Evening everyone and welcome to our July 28, 2026 select ball meeting. Member Bernard, could you please lead us in the pledge of allegiance? >> Sure. Thank you. [clears throat] 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, liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you very much. Uh member Bennett uh is unable to join us tonight. Um I
will have uh the assistant clerk welcome Mary uh our new assistant cler clerk. Is that the right one for those who don't know her? Everybody knows you in this town. [laughter] >> Uh she will assist us in reading the
agenda for tonight. >> Okay, great. Uh item one, the [clears throat] board will meet the assistant town accountant and consider her appointment as interim town accountant. >> Madame town manager. >> Sure. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um so tonight we want to we want to introduce
you to Carly Manian. She's our assistant town accountant. Um and the chairman and member Bennett have been working with our uh director of administration and finance on the search for a new town accountant. Um and that search is going
well and I think we'll be moving forward with that in August hopefully. Um but in the meantime, we do need we're required by master law to have someone named as accountant to sign um warrants and payrolls and um things of the like. So Carly has been with us less than a year.
um is doing a great job in her position and has agreed to step into that role in the interim um fashion and we're thrilled to have her aboard and she'll work very closely with Rodney. Um and so we respectfully request your approval for her interim appointment.
>> Thank you. Um Carly, not to put you on the spot, but do you want to just quickly introduce yourself >> for people who are watching at home? >> Uh sure. I'm Carly Manion. Um I'm the assistant town accountant uh for Danvers. Um, I've been here about five months. Five months. Um, and I've
enjoyed working here so far. So, I'm happy to step up and help the town keep things rolling along until you have a new town accountant. [clears throat] >> Thank you. Uh, board members, any questions, comments? Member Tusk. >> I have no questions or comments. Welcome. Well, not welcome. You've been
here. So, welcome to the new duties. >> Thank you. >> Member Bean. >> Um, I had a whole bunch of financial questions. Um, no he didn't. [laughter] Everybody here everybody says that [clears throat] we enjoy working with you. So we're happy and thank you for
filling in like this. We appreciate it. Thank you. >> Member Bernard. >> Hi Carly. Welcome. Can you tell us where a little bit about yourself where you were before? >> Uh, I last worked in Boxboro. I was assistant town accountant there for two years. Um, and before that I was in Stoneham in the assessor's office.
>> Nice. >> I live in conquered. Um, yeah. >> Welcome. That's it. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Uh, do I have a motion, >> Mr. Chairman? I we have some written motions available to us. I think just mostly for the legality of it. So, I move that we appoint assistant town
accountant Carly Manion as inram town accountant effect of August 7th, 2026 at noon with set appointment continuing until a start date of a permanent town accountant once appointed. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Any further discussions?
>> One question. Why are we waiting until August 7th? Is there no duties necessary before that? >> We have the town accountant's last day is August 7th. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Any further discussions? >> All those in favor say I. I. >> I.
>> 40. >> Thank you. >> The [clears throat] board will discuss and potentially vote to authorize the assistant town accountant and or interim town accountant to approve payroll and accounts payable warrants. >> Thank you. Um, board members, any
questions, comments? Member Bean. >> Uh, no, no questions. Thank you. >> Member Bernard, >> no questions. >> Member Tw. >> I have a question on the uh provided sample motion, but in order to have
that, maybe we should make the motion. >> Sure. So, you have no questions. And >> I have no questions about the subject, about the opportunity. I have questions about the motion language. >> Sounds good. And I if you want me to set the table a little bit, I can now and then maybe answer your question since prior to discussion.
>> Sure. >> Yeah. Um I just so I just wanted to I was going to let you guys know, but you went right to a question. So um uh the chair chairman Dejoko and member Bennett have been working with Rodney um on the search and throughout the process um not
just the search process but as we review our processes we realize that we don't have a formal way to um if someone's on vacation sign a payroll. Uh the town account's on vacation we don't have a formal way for them to sign a payroll or a warrant um without technically coming
to select board. So, it was something that Rodney spoke with the chair and member Bennett about. There was discussion about what's the appropriate length of time. [clears throat] You know, if they're gone on vacation, this would cover it. Um, and so we went with the 30 days because that's kind of
the trigger at which we're like, okay, now you're doing the duties for longer than covering a a one to two week vacation or something. So, um, I believe Rodney and and the chair the chairperson spoke a bit about why they how they came up with 30 days. I just I'm assuming
that's what you were looking into was how do we pick that number? >> Okay, thank you for the clarifications. >> Was I wrong? >> Um I mean that's fine. We can still discuss when we do the motion. >> Why don't we stop by making the motion and I'll and then we can question the motion.
