##VIDEO ID:nb3__jChQFo## e Patricia uh good evening guys thank you for coming out here on such a cold night uh but we're going to start our meeting if um Everybody uh listens up this is the town of D Board of selectman regular meeting today is Wednesday January 8th 2025 at 6:00 p.m. we're in person in Via Zoom at Oldtown Hall 1111 Somerset Avenue 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 this uh agenda was revised at uh 4:09 p.m. on Monday so we're going to have a call to order a pledge of allegiance and then a moment of silence uh if after we do the Pledge of Allegiance if you could just say standing for a few seconds uh we want to uh just honor the people who passed away uh friends and neighbors there was a few of them this week in last week so can I please have a call to order Nicole Melo present Mark Pico present and Peter Karen present if we could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America America and to the repic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liy and justice for all we lost like I said some friends and neighbors and this is who they are Robert Roland Banger Michelle Boer Adele colled Sandra Kurt lorine howth Danny Cohen and John Porter thank you folks first up is uh two uh great people who have been so nice to the town of Dayan um certificates of recognition in honor of state representative Patricia Hadad from 2001 to 2024 unbelievable and state Senator Mark Pico 1992 to 2024 again unbelievable how are you guys this evening good um as as I stated they are they are leaving the town uh in their positions in I'm sure it's h filled with mixed emotions this evening a little bit of nostalgia and a little bit of fulfillment but together they have worked tiously for the town of Von and to improve the residence here in our living standards the results are are incredibly proud to call the residents are incredibly proud to call you our Representatives whether it was improving education or helping with our infrastructure you help dyon make uh have a better future on behalf of our town we want to take this moment to express our sincere appreciation for your support your inside insight and helping with our shared goals to show our appreciation we actually planted two uh trees uh here at the town of dayon town hall complex we figured you didn't need another plaque for your walls uh I'm sure you would have hung it with pride but um we thought we'd try to do something different so um we do have a picture of the two trees here there's one to the left and one to the right of the complex and you get to choose which one you want because there will be a little plaque put up uh to uh to honor you guys do does anybody else want to add anything um I want to thank both of you I know you both effective legislators and um through your hard work and commitment um I know we all got to live much more comfortably and uh successfully here in dayon so um I'd like to thank you both um Senator Pico growing up uh we do share a similar name and um I remember meeting you as a um you know as a little kid here at the state house and um so it's an honor to be here with you tonight and uh to honor your service and um I know from the sentiments at Town Hall was both of you were always so receptive when we were trying to get grants and E marks and available for us um I I've heard from town hall that those last minute phone calls you guys would you know put papers together um you know to you know it's a whirlwind trying to get those grants and you know you guys were ailable for the citizens of this town so thank you you um certainly helped us out uh I can't count the number of times that um we have called and you guys reacted and I'm sure you did that to everybody but we're a small town and uh to treat us like you were treating a city was very impressive and thank you for that we have two certificates um one for each of you and it says the town of dayon border of selan 979 Somerset Avenue dayon Mass 02715 certificate of appreciation we the undersigned do hereby recognize Mark R Pico for 32 years of dedicated service to the town of dyon it is resident in its residence as our state senator your efforts and commitment have had a significant impact on many Dion projects and initiatives the successful results of which you will continue to have lasting benefits to our community for years to come on behalf of our small town with the big heart we extend our sincere gratitude and for miss Patricia Hadad we we the UND sign do hereby recognize Patricia a hated haded with uh 23 years of dedicated service to the town of Dion and its residence as our state representative your efforts and commitment have had a significant impact on many Dian projects and initiatives the successful results of which will continue to have lasting benefits to our community for years to come again on behalf of our small town with a big heart we extend our sincere gratitude so if you guys will come up and accept these certificates we appreciate you very much U many times we have been on the receiving end of you guys being here presenting something to somebody so it's nice to have it the other way around and this is yours thank you Mark Mr Pico thank you very much we appreciate it sir thank you is it with a c oh yes actually thank you so much thank you guys and here's your tree so like I said you can pick one I'd wait to see how they do and then yeah yes like to make on behalf of all the Selectmen sure that came before me relative to working with and as AED selectman in 2007 who knew nothing about being a selectman or anything about Building Bridges or storm water both Pat and Mark were always there and the people in this town the surrounding Community Southeastern Massachusetts owe a large debt of gratitude because of their support for that bridge project and many years we tried and many years the got yanked and also to get the stop lights installed prior to any construction because of safety concerns so I've worked with them since 2007 on many projects but I really want to point out thank you for the Berkeley dayon bridge and everything you did for us thank you Nancy were they part of the Oreo project I Would S current police chief who was on duty I think 247 or Rel leas in daylight hours and that's the bridge that was built with Oro cookies thank you you would you like to say a few words sure absolutely let me just uh say to to you Mr chairman and to the members of the board of Selectmen and most importantly uh to the town's people here in dayon I wanted to say thank you sure uh to the voters here and all the citizens here in this community for providing me with a special lifetime opportunity that I've had the pleasure of serving as the state senator for 32 years uh in the Massachusetts Senate and four years prior to that in just a little neighboring Community down the street in the city of Taunton uh representing the uh citizens of Taunton in the House of Representatives so 30 6 years uh of service to the uh Massachusetts legislature and without the support in people here in the town and so many other communities that I had the opportunity of representing I would have never had uh the opportunity to make some of the decisions uh that we've made I also want to say it has been a special honor to work with Patricia Hadad she is uh a blessing really to uh people in this region we've been uh to parts of this world together on behalf of trying to uh fight