We're ready. >> Yes, we are ready. >> All right. Good evening. Welcome to the town of Dyon board of selections regular meeting. Today is Wednesday, November 19th, and it's 6:05 p.m. We're in person in via Zoom at Oldtown Hall, 11:11 Somerset AB, Dyon, Mass. This meeting is
being recorded. The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the chair, which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. We are just returning from executive session. So we're going to
have a call to order here to open up the regular discussion. >> Mark Pico present >> and Peter Karen present. I'd like to call to order the meeting of the town of Dyon Board of Assessors classification hearing meeting November
19th, 2025 at 6:05 p.m. Um, and as he said, uh, everything's being recorded. Take attendance. Bill Moore, >> Nancy Gul, >> Eric Easter. >> Okay. [clears throat] Okay. Um, I want to ask everybody to
please stand for the pledge of allegiance. And we're going to have a moment of silence because we've lost some neighbors in France that we just want to mention their names. [clears throat] >> To the flag of the United States of America and to theublic for it stands
one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Like I said, we lost three three neighbors this weekend. [clears throat] Jeffrey Cook, Wayne Demingo, and John Fur. John was a uh fireman with the town of Don for those who [clears throat] do not know.
Thank you guys. Get right into this. I know uh we uh we're going to have an agenda change which we'll do when it comes time to uh get to that segment. But um if we can start with the tax classification hearing with the board of assessors. Hi.
Hello. Um, Bill Moore, chairman, uh, board of assessors. I'm going to talk about, uh, why are we here? Uh, we're here to set the tax rate for fiscal year 2026, which runs from July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2026.
Um, one thing I want to discuss and try to educate people a little bit is how did we get here? Uh, we are setting the tax rate today, but we the tax rate is not determined by us here in this meeting. tax rate is determined primarily from the annual town meeting
and the special town meeting. This is where all decisions about what we're going to spend is made and and how much we're going to spend. Uh you'll notice in the first uh first two quarters of the year, everybody receives that being
the period from uh July through December uh 31st, you all receive an estimated tax bill, which means we have no idea what your tax bill is going to be for the year. and we just estimate it based on the previous year. When we are done tonight, we will finally know the actual
number. So that way we the board of assessors can prepare the actual tax bills for the next two quarters that will close out the year. Uh and this is a yearly cycle that goes on. So we have had special town meeting. We now know all of the numbers as to what we are
spending. Uh what that is is uh $30 million uh is what we have uh to raise. We have about $6 million that's coming in from other sources. That being uh the state uh being funds. Uh there's a 1.5
million being spent out of free cash. Uh we're getting half million out of the ambulance. But the bottom line is we need to raise approximately $24 million in real estate taxes. Real estate and personal property taxes. Um, and at this point I I'm rounding pretty much
everything tonight, but uh I'm not going to round this one. 24 million42,267. [snorts] That's the amount that we have to raise. Our proposition 2 and a half limit, which I'll talk about in a second, is 24,000
24 million, sorry, $93,11. We are $50,000 underneath the Proposition 2 and a half levy limit. Proposition two and a half levy limit is the maximum amount that we are allowed to charge for real estate and personal property taxes throughout for each year.
So this means you know I've talked about it in prior [clears throat] years. We are now up against the wall. There is no more room. You cannot spend any more than 2 and a half% increase on anything coming next year because there is no more room unless there's debt exclusions
uh [clears throat] proposition two and a half overrides whatever. So, I just want to make it very clear, $50,000 within the levy limit. Um, if anyone has any questions about Proposition 2 and a half and how it works, please ask me now or ask me privately later. I'll be glad to
discuss it. So, uh, our assessed values um, for 2025, fiscal year 2025, um, was about $1.6 billion. In 2026, it's about $1.7 billion.
Um, and I want to boil that down to something that makes sense. [snorts] In 2025, the average house, uh, the average residential, um, amount of assets was $446,000. In 2026, it's $470,000. [clears throat]
That is a raise of about 5%. So, residential values went up about 5%. Um, on the commercial property side, um, and I I did have to fudge this number a little bit and I want to talk about that
for just a second. Um we we [snorts] passed and as we wanted to we passed a small business exemption in this p in this year. So what had happened comparing between 25 and 26 we lost a bunch of very very small uh small
amounts as we discussed you know it wasn't even worth sending a bill for you know five bucks or something like that. So it did it would have skewed the numbers. [clears throat] So I simply used the same uh number of people for both for 25 and 26. Uh it's the only way
I could kind of try to come up with some sense of what's correct. So in 2025 uh the average um commercial/propy personal property 824,000 and in 2026 848,000
which is a rise of 3%. So we to summarize we've had a residential increase of about 5% in values. We had a commercial increase of about 3% in values. So once again like
last year residential property values are rising faster than commercial property values. So now we can talk about the shift. So what we are here today to decide as far as the tax rate is the shift. The tax
rate is determined by the num the top numbers I just told you. What we're here to decide is how we're going to balance that between residential and commercial um taxpayers. Um the amount right now I believe uh you have this what if
worksheet? Yes. Uh if you look up at the right hand side um little bit down to lower it says fiscal 2025 residential. So the current tax is $12.56 for residential and our
commercial tax is $24.51. That's for the prior year. Okay. If we were to go with a single tax rate, meaning not having a shift between residential and business, that [snorts] number comes out to $13.84.
And this is where I want to stress the point of there's nothing we can do to change that number. That was decided at the town meeting. So, if we were to go with that number, Yeah. If we were to go to with that
number, the average tax bill for a residents in 2025 was $5,600. If we were to go with that $1384 tax rate, it would be $6,500. It would be a $900 increase.
If, however, so right now we have a a split of 1.75, which is how we got to 1256 to 2451. If we did it again this year for the same amount, you'll see the very last entry on the
bottom which says 1.75. That's as far as we can go shifting from residential to commercial. That's going from $12 down to $1245 for residential and $2422 for commercial.
That would result, if we went with that 1.75, it would result in an average tax bill of $5,851, about $250 more in fiscal year 2026 as in fiscal year 2025.
Um, by the same token, uh, the commercial it would be going from 20,196 to 20,538. they would commercial would be about $300 more. So uh it is I believe the opinion of
this board uh and myself that I would like to recommend that we maintain the current uh tax shift in the uh amount of 1.75 resulting in a
residential property tax rate of $1245 [clears throat] and a commercial tax rate of two $2422. I hope you guys have questions now. >> Yes. >> Where did the increase percentage increase in the values come from?
>> So that we are required to do uh fair market value evaluations of everything. So that's what Stephanie does day in and day out. Stephanie in her office is determining what the correct values are for every person's house and every business. And
>> why [clears throat] did businesses only go up 3% then? Is is that is that counting inventory and >> it's based off sales? So >> just sales. >> Yeah, it's based off previous year sales. That's how we get the values. >> Business properties are just not going
up. You know, residential has exploded, >> right? That that's the fun. That was the problem. I don't know if you remember last year we talked about it. We we did change the h the shift last year because the residential rights residential prices are going up so much faster than
commercial. And unfortunately, you know, we're up against the wall. We can't go any further than 175. So, you know, it still continues. If you know, we had a discussion this morning. If it had come in, commercial rate prices had gone through the roof and we say, "Oh, okay.
Now we can start shifting it back towards residential, right? >> But it's not. Residential is still going way ahead. Commercial. I commercial did go up." Yeah. It just didn't go up as much. >> What's the national average? Do you know? >> Yeah. I That's all right. just I'm tight
and focused. [laughter] [snorts] >> Everything at this point, >> um, if I heard you correctly, the most you can increase taxes is 2 and a.5% increase. Correct. >> The most we can raise real estate and personal property taxes is 2.5% every
year. But that also include new stuff, >> not including new growth. So, I'm just talking about like if we didn't build anything in town >> and everything was the same year over year, it's 2.5%. Okay. But if somebody comes and builds a new house, that's that's outside of that
>> 100% added to. >> So, for um for real estate and personal property, the most you can raise it's two and a half, right? That's what you just said. >> The most we can raise the taxes >> most you can raise the taxes for the
levy for the levy it's 2 and a half%. But we're underneath the two and a half%. Is that is that what I heard? >> By 50,000,000. >> By 50,000. So we're we're underneath it. [laughter] So what what is our percentage? Is it 2.4? What's what does
what does that come out to as a percentage? >> Oh, increase. >> Um that's an interesting question. Um do I have last do we have last year's >> Do we have last year's? >> You would have to compare. I was looking at this year. It's the $30 million
compared to what was last year. >> This is >> Yeah, that's that's the values. the chair about the assessing just it's not that it's hard to have accurate calculation because new growth is added
in that number so new growth sort of skews it. So it's it's probably more than two and a half more than two and a half% because of because new growth was uh approximately uh 200 million,000 >> I think it's more than
>> this portion we discussed the levy for 25 so maybe >> oh what is it uh >> and that's our starting point >> okay yeah uh so the levy limit went from that's the limit that doesn't say how much
>> that's Okay. Recall recall we were further under last year. I want to say we were like 200,000. >> Okay. >> Last year. >> Yeah, we're getting closer. >> All right. That's what I was where I was getting. >> As you know, we use a lot of free cash to >> Right. [clears throat] >> Okay.
