >> So, we will table the minutes and then um get the corrections and we can move to approve that at the next meeting. >> Certainly. Thank you. New public business, please limit

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comments to 3 minutes or fewer. >> Any member Sure. Mr. David McKenna. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was asked to come in and address the board and the town of Danvers on what we're doing for the semiquincentennial

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celebration this year. Before I do that, I'd like to offer my condolences to our town manager and her family on their recent loss. We've all been there, unfortunately, so I know what it feels like. My condolences. >> Thank you.

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>> Um as everybody, I hope knows, we are in the 250th anniversary of the founding of our country. Uh the events that we've been doing started a year ago um with the Battle of Lexington and

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Concord and Menotomy and all the things we did then. This year, we will be reading the Declaration of Independence again on July 4th, which is Saturday, on the grounds of the library by the um Rotary Pavilion.

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We'll be doing it at 11:00 as we have in the past. We're hoping this year we hopefully get a little bigger crowd where it is the 250th anniversary of the country. Uh the following Monday something very special is going to be happening in Danvers.

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Uh the Danvers archives has two original copies. Uh the two original copies of the declaration that were presented to Danvers to be read in 1776. And Richard will have those on display

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at the library in the archive center archival center. Late afternoon at the same time the concert is ongoing that day. So that will be open to the public. He will have high security of course because they're valuable documents. [laughter] But he will have those and I think some

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other documents as well for people to see. He has I believe one of only two existing that were um printed by Ezekiel Russell in Salem. That um there were several different versions printed but he printed one that was

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official and then he decided, "I can make some money on these and make one for everybody to buy them post on their living room wall." I don't know how many he sold. But he had the first known woodcut silhouettes of George Washington and General Gates in the top left-hand corner.

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First time image of either of them have been seen. Of course nobody knew what they looked like, neither did he, but they're there. So it should be interesting. It'll be a great experience. Bring your kids and look on some some real history. The original original um

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copies. This weekend they're it's not a Danvers program but up in Gloucester they're going to be holding a reenactment of the Battle of Gloucester that took place about 250 years ago. Um they're going to be burning a village

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as I understand if the British will be and then have a pitch battle and chase the British away. Um, we will be having more events going on the course of the at this point the war started moving south. Uh, down to New York and then west and then further south.

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A year from now in October of '77, the Danvers Alarmists will participate in a battle reenactment in Saratoga, New York. Where the um, militia fought a full frontal assault for the first and only time in the American

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Revolution and actually won a battle. And it was going to considered to be one of the turning points of the war. Because they did a full frontal assault on a British redoubt and captured it. We lost a few Danvers men, Colonel Captain

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Samuel Flint died in that battle as well as the Colonel Herrick from Beverly. So, we do still have things going on and we hope to see a good turnout for people on the on the fourth and again on the sixth. These events are being sponsored by the

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Danvers Alarmists company and the archives and Representative Sally Currans is taking a leadership role in the reading of the declaration as she has for the last several years. We appreciate her help. Any questions?

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>> Thank you very much for the update, uh, David. Uh, I will have uh, board members if they have any Just just so the public knows normally public business public comments that's what it's called, right? They're like 3 minutes or less, but we specially

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invited uh, Mr. McKenna to come and give us an update um, on the events that [snorts] are coming um, for this year's celebration of the 250th. So, member Bernard, any questions, comments? >> No.

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David, repeat the time for the sixth and the location. >> The 6th uh this time is not been cast in stone yet. It'll be late afternoon, probably from 4:30 to 8:30. But that may waver just a little bit. We've just got to work schedules out

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with the library and the police detail. >> And the location is the library? >> is the archival center in the lower level of the li- of library right behind where the concert will be held. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Member Bean?

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>> Uh no answer, thank you. Thank you, David. >> Member Twice? >> I'm all set, thank you very much. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> David, just to double-check the the reading, is it 11:00 In the past you've done it at noon, so people get there at 11:00.

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>> 11:00 for the last several years and we're sticking with that time frame. >> Okay. >> We're also hoping to have church bells ringing all over town as the declaration is being read. >> Okay. >> We're trying to work that. We've got a couple of churches on board and hoping

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to get more of them. >> Good. Um where where could people get information about this Is this being advertised uh anywhere, Madam Town Manager? Do we have any social media? >> On there. >> The uh historical society will be

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posting it on their webpage. >> Okay. >> I believe on their Facebook page as well. And um I don't know if the town is advertising it at all, but we'll we'll have it on our pages. >> We can. >> Then we forward. Perfect. Thank you so much.

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>> Thank you for the >> unwilling, we are still here. >> Thank you. >> And always will be. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, David. Anyone else? Hearing none. >> Okay. >> Ready? A public hearing will be held on

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the application of Daniella's Bakery LLC doing business as Daniella's Dulce, 74 Holton Street. Daniel Mamola, manager, for a common victualer license at that location. >> Anyone here to speak to that? Why don't you just go to the microphone

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and please introduce yourself and >> My name is [clears throat] Alexander Noss. I'm the director of operations for Northshore Hospitality Group. >> Okay. Thank you. So, Madam Clerk, what is it exactly that >> Um I don't know if Alex might be able to explain what the bakery is going to be

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doing, how it's going to be set up. Um he's going to have tables and chairs with within the bakery. Um so, that constitutes a common victualer license. >> Okay, sure. >> got great news on what he's going to have there. >> Sure. Can he let us know what you're having there? >> So, at 74 Holton Street, we're a property that's been empty for quite

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some time. We've remodeled and are planning to open a bakery focused on cakes, custom cakes for you know, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, whatever. As well as some pastry and coffee. Very simple. Right now, we have four tables.

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We don't plan to have many more than that. Uh they're about 28 in circular. So, currently there's two seats at each table. That's total of eight seats. We may have eight more. So, maximum of 16 seats, but there's not going to be any table service, anything like that. It's people

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who want to have a coffee or meet with the baker and discuss a cake uh design. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh board members, any questions, comments? Uh member Bennett. >> Thank you. Um

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through you to the uh clerk. I assume the paperwork's in order, but typically we get seating arrangements when there's tables. Do we have any type of diagram? >> I don't have a diagram, unfortunately, no. >> Can we request one?

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>> I can request to get one on file to attach to the record, yes. >> Thank you. That's all, Mr. Chairman. >> Okay, thank you. Member Bean? >> Is there going to be any expansion aside from cakes? Any other items in that

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bakery area? >> Right now we'll have some pastries, so croissants, cookies, small things. >> Tiramisu? >> Sorry? [laughter] >> Tiramisu. >> Tiramisu, yes. We love tiramisu, yes. >> Okay. No, that's good. Um congratulations. Good. >> Thank you. Thank you.

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>> Thank you. We appreciate it. >> Member Tlask? >> Uh why don't you take the opportunity to tell us what your hours are going to be? >> Right now we're planning 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 7 days a week. >> 7 days a week. >> Okay. Uh I have no questions. Thank you. >> Uh Member Benard?

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>> Excuse me, I have laryngitis. Specialty coffees, too? >> Specialty coffees, yes. >> Okay. Nope, that's great. Look forward to it. >> Thank you. >> I mean, since everybody's saying their favorite, how [laughter] about cannoli? >> We'll have cannolis. We'll have cannolis above and beyond. >> This is a public hearing. Any member of

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the public has any questions or comments? >> Move we close the public hearing. >> Second. >> All in favor, I. I. I vote. >> Mhm. >> Okay. Uh now coming back to the board, >> Yep. >> I will need a motion.

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>> I move we accept the application as presented with the stipulation they provide a seating diagram for the file. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Any further discussions? All those in favor say I. I.

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>> I. >> Congratulations and good luck. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> The board will consider an application for a one-day wine and malt beverage license by Twisted Fate Brewing, David Pinette, owner, for a fishing event at Liberty Marina, 130 Water Street, from

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3:30 p.m. to 7:30 [clears throat] p.m. on June 20, 2026. >> Is there anyone to speak to that? >> Hi, good evening. Erica Catrita. Oh, excuse me. Uh co-owner of Twisted Fate Brewing, David Pinette, is my husband who put in the application. We're here tonight

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requesting the board's allowance of a one-day application. It's for this coming Saturday. Um, there's a uh bass and bluefish tournament, and they've asked us um to come as the local brewery to serve beers to their participants. So, that's why the application is for

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3:30 to 7:30 this coming Saturday afternoon. Happy to answer any questions. My husband, David, will be will be doing the event himself um on Saturday. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh, board members, any questions, comments? Uh, member [clears throat] Bean?

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>> Um, are you going to be serving life jackets with the beer? >> [laughter] >> So, they will already be back from the boats. Um, they will be off all of any watercraft. Um, they go out, I believe, at 5:00 in the morning and then come back for the afternoon portion. So, we're not in charge of life jackets.

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Um, the marina will be, but we have been told they will all be off the boats before we're serving them beers. >> Okay. No, thank you. >> Thank you. >> All set? Member Tucciask? >> Uh, no, I know I know you're TIPS certified. I'm satisfied with that. Uh, the video marina is pretty

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self-contained. Uh, so, it won't be other than the participants of the tournament. It wouldn't just be the general public walking in, so I'm fine. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Member Bernard? [snorts] >> Sounds good. >> Thank you. >> [laughter] >> Member Bennett?

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>> Uh, just a comment. Granted, we're meeting 2 days late this week, but typically we should get these applications a little bit um in advance. >> And I I apologize for that. That the event reached out to us later than we would have liked to present it to the

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board at but clerk um Ellsworth was very kind enough to help us accommodate this time. >> you were here last time, with all the other things, you could have got everything done. >> And unfortunately, we didn't have the request at that time. >> That's fine. Thank you. >> We welcome the opportunity to do business in Danvers at any opportunity. >> that. >> Thank you.