>> Sounds good. Hold on one sec. Did I call on you already? [clears throat] >> Yeah, I'm fine. >> Okay, good. Okay, I'll need a motion. >> The motion is presented. It says, "I move we authorize the intram town accountant and or assistant town accountant to approve payroll and accounts payable warrants as needed
during the normal course of business with a condition that if the assistant town accountant is expected to perform these duties longer than one month that the select board will discuss and determine whether an interim town accountant appointment is necessary." So that's the motion that and then you can
second it. >> Okay, I need a second. >> I'll second it. >> Okay, perfect. Now discussions. >> Sure. So the question I have is and [clears throat] as much to you miss Mr. Chairman as as the town manager, the town manager and
the town account of the two select board uh hires as it were direct responsibility in the town manager's role. if the town manager is going to be away. I just got an email today saying the town manager is going to be away for a vacation for
for a week and in their place they've appointed uh someone to cover for them. Why is this why is the town accountant rule any different? Why wouldn't we say simply the town accountant can appoint the deputy town accountant to cover for
them and that's it. We we don't put a time frame on on the Tom manager saying that. And yes, we probably would if it was more than a month. We'd probably call that as a board call it out.
>> But we don't codify the town manager's discretion to appoint an assistant town manager to act on behalf of town manager. >> Why are we I just wondering if we're over complicating the motion? Yeah, I don't I let Rodney if he wants to speak to it,
but in general it's we should because the um my opinion is because the duties of the town manager are vast and here you're you're giving them the ability to do two specific tasks, right? So for
um so for the town manager for me like for for it to just be you wouldn't want to codify you know in the meantime if it's less than 30 days somebody the assistant town manager if we had one could do this because it's a vast amount of responsibilities here there were we're requesting two specific responsibilities but if you want to add
to that >> yeah so this actually came up prior to the pending vacancy um again through vacations or maternity leave FMLA the town accountant can be out at times for a couple weeks sometimes longer Um, in [clears throat] doing so, past practice, not just in Denver, in most communities, is the assistant town account will sign
in their place. The auditors had a question of, okay, well, we we'd like something in paper that's statutoily allows that to happen. So again, whether it's the select board, you know, determining that the town accountant has the authority to appoint a replacement for a short period of time and their absence or this motion, I think it was
just more that when the auditors come in and they pull an AP warrant from May and it has the assistant town accountant signature on it, what's the legal authority that gives her that right? So that was the idea behind this motion today. And then talking with chairman Dejoko and member Bennett, the question
was what should come to the select board if it's going to be a longer term absence? So if if the town accountant's not going to be here for 3 to 6 months, then since it is a select board appointee, we should come back and have a discussion on here's our plan in that longer duration period. >> Okay.
>> One one more question through you, M. >> This appears not to be a it's town accountant first and then the assistant town accountant. This says and or so it's saying actually both of them can do the job. If the town accountant's in the office, it says both of them can do the
job. Is that what we want? >> Assistant town accountant and or interim town accountant. >> I move we authorize an inter town accountant and or assistant town accountant to approve. Okay. >> Um >> is but this doesn't speak to the general
this doesn't speak to the town accountant and appointed and then being appointed. This speak this speaks to this current situation. this or any other situation where a town accountant for whatever reason is not able to sign payroll or an AP warrant.
So when they're not here for two weeks when authority gives the assistant the ability to sign in their place so that people can be paid and bills can be paid. So that's the intent of the motion and I mean just to maybe I see where member TR is going. Um
could we remove interim town accountant from the motion? Uh because the interim town accountant will be appointed by the select board. >> So adding it in this motion. So I will move that we amend the motion and remove
the interim town accountant and just leave assistant town accountant because the interim is appointed by the select board like we just did. Yep. >> This is just in case the town accountant is absent. [clears throat] >> We're giving the assistant to town
accountant to sign payroll. Um and the one month question I think is reasonable. Uh we could leave it undeterred indefinitely until we get a new one. But
as a board, I think we will want to retain our authority to keep um how do you say it to be the one who appoint the accountant. We could say they can just do the job for the next 6
months or whatever. But why would we want to do that? We want to >> I I'll go with the 30 days. I got no problem with that. >> Okay. The way it's worded m makes I would almost suggest it should be worded in the event the town accountant is
unavailable we authorize the assistant town accountant to do this so on and so forth. This doesn't speak to number two doesn't speak to the fact that the town accountant is is unavailable. It jumps right into always authorizing
the the intram town accountant or assistant town accountant to do the job. Doesn't speak to the fact that the town accountants unable to do is unavailable to do the job for whatever reason. Do do >> do you do do you understand the
distinction that I I guess maybe I'm I'm reading it wrong, but [clears throat] >> this just says we're going to move independent of what the town accountant situation is. They're here, they're not here, whatever it is. We're just saying we're going to give the assistant town accountant the authorization to sign.