for initiatives that will bring change in lasting change for the environment I couldn't be more thrilled that you picked out a couple of trees we with was couple of green trees ourself here uh and I just want to thank her publicly for always being there when I pick up the phone uh nobody can do this job by themselves it's a collaborative position you have to be able to work across the aisle uh with uh colleagues in the house other colleagues in the Senate to be able to get something done at the end of the day today nationally and throughout the world you see and hear a lot of rhetoric people talk a lot about a lot of things but it's a very different thing to actually get something done you have to have the passion for it sometimes you need a lot of patience for it and then you need a lot of persistence and Pat a dad has had all of those three uh qualities that I appreciate and believe that in any public servant whether it's a member of the local uh school board or Board of selectman or a state representative a state senator those traits are crucial the passion to really want to get something done the patience to try to work through those difficult moments and the persistence to stay on it stay on it stay on it as I said in my farewell speech until it gets done done because until it gets done it doesn't change future I'm glad that working with Pat we're able to help change the future here in the town thank you thank [Applause] you tough act to follow it is and that's why I I let him go first because there's lots of things I don't have to say but I too want to say thank you over the years 24 years I have worked with several of your boards and um you keep talking about dayon having a big heart you have a big heart because of the people because of the people I've worked with a couple of them are couple of the former uh selectman here in this room and and Mark's right you can't do anything unless you have people working with you and it's okay that sometimes we disagree because at the end of the day we're all trying to get to the same place and that is um making a better life making a better life for kids making a better life for uh older people where I am now and um for you know your average citizen who doesn't necessarily pay any attention to what is going on they don't know that it takes amazing amount of of uh coordination to have the kind of police department you have to have the kind of fire department to have the schools it doesn't happen like that it happens because people like you and people thankfully like Mark we're always there and always willing to work so it has been the truly the honor of my life to serve you I keep crying to serve you um in in this capacity for 24 years and and I wish only the very best and I want to paraphrase um what what uh I don't know if anybody remembers what Joe Biden said because you lose an election doesn't mean you stop caring for people so I will never stop caring for you and I will always be here if you need me so thank you so much thank you oh you're more than welcome to stay for the rest of the show or or uh if you feel like uh you want to go out in that cold again uh but thank you again could we have a picture sure awesome could we invite former selectman absolutely is that okay that be great he took when heed really abely nobody bites nobody okay thank you thank you so to see thank you sir thank you good to see you again thank you that was me not that we don't want to say I know that's okay Chief Nichols whenever you're ready sir good evening good evening Sergeant how are you good thank you um tonight I am very pleased to um on to announce the promotion of Todd Kazuki to the rank of Sergeant in October the promotional testing procedure was done Tran Kazuki received the most commutative points pursuant to the promotional testing procedure uh Patrol M Kazuki was appointed as a Reserve officer in December of 2013 um in September um September of 2016 he joined a force as a patrolman uh over the past few years I've had the joy of working with patrolman kazooki I feel he'll be a great addition to the command staff at uh D PD I'll be looking forward to the next decade working with uh Patrol M kazooki and if there's anything you ever need feel you you know that uh Deputy Richards and myself are here need anything just a just one decade well maybe more okay I don't want to jump too far yeah sure uh Sergeant it's a great honor that you're going to be here I've heard nothing but great things uh I haven't really met you that often but um Chief talks nothing but highly comments about you so thank you for taking on this role we appreciate it thank Youk you're welcome Mr Nicole you have anything want to add congratulations Mark I'm looking forward to you being on the leadership team and um we have a great team and um you'll be a great addition so I'd like to make a motion to appoint patrolman uh CHD Kazi to the rank of Sergeant I'll second that motion made and second to any discussion all those in favor I congratulations sir good luck you're [Applause] welcome yeah would be great thank you yes I'm sorry Sergeant we have a certificate before you uh before we do the photo this is from the town of Dion Board of selectman 979 Somerset Avenue Dion Mass 02715 certificate of recognition we the undersigned do hereby congratulate patrolman Todd gazinski for his promotion to the rank of Sergeant your even keill demeanor calmness and ability to make rational decisions are characteristics vital to being a police supervisor and the town Dion is Greatful for your service thank you sir [Applause] ch [Music] sorer good job good thing we had Kevin here I think we had Kevin he was on the cover thanks Ste Patricia Gail's here no yeah she's on Zoom oh okay hi Pat Hi how are you good and yourself I'm good thank you how you feeling what was that how are you feeling oh better every day good okay this is a review discuss and act Patricia Gail's hisor Comm historical commission chairman okay whenever you're ready Pat okay um tonight I'm just asking to approve the contract with stes to complete the nomination form for um the Bost Pion company Village for the national register ofar places um the funding is in place we had approval at the special town meeting for the CPC funding for $8,500 um the contact with Stacy includes some additional field workor some more photographs and a more in-depth study of the area um digital images a PowerPoint presentation for the mass historical commission uh plus a completed nomination form that will be submitted to the mass historical commission and then forwarded through them to if approved to the national parks uh service so Stacy will be doing the work for us and per fee is the $8,500 okay thank you um are there any concerns guys Nicole Mark do you recommend this contract yes it includes everything that we asked for okay and the board um the commission had reviewed it and accepted it thank you thank you okay again this was a review discussion act so um do we have a motion on the floor I'll make a motion to approve the contract for the Mount Hope National register uh through Stacy spies as presented I'll second that motion made in seconded any discussion all those in favor I I all right thank you Pat awesome thank you so much you too thank you okay U ready for announcements um the highway department public notice there is a townwide parking band in effect from November 1st 2024 to April 