>> Um for just to be clear for the camera, um you know, free cash is basically the amount of money that we have sitting in the bank. um and extra monies that had come in that we were we didn't budget for initially. That all goes into free cash. That amount is certified by the
state that this is an amount of money that you can actually spend on things. And in special town meeting, there were some articles we said we're not going to raise and appropriate. Raise and appropriate means adding taxes. To spend from free cash means we're just basically drawing out of a bank account that we already have,
>> right? So my understanding is that we spent a lot of free cash this year >> to keep us under >> Yes. >> the two and a half limit the the levy limit. >> Levy limit. Okay. So the average residential tax bill if we went with the
1.75 shift is a increase of about $250. >> I think about $250. And of course that's average you know for people big fancy houses it's going to be more than that and people living a trailer it's going to be less than that. So, >> and with inflation, I would expect, you
know, everything's going up, so to have a $250 increase. >> I don't see anything. >> I mean, it seems like it's keeping up with inflation to me. So, that sounds kind of reasonable, but do you know how we compare with the rest of Bristol County? Our um tax rate. >> Again, not
>> Did Peter ask that question? I apologize. >> Not being focused on the other. >> A lot of um I think a lot of surrounding communities have their tax rates tonight, right? I know Berkeley does >> and I think someone else does. So, I'm
not sure. >> Is it true that Dayton we have the highest taxes like the highest average tax bill? >> No, that's not that's not true. >> No, that's good. >> Do you know how many houses are being built right now that that's going to get added to this? How many mids have been
built? Um well um Hunter Hill they're they keep modifying and I mean I think I mean they're going for $7.99$6.99. So they're really high up there but I'm thinking they probably have probably 20
or 30 houses lots still >> to build on. I think they had 35. The last time we were out there was the total to build out the original. Yeah. >> Uh I maybe something might give you a little light is um
how much is the tax bill going up? Uh 4.27%. >> Okay. >> So it is more than two and a half. >> All right. >> Because we had room last year and we don't have room this year, >> right?
>> That I believe Hunter Hill is the only I want to say active viable development right now. everything else is out there but not progressing. >> I I certainly would like to suggest um I
try to tell everybody, you know, new new residential growth is not good for taxes. >> Yeah. >> Um every time you add a house, you you're adding so you're collecting more in taxes, but as soon as there's one child, all that money and then more is
gone, right? You know, you get average tax bill $5,000 and send one child to school, that's $10,000. So, it's costing everyone in the town more every time you >> How do they come up with that $10,000 figure? >> That comes from the uh amount that Dr.
is charging and and uh >> well, DR, but somebody goes into the elementary school, one person, they don't hire a new teacher just for that one person. So, how can we say is honestly $10,000 gets added to the >> That's that's like the total budget
divided by how many uh students are in there. >> And I'm using it as a rough Yeah. number >> that the per pupil cost that you hear everyone comparing acting boxboro with, you know, whatever
Don Hobus or um it's the department of education that looks at all of that. um deesc uh they were always the ones that set the per pupil rate. Uh when we had
tuition students at the regional high school from Berkeley, uh the for pupil tuition rate was based on the total cost of our budget to
operate that high school 9 to 12 minus capital and transportation because they were not buying into that building and they had to provide their own transportation. So the cost to Berkeley for each one of
those students was based on what was left. Okay? And of course back in those days that was before we became a full K to 12. The original agreement made it clear that when you put the budget together the first thing you did was take the
total budget reduce it by your income from tuition based on the two towns percentages. Then you started looking at the town's shares. Okay. [clears throat] Uh obviously there's no tuition. Uh but
um the actual per pupil cost, not what we were billing Berkeley, but the per cost was something else and it was determined by the Department of Ed uh based on obviously state aid and things like that.
So, so but the number I was quoting was what I've figured myself in the past to be the amount it cost the town of Dyon. So, this is after the state aid. The actual cost is is 15,000 for DR and 20,000 for BP. Okay.
>> So, um but my point was just trying to say that >> right >> don't think that adding more housing is going to help the tax situation. It always hurts. >> Blessed senior housing. >> Senior housing is good as well as um as
well as um commercial, you know, certainly we need more commercial uh people business in town to bring down a residential [clears throat] rate. That is our primary, if anybody doesn't know, our primary tax problem in this town is
we do we have a lack of business. You go to some place like Swansea or Somerset, you know, and they got all the Home Depots and, you know, the stop and shops and whatnot. They're paying huge taxes being built in. The other thing that the other thing that was mentioned tonight
when we were doing the the districts obviously the knockdown fire district uh was talking about the fact that the burden for that system is pretty much on the residents up there because although
they keep billing the mill they're not making any payments which is I'm sure the same situation the town of Dyton's dealing with. So if it ever gets sold or if there's any money realized from that property, we're prime creditors. Uh but
in the meantime, you have to keep operating, >> right? >> And that's what they were saying when they were talking about how they set their water rate uh tax rates this year. [clears throat] And to your point about business and having a lack thereof here in town, this
rate, the 1.75 is fairer to the residential homeowners and it's less businessfriendly, although it's the best option for the bulk of the folks here in town. >> Because I've always been an advocate.
I've been wanting to push it the other direction, >> right? But when you've got prices skyrocketing, it's not fair. >> I agree. >> You know, if everything were evil, then we evil. >> It is evil. >> It's [laughter] evil. We're talking about tax. If everything were even, then
I think we could have a good argument of saying, well, wouldn't we want to be more business friendly? But it's not even. The residence is going, like I said, we're 4%. And part of that is because residence is going up faster than the business, >> right? So I don't think it's now is not
the right time to do it. I would like to do it. Yeah. Know as a matter of principle or philosophy. I would like to reduce the burden on the businesses. But >> I agree. >> Um >> and the businesses pay on the inventory as well. >> That's that's what the when I've been I
was trying to say it and sometimes a lot of words there's commercial real estate as well as personal property. Right. So the commercial real estate is the same tax that everybody pay you know tax on the land the building blah blah blah the person
>> actually interesting fact fun fact um everybody personal property applies to everything but but as as individuals we're granted an exemption for [clears throat] everything that's in our house so we don't have to pay personal
property taxes on our blender um but put that same blender in a are and now that becomes a taxable item. >> Okay. >> And and the rate applies it's a single rate to both the personal property as well as the real estate.
>> Okay. That was the other question I was going to ask you. >> And solar farm tax agreements agreements >> are only for personal property. So that's what you're agreeing and
they're agreeing to pay. This is what you're going to pay for personal property. The owners of the property that the equipment sits on when it comes out of chapter. It becomes commercial. So immediately and it has the 5-year roll back, but it
also immediately goes from usually a chapter land which is very low taxes to the commercial real estate rate and the owners of that land are taxed on it. So they have to pay the additional real
estate tax on the land that that solar is sitting on. >> Okay. >> So we're going to keep it the same as your recommendation is to keep it the same as last year. >> That is the board of assessor's recommendation is to keep it the same.
>> Uh my opinion is to go with that. Um, unfortunately, dropping, we can't put the burden on the homeowner anymore. Dropping the commercial rate would mean raising the residential rate. Uh, what little we can drop it is not going to attract new
business. Uh, if they're not here by now, um, I don't think they're going to come for >> I I would suggest that if you were looking to attract business, Yeah. you probably have to flip it in the polar opposite. you have to make a major change, >> right? And that's what I'm saying. It's
not sustainable and do at this point. >> And and as I said, the you're talking about if you were to go with that major change, you're going to raise $900 for >> you know, you you'll definitely have residents with pitchforks.
If that's the case, >> more pitchforks. >> More pitchforks. Yes. More than usual. Can we text those as personal? [laughter] >> Only if it's a business. [laughter] >> If the farmer shows up ready for a
motion, I will make a motion for the tax rate for the town of Dyon in FY26, the CIP shift of 1.75. >> Motion has made sod chair and second. So motion is made and seconded. Any more
discussion? All those in favor? I >> thank you via presentation. >> Mr. Chairman, I move that we adjourn. >> Second motion second. All in favor? >> I I thank you very much. >> If there's any questions by you any member, any public person, come
[clears throat] see me anytime. Thank you. >> With a pitch. >> Please leave a pitch. Thank you. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> We've met. Nice to see you again. >> Nice to see you as well.
>> Nice to see you. I know you. This is Lamar Pico, one of the selectmen here in town. And um uh I know because I said in the interviews everything that that you know that you've told us. Uh unfortunately he does
not in the audience business. >> Oh certainly. >> So can you tell us a little bit about yourself? >> Certainly. I've been a building inspector um since 2005. Um I'm a certified building commissioner. Uh I've been in construction since 19 I don't
even want to say but for many many years. Um everything I as I told you everything I own comes from from the construction field. So I have a broad-based knowledge of all the technical um applications as well as the um you know the the uh the codes and
standards necessary to you know enforce mass general law um chapter 48 the building code the handicap assessment code um and the rest of the state building code. >> Okay. Um now you know it's a 19hour position with no benefits and
Not that we're trying an experiment. We're going from a full-time building commissioner to a part-time commissioner to see if it works out. If it doesn't work out at 19 hours, are you willing to work more hours than the 19? >> Certainly. >> Okay. And uh you've agreed with the rate that
was established with the >> I have the Okay. Uh Mark, do you have anything at this point? >> Uh no. I I will say the hiring team did share that they were so excited with uh to meet you and they all had the same feelings when um they were done meeting
with you that you were the one. So I'm glad that you applied and >> I felt just as comfortable. So that was that was good. Yeah. >> And thanks for taking on the the role and as uh >> certainly >> Jim and Karen said it is a role of that has been changed recently. So thanks for
spearheading the change and uh as far as that that's all I have for comments. Thank you. Okay. >> Mhm. >> Um Nicole Melo is not here this evening. >> Selecting. >> Okay. >> Miracle order, but um and it's unfortunate, but we still are going to
um ratify your contract this evening and in request to appoint you as the building commissioner. Uh she has given her blessing just from the notes that she had received from the town administrator. >> Excellent. Um I think we're ready for a
motion if you're so >> um at this time I'll make a motion to appoint William McGrady as building commissioner and uh to further ratify the contract uh for Mr. McGrady. >> Okay. Motion has made. I want to step down as chair and second. So uh all
those in favor >> I >> I >> thank you sir. >> Thank you so much. >> Nice to be a board. I was going to come around. >> Thank you. Um, make sure you see the town clerk to get sworn in. I will. Awesome. >> Thank you so much.