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>> Good luck. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. No questions on my end. Um I need a motion. >> Approve the application as presented. >> Second. >> Any further discussions? All those in favor say I.

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>> I. >> I. >> I will. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> So, I will request um that we move um item seven up and move five to seven

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to accommodate uh the staff that's here today. >> The board will hear a detailed information pursuant to a request to modify the previously granted application of GC Federa Contracting LLC, Giuseppe Federa, manager {slash} president, to occupy the public way in

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front of 17 Elm Street. >> Okay. Um Madam Town Manager? >> Sure. I I don't believe there's anyone in the audience representing 17 Elm Street, correct? So, for the select board, I just want to walk you through um what was provided to you. Um we had

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received um a request from their attorney McCanna McCanna PC on May 18th for an extension um for their occupation of the premises of the sidewalk from

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May 15th until August 15th of 2026. Um we asked through our building commissioner for additional information. Um so, that's the first item in your packet. Um the building commissioner um requested

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additional information and received the construction management plan, which is also in your packet dated June, received on June 4th, dated June 4th by the the clerk's office. And then, I believe yesterday, um or the day before, Madam Clerk, we

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received a letter from the contractor, which I believe was forwarded to the board last night. >> Right. >> Um so, that is all the information that we have. They were not um they did inform us that they were not able to attend. Um but, we felt it important to

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keep on the agenda uh and brought We have the director of public works, Steve King, our building commissioner, Tim Huddon, and our director of land use and community services, Aaron Henry, available if the board has questions on the materials before them. Um and I

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anticipate that we will see them before us, or if you want to hear their concerns. Um the staff is here for your concerns or your questions. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh so, board members, um

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questions, concerns for staff, comments. Um member Trask. >> Sure. Um I'll start off by saying I'm extremely disappointed that the applicant is not here. I can't believe that they they're reliant on only one person to be their

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spokesperson. And it's bothersome to me because we've had in the past with the same property the thought that there wouldn't be someone here, that they were going to decline participation. This is not a This is compulsory. It is not a uh a a

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um opportunity to to just not show up when we need them to be here for questions. >> [cough] [clears throat] >> And I'm not I'm not particularly interested in in furthering this tonight. Um and knowing that our summer schedule is

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coming up, we're not going to get together for another month. So, we're going to be into July when they're asking and there's discrepancies in what they're asking. According to the letter that we got from attorney McCann, they want an extension from May 15th to

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August 15th. However, according to resubmitted plans, they want till the end of August. And those plans don't include the fact that even if they came to fruition and finished the exterior work, which there

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was serious doubt that they could, they haven't identified when they're going to close the sidewalk again for repaving cuz they're part of the project is they're going to redo the sidewalk and push the public back out into the street. We're missing We're missing so much

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information, there is no way to make a decision to grant an extension when there's no one here to answer to the project. I appreciate town staff has information that I we may not have and I'm wondering, Mr. Chair, if it isn't

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appropriate to have town staff talk about what they what they've been experienced or what has been asked of them that we don't know about because we're not part of that day-to-day. So, I'm wondering if they can shed some light on what the applicant is proposing and what

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their views are on the opportunity to complete the work by August 15th or August 31st. Could I Could I maybe suggest we talk to the town clerk? >> Sure. Sure, we could do that. To your town manager, who's going to go up? >> I would start with the building commissioner, Tim, please.

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[clears throat] >> Good evening. Tim Huddon, building commissioner for the town of Danvers. Um So, the documents that you have That is all the information that we have. We have not been contacted by this team since the permit was

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changed hands and I believe it was January of January 20th, I believe when the when the permit changed hands. We have not heard from them. Driving by the site, it's clear that they're not ready for any sort of inspection, so that's not unusual for us.

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Um again, my request went out for an updated CMP plan so that we could have a better idea of specifically what the contractor was proposing. Um again, we received no other information. From my point of view, the brick facade

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is going up. If you drive past, you can see it behind the scaffolding. It still hasn't risen above the scaffolding. There are still windows that are missing. Um They would need to complete the the all of that exterior work. They would then need to close the

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sidewalk, reroute the pedestrian traffic into the road, remove the scaffolding, tear up the sidewalk, redo that sidewalk, uh and from my conversation with Mr. King is they also still have not done the sewer work in Page Street. Um so, the

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contractor still needs I believe is not bonded yet. I don't believe they're bonded with They still need [music] to get bonded, complete that sewer work, complete the sidewalk, have that inspected and approved by engineering as well so that they can reopen that sidewalk. >> [music] >> Um

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I personally am not confident in their time frame, and again, this is uh just a continuation of what we've seen from this project from the start. >> If I might ask a question. Sure. So, >> [clears throat] >> um first one is

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is the building in a place where professionally you would advise if I were to say, "Take down the scaffolding right now. Get it done down in the next week or two. And then come back when you have all of your ducks in a row, when you have all of the plans made, when you have the

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plans that you've asked for, when we have the sewer work identified, when we have the sidewalk work identified. Is taking down the scaffolding now does that uh pose a risk to the town

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or to the to the people in to the public um until they get their until they get soft handled. >> Uh I would hesitantly say yes, it would. So in the building code um in chapter 33 it safeguards during

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construction and that's where the requirements for that scaffolding comes in play. They are still technically in construction at this point. If we were to mandate the removal of that scaffolding, that would essentially shut the project down. I am not sure I would rely I would go

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back to council on that on whether or not there would be any liability on the town's side or whether or not we would require something from uh the applicant in terms of securing the site temporarily until we are comfortable and confident in what

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they're presenting for us to then allow them to restart work. I I that's a very gray area to me in the code. >> Okay. And I I'm sorry. I I didn't mean to surprise I don't I try not to do surprise questions. But I'm really frustrated at this person at this project. And if I I had my

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druthers, as long as it was safe, have them take it down, have them come back for us, give us accurate information. We don't have information that we can even determine whether it's accurate or not. I got two different dates from two representatives of the project and it's bothersome.

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The other question is more of a um administrative question and that is you've been had to come to the these meetings several times. You've had to go out several times. I understand that when someone does a building permit and when they do projects, there's an anticipation and you charge for the

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building permit itself based on the cost of the and and with that comes certain inspections, an electrical inspection, a plumbing. If you have to keep going back there, do you charge them for the multiple attempts? Are they multiple multiple visits that you have to go out if you

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have to go out four times instead of one? >> So under the bylaw we can charge a reinspection fee as long as the project is being supervised by a licensed holder in the state of mass. so we would never charge a homeowner if they failed an inspection to come back out. But yes, so in this instance we could

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we could charge them for a reinspection fee. However, we haven't I mean we inspected the foundation, but we haven't done any inspections since then. Any thing that we've gone out is really I mean we inspected the scaffolding, but that's not an inspection that's covered under 780 CMR. That was

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something that we again in in an effort to work with them went out there, but um I I mean >> But also you do plan reviews and I know they've submitted multiple plan changes or incomplete plans where you review them, determine they were incomplete,

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then they had to submit other plans and you had to review them again. Do you charge for those reviews as well? >> We don't charge for the reviews, no. >> Uh does the code does our code allow for it? >> I don't believe our bylaws speaks to a charge for a plan review. It is just

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simply the charge for the building permit itself and then any sort of fees or violations which would cover the the reinspection fees. >> Okay. Uh through you Mr. Chair to the town manager, I know yesterday we talked about um one of the ZBA

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opportunities was on fees. Uh fee review and I'd like to suggest that if we codify what a building permit covers, one plumbing, one electrical, whatever it is and we and I'm just making that up, but some number of efforts are

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covered by your your fees for the for the building permit, but if we have to have to keep coming back at this multiple times, which we've had, we should be able to recoup the cost of the the applicant's inability to provide the

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information accurately the first time. Um obviously we'd have some room for unforeseen circumstances, but I saw the email from the applicant and they're basically what they said was they want to ask for an extension

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because they had a work stop order. Well, that's not a reason to me. As a matter of fact, that upset me. That's like saying I couldn't pay my rent because I was in jail. That's not our fault. The work stop was because they weren't doing the work properly. And so, that's not a compelling reason

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for me to extend this 3 months. Um and I'd also like to ask through you, Mr. Chair, the town manager, what actions we can take. What legitimately as select board members, you know, we talked about potential of finding with that may or may not be in

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the bylaws or the opportunity for us. But if we have a project that just drags on and on and on and on, the fact that they changed the GC, I get it, but they changed the GC back in January. And this stuff could have been hammered

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out. They could have come to us well before this and certainly before they showed up at a meeting that they didn't even show up to. So, uh none of that's a frustration with the town. None of that's a frustration um on our side. It's a frustration with this applicant, and it doesn't sit well with me. Thank you.

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>> Thank you. Um member Bean. >> [clears throat] >> Um I I appreciate what you're saying and uh I don't [clears throat] disagree with you. I think we just have to probably hammer out some of those details and

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make sure it's commercial uh so we don't hurt a resident if they would to get into a some kind of a jam. So, and so it's probably a good idea to have something that uh the town or the building department can take care take

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care of in these situations. I [clears throat] am disappointed, too. I I thought you were going to say positive stuff. I thought when they got the new contractor that were everything was picking up speed and um but um I guess they still don't whatever they're doing. It It I don't

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know and I don't know if this is an appropriate question. Is it the contractor or is it the owner that's our issue. Um I know we put it on the contractor but is do you have any insight on that? Or can you even speak of it? >> I don't have any insight on that. I'm

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I'm not sure if the contractor is a part owner in the project or or not or if they're just just a hired contractor. I'm not sure. >> Okay. Um yeah, I I guess I'm kind of in limbo too cuz I you know, what what do we do here? I mean

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having them take down the staging seems impractical. I understand what you're saying. It makes sense to give them the pen >> [clears throat] >> doing their part. However, it'll be really costly. The job will stop and then uh I know.