1st 2025 no person shall allow any vehicle to remain in the street so as to obstruct snow removal the dayon Lions Club food bank will be held next on January 18th 2025 located at Town Hall in the lower level a message from the town's Clerk Office the annual Town election will be held on April 12th 2025 at the dayon element Elementary School from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. nomination papers are now available at the town clerk's office on January 6th 20125 for the listed in the um agendas um offices and terms great thank you uh we have at the portion with this public input does anybody have anything they want to add at this time we will address that again so if you don't feel like doing it now okay uh Town administrator's report uh thank you Mr chair just a few things to uh update the board on I know um selectman melow reached out to to us regarding creating a revolving uh revolving account for um uh for um when the town receives tickets because of people parking in um accessibility uh accessibility spaces uh to to create a evolving account we have to take it to town meeting uh to do that uh just just for your own information I spoke with um I spoke with the Town Clerk and um just so you know we only get about two or three of those of those yeah of those of those tickets a year so uh oh Dunkin Donuts so did say that was a big place yeah right actually it's uh at Manford that I think that's where they had gotten the the tickets from so so um the summons is were there but we'll look into it and you know if it again if under the direction of the board we could um you know and I'll work with uh the town accountant to see if we we we'll put that on on this town meeting just for clarification that's from the commission on disability that you had made that request okay um because there's something in the um their bylaw that looks for those funds so that we can make improvements um for accessibility using that money in that's a great idea um and the other the other update to the uh to the board is that as as you all know you you've seen my emails we're in the we're in the throws of uh the budget season again I have to remind everyone that we're in a in a very um in a very tight budget season um I gave direction to the department heads and I want to express my appreciation to them I know the fire department and the police department came in um I directed Police Department fire department and and Highway to see if they could not come in um at level but $50,000 less and uh both you know both our Public Service um um departments are have have done it um and I just want to express to this board that you know things go up um but you know it's going to come at a reduction of service particularly in the in in the fire department and I know uh had a big discussion with uh the police chief this morning I know in his budget he has uh um to hire hire a new police officer and he's looking at removing that you know at removing that from the budget um I just want to um another thing we're we're looking at again at some point we're going to ask seek your um your advice is to um reduce uh this um the stiens to all all committee and board members um you know um currently uh that total is um about $77,000 you know we'll be seeking advice if we could bring it down to everybody to an honorarium of of of a dollar um and something else um to keep in mind uh as we go forward you know as I look at the numbers um a lot of this is a result of um of of the debt we're obligated to pay as a result of uh BP Bristol Bristol Plymouth um you know I think you know I'm confident we could get through the next two years but you know after that it's going to be increasingly difficult um I know we have some debt falling off um over the next over the next few years um you know that in in particular the the dayon Mobi High School remodel is falling off at the end of fiscal year 26 uh the roof off of fiscal year 31 and the big you know the headquarters off of fiscal year 38 I know it's far out but those things come quickly um we may at some point um you know we want to have a discussion and and reconsider uh reconsider that the debt exclusion um I just also want to point out you know I've I've um expressed our concerns and and uh to you know to the superintendent of Dr I had similar conversation with Bristol agie and um nbp so everybody knows you know our situation um as I told them you know in in um in October it was theoretical now it's reality so um you know we'll we will work through it um you know we'll we'll do our best to continue to provide excellent service to the residents of the uh of the town of titon thank you any questions yes no all right um suman's reports we have I just have one thing um and I actually was able to talk to Ken about it real quick while he was here um the library building committee um I won't be able to attend those meetings anymore I've had a change in employment and I have no availability during the day anymore so I asked him to bring it back to the committee on what they would like to see going for forward do they want another selectman placed on there or is me just looking over the minutes enough making sure that I'm keeping up and if they need anything they can come to me so he's going to get back to me on that okay great Mark do you have anything I do thank you um so I just wanted to say publicly I'm very sorry for the passing of Adele Collard passed away on Saturday December 14th 2024 um Adele among being a friend was a great friend to the town of dayon she served in many capacities including on the dayon Housing Authority she's a member of the Council on Aging and the CPC um so she was always a familiar that we'd see at events like what we had tonight and uh so she'll be greatly missed so sure I wanted to correct something that was said at the last selectman's meeting to the selectman um uh regarding the bores contract in Cass uh that does in fact expire um right around June of this year so it is coming up quick and that we have a big impact on the budget uh Our Town Administrator is working hard and he'll he'll update us at the next meeting I know he's working with okay various entities but I just wanted to to bring that up and um just because Deb exclusion was brought up I just wanted to St publicly again uh I'm not for it I'm not in favor of putting a Deb exclusion forward again for Bristol Plymouth um I think we had a we did it during a presidential election with um such a High turnout and I feel the board did a good job educating the public so I feel like the town's people have spoken and uh as long as I'm here on the board I'm just going to hold the line for the taxpayers I feel like they spoke loud and clear and I'm going to make sure we present the balanc budget within that means okay thank you Mark um we can't keep running it out to a vote just to get a different answer right okay um there is no old business so we're going to move on to new business again this is a reviewed discuss an act Housing Authority vacant seat anybody here for the Housing Authority no um um are you making a motion to somebody I'm sorry it was me talking Elizabeth Elizabeth telling you to look oh um no do we have any information on Housing Authority vency there's no information on it okay so um is there a motion on the floor to um either table it or um oh there was something that had to be done for it to be put on the is that