>> Oh, thank you. >> Uh, we want to take this second to um before we continue with the scheduled appointments to make a comment. Uh, and it's coming from myself, Mark. I did not
talk to Nicole, but I have a feeling she feels the same way. Uh, at the town meeting were misrepresented. What we said was interpreted wrong when we uh talked about the parking lot for the uh
Council on Aging. We were not anti- Council on Aging. It's not something that we didn't want to see happen. Our biggest concern at the time was the cost involved and how we came about that cost and what how it was going to be funded. But we are in no way uh shape or form
against the senior citizens, against Phil doing the parking lot, uh against the work that they do there. It it's outstanding and uh they deserve a lot of credit for the time that they put in. But we just want to make sure that uh
everyone knew coming from the selectman that uh that is not the the case that we were as some people spoke that night uh against what was going to happen with the council on aging building. >> Um I had a statement prepared similar um
along those lines. Is there an appropriate time just to take a minute to to read that? Okay. Good evening. I'd like to take a few moments tonight to speak from the heart, not just as a selectman, but as someone who deeply loves this community. Dyon
has always been known as a small town with a big heart. That's not just a slogan. It's who we are. We look out for one another. We show respect and we come together when times are tough. And right now, these are tough times, especially financially.
This current board of selectmen, myself, Nicole Melo, and Peter Karen have been working hard to navigate through uncertainty. We don't yet know what the town's full fiscal outlook will look like, and that means we must be cautious, responsible, and thoughtful
with every decision we make. We don't always agree on every issue, but that's okay. A good board should have healthy debate. But even when we disagree, one thing remains constant. Nicole, Peter, and I are united in our
commitment to serve the people of Dyon. Every discussion, every vote, every decision is made with our residents best interests at heart. Unfortunately, over the past several months, we've seen ongoing personal attacks on social
media, many of them aimed at my colleagues Nicole and Peter. These online attacks have gone on far too long and I want to make myself absolutely clear tonight. I do not condone this behavior. Not online, not in person, not
anywhere. It is unacceptable. It is harmful. It does not reflect the values of this community. We can and we should disagree. That's democracy. But disagreement must be done civily. We can discuss ideas without attacking people.
We can express opinions without resorting to insults. When anyone uses social media or public platforms to tear down others, to spread negativity, or to divide this town, it hurts as a whole.
The board of selectman works for everyone. Not one group, not one faction, not one voice. We are here to serve the entire community. We are stronger when we stand together. tonight. So tonight, I want to
call on all of us, residents, former officials, and neighbors to choose unity over division, to show respect even when we disagree, and to remember that what makes Dayton special is not what divides us, but what brings us together. Because
at the end of the day, we are one town. We are one community, and we are strongest when we stand together with open minds, open hearts, and mutual respect. Let's keep proving that Dyton truly is and always will be a small town with a big heart. Thank you.
>> Thanks, Mark. >> Um, okay, we're going to continue. Hi, how are you? >> With that said, [snorts] you sure you want to come on board? >> Planning on dealing with us? >> Yes, absolutely.
This is a candidate for um [clears throat] for uh supportive aid at the prime time, Maria D. Roza. The review, discuss an act. So request to appoint Maria as a prime time support a supportive aid. >> Hi, [snorts] >> good evening everyone. I'd like you to
introduce you to uh Maria D. Roza, known as Mimi to her to our team and to the elders that she cares for at our supportive program. Mimi was the right person for the job as she has an extensive background in nursing um in
nursing as she was a nurse in the elder care um field most of her career. Well, um so this is Mimi and we love her and everybody loves her. She take who she takes care of. She's already part of the team. She was volunteering for us for
quite a few months and we're happy to have her on board. >> Great. >> I'm sorry it took so long to get here. >> Yeah. one thing after another. >> That happens. >> Um, so would you like to say anything to her? >> Sure. Uh, thank you that you want to do this and obviously you've already gotten your feet wet, so you know what you're
getting into, which is nothing bad. They do a fantastic job over there and um, welcome aboard. They're very caring and I volunteered there for like she said for a few months and that's the place I want to be where they care and
compassionate and I love working with them. >> Nice. Okay. Mark, you want to add what's the best part of the job? [clears throat] >> Helping people. >> Awesome. >> And try to communicate
and um solving problems. Mhm. >> Thank you for joining the team. We're excited to have you. >> Thank you. >> I'm prepared to make a motion. >> Sure. >> Okay. I at this time I'd like to make a motion to appoint Maria D. Roza as prime
time supportive aid. >> I'll step down as chair and second that. All those in favor? >> I >> I. >> Great. Awesome. Congratulations. >> If I could take a minute say something before I get before I leave. Um I would like to first of all I'd like to thank you for your explanation on the
misunderstanding. Second of all, uh I would like to thank everyone who who did their part in us being able to acquire that funding for that parking lot, especially Mr. Vitco who took it uh you know, who led us to
where we are here with that uh funding. Mr. Ferry who had a big hand in the whole um uh organization of that parking lot. uh my team who also helped me in many ways that I can't even explain and I
especially actually the the council on aging would especially like to thank the town's people who supported us through that evening. Um the dy coa thanks you from the bottom of our hearts and we wish you a a happy Thanksgiving and a
merry Christmas. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much for everything. Have a wonderful evening. >> You too. >> Thank you. Um, next one is candidate for open space committee Glenn Cabbage. >> So, Mr. Chairman, I can stay here if it's okay. >> Sure.
>> Um, the open space committee met last week for our meeting. As you know, we have two open spots in open space, >> right? >> Have the opportunity for one of those. We were all happy with the team
interview background. Uh his ideas were wanting to support what open space does. Uh some ideas how to do some outreach as well were interesting. Um so wean there was a motion made unanimously approved him be a member of open space committee
asking me to support. >> Absolutely. [clears throat] If you recommended him then I'm comfortable with that. Glenn, how are you? >> Very good sir. Thank you. I've met you before on the open space, wasn't it? >> I I think it was actually right here. >> Oh, was it right here? Um, well, why do
you want to do this? >> Um, well, it it I think it lines up and sort of, uh, correlates with a lot of my interests, my background, um, my education, >> and, uh, a lot of the vested interests I have as sure homeowner and a father and
things of that nature. >> Okay. What what what are you going to bring to open space? Um, well, I during the meeting I I talked a little about how I'd like to try to generate more interest in the community. Um, and learned how there's a
need for more sort of cross committee, cross department >> uh communication. I'd love to help with both of those things for sure. >> Okay. Thank you, Mark De. you know, this has been a long time open position. So, I appreciate your willingness to serve and and I think that other point you
meant as far as the communication, we always appreciate that. So, that'll be that'll be helpful. >> Great. >> Um, I'd like to make a motion to appoint Glenn Cabbage as a member of the open space committee. >> I'll step down as chair and second. All those in favor? I >> Hey, Congratulations, sir.
>> Thank you very much. >> Thanks, Jonathan. >> See the town clerk before your first meeting. >> We'll do. Thanks. >> Thank you. Um, a motion to take the next agenda appointment out of order. >> I will make a motion to take Dan Higgins, planning board member for
chapter 43D, property designation, out of order. >> Hi, Dan. >> You need a full motion on that? Do we need to vote on? >> Uh, oh yeah, we have to vote. Um, the motion has been made. I'll step down as chair and second. All those in favor? Hi. Hi.