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I know what you're saying. But eventually what we want is the project to get done. >> You are correct. We want the project done but at what point do we say stop abusing the town? >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I there's no argument there. >> You know, it's down it's downtown. It's encroaching on another business right

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next door. That business hasn't had its full frontage for quite a while and I I drive by there two times a day at least and I don't see a lot of progress happening. >> Right. >> You know, it's still the green board on the outside. It's still missing windows

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for the past 6 months. >> Right. >> Um it's hard for me to if I thought they were that close, I'd have a little more um uh appreciation and a little more leniency but this is I can't even I had to look how many times they've come before us. >> It's in this estate.

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>> Is I are you done? >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, thank you. >> It's evident that there's a lot of frustrations on this side uh with not with the project and the fact that they are not here today. Um Member Bennett, what say you?

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>> I say um there was a delay with the former contractor and I don't put the blame on the current contractor and a request for an extension is reasonable given the

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situation. However, where was he in May 15th when he should have been here when the permit expired? They asked for in the letter from attorney August 15th and the description from the contractor

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to August 31. Nowhere do I see when the sidewalk will be concrete will be poured and completed and turned back to us. It's not even mentioned. And there's nobody here to talk to

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except the building inspector. And that's going on since the beginning of this project. I mean, how can I extend something to somebody that I don't know their intention? I will say observing the our working

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there, there are people on site doing different jobs. You're right. There's windows missing, but I think the building inspector would agree that you order windows and it takes a while for them to come in. So, that may be out of their hands.

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Um, but they're not doing anything to try to work with us. So, I would not, um, be in favor of giving them any relief at this time. >> You know I said Uh,

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member Bernard. >> I think they should have shown up, too. So, I'm frustrated with that, too. It looks like progress is happening, which is good, positive, but they should be here and I relay rely on Tim and the

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planning department and Steve on, you know, their expertise on where we should go from here. >> Okay. Thank you. Well, I it's it's it's evident that the the extension is not being I mean,

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this this is not necessarily a vote, but I'm I'm getting a sense that um there's no appetite to grant any extension right now. Um to the town manager, we probably want to have them come back on the 14th of July

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uh with detailed information as to when, why, how. Um [snorts] that would be helpful. >> Mr. Chairman, >> Yes. >> Could I ask through you if we can uh see what the board's willingness is

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in our response to them, usually through the clerk, whomever it is, have them prioritize all exterior work over all other work. Meaning, if you're doing interior wiring, don't. Not button up the exterior work first,

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and then you can go back to whatever you need to do that's interior work. Any work that is necessary to take down that scaffolding as soon as humanly possible. Ask them to prioritize. That would be my recommendation, but it's a board decision. >> Yeah. I I don't know if I mean, again,

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I'm not an attorney, but I don't know if something like that would fall within our jurisdiction. >> I I don't think it falls within our purview. As is the street and the exterior, the interior we have nothing to do with. >> Exactly. And we I mean, I don't know. Maybe you have to do the exterior before you do the interior in certain cases.

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Not being a con- a a a construction person, uh it'll be very hard for us to tell them what to do first. Uh I think it's just important that they work with the town to free the street. I mean, that's all we're asking of them. And and what I'm

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also hearing from the board member, we we all want the project to move on. We all want the project to succeed. We just want to make sure that we work together to get there. Uh so having them come back with that

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detailed information uh will be helpful into we might even go past August 31st, who knows, but we just want to know what's happening and what is it that we can do to move the project.

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>> Can I ask through you to whomever is not is not conforming to our uh decisions about when they should take it down. Reason to issue a work stoppage. And I'm not so What I'm saying is if they don't show up,

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what happens if they don't show up in July? What happens if they don't have the details in July? What do we do? Can Can we issue a I I understand that there's a cost factor. I do want to get it done. I want to see three families live in that building, have a new restaurant in the

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building. But it sets a really bad precedent if we don't take any action that is in some manner, I don't want to say punitive, but some manner responsible and responsive other than to say, "I'll

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come back next time." I'll come back next time. And I agree, we're not we're voicing frustration. I get that. But if but if all they hear is frustration and I'm not compelled to finish, then can we can and this is probably the building

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inspector and the the others in town, is non-compliance to our our decision about when this should have come down reason we can do a work stoppage until they get us this details, this information, and the new dates.

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>> I I and and um yes. >> I was through you, Mr. Chair. I believe the building commissioner is the only person who can order the work stoppage, although there might be something about the sidewalk from the DPW director. But so he can speak it to the work stoppage, but I don't I don't think so, but Tim can answer.

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>> Correct. So directly, the select board would have no authority to order a work stoppage, but if the select board ordered the removal of the scaffolding from the sidewalk, that would place them in violation of the building code because now they no longer have the pedestrian protection that is required,

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and then a stop work order would be issued, and we would probably require the the building to be to be tented or to be netted um to make sure that no debris would fall on on pedestrians walking underneath. >> Okay. At least we know we have some options. Thank you.

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>> We do. And and I think uh there was it's two different discrepancies with between the email and the letter of the attorney, but there was the email stated I think he expressed regret that he couldn't be here today.

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So I'll give him that as a good faith, and hopefully uh they can have someone here in July to attend to this and and give us more information. We get that? Okay.

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Perfect. So we won't be taking a vote. We won't be giving any extension today, and we'll just have them come back in July. >> Okay. >> July 14th. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> And um it's also my understanding that the attorney for

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for for Connors Farm is here. So we can go back to five. >> Sure. A public hearing will be held under chapter 140, section 181, weekdays including Saturday, and chapter 136, section 4 Sundays of the general laws on the application [cough and clears throat]

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of Robert Conners doing business as Conners Farm at 30 Valley Road, Robert Conners owner, for a 7-day entertainment license to operate various entertainment activities. >> Why yes. Good evening. My name is Walter Flowers and I'm here on behalf of Robert Conners and Conners

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Farm. This is my third consecutive appearance before this board. Happy to be back. >> [laughter] >> I'm pleased to report that this year I should be able to abide by the 3-minute rule. Last 2 years I think I gave you a great

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history of Conners Farm and I uh I'm pleased that Bob is continuing to operate in the way he is. I'm also pleased to report to this board that Conners Farm has continued to remain in compliance with the board's requests that were made in prior years, particularly during the

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summer of last year, 2025. The farm continues to monitor sound decibel readings on nights that the farm is open. Most importantly, the farm remains open and receptive to neighbors'

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concerns. And whenever a neighbor expresses a concern or an issue to the farm staff, the farm security manager contacts that neighbor directly. He posts [snorts] his own personal cell

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phone. He meets with the neighbor to address the concern and resolve it. To our knowledge, there were no unresolved issues or concerns that the farm is aware of since the grant of last year's license, which was on August 13th, 2025.

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All issues expressed during that meeting continue to be taken seriously and with concern from the farm's from the farm's management about the farm's Is where the 3 minutes comes in. Our application for renewal of a 7-day entertainment license is virtually

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identical to the terms of the license that was granted last year. The farm's operations have not changed and will not change for 2026. The farm will continue to operate as farm stand as it is now. It opened, I think, Memorial Day weekend.

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It'll continue to offer pick-your-own vegetables and fruits. It offers children's birthday parties and welcome school field trips. It'll still support community supported agriculture and share programs. And it will still offer a corn maze and a haunted walk through in the fall

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season. The farm's proposed days and hours of operation are identical to those which were approved with that 2025 application. In the application, we requested the farm stand will be allowed to be open 7 days as it was

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before, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily, from now until November 2nd. As you all know, the farm closes right after October 31st. The first or second day of November is cleanup day and then it's shut down. The farm will be open for extended hours

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until 11:00 p.m. on weekends in October for 11 days as listed in our application. These days and hours are identical to those which were approved with that 2025 application.

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Importantly, I note that consistent with the farm's operations during last year, there will be no live music offered during the 2026 season, which was a matter of concern and the farm has taken that to heart. This evening, I submit that the farm has met and it continues to abide by the

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time terms and conditions of the 7-day entertainment license that was granted last year. The farm received unanimous support from neighbors that were in attendance at last year's hearing. And accordingly, I respectfully request that this board approve the farm's application for

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renewal of its license for the 2026 season. And I request that the board sees fit to approve the placement of the farm's subsequent applications for renewal on the board's consent calendar for 2027 and subsequent years, barring any changes in the farm's operations, and of

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course, barring any issues that come to light during the 2026 season. So, as far as putting our application on the consent calendar, based on the assumption that everything stays the same, there are no complaints, no issues, we would request that

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we able we are we can file the license without the need for personal appearance before the board. Although, I enjoy visiting you. Any questions? >> Thank you. Uh questions board member, member Bennett. >> Hi attorney Flowers, nice to see you

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again. Um so, everything's the same? >> Everything's the same. >> Okay. And um it's nice to hear no complaints from the neighbors, which is great. Or if there were, they're documented. >> So, well >> No complaints. >> So far, there's no complaints. >> Yeah, and there hasn't been. >> And our recollection is there was no

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complaints since the board meeting of last year. So, the answer is everything's good. >> Good. Good. And then um during the Halloween I know there's no live music, which is good. And um the um speakers like the haunted, that's kept down at a certain level.