correct mark because hers was this is for um yes they might need a motion but I'm not sure what it would be no I'm not either okay okay let's just table it I we have time anyways okay I'll make a motion to uh table the Housing Authority V cancy until um we have further information I'll second that motion made seconded any discussion all those in favor I Council on agent request to purchase a storage shed to store medical equipment again this is a review discuss and act we we do that on purpose even Hi how are you today I'm good thank you I think this is too much over there you think this is what I can't see you guys okay you're rearranging the whole room I know it's a thing okay so um we received some grant funding from the executive office of ELD Affairs last year and uh one of the things that we budgeted for was a new shed because we are as the letter explains we're using a little trailer from uh that was borrowed from the D and fire department and uh since we received the money we have picked out what we want and um we're in we're discussing this of course with Mr agar and Mr Ferry and also the fire chief and we need your approval to be able to put this shed up uh in the picture you'll see where it'll be between the D lines called the Pavilion and um the COA building did you go out to bid for anything or not because it's not 10,000 right uh but is that did you contact anybody besides Home Depot we did not okay um so you think that's the best price for it well one of the reasons we did go with the Home Depot is we have a credit card there okay are you getting points or something can I borrow it so um that being said it's a town credit card and it's already uh tax exempt okay and um because the we can't the money is tied up we have to pay for it and then get reimbursed get reimbursed for it okay so that's the route that was the route we took sure uh I'm sure you've done your best so we appreciate that thank you you always have um is there any concerns Nicole Mark you guys always do such a good job being illustrative so I want to thank you um that makes it so much easier to understand so uh keep that up that's awesome and um did you in fact get a positive recommendation from The Building Commissioner and the by Chief and the highway superintendent so we did um get a positive um confirmation that it could be put there though today somebody said that uh there might be a concern because of the fire pit nobody thought of the fire pit so that's something that um if it was not allowed I mean he originally said yes so I'm I'm thinking that today was a new uh something new but that we have enough room there that we can play uh with maybe on the other side if we should have have to change the place we'll come back to sure okay okay with different request okay again this was a motion to review discuss an act so is there a motion on the floor please um I'll make a motion to approve the request to purchase a storage shed as presented and um I'm going to incorporate if there are any changes you'll you'll let the board know Absolutely I'll second that motion made in seconded any discussion all those in favor I I I thank you thank you you thank you uh donation of priest to the community garden you taking this Kevin sure good evening yes so I had visited you I think sometime in December and i' let you know that um we had received a gener generous donation so I had uh dropped it a thank you letter to same send back to those folks and um for you guys to hear and then hopefully approve so I just had wrote uh dear around the Ben farm team on the behalf of the Dian Community the board of Selectmen and the Parks and Recreation Commission would like to extend our gratitude for your generous donation your contribution of apple and pear trees are a wonderful addition to our community garden our town and Community have been working to expand our community garden to supplement our D and lion club food pantry providing fresh locally grown produce for our community members contributions like yours make this all possible we greatly appreciate the time and the effort spent by the round the Ben farm team P to produce these wonderful trees we look forward to nurturing them as they grow and harvesting their fruit fruits which will greatly which will be greatly beneficial to their recipients again we would like to thank you for your generosity and for your thoughtfulness it's greatly appreciated and we always keep round the benr team in our thoughts as we enjoy watching these trees grow sincerely town of dayon border selectman and the town of dayon parks and re commission great nice job and um how big are the trees so right now they're um they're two years old so they stand about gay high and they're about two years away from producing fruit um I did get to test plant one and then I'm still waiting for my I got to re reorganize um pending you know the weather right with our friends with uh some of the local Scout Troops to get the rest of them planted okay um but they're they're safely stored inside the vents of the community garden they they're going to Winter over there and then right once uh we get a especially now I don't want to go out there I'm not Tak play anything um but once the weather breaks I'll organize something with some community members and Scout Troops to get them all planted there nice job thank you thank you okay this is a review discussion act please um is there a way we could I think this Letter's awesome I think it'd be more personable if we could sign it would you mind sending it to maybe Karen well so actually I it's was sent to um to lean and because it's part of the packet but yeah I think it would be nice if we could get it on a letter head and we can all all sign yeah thank you and they take it one step further once it's signed could we put it on Facebook too so that they can get some public rec Rec nition as well that farm thank you um so I'll I'll make a motion to accept the donation of trees to the community garden from round the Ben Farm I'll second that motion made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I I thank you thank you sir um this is a review to discussion act again a wooded and curring Route 44 extension feasibility study um uh through the chairs the as the board uh may remember the town of dayon received through the um through the uh rural um State uh Grant um $72,000 and we received matching funds from the Neu Opera of $88,000 for a total for $80,000 to be put towards to be used specifically for the purpose of a um of a feasibility study for the rout for the Route 44 Grant uh I'm sorry for for Route 44 feasibility study sewer Fe febil feasibility study so uh part of you know part of the grant um we we solicited uh qualifications uh from engineering firms and we received um we received a qualif um a qualified bid from wooded and curring and it was uh reviewed by myself um as I put in here um Karen Brady and and Paul Paul Reynolds and we found that the that the application uh they met all the criteria that was establish Lish in the RFQ um I just want to point out to the board again um this is a grant it was specific grant for um for uh sewer feasibility um this was initiated by my predecessor uh Mike Mullen um this is a um a part of the um Dinan economic development plan um specifically in regards to Route 44 there are conditions um on on that stretch of road here in Titan which um which limits uh commercial