We uh just returned from executive session and I hate to disappoint anyone but after we adjourn this meeting we're going to go back into executive session. Uh so everybody would have to leave. We're not doing autographs out. Um anyway, we uh need to stand for a moment of silence, please. We lost three
residents this week from the town of B. Uh they are John Burton Hay, Mary Pina, and uh Jane Mo Thompson. >> Thank you. Uh Chief, you're up. This is a review discuss and act
appointment of a parttime dispatcher. Good evening everybody. >> Um this is Mr. Duffy. Um he came to us uh to apply for a part-time job a couple months back. Um and I know we've gone down this road before uh hiring
part-time help. Um, and we just can't seem to retain uh part-time help because they're getting full-time opportunity to go to other departments. Um, so it's my recommendation tonight that the board consider appointing uh the following candidate, Mr. Duffy. Mr. Duffy resides
here in town at 1667 William Street. Um, the above name applicant must pass and must pass and complete. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Wellington Street. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Excuse me. That's my fault. um must ma uh must pass and maintain all the certifications. Should
the applicant not meet the required certifications, um he would be withdrawn and another applicant would be named. >> Okay. >> Um he would just be uh filling in like like the other other um part- timerrs that we've hired, the occasional workforce we call it, to uh keep the uh
overtime cost down. >> Yep. >> How many partimeters do you have now? >> We have one. >> Just one down to one. Yes. >> And how many full-times? Um that's the fourth floor time dispatch. >> Is somebody retiring still? >> Paul Reed retired. >> Oh, that was it. >> That was it. >> Okay.
>> And um Michael, thank you that you want to do this. It's a pleasure. >> It's an important job. >> Very. >> And and I'm glad you you stepped up. It's it means a lot to the town. Thank you again. >> Any particular reason why you want to do it?
Well uh in 1978 I graduated Farm University in New York >> with a criminal justice degree and I wanted to be the f one of the team member on the finest force but it didn't work out at that time because and so forth. Okay. >> I went into a culinary field and retired
from that. I was at the University of Rhode Island. I was a steward on the research vessel Endeavor for many many years and then I retired after co and then uh living here in Dyon. I'm like well gee I don't know maybe I should do go back and figure out something to do with the police. >> Yeah. Nice.
>> I walked in and I met Teresa and I introduced myself to her and she says oh you couldn't come at a better time. We really need some help. >> One thing led to another and I'm like really uh reliving that degree I had and never used. So even though it's going to be communications. >> Yeah.
>> So all right. You know what I mean? Yeah. >> Um, >> well, if the chief recommends you, then I have no issues at all. Mark, do you have any questions? >> How what is the goal for part-time dispatchers? >> What do you mean? >> I mean, what what's the level of part-time dispatchers you'd like to have? I apologize.
>> Four would be ideal. >> Four would be ideal. >> Yeah. So, um, we have we have a retired person that would like to try to come back. Um I I told him they'd have to cons um time and see if there's I mean minimal hours they could work but we'll we'll look at that at another time. But
um trying to just you know maintain some parttime help. It's like I said they want people want full-time. We just don't have the we don't have the vacancies for it right now. You know we have the four we have the four that we have to fill the shifts that we that that they are they're assigned to and when they're out for training or taking
time off having a couple part-time you know at hand is is nice. I mean, but four would be I mean good because there's other obligations in their life they may have to fulfill but uh having two that would be great you know >> is is it a position advertised on the website?
>> It was it has it's still there still there still there. It's been there. Um and the uh the full-time position for police officer still up there too just taking obligations. Um >> okay. Who knows you know future. Yep. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. Uh motion on the floor then. >> I will make a motion to appoint Michael Duffy as a part-time public safety dispatcher. I'll >> sit down chair and second. All those in favor? >> I congratulations. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you.
>> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Welcome to the team. >> Thanks very much. Thank you, Mr. >> Perry. You're up. This is a revisit, right?
>> Um here this evening uh to hopefully have the first reading of the issues um documentation regarding the swap shed. Um last time we met I I considered a very productive meeting. There were number of
inputs made uh number of changes required a number of changes suggested and as a committee we met and incorporated all those into this document we'll hear this evening. Uh before I get started on that there were several issues that came up from sele
which I'd like to address. Um we took care of the um the typing and the format regarding uh the time AM pm etc. Okay. And um in the reading uh you had some concerns about uh who has custody etc.