>> Sorry Dan. >> Hi. Hi. >> Uh Dan Higgins, 400 Lincoln Avenue, also the chair of the um economic development committee. So, a few months ago, um Paul Reynolds, who's also a member of the economic development committee, um suggested that we look into the state's
chapter 43D, which provides expedited permitting for commercial and industrial development in locations that the community designates as priority development sites. Um, and the intent of the law was to promote economic development generally, to make towns
more competitive for business investment, to provide predictable and timely permitting for sites, and to streamline coordination among local boards. So, it does not override local zoning. It just requires timely decisions on projects
that already conform to local bylaws. Um, when I say timely, I mean this decisions, whether it's a yes or a no, um, have to be done within 180 days. So, that's would be the commitment from the town. It doesn't change the zoning. It doesn't affect bylaws or conservation
protections. It's just an agreement by the town to make a decision within a predictable amount of time. Um, that predictability, however, um, can mean a real cost savings to an investor. Um it also communicates a very businessfriendly attitude from the town
in the terms of willing to work with the businesses. Um and equally important to the investor once a site is designated as a prior priority development site it becomes eligible for several additional state grants and priority programs and that's especially true for hazardous
sites which qualify for multiple layers of additional assistance environmental assistant grants grants for cleanup um etc. So there are a couple steps in the process. One is the town has to formally adopt the use of the program which Titan
actually did at a special town meeting in 2015. Um the second is the business site owner has to agree to participate. The third is the town has to designate a specific site as a priority development site and then lastly the state permitting agency
has to approve it. So how the down town designates the site's a little ambiguous to me in that the state's writing of chapter 43D doesn't specify who makes the determination. So you would think by default it's a selectman. Um but apparently the state's permitting agency
does stipulate that it be done through town meeting. Um and I wanted to thank the town administrator um for help pointing me to somebody who been through this before actually from the town of Canton who was able to clarify that. So, I haven't had an opportunity to confirm that with the state inter agency and
permitting agency, but I no reason to doubt that. Um, my reason for actually bringing this up now for something that has to go to town meeting is that the mill on Spring Street is to be auctioned off in December. Um, that is an example
of a site with specific areas recorded in the deed as areas of limited use due to previous hazardous dumping. Um, I have been in touch with the realtor running the auction, um, to give him information about the site. I've also tried to spread the word about the
auction by reaching out to the Taton Chamber of Commerce, South Coast Chamber of Commerce, State Office of Economic Development, postings on social media, especially LinkedIn. Um, and both myself and Joe Figgorita, who's also a member of the economic development committee, have personally called anybody who ever
crossed our path who said they had an interest in it, just to let them know about the auction. Um, but I would like to be able to go back to the realtor and tell him that not only has the town adopted chapter 43D, which is a true statement, but that the board of selectment have discussed designating
that particular site as a potential priority development site. I'm not asking for any commitment simply that it be discussed and perhaps that the board says something favorable about it so that in turn I can go back to the realtor and say that he can relay to any
potential um people looking at the site that the town has this the town looks favorably on it or at least is taking steps towards it. it may sway somebody who's not who's on the fence right now to participate in the site because I think
the success of that auction is very important to the town. Um I don't think you can really stress um the um how how important that site is and to the town to the tax levy um and that it be fully utilized again. I think
there's like at most six businesses in there including Pure Oasis which is going to be vacating. So um and you're discussing this idea is just tonight is just a step. It's really almost a gesture really of recognizing that um but sometimes small gestures can have a
big outsized impact. >> Sure. >> That's why I wanted to bring this up. So tonight, I'm just putting the idea out there to get a feeler from you, something perhaps positive I can pass to the realtor and that he can pass along to anybody looking at that site. Um that
the town is, you know, looking to work with any business that does come in there and hopefully the next owner is somebody that can really utilize that >> right >> site fully for commercial development. >> Okay. Uh well, you certainly have done your homework and thank you for that. Uh
I I you guys work tirelessly and um if if you guys recommend it then uh who have done your homework. What other properties are 43D >> in town right now? >> I'm not aware of I don't think the town's ever designated a site. They just
they just >> passed it at the town meeting. >> Mark, do you have anything? >> Um so you're more of a planning and zoning expert than I am. I don't this is not my expertise at all. So you say that um when you make a priority development
site, it has a more predictable amount of time, 180 days to make a determination on what? >> A yes or no vote by all affected committees planning storm water conservation. Um they all have >> town meeting, right?
>> No, this is after the fact. If it was approved, if a site were designated at town meeting >> and you know the state permitting agency agreed etc. When the person comes with the proposition before planning and
conservation and storm water etc. Altogether as a joint group the town is no more than 180 days to come up with their final yes no vote. And >> so is the first board is there board that usually comes first with something like
this? Is it the planning board typically or >> um there is a I don't know if it's a draft or a final document. Um Carrie Easter Day was able to produce a document from 2015 that showed a structure of how this would work in
terms of all the boards working together to to maxim to make sure they hit that 180day mark. She wasn't sure whether this was a draft that had come been done back then. So I would definitely think that needed to be dusted off if we were to to go down this road because
>> the chair I may help mist a little bit on this. It's like um the idea is to run concurrently as opposed to successively. Um you know for the most part >> we do that now. my well my my experience
with with Bitton is that most things get done uh with the 180 days but I think something in addition to that this will this will clarify it uh to make sure it does uh but the issue is when you're talking about a project like 620 Spring
Street which is a which is a large project even though it's not a single home which can move a lot quicker than uh than a large project that does have but um also the 43 uh 43 designation of a property does assist the property
owner in going to primarily mass development uh to um to help with with grants. They have a public private uh they have a public private partnership and you know that's you know one of the first things um um they asked you know
is it 43D when I was a director of planning a little so it does assist does assist property owner um it gives and I would say more uh to the uh the
chair as you as have been on the ZA developers um want consistency. They want they want to know um you know they want to have a schedule. I think we're 43D acceptance of it. sort of gives them
sort of the reassurance that okay, you know, we like it to be yes, but we know if it's going to be a no that it it's done in a kind of or if it's going to be yes, we know how to get our finance into place
because you know the banks and and and the contractors all want to know. So it lends um consistency for this project. It opens up the developer um to to take advantage of of some of the um state uh
opportunities that are out there. So um if I you know have having some slight familiarity with it meaning conversation then and I am saying I kind of know it but but I never done it but I know who's done it. So um
you know I I would um you know as moving forward I I would en encourage the water selection if you have an opportunity to do so um so to take advantage of >> absolutely
>> do you know what happens if we don't hit the 180day mark to the property >> that um that I don't know >> my thought is if we're you know going through the permanent process I see all the benefits of course, right? We want to attract uh developers in. We
want them to better our town and um of course anything we can any tool we can give them to allow them to get grants and invest. I I get all that and I see all the positives. I'm just you know when you go through priving, we're making sure that we're complying with all the laws and that we're not cutting
corners. So, if we're coming to crunch time, I'm just curious what happens at crunch time because we want to make sure we still follow the permitting process. >> And that's why I encourage Dan. I I mean, I I know it just a little enough
to know what it is, >> right? >> You know, and and it's funny. They walked in and Leanne goes, "Oh, Dan wants to do 43D." I said, "Oh, expedited permanent." And she's like, "How' you you just know it?" And that's about a big step. So, we would have to do some
research on it um you know before right before it's presented uh to the board to to put forward a property. What does it mean? What does it what does it all mean? But there are a lot of positives associated with it. But but but I I'm sure there are some criteria
[clears throat] what happen don't need this but that permitting I know in um in normal zoning permitting I think it's 60 days after you know after the public
hearing and if a decision is rendered you sort of get it automatic. Mhm. >> So, um, you know, so I I would suspect it might be something like that, but but I can't speak to that intelligently at this point. >> Okay. Thank you.
This property is zoned commercial. Is that what you >> It's zoned industrial. >> Okay. It's two zonings. It's industrial and it's industrial overlay, which are actually allow for different options either by right or by special permit. So, >> so there's no option for housing there. It's going to be
>> No, no, that's true. It's his own industrial. Yeah. >> Okay. And when you said this like six businesses or so there now currently >> that I know of. I don't have a complete inventory and I I base that off of people who have pulled business certificates, the assessor's office. I
haven't been in there and talked to everybody. So, >> so that area of town could potentially really change depending on what goes in there, you know, the traffic and uh depending on what business takes over. So that's um you're right as far as whoever whatever developer bids on that
property um it could certainly uh really change that neighborhood. Um do you have you heard of any any interest in it? >> No. >> No. >> No. I will say that this is prim I think it's probably on multiple websites. The
primary one that I've seen it advertised on and that I reached out [clears throat] to the realtor through. If you look at the number of page hits it's getting, it's gotten 11,000 page hits. >> Now, that's just page on a website by people scanning. That doesn't mean 11,000 people are interested in purchasing it, but >> right, >> it's being viewed. It's out. It's being
known. Um, the realtor is not telling me how many people he's got signed up. I think you have to register in advance to participate in the auction, >> but I don't know what the how many, if any. I mean, the worst thing possible is that no one's interested and the place just defaults,
>> right? And then that would be a major headache for this town >> cost as well. I don't know exactly what the fallout of that would be but >> right >> may not be a good thing. >> Are you here in your capacity as uh industrial development or planning board? >> Industrial development.
>> Industrial development. Has that >> economic development? >> Economic development. I like that. I like economic development. Has that has your committee discussed um working with Serpent at all on this uh for ideas on 43D? Can they help with advising on this
law? >> Um it's possible to be honest. As far as we've gotten is we'd like to rush to say something positive about it under the realtor before December. >> Okay. Everything after that is who's the
new owner, what are their plans if there is a new owner town meeting, what would be involved in that. So, we haven't gone that far down the road. So, the positive that I heard tonight was it certainly gives more tools in the tool chest for a developer who wants to invest in our
town and um you know, opens up some grants to them. I'd say we still have some unknowns, but this sounds like there's plenty of time to work that all out. [clears throat] >> Thank you. Um I know it's more than 50,000 square feet. Are there other build up buildings
with that? >> Um not that I'm aware of. >> Okay. >> Actually 550,000 >> 550,000 >> 530 something like that. >> And um the criteria you have who appoints the point person?