>> Yeah. I mean, if you wanted to add the language that when they're unavailable, I don't see any issue with that. I think we didn't want to pinpoint it to if they're on vacation or if they're [clears throat] on this. There could be a million reasons why the town's unavailable. Yeah. They're unavailable. Yeah. Okay. >> Sure. >> Then if I might, can I change my motion to
>> I move that in the event the town accountant is unavailable, >> we authorize the assistant town accountant to approve payroll, accounts payable, warrants as needed, blah blah blah, the rest of it with the condition of the if the assistant town account is
all the rest. So basically I move and I'm taking we a um right after the word move I'm adding in the event the town accountant is unavailable we authorize and then I'm as you suggest striking the intram town accountants
language and just say the assistant town accountant >> the town accountant's unavailable we authorize the assistant to do it >> if it's going to take more than 30 days they come back and talk to us Mhm. I could I add a little something to that?
Maybe we say unav unavailable and or unable to perform her duties because you could be available but not able to perform. >> I think able to perform is available.
>> I think that might be splitting it a little too fine. I think you're not going to be in the office and unable to do the job. Okay. >> You're either available or you're not available to do the job. You're So I
>> um >> would that would that cover what we're trying to cover here? >> If I followed the proposed motion, I believe that that would cover what we're trying to do. Again, it just when the accountant's on vacation and the assistant covers payroll, we want to make sure that they're comfortable that
they can sign it. they have the authority and that if the auditors pull that warrant say what authority we can say here's this motion that we took authorizing that from time to time they will have to sign it if the accountant's unavailable >> unfortunately they're out sick on the day that we absolutely have to sign a warrant >> exactly >> or payroll payroll is important
>> Mhm. I need a second for the amended motion. >> No, I'm I'm I'm changing my motion to this new motion. Yes. And so whoever seconded that if they can second how I've changed it. You It's not an amendment. >> I'll second how God is changing it. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh, Madame Clerk, did
you get that? >> So, I just want to confirm the motion is from Gardner. I move in the event that the town accountant is unavailable, we authorize the assistant town accountant to approve payroll and accounts payable
warrants as needed during the normal course of business with a condition that if an assistant town accountant is expected to perform these duties longer than one month that the select board will discuss and determine whether an interim town accountant appointment is necessary. Yes,
>> I like that. >> Okay, any further discussions? All those in favor say I. I. >> Okay. For all. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> See you tomorrow. [clears throat] >> Oh, sorry. Number three. Correspondence. Select board. New business. Previous new business. New public business updates
and select board closing comments. >> Okay. [clears throat] Uh, member Bean. >> Okay. Um, thank you. Um, yeah, I just thought I'd bring up the fact that I was working with the town
manager on [clears throat] uh what we came up with or what she came up with and and she worked with uh Falconfest to allow us to have a table or tent at the August 9th fireworks at the high school. And what and the the
reason for the tent or table or both is to um offer some celebration for the country's 250th. And so uh we may have some items we can uh give out to residents and we still have to put some loose ends
together as far as how to do it in a fun way. Um and I sent an email to everybody on the board to see if uh we could raise participation. So, it would be run by the select board and it's and it is a select board uh only um item. So, there
wouldn't be other people involved uh on it. So, um uh the other thing I was uh looking to do was to u possibly um give out some t-shirts that would say the town of Damas on them with a happy 250th uh as uh an item. And I'm not sure how
we would do that yet. Maybe it's a some kind of a random game we play. Maybe a history thing. Maybe they can answer a history question. I don't know. Something that makes it fun that uh we can give out some of these. So, I don't know if anybody needs to if we should talk about that some more. Guess I'm
just bringing it up and opening it up. >> Okay. Um member Bernard. >> No, I think that's a great idea, Mike. Um you know, must Dave, right? celebrate 250th celebration.