That's embedded in here and if there are more issues with that you know we can address it then and there. Uh, regarding the fire chief's input, um, we have an email from Chief McGee. The fire department has no concerns about the
building. We don't require permits for ships. Uh, building commissioner stepped in. We have an email. It says, "Building department will require permit from this office. The permit fee will probably be waved by the town." Probably
be waved by the town administrator. Okay. Uh we'll also require necessary information uh as location on the property setbacks etc which would be required. Okay. And um we'll formalize that um either just before or just after
the the building is put in place. And then there was an issue regarding uh ADA. We have a um email from Mr. Yale said uh the shed will have to have clear flat surface rollup wheelchair access uh with the
correct width. In addition, direct access to the shed would require door handles and lever floor format and the correct height. Uh there is more I'd like to discuss and again that becomes a function of um you know vertical height
positioning etc. And of course we meet those requirements. Umically it's going to look exactly like this. Okay. So does that you know cover those issues that that you were concerned about? >> Yes. I'm happy that you've reached out
to all those folks. I appreciate that very much. Thank you. Uh before I start reading document agree or issues that um I have I'm happy with the policy so I'll vote to support it once you're done with
your first reading. Um however the whether it's a shed versus a container. I thought well we have to do the three readings on this for the next three meetings while we work on this if it's amendable to the uh to the board. It be nice to get a couple options instead of
just a container like if we could have some options for sheds. >> Mr. Ferry could probably address that if you don't mind. >> Yes, it sound sounds like just to entertain it. You talk about discuss you want to end this meeting here also or committee level.
>> It would be great if it went back to the committee but personally I'd like to see three options on you know three different options for sheds instead of a container. I know in terms of this I think uh the basic intent here is to
have some sort of a space >> right >> okay to do it now um nothing is fixed at this point so would uh would it be acceptable to leave it as is but understanding that there will be some
sort of a space uh required that could take the form of a container it could take the form of a structure uh could take the form of a portable building. You know, that's that's a little bit down the road. Our objective here is to get the documentation, the procedures,
the pros and cons in place >> before we reach that point. >> Is that that okay? >> Determined. >> Okay, I'll start reading proposed swap shed mission statement. The mission of the Dyton swap shed is to
provide a facility for residents to drop off clean serviceable items they no longer need and or pick up items they find useful and to reduce the weight of material going into the waist stream, thus reducing disposal costs to the
town. Swap shed rules. Dyon transfer station employees and volunteers reserve the right to reject any items for any reason. Patrons must respect must respect the personnel on duty and abide by their decisions. Access to the swap
shed is a privilege, not a right. Actions such as arguing over an item, obscene language or gestures, physical confrontations, damaging or destroying an item in the shed, damaging slashdefacing the shed will result in
removal of the individual or individuals from the swap area. The transfer station attendant or volunteers have the right to restrict access to the shed for to any individual they feel may be interfering with the operation of the shed structure items
must be complete unbroken and in good working condition and clean. He asked the question would you bring them into your house or your home? Swap sh will be open on April 1st through December 31st. Hours of operation are uh Friday 9:00
a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 3 pm. Items are asis. Take at your own risk. Patrons are limited to three items per visit and one visit per day. This is to prevent patrons from collecting items
for a yard sale. A tenant reserves the right to impose a time limit to prevent overcrowding. Some items may not be acceptable due to limited space in the ship. Stickers are required if a any use of
any use of the transfer station for disposal of any materials on the current transfer station rates and and that is as we do now. use of the swap shed and any use of the transfer station for disposal of any materials on the current
transfer station listings. Stickers are not required if residents will use the swap shed only. All acceptable materials/ items brought to the swap shed are considered to be under the control of the town of Dyton.
Liability. The town of Dyon accepts no responsibility for items left or taken from the shed. Other options for donations for towns people include uh Facebook by nothing site savers St. Vincent to ball
and by the way that's just an abbreviated uh listing items not acceptable recalled items are not acceptable items requiring electricity batteries gasoline oil or other petroleum based products to operate
no furniture larger than 4t in any direction. No textiles, clothing, stuffed animals, cloth, pillows, blankets, sheets, or curtains. Any bottled liquids, animal or human shampoos, soaps, cosmetics, or
toiletries. No, no household chemicals, herbicides, or hazardous materials. No food or canned food, then you can contact the Dy Food Bank. Expired child seats or recalled baby, infant, or child items. construction or remodeling debris
or scraps. This includes sinks, toilets, windows, doors, fixtures, etc. No fireworks or weapons, including knives, swords, or martial arts weapons, etc. Any combustibles, including propane tanks, no items containing liquid such
as lava lamps, snow globes, etc. No appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers, or air conditioners. and no obscene items or pornography. Acceptable items, toys, games, educational items, puzzles, etc.