development um in particular in in this instance sewer so um he saw the opportunity to to do the feasibility feasibility study thing with would would would it incurrent is um uh they had done a feasibility study for the town before um for Route 138 uh sewer but I want to point out if you know um you know one of the big things is we study well what about the execution of study yeah um you know U we could you know include with the scope of work um you know what are you know what are financing options they are um pretty uh Adept at identifying financing options um several uh that come to mind are the betterment betterments which each taxpayer uh takes on there's the uh District increment financing um which um it's a bonding mechanism it's kind of complicated complicated but in in a thumbnail it's a it's a bonding mechanism which um which the bonds future bonds are paid for by uh the tax growth that you get as a result of the um of the uh increased commercial base um you know that is something that has to go to um to town meeting uh to be approved and you know another thing is the the whiff the water infrastructure investment um in fund it works similar to like the like a CP CPA uh CPA funds um if the um you know if the uh board you know approves um um awarding this the in current that will definitely be in in in the scope of work and I'm available to answer any questions um on E on on the grant or or would it current or whatever you want how much much is going to be cost us the town to do this um nothing the Grant's going to cover right the grant is covering the whole thing again we got from from the state and from uh as we discussed at the last meeting the the Neu uh funds that result of ARA that has to be right that had to be used for um um one of the things the earmark for is sewer you know sewer study so and let's say the whole thing passes in it's paid for and it's done uh are there residential aspects to this as well it's primarily for um for commercial purposes I would have to take a look at Route 44 we may have mixed use uh along that stretch so it would um so it would in include that okay it concerns me that um we could see a influx of 40 BS if this were to happen um we could uh I at this time I don't know the extension of uh how the extension of the sewer would would affect that okay um and this is all that money can only be earmarked for this project right okay any concerns Nicole so my concern is I understand it's Grant funded um which is still our our dox dollar sood and the fact that I just don't see where we would go from there financially I know you're talking about that we could have loans and bonds and um the fact that it could be paid by tax growth but I mean this is all what what if we don't end up getting the growth that we want um we've seen how challenging it has been to pay for Main Street yeah which is a much smaller project than this is as important as I realize this is I just am very concerned about use taking a grant just to take a grant because it's offered to us when I feel like we wouldn't be able to execute any further yeah no I I understand and and um and I know um again it was it was done by Mike and and definitely the reason was for it is because of the um the economic the economic development plan that was put at and it's right listed as an action item to um to sort of review and study um on the extension of the sewer along Route 44 the was no other way we could re meet that action item you know without you know without this grant I agree with Nicole um I think it's an awfully going to be an awfully expensive project and um just because again the grant is there doesn't mean we have to use it but Mark I'm sorry I didn't mean to uh interrupt your time um I think we have an elected Board of sewer Commissioners and this would be right down their alley at sewer that we're talking about so I think their inputs kind of pretty important I mean this is what they're elected to so I'd like to see the board of selectman refer it to the Sewer commissioner and um I would like to see either a yay or a nay from them okay their feelings all right so if I if through the chair if I if I understand we'll we'll present it to the Sewer Commissioners if they recommend approval to to move ahead then we'll represent to the to the Selectmen awarded to would would incur I guess those are those the defined steps that you see I wanted to say um I think before we can make a decision I I just need some input from the board of SE Commissioners I'd like to see them review the contract and give us a recommendation or not doesn't mean we have to take it I would like to refer it to their you know okay they're that's an elected board and I think that they should review it sure all right is there a motion to table then um I'm going to make a motion to table the Woodward and current 44 extension feasibility study and to uh refer it to the board of sewer Commissioners for input I'll second that motion May seconded any discussion all those in favor I good job Nicole in Mark I was like this was Mark yeah um okay this is again a review discussion act town of dayon recycle recycling dividends program Awards program funds award for 30 $3,360 from the mass d uh Department of Ed en enal protection this you you want me to speak to it or Z okay so this is part of um you know every year we we we we're part of the the I'm calling it the retrack program we put in what the town of Dion is doing for um Solid Waste reduction and and and U and and Recycling and um you know we put you know we present to um to the D uh what we we do and as a result um you know because of our actions they they award us some funds to to put towards um um other things in in education and or or or you know education on Recycling and and things like that so so this is you know this year we awarded awarded the was a $3,500 and then and um and like in about I think six weeks we're going to put in for for last year's and see what we get so okay awesome is there a motion on the floor to accept um I'd like to make a motion to accept the town of Dien dividends program funds award in the amount of $3,360 from Mass d as presented I'll second that motion made and seconded any discussion all those in FA yes sir sure oh can you come up to the mic just for folks at home I apologize thank you so I've been working with u Missy uh Hollenbeck um you know the regional manager and um she had a presentation about what we need to do in order to submit uh for those grants it's like a three-step program the first piece is um uh a letter from the Town Administrator I have a draft from one from the town of Westwood we can use the same language we just cut it out make it town of dayon pretty cookie cutter um and then it would have to be signed by uh the Town Administrator and I can submit it that's no problem and then the second piece is a policy manual from the selectman uh again it's a cookie cut a form um I can send that either to the selectman I've sent copies to Liz and to everyone else on the board of health um to review and then we submit those two pieces of information the letter has to be signed by the Town Administrator it's not not Board of Health then the the second uh the the second phase of that is going through something called retrack which I've already registered for they kick off like a um an initiation uh email you join in and then you start submitting the pieces that you need