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>> as we did last year, >> did. Okay. >> we turn them inside. >> Mhm. >> So, the sound by definition goes down. And if the decibel readings aren't acceptable, they do whatever they have to do technically to reduce the sound. So, I can I can I think confidently say that they're in

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compliance. >> Excellent. Thank you. I'm no more questions, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Uh member Bennett. >> Thank you. Um as far as I'm concerned, uh they've lived up to what they've agreed to do.

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Uh there's been no complaints. And if that continues, I don't have a problem putting this on the consent calendar for next year barring no complaints. If there's any complaints, then they'll have to come back in person. >> Right.

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>> Thank you. Uh member Bean. >> Uh I'm I'm on board [clears throat] with it going on the consent calendar. You guys are doing a great job. Um I was able to visit with a grandchild last year. It was quite a quite a little gem that's going on there. And uh and then you're 5 minutes

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from home. So, uh we're pretty lucky to have that in town give people a place to go. So, >> I really appreciate I'll tell Bob Carter what you said. That's That's >> Yeah, no. It's really cool really cool to go in and see all the different things that were going on. So, uh no. I'm I'm happy with everything.

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>> Uh member Tusk. >> The application is the same. There's been no complaints. I see no reason uh to not put this on consent as long as there are remains no complaints and no changes to the application. I'm fine with granting it this time and then putting on the consent for the future

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with those conditions. >> Okay. Uh this is a public hearing. So, any member of the public has any questions, comments? >> I move we I move we close public hearing. >> Second.

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>> All those in favor say I. I. Okay. Um I need a motion. >> I move we accept the application as presented and move this to a consent calendar item in future years as long as there are no complaints and no changes to the current uh application conditions.

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>> Second. >> Okay. Uh so, the motion has been seconded. Now, the the moving it in the consent calendar, does that have to be part of the the motion? I mean, that's not something I don't

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think that's something we need to put in a motion. We We approve it and then it moves to the consent calendar. When it moves to the consent >> to the clerk. >> I think it's probably just best practice. >> I think it as long as it's in the minutes that provided that there are no

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issues or concerns, you could certainly include it as part of your motion just to kind of cover all the bases. >> Okay. >> No harm. >> Okay, that's fine then. Um any further discussions? Can all All those in favor say I? I. >> Five all. >> Thank you.

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>> Thank you all very much. >> Thank you. >> [snorts] >> Let me go back to six. >> Yes. >> The board will hear an update regarding a cooperation agreement by Danvers Housing Authority. >> Um Madam Town Manager, would you like to speak to that? >> Yeah, we have both the executive

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director of the Danvers Housing Authority and their attorney. I don't know Cindy, who you Emily will be speaking. Okay, great. And she's joining us virtually. Um Cindy, would you like me to get started or are you going to introduce? >> Oh, I can introduce you. >> And while Cindy's getting up, I'll just

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let you know from the town side um Aaron Henry, um our land use and land use and community services director, uh Rodney Conley, director of administration and finance, and town council worked closely with the housing authority and their council um on the agreement that's before you

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for consideration. >> Yes, and I I'm Cynthia Don. I'm the executive director of the Danvers Housing Authority. I've worked with several of you over the years and I did want to um express our thanks to Aaron and also your legal counsel for all the comments you gave going back and forth

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with this um participation agreement, which is actually just a um kind of a formality of a reorganization that we're doing. Um and um we have been going through this process for about 3 years to

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reposition our public housing into a Section 8 platform. And we have legal counsel, Emily. And we also have consultants, so she will walk you through the participation agreement, but I would just add that it's not going to

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change from what we had as far as dollar amount. So, Emily. >> [clears throat] >> Sure. Good evening, select board. Thank you for having me. I'm glad to be with you and thank you for allowing me to participate virtually. I don't live in Massachusetts. I appreciate the flexibility.

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Um so, Danvers Housing Authority currently has a cooperation agreement. Um although no one can find the original, they are paying um a payment in lieu of taxes, we call it PILOT, to the town of Danvers. Um we attached a sample of the computation of that PILOT currently

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being paid by the Housing Authority for its federal properties. As Cindy mentioned, the Housing Authority is using new tools available from HUD to convert its federal housing portfolio um from the current Section 9 public

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housing to the more stable Section 8 platform through something called the Rental Assistance Demonstration Program. This is going to allow the Housing Authority to preserve this affordable housing and ensure its ongoing financial viability. Section 8 receives um more robust funding from the federal

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government than Section 9 public housing does. Um and in order to complete this conversion from Section 9 public housing to Section 8, um we needed to ratify and document the PILOT that Danvers Housing Authority has

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been paying. Um and also clarify here, in order to accomplish this conversion, Danvers Housing Authority will be owning the properties through an instrumentality. That instrumentality will have the Section 8 contract with Danvers Housing Authority as the contract administrator.

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And Danvers Housing Authority will remain the management company for these properties. And so we clarified in this um cooperation agreement that the pilot applies to properties um owned by the Housing Authority or its instrumentalities. And here the Danvers Housing Authority will

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maintain fee ownership of the land on which the projects are located. It's going to have a long-term ground lease with the instrumentality that will be the project owner. Um And so as Cindy mentioned, we went back and forth with the town's council. We incorporated their comments. We started

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from the the HUD form of cooperation agreement that we assumed was in place at the time um that most, you know, most jurisdictions in Massachusetts were entering into these cooperation agreements and just tailored it to acknowledge the new reality and to um

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describe the arrangement that um that the Housing Authority is entering into here. I'm happy to take any questions. I know some of this can get technical. Um um I you know, I'm uh aware that I might be using jargon,

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so I'm happy to explain any of it um that's helpful to you. >> Uh Mr. Chairman, I have a point of information question. >> Sure. >> Thank you. Um looking at the um agreement. >> Mhm. >> Cooperation agreement. And as I read it through, I'm wondering

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what I'm missing because on page on the restated cooperation agreement, second page, I see a number two. And then I go to number four after reading >> you. Thank you for pointing it out. I

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think that might just be um a formatting typo. So we'll make sure that's corrected. Thank you for noting that. >> Okay, thank you. Um if I may continue, Mr. Chairman. >> Sure. >> Under I don't know if it's 2D or 3D, but um on

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that third page, D, can you explain this to a layperson? Upon the failure of DHA and its instrumentality to make any pilot payment, no lien against any project assets shall attach, nor shall any

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interest penalties accrue. Um, what does that mean to the town? >> Sure, it means that if um the housing authority or its instrumentality doesn't make the pilot payment that um that it's due, that it owes, um the town can't um

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put a lien that's, you know, a lien is how you foreclose on a property. So, the town won't be able to foreclose on it. Um and there's not going to be interest or penalties that accrue. Um but the town won't have to do anything until the housing authority um

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pays the the amount that it owes. >> So, where is our protection if we don't get the payment? >> If you don't get the payment um >> by August 31st? >> You would stop the services. >> Yeah. >> It's a payment in lieu of taxes. So, you

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provide services to the housing authority. So, for example, you could have all our dumpsters not be collected or charge us for them. >> I don't think we're going to leave full dumpsters out there, but >> No, but you could charge us back. Like

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you you you could empty them, but you could bill us. Because right now we wouldn't be in compliance. If we didn't pay you our payment in lieu of taxes, the services you provide us, you would say, "Well, we're taking our ball and going home,

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too. So, here's your bill for all those dumpsters." You know what I mean? It's a It's a >> I do, Cindy, but if you're not paying the pilot, then how can you afford to pay for the dumpsters? >> Well, that's a that's a thing. I mean, that that's a provision that's a standard provision in there, but we've never not paid the pilot.

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You know, it's >> Never say never. >> Well, true. True. True. True. but um and I can't imagine a scenario where the housing authority wouldn't have the money to pay that. >> I'm sure with all the attorneys that have looked at this, it's fine, but I just I don't have a comfort level reading that particular paragraph.

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>> Yeah. >> And for the folks at home, can we tell them what the payment is? >> The last one was >> Is that permissible? >> Sure. Yeah, it's public record. Let me see. It's about 60,000. 60,436

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dollars and 76 cents. Now, that's only for the federal properties. That's only for Rant Circle and Highland Manor. Because that's a federal That's by federal regulation. Like this form that we included, that's the form that everybody uses.

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Um whereas the state one is negotiated differently. So, our other 181 properties, we pay a different pilot. So, this is just for Highland >> Just for those two properties. Thank you. Thanks for clarifying that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you. >> Thanks for And I can just add things

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That was a great question. Um that's also an element of this that's not changing. That was something that was in the original form that we carried through. >> Well, I thought you couldn't find the original computation. >> Well, look Yes, it's what we assumed was in the original form given that the almost all

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housing authorities use the same HUD form of cooperation agreement at the time they entered into them in the '60s, '70s, '80s. >> Thank you. >> Of course. >> Thank you. Um member Bean. >> Uh thank you.

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Um Anybody can answer this. Um I got hung up on a bunch of the words here, but um is the Section 8 the change to Section 8 because it's more secure funding? >> Correct. Mhm. >> Okay. Was Was there problems in the past

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with the previous um funding? Have you >> Yep. So, that Federal public housing, which is what it is now, is underfunded by the federal budget. And so Congress doesn't appropriate enough funds to pay the amount of subsidy that's needed to

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appropriately operate federal public housing. >> Okay. >> But they allocate and appropriate more funds for Section 8. >> Okay. And um on uh the first page it says uh that the DHA nonprofit

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installment instrument instrumentality, which will be the sole member of the new owner entity. >> Mhm. >> Is this is just a formality? I mean, there's no private company that's owning anything in here, right? >> Nope, it's all owned ultimately by the housing authority.