Bicycles for exercise equipment, sporting goods, for instance, golf clubs, skis, skates, etc. Uh, hobby items, beach equipment, so on. Household items such as kitchen wear, kind canning jars or baskets. Decorative
items such as knickknacks, art, handcrafts, holiday items, etc. Baby items, but no crib, mattress, or car seats would be accepted. Wanted to reemphasize that again. That's why we put it in twice. And tools, uh, garden,
yard, outdoor items such as hand tools, supplies, decorative items, grills. Again, no propane tanks, office furniture or supplies not larger than 4 feet in any direction and entertainment centers such as uh videos,
DVDs, CDs or records. And we like to limit it to five instead of people coming and dumping a you know a pickup truckload in there. And that um gentlemen is uh what was called down from the discussions we had last time as
well as you know other items we discussed in the committee. So is that acceptable as a first read >> with me? Very good. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. We'll be back two more times. >> Thank you. >> I'll make a motion to approve the swatch
policy as presented and move it forward to a second reading. >> Okay. Step as chair and second. All those in favor >> I >> thank you. >> Tom Good evening. Uh, as you know, we were working on doing a vacancy in the
highway department. >> We need to revisit the job description in the posting. Um, I need to read it or you have one here. >> Uh, I have it here. It's also published as part of the agenda on the website. >> Yeah.
So, no, I don't think it's necessary to read. >> Mark, is it uh did they make all the changes that you wanted to see? >> You did. So, I want to thank uh Tom and Karen and Ralph and the union for working together collaboratively as a
team. And I will say you guys really set the standard. This is exactly what um I was looking for as far as a job description. I think the formatting is great. Um I'm glad that it follows the policy and I'm pleased to see the applications that go into the
selectman's office. Um so I hope this is the way we do it moving forward. I I um I thank everyone for for working together. That's really what I wanted to see is just all of our different departments working collaboratively as a team to move these
items forward. So, um, so seeing that and seeing that everyone took, um, you know, took the message and ran with it, I'm I'm in support of this. >> Yeah. Uh, so am I. Nice job, Tom. Thank you.
>> Have you posted the job now? >> No. >> Okay. Commission. >> Okay. And um as far as moving up to the performance, um is there anybody within
it that's going to take that position within your >> It would be from in the house. >> In house within the house. Yes. Uh I believe we're going to table that at this time. >> Okay. just on the format. It was on the agenda. Now I see it's off, but just
just to be I want everyone on the same page. You know, we did discuss a couple meetings ago about, you know, we have a dead exclusion vote coming up. So I I don't think it's appropriate to have the >> assistant foreman on an agenda until after we know the status of that. But as
part of the motion, we also said that we should have a review of the highway department. And uh I just want to clarify in that this job description is great. So I'd like to see the same thing for any other positions within the highway department. So if you have an assistant foreman um
and you're working on that, we should also see the foreman and uh the highway superintendent, you know, you have an office manager or whatever that title is. Um I think when you review a structure of a of a town department, we need all those job descriptions. Um and
uh you know make sure everyone's on the same page. Make sure all all of the different um stakeholders are on the same page on what those job descriptions should be before you bring it back to us so we can comment. So while we wait for the status of the debt exclusion and um
find out what direction we're going to go, um I hope that everyone works together on that so we're prepared and ready for that discussion when it does come back. But I don't I hope not to see it on an agenda personally until after April. >> Okay.
>> Um >> this is a review discussion act to vote on the uh job description itself. >> I'll make a motion to approve the offer of the class one job description as written and to authorize the posting for one position. >> I'll second chair and second. So motion
has been made and seconded. Any more discussion? All those in favor? >> I I >> Thank you. Thanks, Tom. >> Uh, you want to read the announcements, Mark? >> Sure. All right. >> The Highway Department public notice. There's a townwide parking ban in effect
from November 1st, 2025 to April 1st, 2026. No person shall allow any vehicle to remain in the street so as to obstruct snow removal. The Dyon Lions Club Food Bank will be held on Saturday, February 21st, 2026, located at the town
hall 979 Somers Sedav lower level. The Dyon 250th anniversary committee for America presents Ren Devius with Rachel River as Dyon celebrates America's 250th on March 1st, 2:00 p.m. at Old Town
Hall, 11:11 Somerset a message from the town clerk's office. The annual town election will be held on April 11th, 2026 at the Dyen Elementary School from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm. Nomination papers are available at the town clerk's office
for the following offices. Board of selectmen, three years. Board of assessors, 3 years. Dr. Regional School Committee, two positions for three years. Parks and Recreation, three years. Public library trustee, three years. Sewer commissioner, three years.
Planning board five years, planning board two years, housing authority 5 years. >> Great. Thank you. I just want to make a mention that the planning board for two years is to fill a term that somebody is leaving so they have to run again in two
years if they want to stay on the pling board. Uh this is the first of two public inputs. Is anybody interested in speaking at this time? Yes, sir. for the minutes. Uh, James Dupont, 118 Elm Street. These Rainham have a prepared statement. I'll leave a copy with the secretary.