onto retrack that's phase two then phase three is um you also they look at it and then they approve it and then you get the funding it's also a points program so if you don't do these things in a timely manner you will lose a point and those points are money you know so it has to be done I have the deadlines um I've sent all the documents over to Liz and to the uh uh The Other Board of Health members so uh it's very important that you get those in because if you again if you lose those points the town will lose money okay okay so um I sent a letter over to Liz or I can draft it either way that we get to the Town Administrator that would be the first phase that gets emailed to a person Rebecca I forget her last name um I'll email that directly to her and then we then we go from there so that's just just all I wanted to say with that but it's extremely important to get that letter signed by the Town Administrator in first and the policy great good job what kind of policy it's just a real little cookie cutter form it just says you know it'll say town of dayon selecting all of your names um and then it has to do with like the recycle um it's again very cookie cutter um Missy had said just you know use the same format the same language but it's all going to be from the town of dayon okay Liz has that as well so can coate that through the chair just just just to add on um yeah we do have that uh uh and um and it's we're going to present that the January 22nd um it's the recycling uh the the municipal recycling policy that we do every year so we we we have uh we have a letter um we have a letter in in place and we're going to put the backup information on so I'm going to present it to the board for January 22nd and okay we should have everything uh in in in in time oh um and one other thing that I'm thinking of it there's a I need a copy of the solid waste survey um it's it's a document we should have one from last year so I can get in touch with the solid waste committee if there's not one on file from last year I'm not sure I'll I'll Tom yeah Tom Ferry we'll we're we're working yeah we I will speak to you later on because we might be doing the same thing you know so we don't want to yeah because those that's one of the the key documents that has to be submitted yeah to the retrack website for for the um uh state to uh process so okay we can can talk about that later thank you good job like I said thank you okay this was a review discussion act uh so we have to vote to um accept the award I motion and seconded I think oh I'm sorry I got wrapped up okay so just I think we do have to vote it uh we have to uh act on it now so is this a vote Mark I Nicole Melo I and pet Karen I thank you perfect okay this again is a review discussion act msba D Elementary School design enrollment signature designation which um I signed today yeah this is an in um in an update the msba one we're you know we're looking for the uh the uh the school project they need uh um um a member of the Town who has the authority to sign for for confirmation and that's what that is and um I believe generally would always be the chair of of the board it's easily listed as the chair right listed as the chair I have no questions okay all right then is there a motion on the floor um I'll make a motion to accept the letter from the msba and to have uh chairman Karen be the um signature design I'll second that motion made in second to any discussion all those in favor I thank you um review discuss an act cost of living adjustment increase for the n Union employees okay um in your packets you have uh a list for the non for the of the non-un employees um typically um just it dis helps in our budgeting purpose uh for budgeting purposes to understand what we put in uh generally uh generally speaking we go along with the uh Union with the Union increases the um um the town accountant put in uh had put in two 2.5% for all everyone who's um who's listed um who's listed on there in and in conclusion uh not in conclusion and in addition to uh they also have the uh list of board boarding committee uh boarding committee members so again as I as spoke as I spoke earlier eventually I'm going to need some direction from the board as to um as to what uh what to do with that so I'm available for if you have any questions okay I have no issues Nicole you have any concerns no Mark um so we have a list of non-union employees in compass in this list we have elected officials and we have folks with contracts and without contracts so I understand that elected officials can't have a contract right so it makes sense that we would award them a similar increase we would give our contract employees uh however I'm not in favor of giving non-contract employees AR raise this year um there's three of them on there who are significant department heads I think in sound financial times it's okay but uh a contract does a few things it protects the employee it defines their job um and it protects the town so I think it limits some liability for us um when they retire or separate it clearly defines the separation you know what what they'll get for sick time and vacation and uh it's 2025 I think it's um we're behind the times other than our elected officials all our employees should be in a union or be awarded a contract so I would just make a I'd like to see we award the 2 and a half% to elected officials and non union employees who have a contract and award no raise to non-union employees with no contract however that the town invites them in to negotiate you know and if they meet that criteria before um we hit town meeting we of course give them a raise so that would be an incentive for those employees to um negotiate a contract with us further as far as the boarding committee stien it was presented in the um budget email that went out that um we're hoping not to so it shows here that they they are getting St but I'm in favor of not awarding siphons for this fisical year it's an easy it looks here like $78,000 the town can cut um these are folks who and we're included are in large part volunteering to try to make the town better not everything we do has to be compensated um so okay those are my thoughts great thank you I have a question I have a question this might be a silly question why are some of them not contracts like why isn't everyone either Union or in a contract it's my understanding that um I don't think that they wanted them all right all right but I think it our job is to look half of the best interest of the town I think it will reduce the liability for us do you do you have anything to add that uh I'm I'm going to be an with you Nicole I don't know I was I just kind of found out like I didn't know if there was a benefit that I just didn't two weeks ago that the that these individuals don't don't have a contract and I was like is it uncommon for in within municipal government for there to be employees that don't have contracts if they're not Union um it's at a department head level there's it is um it's it's un you know unless it's you know spelled out in as in your job description um is through through HR uh then then you would have a then you would have a contract right so I can you know I could do some you know research on that and and and get back to you so okay um I if if I just as a personal example when I was the director of um you know director of planning and economic development for