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>> Okay. All right, so it's just wording. >> It's a structure that we enter into in order to do the conversion and to um >> Yeah. Okay. >> Set it up for success. This is a common structure across across these conversions.

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>> That makes sense. Thank you. Um >> Of course. >> it. Thank you. >> Those are great questions. >> Uh member Twarog? >> No, any questions I would have had have been asked and answered. I'm all set with this. Thank you. >> Uh member Bernard?

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>> I've served with Cindy on the housing authority and I can't tell you this woman does a phenomenal job. Thank you, Cindy. You really do. And this is good to see um it's good to hear that Section 8 is more robust than nine. Um and it You do a great job and hopefully we'll get some

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more housing cuz I know a lot of people call you and there's a long waiting list. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um thank you for the presentation and for the package. And now, Section 8 is more

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robust now. Uh what's the forecast like? Are we going to go back to Section 9 in the future if they switch or How do you How do you forecast that? >> I think that Section 9, I think we'll continue to receive, you know, less less

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funding and, you know, I think HUD overall as an agency, their goal is to convert housing from Section 9 public housing into federal Section 8 through RAD. That's why this has been such a um uh

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I would say well-promoted and well-staffed and well-funded initiative on the part of HUD. And we do see that Congress continues to appropriate um you know, more funds for Section 8. Um Could they do more? Yes, but I it continues to be a robust platform and I

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think, you know, it's it's a matter of federal budget, so it's something that's a little hard to predict. I don't have a magic eight ball there, but um I would expect this is an area of, you know, really significant advocacy from um

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public housing authorities and from private owners, both um non-profit and for-profit of Section 8 housing. So, there is, you know, always very robust advocacy on Capitol Hill to um promote this aspect of the federal budget. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Um

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>> Mhm. >> Any further questions, comments from board members? Okay, Madam Town Manager, this is more informational, is that correct? >> No, you um you do need to take a vote and we need signatures. Kathy has the original, but it sounds like we may need to make a formatting change. Kathy's

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original with uh Cindy's signature on it. But it sounds like the numbering change that member Bennett pointed out should be addressed. Um I don't know how they want to how you want to handle that. >> So, what what we can do, we can take a vote now and then

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uh we can either drop at the Town Clerk's office and sign it or sign it at the next opportunity. >> That works for us. >> So. >> Yeah. >> I would need a motion. >> Mr. Chairman, I move we accept the uh

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cooperative agreement as presented. Um and then when the formatting when the document is reformatted the clerk will let us know and we can come in individually at our earliest convenience. >> Okay. I'll need a second. >> Second.

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>> Any further discussions? Hearing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Five will. >> Thank you very much. And thank you to the town for all you do for the Housing Authority. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank for you do. >> Thanks. >> Thank you for being with help answer our

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questions. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. You're all set. The board will discuss action items from the June 4th Select Board Workshop. >> Okay. Madam Town Manager. >> Sure. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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I want to start by thanking all the Select Board members for attending. We had a fantastic conversation on June 4th. We were hosted by St. John's Prep and the board was able to meet in a workshop setting and really

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dig in and do some work at at improving how we operate and how they operate as as a board and as the leadership of this community. What I presented to you today is just a short memo that will be added online as part of the information for this meeting

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so the public will have access to it. A short memo just including the six questions. We were joined by a professional facilitator who's a former long-term town manager of the town of Franklin. His name is Jeff Nutting and he does also a lot of interim jobs in

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between. Former president of MMA and and helps many Select Boards across the Commonwealth through these uh retreats. So I included the six questions that were posed to the select board in advance that really um guided our discussion.

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And then I included, which um I will read here, the three action items um as I understood them. So, that's up for the board discussion. Um but in this memo included the three action items as I understood them as we left. And then the board will engage in

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discussion about their feedback on the retreat. Your feedback to me on um um these action items and any next steps you have. So, um the three that as I heard them, um and to be discussed here tonight, are number one, um the board had discussed

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forming a subcommittee tasked with developing procedural rules for select board meetings. Number two, the board committed to collaborating with the town manager and the director of administration and finance to comprehensively assess the current and projected fiscal landscape.

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This entails reviewing financial forecasts, evaluating possibilities for revenue enhancement beyond the existing tax tax base, investigating economic development initiatives and their potential long-term effects, as well as facilitating opportunities for public education and engagement.

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And number three was enhanced communication and education. This involves better communications among board members, more frequent updates from department heads and staff to the board throughout the year, as well as an increased public education and engagement. Um and related to number three, there were a few topics that rose

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um to the top of the discussion. Um one member Trask was um passionate about related to water usage. So, there was there's kind of some more specifics behind that number three. Um but those um those were the the broad strokes of what I believe were the takeaways from that

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day. But, Mr. Chairman, I'd love to hear thoughts from the board. >> Sure. Thank you for the Thank you for the update. Uh board members, any comments? Questions? Um member Trask. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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Uh I found the day very fruitful. I thought it was a good way for the board to get together. It was a public meeting though. It ended up being uh just the board and the facilitator and the town manager. Uh but it was open to the public. Um and we

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talked a lot for over 4 hours together about leading the town, how uh the acumen, the processes, the uh manner in which we should be deliberating and discussing issues inside and outside the the select board

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meeting. Um I would have one uh modification. Number one, you said form a subcommittee to task development procedure rules um for select board processes. I don't I think it extends past meetings. Um being one of the senior members, Dan and I having been on here over 20 years,

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we're well versed in what has been historically processes, procedures, protocols, norms. And as a new member comes on board, we often try to convey that, but they're not codified anywhere and they should be. They should be written down in some manner. Also, the

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public should know how the board acts, makes decisions, and runs the meeting. This is a professional meeting. It's not a coffee clutch. It's uh you know, not just a free for all and everybody gets to talk in some cases. Uh we can we run

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under um Robert's modified Robert's Rules of Order. Uh for our motions, you'll hear us make motions, seconds, there's sometimes amendments, and amendments on amendments. And the public should know how we follow that process. It's not just our processes, but also

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conforming to state law. A lot of what we do is legally binding and we rely on the clerk to help us make sure we stay in line with that uh with the legalities of what we're doing when we're making decisions. Um but there's often a lot of um >> [clears throat]

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>> a lot of processes that we um that we need to codify. We need to write down Uh when the public's will welcome to talk and address the board aside from new business and the 3-minute timing. That's all things we should have written down. How we select a new chair

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every year, when and how we select a new chair. That has actually changed um it was a different process of several years back about when we we used to choose the chair right after the election and for good purposes we did that after the town meeting.

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Um so not only should new board members know what to expect, but also the public should be able to say, oh I understand how they're running the meeting. Um and uh from these, especially that first one, I would recommend a subcommittee be formed, but I would ask that we do things

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incrementally. I don't think we have to boil the ocean. We don't have to have it all solved. We come up with topics, we present them to the board, have the board say, yes, we agree to this. Uh individual topics as opposed to trying to form a subcommittee that takes us 8 months to come up with every

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scenario and condition. Some of them are pretty straightforward and I think um um one I'd like to work on personally is how we how we the agenda and identifying when public is is encouraged to to speak. Uh every public's always encouraged to attend.

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It's a public hearing public meeting. What the difference in public hearing is and then sometimes when we're going to provide opportunities for public input. There are times when we won't. Uh but I think that's what we need clarity on to be able to convey to the public, if you show up, you can be

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expected that we'd allow you to talk. In some cases it's not an opportunity. When we get certain um uh updates from various boards or commissions, um there are times when it's to the board. And as the as the executive branch we should be able to

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hear that and not [clears throat] um not feel that just cuz there's certain people people in the room that they necessarily have an opportunity to talk when others didn't know they could. So, long [clears throat] story short, I think it was really fruitful. I was pleased to have it and spend the time with the with my

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colleagues and we got a lot of good discussion out of the way. It was very free-flowing and very truthful and honest and very direct, which I I I appreciate it. So, thank you. >> Thank you very much. Um,

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member Bean? >> [clears throat] >> Uh, Gardner said all my thoughts, so >> [laughter] >> I guess you just want to replay that a couple of more times. Uh, no, it was a good meeting. There was obviously some good learning going on and um, the um, trying to uh,

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clarify what's uh, the agenda and and who can speak and who can't and what and the expectations for the public will be huge um, cuz a lot of people don't realize, you know, you don't want to make the meeting go until midnight, so everything needs to move along and um, a lot of the

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stuff is is routine and so we uh, we want people to come down and speak, but we don't need to keep hearing the whole whole same thing over and over again and in that way if we can settle their expectations, that'll help make the meeting uh, run smoother as well as and our own, so that we're following the

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rules as well. But no, it was a good meeting and um, probably should do that once a year. It's a good idea. >> I agree. >> And that other one we had too that um, where all the other committees showed up. That was a good one. Yeah. So, thank you.