>> Sure. >> For your approval at your convenience, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. >> Uh, this is a prepared statement. It takes a little less than three minutes. >> Okay. >> And I know under new business and things you can't have any discussion, but I'll I'll thank you for your time. >> Sure. Uh good evening members of the
board. I come tonight to deliver a message regarding a matter of grave and immediate importance to the town of Titan, its elected local officials, and its residents. The issue is twofold. First, it concerns the decadesl long underfunding by the Massachusetts state legislature with the various categories
of so-called local aid, which is you both know is a significant factor in setting the rate of the local property tax and hence how much the property owners are asked by you to pay. in recently published news article and remarks by Taton Mayor Shauna O'Connell, herself, a former state legislator,
expressed her concerns for the stagnation of returning state revenue to the cities and towns. Prior to fiscal year 81, the first year in which Proposition 2 and a half was in effect, the cities and towns simply put another nickel on the local tax rate to make up any shortfall locally aid and went on
with things. I'm also a former selectman in the town of Rainham, an 18-year member of the Bridgewater Ranham School Committee. This is something I've dealt with every year since 1973. You put another nickel on the tax rate and you went on about your business. After Proposition 2 and a half took
effect, the cities and towns were limited in how much they could raise the prior year's levy. Consequently, many local services were paired back due to the annual recurring shortfalls. But life at the local level went on. This brings me to my second point. Where does so-called state revenue come from? The
answer is it comes from every resident and every business in every city and town, including Giden. Why isn't that money being returned to the people like you who need it for day-to-day things like police, fire, seniors, veterans, and schools? It's been my experience that our state legislators have not made
full funding of local aid a priority. Members of the majority party bemoan how tough things are this year on Beacon Hill, while the minority party elected representatives shrug their shoulders and say there isn't much I can do about it. Last year, my town's annual budget process resulted in a failure to pay the
regional school district's annual assessment. 40 people were laid off and a half override to meet that shortfall failed. A resident I discussed this with said, "Sounds like bad management to me." When I responded that
it wasn't bad management, but rather a shortfall caused by our state legislators not fully funding aid to education, the largest category of local aid to any city in town of Massachusetts. His response was, "It sounds like our local government mismanage their relationships with their
state legislators." Mr. Chair, this leads me to the conclusion that the time has come for all local elected officials to demand that their respective state legislators change the way local aid is calculated from the current here's what's left
to here's a fixed percentage of how much your town or your city produced in terms of tax revenue. Seems eminently fair that if your town provides the services that lead a resident or a business to locate in your town, then a fixed portion of the state taxes paid by them
should go back to that city or town. As long as our state reps and state senators can get lauded for getting us half a loaf, then the residents and the businesses will be told to make up the difference. And you, the two of you, your finance committee and your school committee, not
the governor or the legislature, will have to bear the brunt of the public eye when taxes go up and services go down. We need to change the way local aid is calculated as well as distributed and make it a fixed percentage of the state revenue that came from each city and town. If the state has a shortfall, let
them raise taxes. Let them do a massive layoff instead of you to accommodate that shortfall. I'll thank you for your time, Mr. chairman and leave a copy of your remarks. I'm not asking for any action by the board, but I just as as a longtime 26 years in public office in
Rainham, every year, every year I set through the same discussion of how tough it was on Beacon Hill and they just couldn't do it for us and and you had a Republican member of the legislature and Reham of course would we had John Parker for many many years and then Mark Bacho
followed him for many years and they told us how tough it was or there wasn't anything they could do and I'm calling the board as elected officials. I think that we all owe it to the people that elected you to do this job and I know you don't get the thanks for it that you
deserve. Uh I'm doing this as an individual person. I'm not running for anything. This is just one of those things that I said I've got to be got to go out and talk to the people who I I've ran a few times, won a few times, lost a few times. And I know what it is to be
accused of bad management when you know you don't. little towns like B&M and Don, you guys work awful hard. I saw some evidence of it here tonight and it's just not fair. And uh so instead of here's what's left, how about how much did you take out of here in the first
place? Give it back to us. I'll thank the chair for your time and I'll the secretary. >> Absolutely. Thank you. Nicely done. >> Uh still public input if anybody else wants to participate at this time. There will be another one.
Um, anybody know John Miguel hands up? >> Yeah. Jonathan, can you can you speak? >> Hold on. >> You see my Can I go? >> Yes. >> Yeah. I can't hear him though.