>> The point person for the um >> a project like if if this was to go through um you in order to coordinate all the boards to make sure >> right is it the planning board. >> I don't it goes back to that either draft or document that was created back
in 2015 about how the boards would align. >> Yeah. >> And as I said I don't know if that probably needs to be dusted off again. >> Sure. >> And and looked at but it was basically a plan for how to make that happen. Um I'm not sure which board if any was
appointed as the primary carrier but it probably would have been the planning board. >> Right. I I I know you're in a rush or we won't keep you, but um thank you. >> I I do have one more comment. I'd say the my feelings are and I imagine the boards is we're looking forward to work
with any business and have discussions with any business that wants to come into town. That is of course a priority. We just heard in our um tax uh rate setting that we shift a lot of our tax burden to businesses and we're lacking them. So, we would love to see someone
come in and revitalize that area of our town. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You might as well stay here. >> I have to go. >> Oh, you have to go, right? >> Okay. >> D Lions Club. Tom, you here?
I know Dan's leaving. And David, are you coming up? >> Lions Club. >> Oh, yeah. The meeting I have to go to unfortunately starts now 10 minutes. >> Okay. >> If you don't mind taking this out of order and be back in 10 minutes.
>> Sure. Is that all right with you? I'm supposed to be tearing a meeting at 7 across town. >> You can leave. Uh well, let's jump to yours, Tom. Then we'll take this one out of order, too. The Dian's Lions Club and uh just go to the superintendent of the highway for uh
the purple hot signs. >> I'll make a motion to take the um agenda item for the highway superintendent authorization to place a purple heart sign, town signs, and public roadways out of order. >> Motion has been made. I'll step down as
chair and second. All those in favor? >> I I >> All right. >> So, I I've been advised that our town is now a purple hot community. >> Um, and I was asked to articulate where possible sign placements could be
because uh you guys have the authority to have the signs erected. I can't just randomly put them out there. Um, I would like to suggest in the areas of where the Medal of Honor signs recently went up in the recent past, there are six
locations. One at the when you enter from Berkeley on Center Street, one in Route 44 when you come in from Rehobath, both ends of 138, and both ends of Williams. So that would be six. Those are seem to be the six most
activeries of town. Uh, I think there's actually 17 roads that you enter a town in. I don't want to hit all of them. >> Oh, we can't do all 17 at one time. >> What about where um
you have the current uh landscaping from with the lions, those signs? >> So, those those are fine. Um they're not where you enter the town. No, but a lot of people travel. >> Yes.
So, yes, we're we're in the process of getting one at Center Williams. That's very active there. >> Y >> um that actually when you're looking across the intersection, that may be a good location. Um the other new location would be Forest and Tmont.
>> Yeah. >> And then as you know, Warner Boulevard is where the other one is and the at the old police station is where one is. >> Yeah. The Warner Boulevard one seems to make a lot of sense there. A lot of traffic people coming in from Taton. >> Correct. >> Well,
okay. >> If I remember the presentation correctly, the purple heart presentation said that these town these signs would be placed as you're entering and exiting the town. Is that how you remember the presentation?
>> So, force at Tmont wouldn't really meet that criteria. >> No. um the other end of Forest Wood. >> Um so I I'd like to gravitate towards where the Medal of Honor is but not that same poll just the general area. >> Yep. >> We don't want to litter the community
with signs either because then you become you know kind of callous to you know reading what you're driving into. >> Those locations also have the right to farm signs also. Right. >> What size are the signs?
>> I believe they're 18 by 18. That's smaller than what we had on display that night, right? >> No, those those are the ones he >> those are the ones we're going to use. I know I had given it to Ralph today. Um that's 18 by 18. >> Wow. >> They because of their color though they
they >> loud they're louder than the middle of the middle of a white with a light blue. >> Okay. This is a review discussing act mark if you have any more comments. >> I'll make a motion to authorize the highway superintendent to place the purple heart town signs in public
roadways and to uh with an emphasis on that they should be in highly traveled locations throughout the town at town lines near as adjacent to town lines as you can.
>> How many >> you you recommended six? Yes, >> I'll step down chair and second. All those in favor? >> I >> I [snorts] thanks Tom. >> Thank you.
>> Okay, we'll go back to um the bleachers. Tom, Daniel, and David. Tom, are you leaving? [snorts] >> Let me introduce the scan. >> Okay. So, currently I'm the president of the Lions, >> right? >> Um the the agenda says a donation. We
don't have a donation at this time. >> Okay. >> Dan's going to get into the nitty-gritty and he's the point person for the club uh for this project. It's a possible joint venture. And um with that said, I'll turn over. >> Thank you.
Um, so the Dyon Lions are proposing a joint project with the town to rebuild the bleachers on Scratfield. And this is a project that was first raised by Lion member Ed Oli earlier in the year in response to liability concerns that select Chico had raised about the
bleachers. Um, Lions Club is prepared to not only contribute funds to the project, but also with the town's blessing just oversee the project in collaboration with the town planning, fundraising, implementation of the rebuild. Um, in terms of the cost,
probably that's going to be more than any one funding source that can provide for the proposal to use. So, at this point, this is really a proposal to just gauge your interest level. So, I don't have any actual estimated costs. Um, but if you agree with the proposal, that'd
be one of the first things we need to scope out. The cost would stem from a few categories. The removal of the existing bleachers, working through design and selection, including building style, best construction meth purposes, uh, material cost, construction or
installation costs, and the funding sources would come from a variety of places, which helps because not every source can be used for every purpose. Um, so we'd be looking for any grants that are available along the lines of recreational facilities or ADA components. Um, those are usually
partial. They may not cover the removal of existing bleachers and they may not cover the design. Um, the CPC would be an option and could be used for most of those, but the CPC does have competing interests. So really what the Lions Club
is willing to do is um make a substantial contribution towards that cost. And since we don't have a fixed dollar amount at this point, since it's just a proposal, I don't have a dollar of what that substantial contribution would be, only that we have agreed in
principle to do that. Um, and we'd also be willing to help scope out those costs. Um, plus volunteer for the service side of tracking down grants, working with any town representative you might appoint to help work with us to align with feedback from other
stakeholders, the design selection, working to minimize future maintenance costs, which I know is a concern of Mr. fairies. Um, how we're going to use the contractor, help coordinate between different departments and suppliers, and basically see anything else and that's
needed to get work through the project. Um, I think the volunteer labor and oversight just not only helps reduce labor costs from outside consultants or from having to utilize town employees time, um, but it just helps ensures that everybody involved comes with the same perspective of wanting to do what's best
for the town. Um, we would definitely need a point person to work with. Um, so to make sure that we're everything we're doing is adhering to what's in the town best district as well as working with the ADA coordinator and giving periodic updates back to the board of selectmen. Um, and as I mentioned in the letter
that I submitted um, requesting tonight's meeting, for many years, the club's been a recipient of the town's generosity in allowing club events in the areas around town hall. So restoring and upgrading the bleachers will only not only allows us the opportunity to
repay that generosity, but it's essentially, you know, how we see this proposal period since all of our fundraising or most of our fundraising is dedicated to going right back into the town. Um, so if you're in favor of this, the first step would just be exploratory, seeing
what our options are. Um, is there anything specific to the site we need to think about? Big drainage patterns, ideal capacity. Um, it is built against the retaining wall. I have no idea if it's part of the retaining wall. In other words, it's providing even some minimal support. Those are all kinds of
things you have to think about. Um, but I'd be glad to answer any questions you have. >> Sure. So, you're talking about complete redo then, not not a fix. >> Correct. It's Mr. F's opinion that a fix simply at this point would not work only because it wouldn't adhere properly to
the existing concrete. Um, and apparently the um, what's out there right now used to look much different. There used to be stansions and wooden benches and all kinds of things, not just the crumbling concrete. So,
>> Mark, do you have any questions? >> Um, my first thought when I read this was I thought a parks and wreck um, would be a good person to engage or uh, discuss. I see I believe our chairman of parks and wreck is here in the audience. So, um, >> Mr. Chairman, can I speak up?