Um, anything I can do to help, I'll I'll be there. And, um, for the t-shirts, did you want to mention maybe if people want to do a donation? >> Um, got to [clears throat] figure that out, right? >> Yeah. I it's my
it was my understanding that um I think was it here as board members we cannot really seek donations >> right so >> um we cannot correct me madame town manager if I'm right it's it's a tricky
thing if we can seek donation for our campaign and things like that and that has to be reported >> yeah I did ask for some [clears throat] clarity. >> Yeah. >> Um >> you I think the most important part and um one of the reasons member bean and I discussed bringing it up here is and you
are allowed to solicit donations for an item to be donated to the town but to to solicit them on behalf of the town or on behalf of the select board you have to have a vote of the select board first. >> Okay. Okay. So we can seek donations as a board but not as individual board
members >> until the board has has decided. So if if tonight, which is why we brought up for discussion, so if tonight if the board says this is a great idea, um let's go raise some money for the shirts and then donate the shirts to the town or you could do it for you know what whatever if you were involved in
something uh um another effort that a group that you were involved with a group that wanted to donate something to the town. Again, if you're to request it on behalf of the board or the town, the board has to vote on it. >> Okay. >> But you are allowed to you are allowed to request it. >> Perfect. Thank you for the
clarification. And where will that go? Will they bring it to town hall or do they send it to my uh >> Well, it all depends on how I mean that would depend on like what you're raising money for, right? So, um like if if
>> if we said like the the t-shirt for example, um how where would the money go? >> That's a good question. It would dep again I think it would depend like we would are you donating the money to the town and the town's facilitating getting
a t-shirt or are you just paying for the t-shirt in which case we're the whoever's raising the money is raising the money buying the t-shirts and the town is receiving the t-shirts as a gift. Um, in this case, because of the time it takes and to move things through
the town, if this is something you want to do by the 7th, I would suggest that you guys you work together to figure that out and and either they can donate, they can give directly to, but although people want to depending on the size of their gifts, I don't think this is something of that size, but want a
501c3, but um or some sort of, you know, non non-t taxable entity, but with this short of time giving donations to the town and trying to turn it around is is it just we just don't function like that unfortunately. But um but I can find out clarity from from Rodney on how we would
do that if people are because they're not really giving to they wouldn't be making a a check out to the town. So I'd have to get more clarity on that. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? No, that that's what I was I wanted clarity on that because how we go about
doing that first we have to decide if the board wants to go forward with it like she said and then work out the particulars. >> Okay. Um member to question. >> So I have a I [clears throat] did get an
individual email from the from Mike um which I can appreciate because we want to make avoid open meeting law issues. Um, I I I guess I have I have several concerns about this one. And it's more
it's more functional. It's not about the idea. It's not about should we celebrate. It's not about, you know, um, can we do this? It's the timing and the content and the details. So, first is,
and I'll have some other comments in my own new business is about solicitation. We have to be really really cautious about soliciting. First of all, we have to be cautious about going out and saying we're doing this for the select board. It's not a town event. It's not a
town function. It's not a it's it's not a town sponsored activity. It is a select board. It was present to me as it's the select board is doing this. Um, and my concern is that
there's been forays, you know, to Falconfest, which is a fine community service organization about what the selectman want to do when I didn't hear about it beforehand, didn't say yes, that's what I want to do. I also think if we're going to do
something that celebrates the select men and I'm not quite sure what what the intent of this is celebrating the 250th is it being visible to the public is it um because if we're going to do that we have town events I would rather have the
select board have a tent at a town event we have a concert every Monday and Wednesday we had the reading of the declaration would have been a great time to to hand out uh it was a full it was a tremendous response response for the reading the um not only the reading the
declaration but the next day the actual the viewing of the actual documents. There were over 300 or 400 people who were there that day interested in seeing those things. I'm wondering why we're joining a community service organization
and not doing it under the umbrella of the of the town. I have a concern about using you know I don't I don't know what the design looks like. I haven't seen the designing and won't approve a design that I haven't seen. I don't know that we can use the town. I don't know that the selectman have the authority to use
the town seal. That's really sits with the town manager. She's responsible according to the charter and you know it's come up in the past that signs on town property and the town charter the town seal is at the discretion of the town manager.