>> Uh, hold on. Let's see if I can get the actual TV. >> Okay, we're going to get your volume up. >> Hold on, please. >> Am I using the wrong one? >> That's the right one. I think you just changed the source.
>> I did. All right, then. Go ahead. Sorry for the technical difficulty. >> Well, it's you're very faint. What about if you clip right here these different? >> Yeah.
>> So, let's Yeah, maybe try the speakers. >> Here's the test. Jonathan, >> can you hear me now? >> That's it. That's our options. It could be on his end, too. >> Yeah, >> I'm wide open.
>> We can hear you, which is very soft. >> Yeah, I think we can handle it. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Okay. things just to bring to your attention that I just wanted to discuss which was for the shed I was
reaching stage and I just want to remind the selection and those who are working on it please keep me in the loop as you're looking to planning and what you're doing with it and the type of sh because it does have to meet an ADA standard so
I appate appreciate the fact that they did take time to reach out today. That's just a a comment and thank you. The second thing that I want to note, which is what I brought up briefly two weeks ago, which is regarding the town's policies and procedures, and that's most
policies and procedures that might govern public access, public public input or employment in the town as it affects people with disability. That all comes under title one, title two, and title five of the Americans with
Disabilities Act. And I'm hoping that town administrator, myself, and the HR director sit down in the near future, which I've said before, and start to look at the policies and procedures, see what language is currently in there or
what language needs to be changed so that it's covered directly under the Americans with Disabilities Act. That also includes potential new hires who might eventually tell you when they're hired that they have disability or once a person is hired if they self-declare
at some future point and what the policies and procedures are for that. So, I'm going to keep that on the radar because I haven't heard anything back from anyone yet. >> Last but not least, >> Jonathan, I would encourage you to reach out to the town administrator um and set up a meeting.
focusing. >> I hear you. Okay. Last, I have a meeting with the prime ministrator next week anyway, so I'll I'll put it on our agenda. >> Okay. >> Last but not least, just to let you aware, I haven't had a conversation with the school department yet, but and this
is this is for the school department and for the town to be aware of. Although we are relatively accessible now through our town's website, the school department is extensively not accessible. And that's every aspect of what the school department has to
deliver from the parent portal to access records, access report cards, filling out forms, etc. The Americans Disabilities Act, now the new regulations are going to require that communities over 50,000, which isn't us, have to be fully compliant in every
public sector of accessibility for digital technology by June of this year, but by June of next year, we have to be fully compliant. And that's not just for our website. It's for anyone that uses Facebook pages for public announcements and meetings to the town. But it also
extends to the school department. And the school department, my concern is that they're not nearly ready for that, nor do they have the support staff to become compliant. So I will be reaching out to Bill Rooney. That's something that ultimately, just so that you're aware, may have to be factored into the
budget for the school department when you're looking at line items because they're going to have to put something in there for digital accessible support to have everything tested, to have everything redone and have all of the code reviewed. So, I just wanted to put that out there so that you're aware of that when it comes up sometime when
you're looking at the school budget. That's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Jonathan. Anyone else at this time? Nobody else is out there. No. >> Okay. Um, moving on to uh stuff reports
from public input. Do you have anything more? I do not. >> Okay. You do. So, on to the town ministry, please. Excuse me. Thank you. Um, few things. I want to give you a few updates and then can you know we can
discuss first things some some good news. I know um some well improving news. Let's say I know a few weeks ago uh we received information from Congressman Ashley Claus's office that uh that he was moving ahead on $350,000
uh for the uh for the Dyon pump station. Uh it's it's made the next hurdle. So it's continuing to move forward uh uh through Congress. Uh it just, you know, next step it goes from Congress to the Senate. hopefully uh we'll pass that hurdle and then eventually be voted on
for the president. This is a $350,000 to update the D pump station. Um as you aware, we kind of um you know, we've lost those ARPA funds, but we you know, we did our we're doing our best to to get that funding back so so we could so
we could we got task. Um the next thing is you know I wanted to put before the board uh the debt exclusion mail start looking at it. Um I wanted you to
have it see it. I mean, our our our hope our idea is to have it good to go. You guys good to go next next week so you can vote on it so we could mail it out. Um in um before, you
know, before I pause on that, um I just want to say that I'm starting to set up um um meetings to do uh to do the dead exclusive presentation. Uh we're going to be putting it on the website. The first uh the first meeting I'm having
I'm doing at the at the COA breakfast uh on the February 26. I'll be speaking uh to a civic organization. >> February 20th. >> That's the COA is February >> 20th, right? >> It's the 20th, right? Sorry. >> And no, that's okay. And on the on the
uh 26th um I have uh another going to do another presentation and on the 12th we'll be doing it at the library. Um I'm trying to set up a um a fourth presentation. We're going to be getting that information out. We have to do the
cable, Peter, you and I. And then um I'm having a discussion with a few of the local business owners um almost to have like a coffee with the town administrator. And I, as I affectionately call donuts and debt exclusions, I'll see you in the corner,
you know, anybody who wants uh to buy me a donut and hear about debt exclusions, uh, I'll be available. But we're going to get that um we're going to get that out to the uh to the public via our our website and Facebook and every I'll make
announcement when I set up those dates at the at the I'm just going to pause right there. You can look at the at the mailer anything. >> Okay. I I I have I
um so I want to thank you for your work on the mailer. Uh something we've been working on for a long time and this is something new to the town. It's new to all of us except in that master Noah was new. Um, of course, this mailer is what a yes or a no vote means if the town
goes to a dead exclusion. And we really as a board want to make sure that everyone in the town has an idea on what direction the water slept will be going if the town votes no on a debt exclusion.