the town of Sandwich I didn't have a contract I was nonunion but but my role was defined you know in in my job description so so and then the the you know uh the budget process determined what my salary my annual salary and raise would be but you know as as as management I was um you know I didn't get overtime or or or anything like that so so I could I could do some further research on that and then Mark did you I'm sorry go back to what you said did you mention cutting the boards and committees stiens if we can find in the budget process it's it's possible for us to keep it I think that would be fantastic because we do want to attract the best folks for these positions however if we find that we can't um going into it I think we should fund it at zero and if hopefully the budget process works out and we can can change it but right now I think it makes sense that we it's a difficult decision but we're the ones that that be making them you know and it's um again if we can find it in the budget through the budget process and I think that'd be a more appropriate time to talk about right yeah than right now but it is presented in front of us now so if we start off with the zero and we hope somehow we can fund it then we you know I would of course want to but I think going into it we should fund it at zero uh through the chair if I if I could provide a comment on that you may um just you you may want to table this portion of it and and and we could act I could act under the advice that it's zero until we get better until we get better you know budget numbers and then we could you know we could revisit it to see uh um you know if if there is a stip in and what you know and would it be you know would it be increased over over the prior year and it looked like we were already collecting some information from other surrounding towns in regards to so that might depending on what the budget looks like we can use that information to if we have to rearrange this well I don't think there should be an increase over last year uh for the stiens if they're still in in kept in the budget uh I think they should be leveled even um but with that said I think we should table it are you Mr chairman do you want to act on the non oh yes um absolutely they have to know okay so with that said I'm going to make a motion to approve a um excuse me cost of living adjustment yeah a 2 and a half% cost of a living adjustment increase for all hold on I just need a second here sure take your time okay I'd like to make a motion to approve a 2 and a half% cost of living increase for all non-union full-time positions including elected positions with contracts I'll second that okay a motion is made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I I'd like to make a motion to approve a 0% cost of living increase for all nonunion full-time positions without contracts uh and to further invite them into negotiations to to gain a contract I'll second that okay motion made I just want to understand it can you say it again Mark so I'm I'm going to make a motion to approve a 0% cost okay I understand now thank you no problem okay a motion has been made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I okay um there going to table there's um one more I just cost of increase for a part-time non-benefit there's a request from the town accountant to for us to make a decision on a cost of living increase for part-time non-benefited positions so that must be in in this nonunion employee as the what Council on Aging Council on Aging yeah yeah so do you have a motion Mark um well they they're looking for feedback on this I'm not so they don't have a contract they're part time Y and you want them to come to the table I think that is something that we should talk about through the budget process okay I think I need more information and they're also looking for we talked about board and committees y okay so my feedback for that I'm not going to I don't think we need a motion is um okay part-time non-benefited uh positions can we can work it out through the budget process okay is that sure y That's not a review discussion act then that I'm no I'm a little confused I I apologize I think we're looking for some are they going to get we do yeah that that I mean the budget process is too big I think that they the 2 and a half% is like no is what we're looking for I think that the um the leadership of the council and agent can put in a request and we will review it for the budget process I I think we I'm not prepared to make a motion tonight okay sure just come to the mic sorry so the the counciling part time staff are not funded through any um Town budget funding it's uh through the prime time fees that we acquire so because prime time is self supporting we we wouldn't be asking the town's people for a raise for for those employees um we are financially stable at the moment and we will look over those numbers and see if we can uh give them a 2% raise or however you de side right okay going forward thank you thank you okay then uh review discussion act the ratification of policemen random of understanding for community resource officer um this what was discussed at the last executive session the so so we have to ratify it in Open Session okay I'll make a motion to ratify the police mou as presented I'll second that motion made in seconded any discussion all those in favor I I um again a review discussion act resignation of library page Christine hasell uh to the uh selectman uh for Mark uh this is dated December 30th resignation of library page uh it's whether we accept it or not which uh is pretty standard that we do can I um just comment on this sure I just want to read the last sentence uh the library page position is a part-time non-union position and the job description approved by the library trustees at the same meeting will be posted to the mblc website in the sales job Network um I've read that a couple of times in the resignation I think generally that'd be a separate correspondence posting a physici so I was a little surprised that it be there that it was there I understand the library board is a separately elected body M um and that this is probably within their perview to post however the board of selectman did Institute a hiring freeze and we are all feeling the pains so I'm just calling on the the library I think the board of selectman and the town has been very supportive of the library uh We've purchased a beautiful building um we're renovating it it's it's going to be great um the library offers great Services however um I'm concerned about employees that we have currently I want them to get raises I want them to have careers in the town and we're in a tough financial position position so I would like to call on the library board to show some leadership and um see if see what they can do between now in June um we've asked for a reduction in all budget lines so even though it's in the budget right now um it's very possible it won't be in the budget in fiscal year 26 so to to see that the library board is hiring a a parttime non-union positions a little surprising to me um and I don't have all the facts this is all were given is these two lines um but I I was disappointed um I found the job posting online and I was further disappointed it does tie up our human resources um you know uh it goes to our human resources person you know um applications and um so it's sign