Um, don't know the cost because it was, you know, one of the ideas floated was that the select board would all pitch in. 300 t-shirts are going to be 3,000 or $4,000. I just want a quick Vista print. At this point, it's a big chunk
of money and I'm I'm not sure that I would engage in that. I'm also not available that day. I'm away. And so I don't know if other members are available or not, but I'm away. and and not able to represent a select board
tent um would be conspicuous in my absence. So, I'm concerned that we don't when when we bring something to the board, we should have some clarity on the plans, on the price, on the cost, on what the view what it's going to look like. And we're only
10 days away. I can't imagine that we would get those those logistical answers and order them and print them in time. And I don't know if we're compelled by the same laws as um the town is when it
goes and tries to buy something. There are pro procurement laws. It's not high enough to be an RFP, but there are procurement laws. we can't just give it to our brother-in-law, give the job to our brother-in-law, um, for very good reasons. So, I like the idea. I would
like to see it better fleshed out and get some of those answers and then see if we can do it at a town event. The summer's not over yet. The 250th isn't over yet. And I think that, you know, it would have been better served at one of the act it would have been great at the reading of
the declaration or at the of the viewing of the declarations. Um but uh good idea. I just think it was too close to execution. Too close to the date for execution is my feelings. >> Thank you. Um I [clears throat] like the
idea. I I think I think I mean you're raising member TR is raising some really good points. Um I I like the idea. I think the idea of number one, I think going to talk to Falcon Fest and on behalf of the board,
I I don't think that's the case here. I think it's appropriate, at least in my opinion, to go to Falcon Fest and seek information and be okay. If we wanted to do this, what does it take? We would need a table. Is that a possibility? and
getting that information and bringing it to us now like we're doing now for deliberation I think is appropriate. Um getting a table for visibility I think is appropriate. um
the t-shirt aspect that is where I don't know if um if member bean have done some research as to is it feasible um are we able to solicit since we can't really solicit funds
number one I think we have to decide are we willing to solicit the funds as a board that's the first question the second question is if we were to do that we are not even sure where the money will go. >> Yeah, I don't know that we have the mechanism
>> and and I'll ask the town manager because >> for example, Endicott Park doesn't take donations. It goes through to the unless it comes to the town and we accept it. But money donations go to the friends of Endicott Park that then support them. Friends of friends of the dog park,
friends of organ, friends of the senior center for exactly those reasons that they don't go go directly to no one would ever write a check out to the board of selectment. Couldn't catch it, you know. So I don't know that we a
we have the mechanism um or have worked through what the mechanism would be. >> Yeah. So we so we do we do take donations. So um when people like memorial bent programs um some people um >> I can't think of the right word but leave things in their will that are to
be used. So yes like and you know because they all come through you we we do have the mechanism to accept a donation. Um, in this case with this amount of time like I so normally those are all kind of set up right like the memorial bench money comes in Bronnney
knows where to put it and that's they use that line item to where it goes out of in this case like I said we don't have that set up at this time so I don't and I I don't know that we'd have the time to turn it around and be able to pay a vendor in this amount of time. Um so yes we have the ability to do it. I
just don't know that we have the mechanism to bring in money and pay out money in 10 days. >> And and generally we don't actually expend the money until we've accepted the gift. >> Correct. No. No. Yeah. We would >> if someone said, "I have a memorial
bench." They wouldn't place the memorial bench and give it to us. >> If they they wouldn't place it, but they may they may order it. And then >> but I'm just I I want to be very careful about >> just um >> that line. I mean I will I I think having visibility at least from the
board perspective is a good idea. Uh I'll be flying from Washington DC that day. So hopefully my flight is not um delay in which case I'll be there. Um regardless of if the select board has a table or not it's a very it's a great
event. Um so member mean who spearheaded this initiative um are we are made of having a select board table without the t-shirt or do you think we
we are able to pull it together between the design and I don't know what what what do you think [clears throat] all right so in the email that I sent out All right. Um, you you obviously know I'm not a great
communicator, so I didn't I didn't mean that [clears throat] the select board had to pony up all that kind of money and and I should have worded it better. What I meant to say was that uh um if it's acceptable, I could go around and see if businesses would kick in um to,
you know, and and they'd be recognized with maybe a flyer that we give out as well, you know, just to uh you know, say, "Hey, you know, this company here and this company here and this company here donated money to pay for these shirts in their canvas businesses." Um
and [clears throat] the other option is um you know so I didn't I didn't mean that each okay was you know I wasn't looking to try to bankroll [laughter] everybody here this because it is it's it's a what I'm finding out they're about nine bucks a shirt and um it would