With that said, in the proposed language, there were positions mentioned and when the town gets something wrong, I think it's good to be transparent about it. Um, and I think we got this wrong. So,
we had an executive session in January where it was discussed. You know, when you have executive sessions, you can't dis you cannot disclose what's said in executive session unless it is um
one uh put on open session or if the executive session minutes are approved and neither one of those happened, but we did we did start preliminary discussions. Um there was no votes taken. It was preliminary discussions.
Um but in the yes and no vote there is um positions mentioned. Um so I I apologize you know to the employees that um being transparent I I and not to throw anyone under the bus. It wasn't shared with the board at that
time that it was going to be shared with specific employees. Um so I I like to own things. Uh but that that wasn't shared with the board. But I still think it's good to be transparent about it. Um so
with that said, um the we are going to have a follow-up discussion um and it will be voted on an open session. So the board is going to have a open session um you know executive session to
finalize our discussions and then open session next week. um we're working on next Wednesday and at that time um the board will at least let the town know what direction that we're going with positions.
But I also want to point out that everything is on the table. So, even if the board does vote and we're going to go in the direction of uh certain employees or personnel reductions because it's a reduction in force, um we haven't gone through the budget process
yet with the finance committee um and things can change. So, just because the board shares a preliminary idea to give the taxpayers um an idea of what they're voting on for the debt exclusion at town meeting uh at
the annual town election. Um nothing set in stone and anything it and it can change. Um and I also want to point out that at the end of the day um the town's people have the vote at uh the ultimate say at town meeting when we put the
budget forward. um you know what what um what budgets look like. So um that's my thoughts. I think we could have gone better. So to any employees that have anxiety, I hear you and um
but I think we'll have some clarity on what direction the board's going to go in in just one short week. So thank you. >> You want to continue? >> Yeah, sure. Um, I know I had informed the board that we're working on our uh our policies uh our personnel policies.
So, I just wanted to give the an update to the board on on on where we are. So, um so, uh you know, we have uh the the town of Don has 18 uh 18 personnel policies. We started our our uh review
team uh back at the end of July, beginning of uh beginning of August. We've we you know we've done um six uh six at this time from from our perspective. So uh you know per labor council as a state
member labor council has to look at it um you know have a discussion with with the ADA coordinator labor council department heads unions we have want to make sure everybody everybody takes a look at it and then um
and then we present it to the board. Uh my you know my plan is you know since it's taking us this long we I didn't anticipate this long so we'll be sort of bringing it in blocks for you you know for you to look at. Um I anticipate the
first uh block should be sometime after April. Let's let's get through the budget process the budget process first and the summer hopefully we'll be we'll be bringing this forward. But I was um um I guess I was a little overly enthusiastic. think that we could get
this done by March but uh we're not but I just want to be here give you an update. So we are you know we're working on it. We have a meeting every other week and and we go through it and it's it's a surprisingly tedious
process. So so so we go through it. So I just want to give an update on that. Um, and then, uh, lastly, uh, I have before you a contract for&m appraisals. Um, it it's under $50,000, which I have
authority to sign, but I haven't signed it yet. Uh, but you know, um, per, uh, my role as a town, I have to, you know, I want to make sure bring this forward before the board. >> Oh, I see them. This is um for this all
goes to the uh Pleasant Street Bridge. Um part of that we probably going to have to do some some small land taking. So um we have to uh we have to start doing this getting these appraisals under the way underway. So I just wanted
to give you an update on um that contract. That's all my updates for now. Thank you. >> Uh, moving on to old business. There's none. So, we'll move right into new business. >> This is uh review, discuss, and enact
the open annual town meeting board. >> Yeah, it's it's it's here. >> It's here. So, uh, so, uh, I guess first things uh, first, well, we're anticipating having, uh, town meeting on June 1st. So uh um so you know we're
looking to open up um open up the wine um to start start accepting accepting those articles and I'll sort of put together um as you see um
we had the uh we have the schedule uh listed and uh we're going to be you know we're looking at doing the joint meetings uh with the uh with the finance committee at the beginning uh the
beginning of March, March 3rd, March 5th, March 10th, and then uh if needed, March 17th. And then everything else shows the closing and and everything posting of the warrant and everything up to up to
county. Um, I have no issues with it. Uh, just one quick question. Not that it really has too much to do with it. Have we heard from the school yet? >> No, I I emailed them today. >> Abiding by this dates. >> Uh, I we put it out to them.