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>> Thank you. Member Bennett? >> Uh, nothing really to add. Um, we did talk about forming a subcommittee. Um, Gardner's right, you can form a subcommittee, work for 8 months and then discover you didn't cover a topic. So,

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maybe before we point the subcommittee, we should have a list of agenda items to discuss and work on. So, perhaps through you and the

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manager we can get together a list of eight top items to clarify and codify. >> Okay. >> Okay, that's just my thought. I mean, or you can appoint a sub committee to go run with it for eight months and come

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back will it be adequate? I don't know. >> Yeah. Uh before you you're good? Before I pass it on to member Bernard, on that point I

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my impression was that we I mean, we can't go on every single possible scenarios in in a policy manual or or or any rule. My impression was that other communities

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have these rules in place and we were going to see what's around and just kind of model it to what we like here. >> Well, that would help establish the agenda looking at those

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other rules other communities. >> Okay. So, we maybe that wasn't seeing it as like a long-term months. I mean, I was seeing it as one or two select board members working with the town manager to bring to this board

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a set of rules and and policies that we can discuss and adopt. And then if you want to change it next year, we could. But at least that would give us some baseline to explain to the public and present to the public how we're running

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our meetings. And and and that's probably why we started by the meetings. >> Mhm. >> And then we can add the processes, but we can't get to every single details. >> So, I'm I'm viewing it more as

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not as labor-intensive as it sounds. >> You're the chair, you decide. >> Yeah. I but having we have, for example, rules of conduct for the select board. Uh we haven't reviewed them in years. Um

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some may be dated. Some of them are actually not just rules of conduct, but how we uh how we behave in respect to our roles. I think this gets folded in, but I think you're right. We ask the town manager to find some of those other communities

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like communities, see what they have, and and give it to all of us. And then I think that we decide we're going to choose these first six and work on it. We can't boil the ocean. I don't want to Like I said, I don't want this to go and die in committee for months and months and months.

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Um and I think we can come back incrementally with something. Some things are going to be very self-contained that that that don't necessarily relate to others. Um and we can just start building upon it. And you're right, it will evolve. It's an evolving process.

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And if we define if we define something, promote it, present it, and find it doesn't work, we'll tweak it and correct it. It's ours. It's It's about us. We have that opportunity. It's not a legal restriction as like the charter. Um so, it's just rules that we play by

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and letting make sure every everybody knows the rules we play by. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Uh let's hear from member >> Oh, I think I think they've said it all pretty much. Um but yeah, I like [clears throat] that idea what Don was saying. Let's get everything, like Don said, it's not

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going to take forever, but get the ideas out there. And um the the the retreat was wonderful, you know, thank you for organizing that. Um, it was a really nice to sit with you members. It was open to the public, so anybody could attend. And um,

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it God was right. Truth and yeah, you know what I'm saying? We're talking, a lot of transparency was there, so communication is key. That's what I've always want. But whatever you decide, Mr. Chair. >> Okay, well, I I say it's all of us it's all of us deciding.

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Uh, well, I I couldn't agree with all of you more. I I think um, I want to thank you all for for taking the time out of your busy schedule to to attend it. I mean, it was 4 hours plus of uh, very important discussions that we

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had and and it was also very important that everybody approach the conversation with open mind, you know, honesty, candor, and and a shared commitment >> Mhm. >> uh, to to make the universe, you know,

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what we want it to be. So so that was great. And thanks to Jeff, too, um, and to the town manager for putting it together. And thanks to St. John's Fife >> Yeah. >> for the the venue and the lunch. The lunch was good. So you know, what we we

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got lunch, too. We got free lunch, so >> Mhm. >> So that was good. Um, and and even the I mean, as small as it is, I think the fact that they hosted us and gave us lunch is a small, but I think it speaks volume in

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the type of collaboration that I'm hoping we, the leadership of the town, have with organizations and businesses within the town. This is this is exactly what we want. Um, and for

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the senior members, I may be mistaken, but this is probably the first time this has happened. >> What's that? >> The the retreat of the board. >> I tried I tried twice to get a retreat over the years and some person that just never happened. >> So this is the first time it's happened.

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>> you need everybody there. Without everybody committed, there was no sense in getting Mr. Nutting to come out. >> So this is the first time it's happened. >> first time it's happened. >> should all be proud of ourselves for [applause] making it happen. So

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I think that was great. Now coming down to the to the three item, it sounds to me like the two and three we're all aligned, but one we might need to tweak it a little bit. Is that the consensus of the board?

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That item number one um Madam Town Manager, if you can give us like a I don't know. Something that other communities that doable. >> So um through you, Mr. Chair, if um if

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it suits the committee, I will add meetings and processes knowing with the understanding that this will take we'll do it in kind of increments. It'll take time. Um and if um it suits the the board, um I would recommend appointing

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um the committee at this meeting or the next meeting, whenever the time is right. I will have a prepared kind of I'll have some examples for them, kind of a prepared agenda. And we'll report back the following meeting after that to say kind of this is the work plan that the sub committee's going to move

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through and um and I agree it could be a sub committee that um you know, sub committees you can have it going ongoing so that can tackle each of these things as we go through, but we'll start with um rules for the meetings. >> Okay. >> And if and if I may say one other thing,

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I just want to make sure um the public understands too the leadership that this board showed by by committing to being there. Um we talked a lot that day about vision and strategy and um, that these five members in front of you are absolutely committed to showing that

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leadership and that vision for this community and um, it really showed through that day and it meant a lot to me as a professional um, to be a part of that. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Um, do we vote on these um, or do we just uh, should we vote on these?

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>> [clears throat] >> We don't have to, right? So, um, and for the subcommittee, so we will do that at the next meeting. Um, >> Is it Is it possible instead of sending it away on a subcommittee that if there's a particular interest someone has that we don't let people take it

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with it and create a draft for us to discuss? I mean, you know, I think that if you just have two if they could only be most two of us and there may be things of particular interest. So, I if Dan decides he wants to talk about

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how the chairmanship is determined, he could do that and present it to us. If I decide I want to talk about how the agenda is developed and presented, I could do that. And and we might have areas of interest for each of us would want to have input.

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>> If I may, Mr. Chair, I would recommend submitting those to subcommittee. >> Okay. All right. >> Yeah. And then the subcommittee would talk about them and bring them back and then you'd have the opportunity to talk about it again. Just because that way you have the formality of having a subcommittee move through the process. >> Okay.

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>> Um, on a on a variety of things. But if you um, anyone who has something and I think member Trust probably does, um, a particular interest that you think should be at the top of the list or priority-wise, get them to us so that uh, get them to me so that when the subcommittee is appointed and we meet,

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we can it'll be right there. I'm I'm hearing right now um, clearly meeting processes is is at the top of the list for for the board. So, um, so anything in addition to that, please let me know. >> Okay. >> Any further comments? In the minute,

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hear none. Okay. So, we'll do that next meeting and uh move forward from there. Thank you very much. That was great. >> Okay, my turn. >> Town manager will report to the board on various items of interest.

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>> Okay. I got the floor myself there for a sec. >> [laughter] >> Um okay. Um thank you so much and I want to start tonight um I have mentioned over the last few meetings um that we have been seeing

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increasing um issues with uh some of the youth in the community, a small group I think, but um so I so I think it's important that we talk about that. I've um and brought up in the past and our particularly in our open space and parks areas and and we

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implore the community to get involved. So, um as part of the response um efforts that we're doing in a multiple levels um the superintendent of schools, Dan Bauer, the chief of police, Jamie Lovell, um the recreation director, Dave Mountain, who really has taken a leadership role in this, um

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all got together and um we have a few steps outlined, but the first of which I want to share and if it's okay with you, Mr. Chairman, read in to the record um an open letter to the community to the Danvers community that will be going out um from myself, the police, um the schools,

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and the rec department um tomorrow after I share it with you this evening. Um June 18th, 2026, an open letter to the Danvers community. Over the past several weeks, we have heard and understand the concerns raised by community members regarding incidents involving youth behavior throughout our town.

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Residents have reported unsafe bicycle and e-bike operation, disruptive and disorderly conduct, vandalism, graffiti, and behavior that negatively negatively impacts public spaces and neighborhood quality of life. Reports of racist and anti-Semitic graffiti are especially troubling and

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have caused understandable frustration, concern, and hurt within our community. These actions do not reflect the values of respect, responsibility, inclusion, and civic pride that define our town. While many of these concerns involve a relatively small number of individuals, their impact on resident residents,

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businesses, and the broader community is significant and cannot be ignored. At the same time, it's important to recognize that the overwhelming majority of our young people are responsible, respectful, and positively engaged in our schools, athletics, employment, volunteer service, and community life.

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The actions of a few should not define the entire generation of youth. Nonetheless, recent incidents demonstrate the need for a coordinated response from families, schools, local government, law enforcement, and the community as a whole. The town, school district, and police department are working collaboratively

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to address these concerns and identify effective solutions. The Danvers Police Department is increasing enforcement efforts related to traffic violations, unsafe bicycle and e-bike operation, vandalism, and other unlawful behavior. Officers will continue to continue

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proactive patrols in areas where complaints and incidents have been reported. School and municipal officials will continue working together to address behavior that impacts both school environment and the broader community. Reports of hate-based conduct, including racist and anti-Semitic acts, will continue to be

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investigated thoroughly and addressed through appropriate legal, educational, and community-based responses. We will [snorts] also continue to monitor trends, share information, and adapt our response adapt our response as needed to address concerns as they arise. While enforcement is important part of

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the solution, no police department, school district, or municipal government can effectively address these challenges through enforcement alone. Lasting change requires education, accountability, mentorship, positive engagement, and consistent consistent expectations from the adults and young

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people's lives. Addressing concerning behaviors early before it escalates into more serious incidents benefits both our youth and our community. Parents and guardians play the most important role in shaping behavior, decision-making, and accountability. We encourage families to know where

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their children are, whom they are spending time with, and what activities they are participating in, particularly during evenings and weekends. Families should have ongoing conversations about respect for others, personal responsibility, property rights, digital citizenship, and appropriate behavior in public spaces.