>> Uh, not yet, please. >> Uh, so that would be that would be a good person to engage in the process. And, uh, we have a new building commissioner that we just appointed tonight. So, that would be another one. Um, and I would just say thanks for to
the Lions for bringing this forward. >> Thank you. Well, this is a review, discuss, and act. Um, obviously, you're in the infancy stage. You don't have any, uh, cost yet, uh, other than, like I said,
just a complete redo. And, um, thank you for your commitment because that's in in sad shape over there. And it's, um, not friendly at all to youth. So, um I I more than welcome the um
the help of the Lions Club in in fixing that up. >> Make more. >> Did you want to open this up? >> Uh yeah, we can open up Kevin. >> Yeah, Jonathan past Jonathan, but that's probably what
he's gonna say. We we already started to do some exploration through um some ADA grant opportunities because obviously besides parks and rec Jonathan and I are also involved with the ADA commission but the commission on disabilities um I know for myself I can't speak on behalf
of my entire commission but I'd be happy to work with Dan and the Lions Club and we can bring Jonathan in and start kind of having some of those conversations. We can give Dan some of the information that we've already gathered. [clears throat] One kind of thing that popped in my head is I'm thinking you have to keep cost down because I'm
looking at my friends from Bristol Aggie. I'm over at Bristol Plymouth. We have Dr. My School has engineering uh shops. Dr. has engineering shops. You guys have your landscape design shops. We possibly could put together something
that could maybe go under peer review by our town's engineers and save us a ton of money. >> Sure. So we you know brainstorm and explore opportunities because we when we initially looked into some possibilities for some grant funding opportunities that we had come across is the we were
looking at a grand scope of the whole facility not just the bleachers but it was a significant amount in engineering cost >> to [clears throat] talk about that field the bleachers all the things down there so I think even isolating that one piece is still going to be a significant cost so I think
we'll need to get creative >> sure But I'm willing to >> Oh, absolutely. >> Hop on with him. >> Well, we appreciate that. It um it's not going to be an easy undertaking, but there's a lot of of um avenues that we can pursue to help out
with this project. Everything from the highway department to the schools, uh all those different options. But thank you. Yes, Jonathan. >> Just similar to what what Kevin was just saying actually too. You know, we had
spoken and started to work with Serpent on looking at different types of grants or engineering studies that could be done for the entire complex. And I think part of our vision um hearing Dan talk about the ADA component of work too, part of our vision was to create a complete complex in that area that makes
it fully ADA accessible. And you know, in the end that may involve expanding and redoing some of the playground. It may involve resurfacing the track in that infield area that puddles as you talked about drainage, right? Certainly the bleachers, access to the bleachers, all that sort of stuff, cloud levels for
persons with disabilities at the bleachers. So we were looking at an entire a big picture. But I think when we were looking at it, what we realized was at that point it was also too late in the funding cycle to put in for those specific grants we were thinking about because it was time sensitive by the
time it was it really started to come to the potential of fruition. So I I [clears throat] applaud them to wanting for wanting to do this. Um, and I think definitely to bring all of this into the fold, there's a good potential that we can put together a project. You know, it may have to be done in cycles, it may
have to be done in certain sections over several years, but it's a project that could totally transform that area, >> right? It's unsafe the way it is. And I'm surprised the building inspector um prior has [clears throat] not condemned it because um there's cracks
in stairs uh as well as the seats themselves. And I I can't believe that um like I said, it hasn't been designated as not being able to use. It certainly wasn't APA compliant, but because
nothing structurally changing, there was nothing I could do. >> Right. >> So, this could be, as I said, this is probably a project for capital fundraising and grants that could be several years in the making to put together section of time. But
>> ultimately, I applaud that the process that he's he's discussing. It has the potential to totally transform that area and transform this whole campus. >> Absolutely. Thank you. Anybody else at this point want to be heard on this subject only? No. Okay. This is review, discuss, and
act on. >> I'll make a motion to endorse the project as presented and um you want an you want an initial point personnel
because I think the town administrator might be a good person just to flow information through to the various folks you just mentioned. I would make it the motion that the initial point person's a town administrator to >> Sure. >> Okay. Motion has been made and seconded.
I'm step down as chair and second. Um all those in favor? >> I I thanks guys. Mr. Bger, you're up, sir. Sorry about keeping you here all evening. >> That's all right. We'll send you the bill in the mail for over time. >> Yeah. [laughter and clears throat]
We appreciate the time. Thank you so much. >> Thank you >> for having us, Chairman and uh Slackman. We appreciate coming here tonight. Uh we're always very thankful to work with the Dyon community and uh we've had a longstanding relationship um with members of the community for
many years. And about eight years ago, we started playing our softball games behind the field here. We even trans transitioned our soccer practices here as well. And since we've been using it, you know, we've we've done some uh preliminary uh renovations to it. We
brought in some uh saw a few years ago. >> The bleaches. Oh, that's great. [laughter] >> You know, if you're in the room, what happens? You get projects. Uh but essentially, you know, we've been very fortunate to be able to use the field. Um the town has always provided access
to us and um over this last year, we've we've had a lot of conversations with Mr. Farro, Mr. Smith. This is Matt Bean. He's our foreman. And Keith Powski is our athletic director. And we tried meeting this spring to talk about if we could get something kicked off over the
spring to do some work. And um you know, we didn't have any funding. We were talking, do we have anything at the end of the year? Did he have anything? Could we scrape anything together? And unfortunately, at the end of the year, we couldn't pull it off. Uh we were very fortunate. We had some projects in our budget u that came under cost. We did
some repairs to some of our older buildings. Uh mainly some roofing projects that came in under budget. And so we have some money available that we would like to use um to to offset well essentially not offset, we're going to supply the funding for the cost. Uh so
Matt has done a lot of the research. He's done a similar project in his town and in supplies it's about $13,000 probably in total $20,000 that the school is looking to invest for uh you you probably have there the drafts in
front of you but I'll let um Matt kind of explain what the uh what the plan is. >> Sure. >> Yeah. So uh I've been I came from Swansea. I was a pox superintendent there. Uh we had seven baseball fields there and I replaced quite a few of the fences there. I've done over thousands of feet of fence. multiple back stops
and stuff. So, um, basically what we're looking to do is kind of keep it the same footprint because we know it's a multi-use field. We don't want to change anything on the field itself. So, we're to keep it basically in the same footprint. Uh, a couple things we want to do is to make it a little bit safer. Some of the fences is curling and just years and years of using it and stuff
like that. Very common. Um, upgrade it with some commercial fencing. Uh, so the bottom of the back stop will be a six gauge fence, which is a thicker gauge fence, so when balls hit it and stuff like that, doesn't want to curl back out. put a couple of extra rails in it, which will help keep it tight and not
loosen up. Where the dugout fences are right now, they're kind of offset from the back stop, so you have poles kind of like open in the player field. So, we're going to close that up and put a gate there. Um, we're going to close in the the dugouts. So, uh, keeps the players away from families and stuff like that.
Um, which is a very common thing that they do now. Um, and then if it if we are able to put like a little roof on it, too, so uh keep the weather off the players and stuff, right? >> Uh, the front of the the dugouts are going to be uh 10 foot now instead of six foot. So, which makes a little bit
safer for foul balls. Um, and just basically upgrade what's there. The the back stop poles themselves will stay. Um, we're going to clean them up, paint them because they're in really good condition. There's no problem with the poles themselves. So, we're going to uh clean those up, paint those, and then just put new netting on that.
>> Awesome. I are Are you going to put the safety things over the fences? >> It's going to be high enough to where you don't need to do that. Yep. Anything over six feet, you don't need it. Six feet and taller. Anything under six feet, you need the safety rail on the top. That just to stop people from going over the top and uh getting hurt on it.
>> Right. >> All the fencing will be knuckle knuckle, too, which right now it has barbs on the bottom, which is what they were used to. It's like a fish trap where you go underneath and you can't get back out. So now it has the knuckles on the top and on the bottom, so it's safe. So, nobody's gonna get a cut on it. >> Nice.
>> Great. Thank you. Well, I mean, anything that you can do will be an improvement. >> And thank you for picking up the tab. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Well, you know, it's so one hand wash is another. If we had to obviously invest in a field on our campus, it would cost us $20,000.
>> Right. >> Well, you know, it makes sense. We're right here. It's giving back to the community. >> Thank you. >> You know, I think we consider ourselves partners. >> Oh, absolutely. We've worked with Kevin on a couple of projects and it's been great. So, >> Okay, cool. Mark, do you have anything at this point?
>> I think I do. For our town administrator, do would this project require a permit to be pulled through the building commissioner? >> Probably. >> And do you know if the building commissioner can wave the fee for that or is that done through the board of select? It's through the building
commissioner. Okay. [clears throat] That's that would be nice to see. Yeah. Um, >> do Mr. Chairman, we have one member in the public. >> Sure. >> Yeah. If I may, just to kind of answer select me's question. So, we did we upgraded the fencing at the
[clears throat] north field a couple years ago. >> And it did require the permit, but when it's done on some property, the permitting process and the fee is >> Yeah. >> Easy and >> Yeah. And it's waved. >> The fee is waved. >> Okay. >> Perfect. >> So, that too. And just to kind of add to their piece too, I had had the
opportunity meet with everyone from Bristol and the town administrator in the spring and even parks and w our end of the budget like we did. We ended up buying the new we do have the new benches sitting. >> Oh, nice. >> When the are done, we have benches to go. >> Oh, awesome. Great.
>> So, you did the ones in Swansea across on Route Six. >> Yep. Goes from Route Six came out nice. Yeah, >> it was a uh the back stop the poles. We had a custom order from Mayor Fence in Boston. And they were 28 ft long cuz it's a 24 ft back stop. It was like 4 ft
in the ground and 24 ft out of the air. >> And uh we did it over the winter time and >> a couple of guys from the highway department and [snorts] >> some lips come out nice. >> Yeah, they came out really good. >> Okay. >> I think we are looking to do the work um >> this spring. >> Oh, this winter. >> Oh, this winter.
>> We're looking to get started soon. >> Yeah. Okay. >> It's possible. >> Sure. >> Yeah. >> Well, we have a new building inspector, so it'll be one of his first projects. >> Perfect. Yeah, once we get all the leaves cleaned up, we'll have a little open time to >> Right. >> Uh, March 20th starts the spring season.
So, >> wow. >> Then the ground might be too frozen for us work >> frozen. >> Yeah, exactly. >> Okay, my only other thought is maybe just work with the um highway department about coning that area off to keep that area.
All right, perfect. >> Yes. Um, I'd make a motion to approve Bristol County Agricultural High School proposal for uh, fence improvements at Carl Sprat Memorial Field as presented with thanks and appreciation. >> Thank you.