have right here it would have the town of the seal and it would say happy 250th America and on the back it would have the same thing in a larger one with just an American flag on the shirt on that sleeve um And so now my question would be I can get it done. I've I I can get
it done on the time frame. So if I needed to cover the cost, can I do that or how does that play out >> because of this time frame? >> So um and I madame town manager will
correct me here. If if member Ban wants to donate 300 t-shirts to the town of Danvers, he could do that and this board can accept it. >> It's welcome to do that. >> We would just have to like any other gift. Uh we will have to
have a presentation of the gift to the town and the town will accept the gift and then the town manager will dispose of it as we see fit. Is that correct? >> Yeah. Yes. And it um and because I was looking into the laws when I was talking
to town council, it also says um there is some language around procurement and things like that that if the gift if it's a tangible gift and it's to be and the donor is saying it's to be used for such and such. We don't the select board can off can say thank you. We can accept
the gift and we can use it in that manner. >> So to answer but here's my concern and again it's not about Mike. It's not about the the thing. It's about the mechanics of this. Let's say because this is the Mike says I'm gonna give I'm gonna pay the 9,000 out of the good
because he wants to do that. Great. >> If he then solicits money from businesses. >> No, that's that's No, that's a different that's kind of what he was saying. >> No, it was either or. He said his first idea was to solicitate money from
businesses. And I think during our initial conversation it was clear that as board members that may not be appropriate because we will be like I could go to I don't know uh
um Bry Tan and ask for money where we are not allowed to do that. We can't be soliciting that. So that was that that's that was his idea. But then he said in the event that he wanted to do a
donation to the town can he do it and the answer is yes he can and this board will just have to accept it as any other donation. So there's two different things. >> Okay. Okay. If is is that clarity right
Mike? You're saying just you you're going to be the good you're going to open up >> member member member. Yeah. Let me ask him. So sorry. [laughter] Uh so did I did I kind of summarize it correctly? >> Yes. So >> if unfortunately my understanding is
that we cannot solicit donation from businesses. >> Uh [clears throat] if there was a 5013 or another organization that had given us something then we can accept it. As far as you donating some t-shirts to the
town or donating money to the town toward t-shirts, yes, you can. They would just have to be accepted by the board like any other donation. >> So, my question is, um, considering that we're here tonight
and we won't be back till the 18th, um, how do we how do we go about accepting him? Well, that's that that's going to be the tough part because um if next week you were to this is on the nine, right? >> It's Sunday. Yeah. >> So, yeah, it'll be tough for that
donation because the board will have to accept the donation. So, >> can we can we embrace the idea but not the event? Meaning, let's go if that's what you want to do, Mike. Yeah. >> I'm I'm concerned. I'm concerned that I
haven't seen a design that's going to be presented as a select board. If you want to have the mic bean tent, have the mic be >> member to us. Just a quick just a quick thing. We are also allowed to refuse donations. So if member bean decides to donate 300
t-shirts to the board, we would take a vote and we can say thanks but thanks. >> Well, but but that's part of my concern. It shouldn't be a concern. >> No, no. If you allow me, allow me to finish. >> Just like when I misinterpreted or the email was unclear, I didn't want Mike
write, you know, writing a check out of my checkbook. I don't want to glom on to his donation. I don't want to feel I don't want to say this is a selectman event when I'm not participating in it because I can't be at the I'm away, can't be at the event, and I haven't put
into it. And so I'm I'm feeling uncomfortable about this. >> I think there are two things going on. The first one is having a select men table, a select board member table at the event. I think we can decide that
separately from having the t-shirt. Uh so I think and and I seem to have not a consensus but at least three of the board members here feeling that having a select board table at the event would be
okay. >> And I did speak with Dan on the phone last night. He called me and he said he was in on the table and he would >> I mean Dan is not here so >> No, he told me he just said you can bring it up. >> Were three of us here.
>> Yeah. And and I think member TR is also okay with having a table. He just may not be there that day and I may not be there either because I'm I'll be flying in. So having a select board member table at the event I feel like there's a
consensus there. Is is that fair member to ask? >> I'm trying to verbalize this. If we want to have a select board table, what is the intent for visibility? Is it is it to be visible at an event?
>> It's visibility. I'm asking it's Mike's idea. I'm wondering what the intent was. >> The the intent will be visibility. Uh it'll be uh answering resident questions. It'll be talking to anyone who comes to our table and at least they
know the select board. If you want to talk to one of your select board member, that's the place you can go. >> Great. And I would like that to happen. I would like a select board on a date that we can all be participate even if it's in rounds or rotations.