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Parents should also ensure that bicycles and e-bikes are operated safely, responsibly, and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The use of helmets and appropriate safety equipment is a must when riding bicycles or e-bikes. Young people should understand that their actions have real consequences for themselves, others, and

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the community around them. Creating and maintaining a self-welcoming a safe, welcoming, and inclusive community is a shared responsibility. Residents, parents, educators, coaches, mentors, faith leaders, business owners, and community organizations all play an important role

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in supporting and guiding our young people. Positive engagement between adults and youth remains one of the most effective ways to prevent future problems and encourage responsible decision-making. We encourage residents to continue reporting concerns through appropriate channels and to remain active partners

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in helping address community challenges. We remain committed to preserving a community where all residents feel safe, respected, and welcome. The town school district and police department will continue working together to address concerns, support our youth, and protect the quality of life the

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residents expect and deserve. Successful require shared commitment from local government, schools, families, and community members. Together, we can reinforce the values of respect, responsibility, safety, accountability, and inclusion that make our community strong. Sincerely, Jill K. Hill, Town Manager,

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Dan Bowers, Superintendent, and James Level chief of the police. So I want to share that with the board first. We are taking this seriously and we want to make sure we implore our community engage with us. We really want to work with you. This is our community

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and we we will be reaching out in a variety of ways through neighborhoods. I am looking to have some precinct meetings with town meeting members. I'm to get to know the neighborhoods in the neighborhoods to work together.

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We want to have a safe fun summer for everybody and we ask the community to help be a part of that solution with us. So I just want to share that with you first here tonight. Let's see. Sorry that was kind of heavy to start out with but

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I do have some some more exciting things to talk about. Um that might be a bit more fun. I got news today. This is hot off the presses as well. Pope's Landing the office of fishing and boating access has recently met with our director of natural

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resources and they have agreed there will be some improvements coming to Pope's Landing including improvements to the curb and the the concrete around the curb and the ramp. Some new floats. We will be partnering with them on

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restriping the parking lot. Some of this work will be happening. They'll see some improvements early in this in the next few weeks. And then some additional improvements coming in the fall. So I just wanted to thank Chris Sanborn and the members of the office of fishing and boating access who attended that

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meeting and thank the state for their commitment to our natural resources and and that resource in particular. More to come as we get the details. Some things just to highlight for people as they move around town the downtown streetscape improvements is under full

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swing. Sidewalk and pedestrian safety improvements on Elm Street, High Street, Maple Street, Conant Street intersections um it includes ADA compliant handicap ramps and sidewalks in certain areas. This is the um stuff that the downtown um when Aaron and

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Steve came and spoke to the board um about downtown improvements. So, and we did have a meeting with um some downtown businesses as well and we'll be continuing to do that. So, um please be patient with us. Uh we all want a beautiful downtown and unfortunately sometimes we have to tear it up first to get it to look better. So, please be

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patient. Um the Holton Street water drainage project the contractor will be finishing the drainage work and paving the trenches on Holton Street this upcoming Monday, June 22nd starting at 7:00 a.m.

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Um here's one I think you all want to hear. Our outdoor water restriction has been reduced to a level four. Uh if you want more information related to that, uh you can find that on the town's website. Um I recently had questions related to

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uh the banners on the new light poles that were installed in downtown and so I wanted just to provide an update to the board. This was a project that the former assistant town manager was working on and with her departure um it kind of we we we just lost track of it. Um so, we have reignited it with the

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DPW. We're reviewing the designs um and they're trying to figure out what the time it would turn around to order some banners. So, stay tuned. The flower baskets are up. Thank you to the Danvers Garden Club. Um and so, once we have a timeline updated timeline for that, I just won't I will keep you posted. The concept um

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leading into it was that there would be four kind of seasonal banner switching with each season um and the summer one would be a patriotic um themed banner. So, um we will catch you back up as soon as we get caught back up on that. Um one of the things I want to start

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uh reporting [clears throat] to you regularly is more of the active activity we have going on around grants and applying for grants. Hopefully, even more receiving them. And this last um senior management

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meeting and our discussion about it, one of some of the ones that came up with was we recently applied for to the one-stop for economic development. Um that's where all the houses, all the economic development grants, including the Seaport Economic Council grant, which is uh we applied for a continuation of

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dredging funding um through the one-stop. We also applied for phase two of our Endicott Street visioning project, which I'll talk about in a minute. Um the police recently applied for a jail diversion program grant, a traffic

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safety grant, which is about traffic enforcement and a state 911 grant. So, as those come through with success, I'll report those to you as well. Um I wanted to give a shout-out and thank the Northeast Arc. They hosted our leadership team meeting um this past

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Tuesday. Uh one of the things that we're trying to do with our leadership team, which is seniors and middle managers, is engage them in the larger vision and work of the organization. Um so, Northeast Arc, uh we are

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partnering particularly with them on our rec program. They invited uh us to see their space and use their conference room. So, we had um our team of about 18 of us, I think there is um went We paired that with a meeting

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focused on the launch of the visioning um project for Endicott Street. So, the goal was let's bring the whole team down to Endicott Street, walk into the mall, take a look at it, feel it. One of the things um I learned early from planners is you often when you're talking about

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visioning for a space, you want to think how do I feel when standing in the space now? And how do I want to feel when I'm standing in this space? So, I figured where better to do the visioning for the for the start the start of it which was with the team was in the um was actually at Northeast Arc within the

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Liberty Tree Mall. Um so, thank you to Northeast Arc for hosting us. Um they also gave a tour which I think was helpful. Uh a lot of members of our team don't know quite um and a lot of members of the community don't know the incredible great work that they're doing um and the in this community in the larger North Shore. So,

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thank you to the Northeast Arc and to our leadership team um for thoroughly engaging. We did a planning activity and envisioning for that area um which I think it also helped our team connect to all the different ways that

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changes that well well it may be a planning activity that focuses on zoning, it will eventually impact everybody um in our organization. So, um working on that uh team team mentality. Uh another thank you to the HRIC. They have

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been busy. Uh fantastic Pride Month Pride event on Saturday. Uh I was joined member Menard was joined us. Uh member Trask joined us. Um it was a beautiful day this year um and they did a great job. So, thank you for

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all the participants there and everyone who showed up. Uh today we uh celebrated Juneteenth in this room unfortunately because of the weather, but uh the event itself was wonderful. Um thank you Chairman Dejoco for joining us for that. Um and again for the HRIC and the North

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Shore Juneteenth Association for putting that on. Um we also I want to thank the members of the ZBA, the members of the Planning Board, and the members of the Select Board and our staff and the members of the public who attended the land use summit last night. Um this my understanding is

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something that had been done in the past, but had been taken a couple years off. It was step one in preparing um our work plan for summer and fall um for potential zoning bylaw amendments that would come before the town meeting in a

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potential um February uh 2027 special town meeting. Um so check that out. I I don't believe DTech it was recorded by DTech, but I know we recorded it um I know it well Mark is uh Mark was there and he recorded it, so I think he's going to play it and I think we recorded

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through Teams. So, stay tuned on how I can we can get that out to the public for anyone who wasn't there. Um upcoming fun events, Downtown Rewind is June 23rd 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. downtown. Don't worry, we are working with them that we won't the sidewalks will be in good will be we'll take a pause from

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construction cuz we know this is an important event. So, everyone check out Falcon Fest website or social media. Um hope to see you downtown next week. Um you heard about the July 4th event at the beginning of the meeting. Our summer concert series kicks off Monday, July

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6th with Wildfire and is every Monday and Wednesday after that. Um and just a reminder that Town Hall offices will be closed tomorrow, Friday, June 19th in observation of Juneteenth. That means trash and recycling will pick up will be delayed by 1 day, so Friday's

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collection will happen on Saturday. And then uh we will also be closed on Friday, July 3rd in observation of Independence Day. And again, thank you so much. I we've asked a lot out of this board and the volunteers in this community over the month of June. So, looking forward and

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you guys can get some some well-deserved time off. Thank you guys for participating in all the things that we put on your schedule this month. >> Thank you. Um >> Oh. >> Okay. [laughter] How come I didn't get that?

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Uh board members, any questions, comments for the town manager? Um member Bernard. >> Um I just think that the town's doing well moving forward. I think it's important what Jill says about vision.

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Because what I might see, Bill might see something different. Not to put you on the spot. Um I think that's very important. Um we want to I love how she's talking about you know, with the kids, right? We're all kids. You got to stay busy. It starts from

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home. But her talking to the precincts, I think that's important. Um get the communication from the the different areas on how we can help the youth. Right? We want to keep them busy. Um Falcon Fest is always looking for volunteers. There's still Melanie

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Little. You can email her to volunteer to help. It's a great event. Um I did mention to um the town manager, you know, as Dave McKenna was up there speaking about the 250th celebration. You know, I don't I personally and I

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can't speak for the board, but I'd like to see American flags on the flagpoles, you know, in the town. You drive through Middleton, other communities, you know, especially this year, it's a big one. So, um it town manager, I think was going to possibly look into that, too. I think

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the assistant town manager had a project, but you know, no longer here. But she's going to work look into that. And um I just want to say Danvers Cares is good. Um they had their last meeting. That will be picked up. Uh the kids will be get out of school pretty soon. So,

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let's keep these kids busy. Back in the day, remember Bill, we had the youth center. Remember Dean, we talked about that. Mike probably knows about that and everybody else. Um they need a place to hang out. I don't know where. I mean, the YMCA's a great spot. The open gym.