>> Step down as chair and second that. All those in favor? >> I >> I >> thank you. >> Thanks, guys. >> So much guys. Have a great night. >> Thank you. >> Announcements. You want to read them off? You want me to read them? >> I'll read them. There's a townwide parking ban in effect
from November 1st, 25 to April 1st, 26. No person shall allow any vehicle to remain in the street so as to obstruct snow removal. The Dyon Lions Club Food Bank has two distribution dates coming up. One will be held on Monday, November
24th from 6:00 p.m. to 700 p.m. and then Saturday, December 20th. Both located at town hall 979 Somerset Aav lower level Donan lights on 2025 will take place on Saturday November
29th. Hot chocolate, cookies, popcorn and hot dogs event begins at 3:30 p.m. Be sure to bring a camera for photos with Santa. Um, so we look forward to seeing our chairman and hopefully Ralph to sing with the dignitaries. On
Thursday, December 4th, 2025, starting at 6 PM, you can make a holiday cheer in full bloom festive wreath sponsored by the Dayton Historical Society at Arou Farms, 1522 William Street. $50 per person and includes all materials.
Pre-registration required 5086696988. >> Thank you. This is a first of two public inputs. Is there anybody? >> Um Laura Maderas 16 Laura Armstrong 1645 Maple Street. Um I wanted to speak Oh, originally I was going to speak about our cable upgrades and then I have um
something I prepared as well that I think will transition nicely from your prepared um reports too. Uh we did get upgrades. I'm sure you see there's no microphones on your tables aside from the Zoom microphones. Um these two strips on the ceiling are your
microphones. That is what catches um truthfully this whole room because of the way you can hear the echo. Um unfortunately there was an issue of course as we upgrade there's always um some issues. So tonight's meeting is just recorded on Zoom but going forward
we actually got our tech on the call. um he walked us through how to fix it. So, moving forward um that will be how it works. So, I just want to stress to the public that when you're here um and a meeting begins, it's as you hear the words hot mic, it's a hot mic really for
the room. So, if you're in the audience, just to keep chatter to a minimum because it will catch. Um and just so people don't think you guys aren't being recorded, there's actual microphones in the ceiling. Um, and then from a personal standpoint, um, I think it will
kind of transition nicely and I do appreciate you both, um, speaking about the special town meeting. Um, I wanted to speak as a resident and for the residents. Um, we turned to this board for factual truths and information and to have our voices and concerns heard.
After watching the special town meeting, I did feel that that was forgotten, specifically regarding that warrant article to fund the remainder of the COA parking lot. I do think that because an immediate motion to table was made by this board which does not allow for discussion and there were also some false statements that were made but
thankfully the motion to table failed which did allow the public to have discussion and ultimately the residents did speak in favor of funding that warrant article. I know it is not easy to sit in your seats um but you did sign up for this. The residents have voted each of you in and there is a big
responsibility responsibility that comes with that. I do ask that you keep in mind that we're all counting on you, all the residents, um to speak accurate information to speak uh to listen to all of our concerns or ideas, whether it's verbally, by letter, or whichever platform is being used by that resident
to reach out to this board. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Anybody else want to be heard at this time? Hi, Nancy. >> So, I heard from PMC. So, uh, it was another banner year.
Uh, they raised 78 million a bike ride. Uh, my team, Eric, personally raised 22,500 and that was a record from for him. The first time he wrote in 1994, he
raised $93. And the other thing I will just add is that with the 78 million that they raised this year, the total amount that has been donated
to Dana Faba since this program began is something like 1.125 billion with a B. I mean that's incredible. >> Sure. >> So I just wanted to give everybody an update update. Thank everybody indict
again. uh next year it'll be the first Saturday and Sunday in August as always. But it just goes to show how so many people doing so much and you don't have to be the big donors. Uh even
volunteering time and that it it it really adds up and by doing volunteer work it frees up others who may not be able to be there pre uh physically but can donate money. So very very good. wanted to give you an update on a couple
of items. um the flags. [clears throat] I saw your meeting when um the historical commission um talked about recognizing
uh Kat Gomes yell, Katherine Gomegel, who created that. I reached out again, sent another email to her sister and asked her, told her about the event
and about the honor and about the plaque that's going to be installed and asked her to reconsider my request again for the vector file and suggested that she needed more information on that that she get in touch with uh Pat Gales to find out
about it. I haven't heard back from her yet, but it just went out. It wasn't because I didn't know it when it happened. It was I found out that the the plaque, you know, was several weeks after your meeting. So, I'm I'm waiting
on that. My other thought is if I am not successful in getting that vector file from the originator uh of the person who has custody of the originator. I'm putting out a request to anyone in
Dyton who is a drafts person and my request is would you be willing to create a vector file based on that flag. What I need is the seal. Obviously the the cloth if you will the blue c
background it will sit on. That's not the main issue. What we need is that seal duplicated in a vector file. And somebody that does drafting uh knows what I'm looking for. And I don't know
if they can do it with CAD. Um I'm not into all of that, but I know that there is CAD consu computer assisted design. So again, if anyone has the skills of a draft person and is willing to donate some time, please get in touch with me.
You can contact me at the assessor's office or at my home any way at all. Um, but without someone if I cannot access that file, which is what I did to create the book, um, I I don't really know what
we're going to do. Um, I know there's a company in um, Connecticut that makes flags and does that sort of thing, but the person that I contacted for the flags in Bedford is willing to do it.
But the cost to create the vector file and the cost of three flags puts this well over $1,000. It's just prohibitive. >> Yeah. >> So, I haven't given up. I just want you to know um I'm going to keep pursuing until I get uh even if somebody's
willing to create a a vector file at a a a reduced price. I don't know. I know what she wanted to charge us. Um but anyone who's willing to do anything, I I really would uh like to hear from him. Um,
I was really glad to hear about the work on the field because in my younger days, I spent a lot of time on that field uh as as a student athlete >> just a couple years ago. >> Yeah. Right. [laughter] Only a few more cracks in the in the in
the black. A lot of good memories out there. But the other thing that's very significant about that from a historical standpoint is that that whole area out there, I call it the the football field, the
oval, that whole thing that was created during the administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt as part of a works progress, you know, when he was trying to get the c the country back to work after the depression and they put in
these construction projects to get people back to work and all of that. And it's a very significant uh structure, I'll call it. Um, and it blended perfectly with the old high school which sat right over here. And
the lower level of the high school was walk out because that was the vocational high school. And [clears throat] again, that was that opened, I believe, in 35 or 36, but the town was very very fortunate back then to have that kind of uh
assistance uh from the federal government as as a governmental project that ended up in something that's lasted all of this time. I mean, we're coming up almost a hundred years. >> Yeah. >> That it's been there. And when you look
at it, I I think to myself, yeah, it's got cracks and all that, but it's lasted a long time and literally probably thousands and thousands of people >> sure >> use that. And so to hear that it's it's going to be worked on and improved,
repaired, whatever, because if we were to lose it, I I don't know what we'd do for facilities as a as getting the town together because it's used for so many events, you know. So, it truly is uh an
asset for the town and so I'm glad to see it going forward. Um, and the last thing I have to report is the 2026 calendar. >> I was going to ask you about that. >> It's in the works. Um,
I'm hoping to have at least 200 for Lights On. Um, but the final edition has been okayed. I talked to the I through email. I talked to the teacher this morning and she said they were going to go to work
on it. And the good thing is we have I think I counted at least four new photographers, people that expressed interest and sub submitted pictures that we could use. And so the other thing I'm saying tonight is we're looking for
pictures for 27. Anyone? We're hoping to get all the pictures together for 27 before school closes in June because they want to open since September. >> They'll say, "Here are the pictures. They can do the calendar grid. All I
have to do is update it for >> events that are we list that are really relevant to Dyon." >> Sure. >> We did add the um Purple Heart Day. We added um the Congressional Medal Day.
because we we added Dyon's birthday last year. We can put the lion's pouch up. So, anyhow, anyone who has a photograph that they're willing to share, uh, email it to me and goultcast.net. We prefer
horizontal pictures because the calendar is horizontal. If you send a vertical picture, we have to squish it to make this. And sometimes when it gets squished for
size, it gets distorted. So, no people, no buildings, natural, whatever. But I think you're going to like this one. There's some really, really, really pretty pictures, >> I'm sure. So, uh, well, a gentleman from
the highway department submitted one and, um, actually we have a picture of a storm water for bay that was constructed on Richmond Hill
and uh, obviously very uh, steep, very high, rocky, but that was submitted uh, by a construction inspector that's working on the project up there. So, we've got outsiders can send pictures, too. It's just the pictures have to be
from in town. >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Very informative, Nancy. Thank you. >> Second report. You have a >> Yeah, a few things. Special town meeting update. Just a special town meeting update. The 19 articles, all of them
passed. um the the two articles which require the petition to the general counsel working on that. I'm working with the state delegation to get them to get well the certification of [snorts] the
um to uh take land out of the chapter uh 97 for the for the puzzle street bridge and secondly to um to increase uh the special officers to 870. So, um, you know, Sher is working on the certification.