We can't at this coming event. And it really should be a town of what should be a town sponsored event. Why do we need to be at this? And they're a great group. Don't get me wrong. It's a civic organization. I worked I worked family festival for 25
out of their 40 years. I understand what they're trying to do and I appreciate what they're trying to do. But the question is if we want select board visibility opportunity to meet, greet, ask questions, whatever it is, let's have it at a town sponsored event instead of kind of rushing this in. And
we're rushing this in. And so that the table aspect of it is, you know, I don't know. I you may not be there, I can't be there. And so now it's three. You know, it it it feels like a missed
opportunity. And the other thing is I've been doing this for 20 years and I'm I'm really comfortable with the visibility I bring to the town. I go to the concerts. I go to the HRIC events. I go to all these other things. I am seen. People know how to reach me. People know
how to talk to me. If if I if I may um I mean we can there's not too much visibility that we can have. [clears throat] >> We this is one event where we can have visibility and there will be thousands more events where we can have
visibility. So I don't think we we can have too much visibility as a board or as individual board members. So I I I'm still very comfortable with us having a table with visibility. I think the
t-shirt aspect uh member bean is where it could be complicated because even if you were to donate the t-shirt next week, we won't have a meeting
before the actual event on the nine. So, um, would we be are we amendable to having a select board 10 table for visibility where we're just there meeting and talking to the residents? I think that's
is will that is is that something that we'll be open to? >> Um, yeah. I I I don't know. I mean, [clears throat] my vision wasn't that we were going to be out there answering questions. I think it's going to be a fun family event. Gonna be a lot of
chaos, right? I guess I just thought it was um a fun thing where we would just be out and um just hanging out, you know, casual, >> not very stressful situation. Not like this, right? >> Well, I mean, one thing one thing is
sure, anytime you're out, people will still come and talk to you and and >> yeah, >> good things, bad things, you name it. Right. Right. >> So, but given the fact that we don't have like the process of getting the items that we need for our tables, the
time frame is just too short uh based on raising the funds, accepting the donation. What is the next best thing? Do we just work on it for a another town event
uh or do we just have the visibility table? That's I think that's where we are at. >> What uh what else is on the calendar that would be um I know there's a whole bunch has already passed us. Um some is flying by
um >> October. >> I mean I think in October we [snorts] have a >> Well, you know what? We could do October. >> I have a good idea. >> What? Um, actually our one of our largest events is coming up is the Touch a Truck, >> the DPW's Touch a Truck. It's to like
supposedly the largest best Touch a Truck in all of the Northshore from what I understand. >> Um, I think it's September 12th. >> That gives us a nice long lead time. I think you have probably two meetings between now and then. >> I'll be in Canada that weekend.
>> You'll be up north. Yes. >> Have a wedding. >> Well, so that's one that just came to mind. There are the concerts every Monday and Wednesday um that continue through the next I think two or three weeks of August. >> When is the next town open house?
>> Should we have a selectman? >> I mean we we go to the >> table. I mean the fire department present, the police department present, the electric department. I used to go to those all. >> Yeah. They don't do those. We don't do those anymore in that fashion. Yeah. >> But they each like the electric
celebrates during a um public power week. They do one and the police and fire do theirs. The police had do many small events like the pumpkin painting and all that to try to get people comfortable in there regularly and fire does it during fire prevention week.
>> Town week, right? Town week. Is that what it is? >> No, they're not. They're all within their kind of national. So is it fair to say that maybe um for this specific event we will we will postpone our
visibility table and try to work out the kings and the details as to how the donations can work out >> and and would that be amendable would you be amidable to that? >> Yeah. Yeah. I I want everybody to feel good about it. I want the whole >> not necessarily
>> you [laughter] know the whole board. I want the board to be uh accepting of it. So if it's if it can't be >> um that t that date then maybe we can >> Yeah, I think I think we will we will we'll postpone this um and maybe have it
on on one of the meetings as an agenda item. >> Okay. >> Uh and in the meantime, you know, kind of clarify certain things uh so that we don't break the law and get into >> Yeah. And I'm happy to work with you member bean on making sure we have
clarity on if we're going to do this because just to clarify one more time because I I'm not sure you said it correctly like the board is allowed to solicit donations. They're allowed to go to a business but the board has to vote first that they're going to do that. So,
um, if this board decides, yes, we want to do touch a truck, yes, we want to have cool t-shirts, and they vote for that and they say, "This is how much we want to raise. This is how we're going to where the mechanism is of where the money is going to go and how we're going to pay for it." When that if that's all sorted, you then you can hit the
pavement >> and we also have time to see the design instead of just read about it, but actually see a design and I [clears throat] think maybe uh we'll be more comfortable with it. >> Yes. And I was thinking on the other end of that is how do we collect money because if it isn't going to a specific