>> Yeah. Okay. >> Oh, you're back. Okay. Okay. >> You want to make a motion? Um, is the town moderator, the state works for the town moderator and the town clerk? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Um, we asked them first.
>> Good. I appreciate that. Um, I'll make a motion to approve the annual town meeting schedule as presented and to open the annual town meeting once. >> I will step down as chair and second. All those in favor? Well, any
discussion? All those in favor? I Proposed on meeting schedule June 1st. >> I threw that all in one motion. >> Oh, you did? >> Yes. >> Go ahead. Miss me. Um then this is C. We discuss an act of
sman's representative for the curve union bargaining. Um Mark, you had said that you would be willing to do that. I would um um just as just if I if I may as part of the discussion today with the with the union
representative uh we we're going to start the process the week of March 22nd. >> Yeah. >> March the week of March 22nd. >> Okay. Is it do you think when we have those discussions Wednesday evenings are best for me during work hours like you
know 4:15. Do you think that'd work for everyone else? I just before I commit to it, I just want to see if >> I think typically they they do it during the day, the work day. So >> during the work day because you guys are there 5:30 on Wednesdays.
>> Yes. Uh these um these meetings are like usually within they could be short or they could be two >> two and a half hours. So, >> so um I mean if uh that's something you're interested in doing, we could we
could see if if the union and the union representatives want to meet, can they meet Wednesday afternoon? >> Okay. If not, if you just bring it back to us, we can redis it. >> Okay. >> Uh you want to table it for now then? >> Um I'll I'll take it unless uh if they
have an issue, they can come. Okay. So uh again this is a we discuss an act. So I'll step down as chair and make the motion to appoint Mark Chico as the uh union bargaining representative for the selector. >> Thank you. I'll second that. >> Motion has been made and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor?
>> I um review discuss an act letter requesting legislature accept enacting an act authorizing the town to use a portion of conservative conservation land for public way purpose. Um, and similar to to last week, this is a
followup to our uh to um our special town meeting uh requesting the legislature to uh do a homeown petition to allow us to use some conservation land for the reconstruction of the Pleasant Tree
Bridge. Okay. >> So, as soon as you sign it, stamp it. I know Senator will be at my door at 4 to 8 tomorrow morning and I'll just hand it off. >> Is there a letter or is it just I just
have the >> I just have the uh the article. >> Okay. >> I have the original. I could show you the Yeah, it's again similar to what you saw last week. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Do you mind if I read it as the record
since we haven't seen it? So, February 11, 26, the Honorable Kelly Duner, State House, 24 Beacon Street, room 213B, Boston, Mass. Special legislature approval of town meeting article. Dear Senator Duner, enclosed is a certified
vote of article 18 from the town of Dyton's special town meeting held on November 6, 2025. Article 18 will allow the town of Dyon to use a portion of conservation land for public way purposes. The article passed by
unanimous vote. The town approved article authorizes the Dyon Board of Selecmen to petition the general court for approval. Please present article 18 to the legislature for approval. Should you have any questions, contact the board of selectman's office by phone or
email and they're listed sincerely Peter Karen, chairman board of selectman. >> I have no issues. >> No, neither do I. Okay, I'll make a motion to approve the letter requesting the legislature accept
an act authorizing the use of a portion of conservation land for public ways as presented. I'll sit down as chair and second. Any more discussion? All those in favor? I >> um Dan, are you going to talk on the Um
>> on the development committee appointment >> Mark I would like to take these individually um if you don't have uh an issue with that. >> I don't thank you Dan Piggin 400 Lincoln Avenue chair of the dynamic development committee. Um so
we've had major problems in the past year. We've only met a handful of times due to the lack of quorum. So um couple changes. Um, Robert here is an associate member as um, the Chamber of Commerce has asked him to be their representative, which would make him a
voting member, which I think really helps us with our quorum issues. >> Sure. >> Um, Barbara Catavia, who is a member, um, would like to stay involved, but she realizes that as a voting member, her lack of ability to attend regularly is
contributing to the quorum issues. So, she's asked if she could become an an associate member, non- voting member, and therefore not a an issue there. Um, you know, Paul Reynolds is stretched very thin and this has been uh coming for a while that he just can only
accommodate, you know, so much in his schedule. So, I appreciate all the time he's put in over the past few years. the skill stuff leave us with two openings at the end of this if you make these uh changes but I think our quorum issues would be very much resolved with um with
the changes also. >> Sure. Who's on the board now? So, it's uh myself, Raphael Delphin, um Laura Smith, uh Joe Pacico, um Joe. Yeah. Um
and uh Barbara here as an associate member. >> Barbara. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> And um Chris Ready, >> um who is also the current chamber representative, but has had trouble attending. So,
>> okay. So Paul is going to step down and Barbara doesn't want to be a voting member anymore. >> Correct. >> But she's going she wants to stay as a member. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Um and Chris obviously is um
is leaving the uh chamber. >> Okay. Mark, do you want to make the motions? I'll make a motion to acknowledge the resignation of Paul Reynolds from the Dy Economic Development Committee with thanks and appreciation. >> Motion has been made and I'll sit down
as chair and second. A motion made and seconded. All those in favor? I >> I'll make a motion to acknowledge the withdrawal of Christopher Ready as representative from the Dawn Area Chamber of Commerce. >> I'll step on chair second. Motion made second. Any discussion? All those in favor?