Um, send that to the legislation and and hopefully we could get that moving. Um, I just wanted some clarification from from special when the chief was um speaking about the HVAC system. Um, I
just want to let uh the public know for the record um the the material that was used uh the in in the original HVAC system they weren't new it was it was new products um and it but the thing is
it's aging technology uh the recently the um Hback system was under warranty but but recently it went through there was some several spikes uh power spikes in the grid which cause the um the HVAC
system to shut down. Unfortunately, as right technology advances the um the the they tried to update uh um update the technology but because the technology that was in there was now
old, they couldn't update it. And I think a good analogy is was like trying to put an app on a flip phone. So kind of that's that's where they are with that and I think that was you know it's better uh you know sort of a better
explanation why the town had needed the upgrade the HVAC system was just the uh the technology that we had in there which was current at the time just can't support current technology. Um, one other thing uh in uh at our next uh
selectance meeting uh just to back up a little bit on the um the um uh the Dyon uh school building committee. Uh myself uh Eliza Couture and Superintendent uh
Rooney. uh we part of the MSB for the designer selection um which we had selected power street uh for to to design the new uh the new ground school bank ground school. So
that will be uh the award of that and the contract for that will be coming before the select men at the December 10th at the December 10th meeting. It's a standard state contract and it will be within what was appropriate. Um you know the funds that go through the
negotiations but we it it can't exceed it can't exceed our appropriation for it. Uh and then um and lastly on the report we had um someone had reached out uh a resident of
the town reached out to um to represent the thber and and that um they felt uh um they have children who go to the the middle school and they felt that there was um some crossing at center street
138 uh route 138. Route 138. So I was thinking 138th Street. That's way so um it is it is um a state crossing. Uh so they're looking the mass uh DOT is
looking uh possibly to upgrade that crossing uh put put uh better uh better traffic light. So that request uh usually uh you know initially should come from the selection office. So um if
it's you know this consensus from from the members who are here I can just write that letter write write that letter on your behalf just to get this to get this ball rolling. >> Sure. >> That's that's that's all I have for my slides. >> Okay. As part of the suckman's report I
was going to ask um well two things. One of the things that you just mentioned is about the school. Does that mean the renovation or addition is off the table because you're going to a new school? >> No. The design that has to happen too,
>> right? They're reviewing um whether it's going to be a addition renovation or a new school. Okay. >> So, that's part of the design. And then my other comment was can you uh shed some light on the dy and bags in
Hannifford. Um >> we've heard from residents who are upset >> right >> uh Henford has put out their own press release so to speak as to why >> is not servicing them which is not true.
You know, as you recall, a few weeks ago, you had signed the um trash bag contract, right? And what it is, we um you know, we there's an expectation that when when um um retailers get the bags that we get, you know, we get paid up
front shortly thereafter. Um, so there was an there was an incident in the past where where Hannerford was in a in a rear for bags probably approximately 70 $70,000 and the um our current health agent who
was the uh administrator at the time had to track it down. So you know we said well if you willing to pay the bags um when we give them to you we'd be happy to provide you with the bags. So um that option is available to Hackford. We are
not stopping them from from uh putting bags in the stores. They just have to pay us. As you could well imagine, especially in our physical condition, $70,000 that is a lot of money. So, we cannot um you know, we can't afford to have such an outstanding um an
outstanding bill. So um we again um we are not prohibiting adverts from uh from stocking stocking the trash bags selling the trash bags. We'll be happy to give um we'll be happy to sell them the trash
bags and and be a retailer for us. They just have to um you know pay for them. >> And that's and >> it's a little bit different than what Hanford is saying. I you know I would
imagine I'm I'm sure you know probably people from Hanford that's probably not coming from the home office is probably coming from know people on the floor and y >> and um but um you know we we've made you know
>> sure this is it >> you know we happy to work with you but um we haven't heard anything back so >> okay [clears throat] are they current with their bill? They are current with their bill. >> The other contracts that we signed for trash bags, are they all net 30?
>> Yes. >> Yeah. And they and they we haven't had any significant issues with our other retailers. They're smaller. They don't they don't um they don't order as many bags as as Hanford. So, >> okay.
>> But everybody as I as I note that fast is up is up to date. That's why >> [snorts] >> Um, Mr. Chairman, just listening to that and knowing how corporations work, even though I'm totally in the public sector, but I feel that most of them probably
wouldn't agree to a net 30, anything other than net 15 or 30. Um, >> if it was a mom and pop, they can kind of make their own, you know, exceptions, but I feel like in a corporate environment, it might be really hard for Handfords to agree to that. I know that
they were purchased by a larger retailer um in the grocery sector. I don't know by who, >> but that owns and shop basically. >> And I know when with that transition that they you know with when there's a buyout and you have that merging of finances, things get behind or at least
it did in this this case and it hurt the town. Do you think we should put that back on the agenda to I think it's going to escalate to a point where um we have a lot of residents here. Um because although I love us supporting the other small businesses in town, I'm sure
Hanniffords is our um probably the prime place to get trash bags, >> right? Uh two things concern me. One is if we offer them net terms, we'll have to offer it to everybody else, I would assume. >> I think I just heard everyone else has net 30. Yes, but if we give Hanned for
>> an extended >> an extended to 90 days because that's what corporates do. >> Um do we have to offer that 90 days to everyone else? And two, um I I'm not opposed to doing something like that as long as there's a cap that if they get
so much behind then we're going to have to say 10,000. I'm just making that number up. that if if the bill gets up that high, then we have to stop supplying them. >> My thoughts are um I think it would if
it's net 30 and they're behind even a day, we simply don't replenish until they get caught and then there would probably be breaks in service for our folks who buy bags. But >> yeah, >> you know, at least they would be supplied on a more regular basis and it
kind of holds them to their end of the bargain. Yeah. >> No. What do you think, Ralph? I I think it's something that you know we could something we can revisit um you know have a discussion with a discussion with u the board of health and our county
accountant and we'll take a look and we'll we'll bring it forward in relatively short order. >> Yeah. We'd have to discuss with Hannifford as well. >> Yeah. Yeah. I I I think I first you know what,
you know, what are we what are we how far we're going to go out and make sure we're okay with that and then and then sort of put that proposal proposal to >> H. So, >> well, there's a lot of other outlets,
but I think >> probably sold the majority of them. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And and it it's an inconvenience to some people. Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. Temple is becoming the uh largest uh retailer for
>> is it? Yeah. [laughter] >> Yeah. Yeah. I would definitely like to see that on our next agenda. >> Okay. On to new business. Uh this is a review, discuss, and act schedule of board of selectman's regular meetings from January 2026 to June 2026.
Is there anything that >> just want to look at it again? It's um >> second. >> I would just say once we um once we hit April 22nd, maybe just allow then if um
whoever incoming selectman is has any concerns with these that would sure >> discuss it at that time. Otherwise, I'm prepared to make. >> Yeah, it look it looked fine to me. Um, yeah, if you want to make that motion. >> Make a motion to accept the schedule for
the board of selectman regular meetings as presented. >> I'll step as chair and second. Motion has been made and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I I >> appointment of Ralph Fitaco, the town administrator as a leazison to the fire station building committee.
>> Is this taking my spot? >> Yes. >> Okay, perfect. the um the meetings are during the day between 1 and 3 and I just I can't >> they meet regularly which is amazing um but I can't >> take that time off of work that freely. >> Okay. >> So thank you for for taking that.
>> No I go I go there anyway. They're winding down and should have a report January. >> Awesome. So I'll make a motion to appoint Ralph Oaco, town administrator as liazison to the fire station building committee.
>> I'll step down as chair and second motion seconded. All those in favor? >> I >> I award bid town fiber optic installation RW Bryant Plymouth Mass. sort of a a brief background as as you told they
grant fiber optic installation uh to uh part two of um we had fiber optic installation a few years ago. This is the increase redundancies with uh for
first responders uh for the communication system and also communication to ACOS office and and the transfer station to so uh we receive the grant we receive
grant for approximately 65 five no $180,000 and then we had set aside $5,000 we had part of the matching grant for for
we got the bids in RW Bryant who had done the previous installation came in at the as the lowest responsible bidder for 48 count 48 count installation
143 My recommendation uh to is one to do and then second to authorize me execute the contract. >> Sure. >> Okay. Mark, do you want to make that
motion? >> What was the amount 956? 143,000. >> 143,946. >> Okay. >> Is there a reason why the U bid wasn't included in our packet?
>> Uh I had to double check. Um no, I have the I have the bids right here. I didn't um because I didn't know if the contract sometime I had checking wasn't sometimes have a contract
for now but but exact >> okay if you want it available soon >> just in general I think award money for the selectman if you can provide it to Um I also think it's good for the public
to have an opportunity to review large sum of money. So um that's that's my my feedback on it. Otherwise I do you are a chief procurement officer and um no I certainly trust trust the process and all of that. I'm not saying that just um
just for transparency I'd like to see it but I have no no doubts that this is fine. So, um I'll make the motion to award the bid to RW Bryant of Plymouth Plymouth, Mass and ask that the contract
is um sent via email to the selectman uh for their records as well. >> Okay, I'll step down as chair and second. Motion has been made and seconded. Any more discussion? All those in favor? >> I approval of the warrants. Um, I'll make a motion to approve the
warrants paid by November 13, 2025, 2826 for 121,2156 and 20B-26 for $415,354.90 warrants paid by November 20th 25-26 for $126,63920. 26 21B-26
for $184,11.37. And lastly, Warren 21 C-26 for 3,350,47749. >> I'll step chair and second. Motion has been made and seconded. All those in favor? I >> uh there is no correspondence. So on to
the minutes. >> I'll make a motion to approve the board of selectman regular meeting minutes of October 22nd and November 5th, 2025. >> I'll step down as chair and second. All those in favor? >> I I motion to adjourn.
>> I'll make >> Oh, sure. >> Happy Thanksgiving. >> Oh, thank you. Thank you. That's right. We're not meeting. Wow. It's here already. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Uh motion to adjourn. Uh, I'll step down as chair and second. Any discussion? All
those in favor? I I thank you. Thanks, David. >> Once again, you know, we just put this table in. So, I was on with him while you guys had the meeting. >> Yeah, I saw that. the cable cutting.