check written to some account our auditors will go crazy. >> We'll have the town that's the part we have to figure out work work on that. [clears throat] >> Perfect. Thank you. >> So can we could we put it on the next uh meeting agenda? >> We can discuss in putting in the next
agenda. Yes. >> And and work out some details between now and then. >> All right. Perfect. Thank you so much. Um >> Mr. Chairman, >> when you get this sorted out, decide where the money's going, let me know. I'll write you a check for $1,000 to
support this. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> It's a good start. [laughter] >> We had a good fantastic generous audience member today. >> Yes, we do. Uh, so thank you. Um, and
member TR any >> Well, I didn't know if you had anything else on the new business. >> Oh, no. I'm getting taken up all the time. [laughter] Yeah, >> hopefully [clears throat] we can get this wrap up in the next couple minutes. [laughter] >> Yeah, I I'll try to be brief. Um, I want
to be this brought up this brought up an issue or brought up a thought and I want to be make sure that we're very as select board members very cognizant of representation as a board. I leave this
meeting. I can't speak for the board. if the board didn't decide on something as a majority. I can't speak for the board. Um, and we recently got a donation that a member solicited. [clears throat] Um, not Mike because he didn't, but it was
as good intention as it is, we can't go to a source and say, "Hey, would you give um" and represent it as a board request? Um, just got to be very very very careful about how we do that. Um uh
I'm just concerned about that. Um separate issue now, different issue. I've been hearing a lot of people concerned and complaining that we didn't pull together a 250th parade. We had a parade planned. We had parade planned
for Memorial Day. And to those who haven't done it before, and I mentioned it at the last meeting, we the select board, the town are compelled to follow state rules, state laws, federal laws, purchasing laws, all sorts of things. So
things don't happen on it at the turn of a switch. Um I was part of the Dave was too the 2 Davis 250th event that was literally thousands of volunteer hours to which culminated into
200 I meant I'm sorry which culminate we had a huge parade. I was a member of family festival and we've had we had many parades over the 25 years I was there. These things take six months to a year to plan to for people to complain
that we didn't have in two weeks a 250th parade is really kind of or Fourth of July parade is a lack of understanding of the amount of work that goes into those efforts. At that point the kids have already graduated. 25% of the kids are gone.
Seniors are gone. You haven't organized with this town. You haven't organized the the the cost of those parades. these things we have to pay employees we have to pay DPW we have to pay fire police others to uh to for the logistics of it the town the town administration so
great ideas happen all the time but understanding that they can't be enacted in a two-e period is really not the fault and no one wants to say no one wants to be the bad guy but the logistical reality just isn't there the
town tried to participate in the state's 250th events and we were late to the table then. Um, if we need to spend money on a parade, we have to as board members and as town meeting members have to say yes, let's put aside x amount of dollars for
a parade. We just can't find the money. That's the thing that people I think people miss out is I firmly believe the true power in this town lies with town meeting and their ability to say what we spend our money on and we can't go outside that purview. We just can't come
up with 10 or 15 or $20,000 for a parade because the other one got rained out. Um it's and it wasn't the same magnitude. Everybody had already had their Fourth of July plans scheduled by the beginning of June. So, you know, I hear a lot of grumbling about how why didn't we do why
didn't we do because we didn't anticipate doing it and we couldn't do it in the time frame that was allowed for it. So, um I just want to point out that we are compelled by the law and by the budgets that were the town meeting
the town meeting approved, excuse me, sorry. Um, so that being done and as far as correspondence, I I've gotten correspondence from a resident and I'll speak to the town manager about outdoor
bait traps again um and their desire to bring it to the board of health about uh copying state law that prohibits outside um bait traps. They're the big black boxes that you see sometimes. Um I'm not
advocating one way or the other. I am bringing constituents concern to the town manager and to the board of health. So those are my only that's the only correspondence I got other than that. >> Thank you very much. Um yeah I mean I
think uh through the effort of the historical society the the town archivist uh the library the dangerous alarm list and many dedicated volunteer we've I mean we've commemorated with some educational program
um I think having a large event would have been nice but we did it the diverse way and we're continuing to do it and that's why we're having this discussion tonight into finding ways to continue to celebrate our 250s and we will. On that
note, um >> did did Moren? >> Yeah, I did. You okay, I'm sorry. >> You missed me. That's okay. Um I think the summer's going by fast. I can't believe it's the end of July. Um I really haven't had much correspondence
at all. Um, I think people are just enjoying this time being with families and uh, friends, weddings, showers, lots going on. Um, just enjoy the rest of the summer and we'll see everybody in August. >> Thank you. And if I may ask to member
Bean to give the last uh, departing word that member Bennett usually does. If you can do that for us. >> If you do see a vet, uh, thank him. Thank her him and, uh, appreciate what they have done for us. We're all here because of them. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Good night, D. >> Thank you.