>> I. I'll make a motion to appoint Robert Gear as representative from the Taton Area Chamber of Commerce. >> Motion has been made and I'll sign chair second. All those in favor I >> I and um you don't want to continue.
>> I have no other motions. >> Okay. There's no other motions at this point. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh approval of the warrants, please. I'll make a motion to approve the warrants paid by February 5th, 2026.
32A26 for $133,746.78. 32B26 for $140,451.50. 32 C26 for $446,748.93. warrants paid by February 12th, 2026 for 33A26
for $139,9822 33 B26 for 184,863.95 33 C26 for 3,350,477.50 motion has been made. I'll step down as chair and second motion made and seconded. Any more discussion? All those in favor I correspondence letter from
Christopher McGee uh appointing a new call right Chris is not going to speak on anybody's behalf this evening >> no just the strong making the recommendation board okay
>> I'll make a motion to place on file motion has been made I'll step down as chair and second any more discussion all those in favor I >> um minutes. >> I'll make a motion to approve the board of Selecman's regular meeting minutes of
January 28, 2026. >> I'll take chair second. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I public input. This is the last of the two. Anybody? Yes. Mr. No. What a gentleman
back street. >> Um, if my memory serves me correctly, didn't we vote years ago when the police station that came up that exclusion to exclude that debt?
>> Yes, we did. So it's my understanding that haven't taken advantage of putting that outside loving limited service. >> We did not because we didn't have to. >> Well, maybe now you do have to or you should. >> The bond's going to drop off pretty
soon. >> No, >> for the PlayStation. How many did we have it? >> If I may, that is that is a debt exclusion. We're carrying it outside the levy limit >> for the PlayStation. >> Yes. Six in the budget.
It's in It's in the operating budget. >> We We excluded. >> It is. Yeah, it's it's Yeah, it is. >> Yeah, I guess. >> Yeah, we do. Yeah, we voted on and then >> I know cuz we paid paid it out of free
cash for a few years and then >> I didn't think it was excluded, but if it is >> Okay. >> Okay. If not, maybe we take that option and save some some jobs. >> Sure. >> Okay, that's all I need. >> Thank you. Let it call 760 Main Street D.
Mr. Pico, I commend your transparency. I'm troubled by what I heard this evening. That's not a reflection on you. I just caution the board that it as you go forward
talking about the potential of the negative effects of a debt exclusion that you talk about money not positions for a lot of reasons create a lot of problems. It could
create departments interdep department fighting could create fear amongst employees will leave. >> In addition, you haven't heard it from the school department yet and that can
have its pluses and minuses. He also there are many creative ways for a department to handle budget cuts in some instances depending on how drastic
maybe not laying off people further job share those are all options there are a lot of creative ways so please for a lot of reasons
When I spoke to meetings, I I was looking for numbers, you know, department number and through the budget process, that'll be determined what those numbers mean. Is
it vehicles or is it people? >> Thank you. Anyone else at this time? Okay. Um we're going to do um make a motion for adjournment, please. >> Um motion to go back into executive session.
>> We don't adjourn this one first. >> Executive to adjourn. Okay. Um motion has been made. I'll step down as chair and second. Motion made and seconded. Any discussion? >> I I think I should I do the full motion on all the reasons all the MGL's again?
>> No, just continue to continue. >> Okay. So the night um and I'm going to wax.