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Um [snorts] I apologize for the voice. Um I just said I don't want to my family too much, you know. And uh thank you. Uh great meeting and uh love seeing things moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Uh member Bennett. >> Are we doing new business or just

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questions for the manager? >> Just questions and general comments on Um, member Bean. >> Uh, just quick question for the town manager. Um, do you know if in their plan that the police are going to be resuming their foot patrols or have they

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already done that? >> Um, they have in the downtown area they've already done that. In particular and I would say particularly in the parks they're spending um, a lot more uh, time in the parks where we're getting uh, most of the reports. >> Okay, good. Yeah, I know people have

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mentioned they like to see them out there in the center of town. It's just a hometown feeling, right? >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Member Twarog. >> Uh, the only question I have for the town manager and usually I I I forgot to

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ask this in our meeting. But will the police be We used to have bike patrols. And I think it might be important to see if they could start that up again. Not only downtown but also on the bike trails. And my real question is do we

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have an e-bike because if they have to pursue someone uh, it would be beneficial for them to have the equipment to do so. I don't know the answer. Usually I I get a chance to ask you what I need to know. >> think the answer is that we do not have an e-bike but I will confirm.

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>> All right. But I think that >> I've not heard of an officer we have out on an e-bike yet. >> We had had in the past. It might have been years ago for all I remember but it is a uh, a visible way to show that that they're out and about especially in the rail trail where we're getting a lot of

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these complaints. Um, so that's the only question I have for the town manager under her report. Thank you. >> Okay, thank you. Um and about the the banner or the flags um, do you think and we have an ETA by

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July 4th? >> I There's two challenges here. One, um, um I have to I have to we have to get a a quote from the from the vendor and I would ask them to find out they were under the original project they were designing we were designing them. So, I said are there

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flags American flags that aren't don't need to be designed and two we're at the end of our fiscal year. So, our last day to open POs is Monday. Um so, if we don't open if we don't get any answer from the vendor before Monday then we can't open a PO until the next till

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we're into the next fiscal year. So, it's a it's a complicated answer for me unfortunately because of the timing. Um but we're working through that. So, I'll have an answer when I when I have an answer I will update the board. >> Okay. So, and and so, we don't we are not sure if we

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getting it by July 4th. >> 4th, yeah. Yeah, this um I'm this is not something that most people know but closing the a fiscal year in a municipality is challenging. Um so, so we'll we'll see if we if we get if everything falls into place on

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time that is the goal. But, we'll see. >> Okay. And and just a quick question and you may or may not have the answer about the food patrol of officers on bike. We have about 50 something officers

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24/7. So, in a particular shift we might have six. >> I think there's five cars. >> Okay. Five. So, if one is at Taplin, one is in downtown,

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one is and maybe they go by two. So, it's very difficult to have them everywhere. >> Well, yes. >> How do we prioritize because if they are in the downtown things could be happening at Taplin? Um maybe member

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Bingham can enlighten me. >> it's probably a bit different but I would say that would be a great question [laughter] for the police chief's update. Often that's broken up by area like north, south, east, and west. You have a north car, southwest, east car, but that would be a great question for when the chief is in.

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>> Because in cars they can get from one place to another faster, but on a bike >> Yeah. >> they can only do a very specific radius. So, I think it might be more efficient that they have a car than a bike. I don't know. I again I'm just thinking out loud. >> a car on the bike path.

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>> Right. And you can't put >> You can't follow a bike >> e-bikes. >> through the neighborhoods necessarily. Kids don't stay on the Part of the issues they don't stay on the sidewalks or the streets. So, if they're being chased and they cut through a yard >> Mhm. >> The chasing chasing kids on e-bikes is

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very dangerous. So, but like I said, perfect question for the fall when the chief is back in front of the >> Okay. Thank you. Next. >> I'm good. >> The board will consider consent calendar items as they appear below. Or on the next page.

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>> So moved. >> I need a second. Okay. And then the >> a quick question. The CAD dimensions one, which is the actually the only one. We got a nice letter. My presumption is that they've worked with the police department and or are they only on St. John's property so that they don't have to go through

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that process? >> They coordinate their own activity. >> Okay. >> Um I haven't seen them actually come before the board for their walk. I know that the walk goes um from the prep um around [clears throat] Seneca

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Longbow, Thomas Road, and then back. So, it is >> So, why wouldn't they have organized like other I thought when I read this I thought it was only on the prep property, but you're saying it's it's on town streets. >> It it has never been just on >> I I don't I don't I've not participated.

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I wouldn't know. >> I could certainly reach out to them and ask them going forward to submit a select board event, but Maybe >> Chairman, can I interject? It it's been a while, but participated

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A as a walker, but two as a traffic person to direct people along the routes and it's pretty well defined streets that they've been going on. I'm going to guess 20 years.

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I guess the the Kiwanis puts together a team to to walk >> I obviously haven't done this one, but I guess it's more consistency. If we ask of other people using the city's the town streets to to to

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talk to the police department, make sure they're knowledgeable. It might be self-contained, but I just I think that maybe for consistency sake for next year, maybe have them do that that paperwork. I'm sure there'd be no problem with it.

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But, thank you. >> Thank you. >> The event is on September 27th. I can certainly reach out if you like. >> no problem with the consent calendar this year. >> The consent calendar is just for banner. >> Oh, okay. Oh, yes, if you could ask then if that's the case my that would be my

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suggestion, but it's a board preference. >> Sure. So, should we vote on the consent calendar first then? >> Yep. >> Okay. Uh the That was All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Okay, five all.

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Now, correspondence, select board new business, and so forth. Um member to ask. >> Uh the I think I've gotten the same correspondence everybody else has save uh one where a

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um resident of uh Danvers that lives near me was having some issues post plowing and uh the town manager and the the um and Chuck Farrell are aware and are addressing it which gives me an opportunity to say that uh consistently when I hear

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involvement uh people have high praise and deservedly so for Chuck Farrell's responsiveness uh to these questions. He is I know it's um it's often the case that town employees don't want to be on

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Facebook responding to comments because hey, that's not the methodology of the or the um forum for uh really engaging the town administration. It's but often there's a Chuck is online and

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someone will make a comment and he'll ask you know, they'll say there's a sewer great up or there's something going on. He'll ask what's happening or he'll respond that it's already known and working and I think it's helpful for that kind of engagement that he is doing on his own

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and I appreciate I appreciate that he does that and again, every time I've heard uh his responses they're followed by praise for his for his attentiveness. So, I want to echo that. Um other than that, I attended the pride

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event at the police department. Uh that was great. I attended the library portion of the pride event. Uh Um so, I want to thank the HRIC for all of their work in these efforts. Um and uh and because we won't be back

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until after July 4th, I wish everybody a a safe and and relaxing July 4th. Thank you. >> Thank you. Member Bean. >> Um I just want to say thank you to the DPW and for us three guys. They came out

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a couple weeks ago. I I meant to mention it at the what at the last meeting. A tree fell down in the rail trail crushing the gate and the tree guys were there and the DPW guys were there in half an hour. It was fast.

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Cut it up and the tree guys came and took care of the rest of it within the hour. And then I think the next day some other folks come out and replace the gate. It was fast fast stuff. So that was a great great job and yes happy 4th of July. Hope everybody be able to get

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out and do some fun stuff around town and be safe and don't be tossing them fireworks. They're still illegal and nobody needs to lose a hand. So happy 4th. >> Thank you. Member Bennett and I'll give you the last word later.

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>> Thank you Mr. Chairman. I do have a comment um Well, it's not directly related to the town of Danvers. The town of Danvers is affected. Our legislature in their wisdom approved and legalized online online gambling number of years ago.

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And all it did was create another addiction. The feds have come up with a new state program aimed to prevent gambling amongst youth 11 to 17. The figure is that 1/3 of the boys 11 to 17 are placing bets online.

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It's really become a problem. What is the cost of that program to the taxpayer? What is the cost to these boys? What's the cost to these families? Um online gambling I was never in favor. Uh but as I said they've created another

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addiction. That's five addictions we have in this society. I won't name them all tonight but I'm very disappointed um that gambling is now a problem with our youth and I'm sure it affects some of our boys in this community.

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>> Thank you. Um Member Bennett. >> Yes um I wanted to um also thank the street division for rescuing the three baby ducks. I hope everybody saw that. That was really nice. And

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just want to say happy 4th of July to everybody. You know, be safe. Spend time with your family, friends, and your loved ones. And thank you for everything that the town does, town employees, and thank you to the residents for living here. We all

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love you. >> Thank you. Um quick thing, if you haven't gotten back to me yet about your preference for subcommittee, if you could please do so between now and the next meeting,

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so that on July 14, we could um we could divvy [snorts] it up the the different subcommittees that that we do have. I really appreciate that. Um I got one correspondence. I think it was

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uh Mr. Mark Jones who emailed me in support of the applications for Conners Farm. Um we also got an email from the town manager that came from the town moderator

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appointing a new FinCom member. Lawrence Steve has been appointed on the FinCom. So, congratulations to her. And I also attended the Juneteenth

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celebration this afternoon right here. Thanks to the HRRC and everyone who attended and the North Shore Juneteenth Association. Um thing I thought it was the fifth year, but I

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was reminded it's the sixth year. So, kudos to them as Other than that, happy 4th to everyone and I will give the last word to member Bennett. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Happy 4th everyone out there and please when you

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see a vet thank him or her for their service to our country. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good night, Denver.