up our office staff you know we're really not hiring right now so right I know I'm running on here but no that's okay I I think it's almost to the point where what this tells me on a bigger picture is maybe our departments don't understand to the extent of the picture that we're in this makes me want to my first thought when I read this is they don't get it and we need to have a budget freeze you know we need to make it it's clearly you know we need to just because the funds are available in fy2 we know that much of them aren't going to be available in FY 26 so this makes me want to make it to discuss a budget freeze for the rest of the fiscal year and to make it um to really let our departments know how um how big we deal this is so all right I've gone on long enough but those was no a quick question what do you mean by budget freeze there they have to stay within the budget to begin with for the rest of the fiscal year so are you talking about they can't spend any money um it would definitely be something for the board to discuss uh other boards of Selectmen and other communities have done budget freezes I think it could take various forms like for instance we could say you know obviously we have to pay bills you know um but for other items I like an electric bill or gas bill we could either have a you know go through the if it's within the board of selectman control they could come to us to pay the bill or it could go through like a um a finance and salaries committee we could form uh where folks have to get up and say Hey listen there's three months left in the fiscal year I need paper you know um so it could go through a budget and and um uh there's different ways to do yeah that that's that's a lot of work not that I'm afraid of work but um that the department heads they they they have their budget I don't as long as they don't to me as long as they don't go beyond that budget now if you're talking about 2026 then certainly I think there should be either level funding or or a cut but this tells me there's an there's a Mis this miscommunication between why are they posting a position that we told them that they can't fill because there's a hiring freeze absolutely it might be within their budget they might have the funds but they're not thinking long term yep um okay first of all we have to accept her resignation which um I think we should obviously and um then what you're asking for is probably discussed at a separate time yes okay so is there a motion on the floor to accept her resignation um I'll make a motion to accept the resignation of Christine hasell effective January 4th with thanks and appreciation I'll second that okay motion made in seconded any discussion all those in favor I okay approval of the warrants all right I'd like to make a motion to approve the warrants paid by December 19 2024 25 a-25 for $127,200 60 and 25 B-25 for 86,4 1972 warrants paid by December 26 2024 26 a-25 for 138,000 63649 in 26 B-25 for $ 7,749 39 warrant paid by January 2nd 25 27 a-25 for $122,600 warrants paid by January 9th 2025 28 a-25 for $1 12,676 27 28 B-25 for 634 $ 4,749 and 28 c-25 for $3,328 I'll second that motion made in seconded any discussion all those in favor I okay the last chance for public input yes ma'am sure I submitted it earlier this we the agenda dur in time I apologize but I can email it to you later today sure please uh so the dayon Board of Health has written in letter to send out toe residents uh as written dear dton residents as you aware the cost of services supply and demand have increased over the last few years unfortunately the cost of trash disposal has been on the same Trend the price of trash bags has not increased since 2020 however in that same time the cost of disposal has increased over 54% from 30 88,000 in 2019 to 599,000 in 2024 our contract with bores Brothers will be expiring in 2025 and we have informed that the cost will be increasing once again uh landfills are closing and the disposing of trash has become more challenging for all municipalities uh the dyon solid waste committee and the dyon Board of Health have made a recommendation to the board of selectman to increase trash bag prices from $20 per roll to $28 per per roll a $280 per bag increase or 80 cent increase and $10 per roll to $14 per roll for the smalls uh 40 Cent per bag increase for the smalls uh this represents a 40% increase the Border selectman approved the increase on December 11th with a start date of February 1st even with the cost increase the program is still in a deficit the Board of Health along with the solid waste committee uh will continue to look for ways to reduce cost um by supplementing the program and applying for pertinent grants residents can help by reducing bulk composting waste uh food waste and reducing waste means reducing weight be aware of your purchases can you reuse the package you bought uh the solid waste is working with mass D on implementing a swap shed where residents can leave used items that are still in good condition for others to take um more come on this soon sorry my phone um take your time I should have printed it out no my phone keeps flipping sure uh so they're working with MP on implementing a swap shed where residents can leave used items that are in good condition for others to take uh more to come on this soon residents can also have the option to take advantage of privatized trash this option was also researched and the cost of the pay as you throw program is indisputably the best option going forward the Board of Health along with the solid waste committee will be annualizing U analyzing the cost annually in order to better to prepare for future price increases in disposal uh it as a link to the website so they can continue to check for updates so that was what we presented to the selectman's office to have mailed out to Residents okay um but I know we wanted to get it on your next two meetings so we can make the two announcements sure that way residents aren't blindsided from February 1 well we certainly can make it under announcements but there's no legal reason why it has to be made three times okay I think it was a myth that that was the case oh gotta thank you y thank you good job okay um minutes please I'd like to U make a motion to approve the board of selectman regular meeting minutes of December 11 2024 motion made in seconded any discussion all those in favor I okay we have to go into executive session I believe you're all staying correct uh you have to leave okay take your time um while she's doing that um can we have a motion to go into executive session please I'd like to make a motion to go into executive session under Massachusetts general laws chapter 3A section 21 A2 to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union Personnel or to conduct colle the bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with non-union Personnel Health agent Town nurse okay um we have to do a rooll what's that oh I was seconding the motion oh sure uh motion made and seconded any discussion I just wanted to finish to add to the motion to approve the board of selectman executive session meeting minutes of December 11th 2024 okay now I'll second it a motion May seconded any discussion all those in favor I uh we will not be returning from executive session so thank you for your time this evening I'll a roll call uh no no oh Nicole Melo I Maro I and Peter Karen I for