order for April 7th, 9:00. Agenda today, we have a public comment followed by the Gap contract for the interior design of the Union Building. We have an amendment to that contract. The review of the annual town meeting warrant and then the contract for the
allegiance fire and truck fire and rescue the new forestry truck contract signing and the northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council inter agency mutual agreement. an annual town elections schedule
regarding early and mail-in voting and then a review of the boards and committee vacancies for ZBA and capital planning and MPIC the master plan implementation committee and then that's it we'll wrap it up which should be
quick so let's jump in public comment anybody there no good chief okay >> good talk >> yeah thanks next up uh the GANAP contract. So we have a new in our discussions with GNAP and review of the
building, we found that we have a sort of a leaking water issue into the basement. So we need to do some additional work to determine the source of that and ways to fix it. So there was an unexpected new cost related to this in the amount of like was it 4,100?
>> Yeah, $4,140. >> Okay. To be exact. So makes sense for us to go forward with this. be investing anything into this building we need to resolve the water problem. >> Let's get it done. >> So, let's get it done. So, I'll entertain a motion for that. >> Move to approve the contract amendment
with a GNAP architects for inspection services of basement water leakage in the amount of $4,140. >> Second. >> Who's in favor? I >> I >> Good.
>> Okay. Review of the Animal Town meeting warrant. So, it got a little lengthy over the past couple days. >> Yeah. A lot of standard stuff. Stabilization fund, water enterprise fund, operating
budget. >> Um, are we we're just reviewing this or are we approving it? >> Up to you. This has been um since I sent out the packet, this is has been reviewed by staff council and updated this changes. Okay.
>> Nothing substantive, just kind of language uh and lead. Um so I think it is ready to approve if the board's comfortable. If not, you can wait till um you can wait till your next meeting.
Um the only I'd say the only thing there's two things I guess that are questions. Article 18 is the um community housing
administration of zoning bylaw. Um there was a recommendation from council to change um certificating permit. essentially um modifying the threshold of when we get
our first payment. We were we were in a situation recently and I think that's it was but where we had to we were in a position where we had to kind of chase the developer for
um the affordable housing contribution. Was it River Street? >> Gateway Gateway Homes at Westford Street. >> Yeah, I was going to say Westford. Yeah. >> Um and it was it was recommended that rather than doing this the C um CO um
moving it up to the building permit so we so we have kind of a little more belts and suspenders on making sure that we get the get the payment. Um however um because the bylaw requires a well
it's either a percentage of the overall sale or um like a negotiating price. >> There was a question of well how are we going to know what Vietnam was ever doing at the building because it it's kind of sales. So, I want to talk to
council about that. Um, just to get we might need some additional tweets on that. And then >> the abolishment of the personnel committees, personnel board, right? >> Yes.
>> That's an interesting that hasn't been >> that b that's basically codifying how it works. just I know some old older folks that may think, "Oh, what happened to it?" You know, >> they had a hard time keeping it staffed
and functional. Honestly, >> oh, the other issue is article 21. I just have to put we have we have a map prepared. It just says dated. It's just not on file. You just got to put the date in and date the map. That's all. Um,
>> which one? 20 >> 21. >> 21. Okay. >> That's 175th Pleasant Street. Yep. >> So those are the only two issues. Um >> are various at the point now where various groups are going to say they're
presenting on like zoning bylaws and stuff like that, right? Or is it the economics development committee just for people's own context? >> Yeah, the economic development committee is taking all their all their articles. Obviously it's the last like five, I believe. Um, and then yeah, we usually
>> Okay, they're what? They're taking all the articles out. >> They're presenting. >> No, no, no. They're presenting in that town. >> Okay. >> Sorry. >> Um, and then yeah, we usually divide them out like the planning board will take the ADU bylaw because they've been they put a lot of work into that.
>> Yeah. >> So, yeah, as as it gets closer, we'll do that. Great. Yeah. Any questions? This >> this article 23 um group the uh what is it called? Middle Sex 30
>> actually exactly dropped their lips in town and I think there was um presentation in front of that group that expressed that there was a demand. >> Okay. my okay I I'm I'm I'm
okay with putting these things on there but typically when I see something like this is it derived because somebody wants to come in and build a refrigerated space I don't know where they would build that in dunable >> yeah no there's no there's no particular
interest it just would be in allowed use >> yeah I mean yeah >> there's no interest that I know of no >> there are um planning orders in process of um scheduling public public hearings on all the zoning amendments that are on the law because it's required.
>> Yeah. >> And so they'll be a little they'll be discussed and vetted at that and I know they've been discussed and embedded at technological committee meetings but um plane was having a hearing on the 21st of April. I mean, some of these other
things, you know, okay, but that thing just caught my attention because it's so >> out of the realm specific to be like having a data center, you know, like we >> Exactly. >> It's it's the data center warm to me like a cold storage is I don't know like
so Yeah. >> All right. Okay. I get it. >> And then the excise tax on marijuana retail sales. >> Yeah. >> Okay. We Uh maybe my age is kicking in here, but
I don't think we can sell marijuana retail industrial. >> We can't. >> So you got to read the next. >> So he's got they have zoning allow zoning change allow >> we'll let we'll let town meeting work through that. >> Yeah. They're stacking.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. Um, so as long as you're comfortable with remember basically article 18, my my view on article 18 is that we
decide it doesn't work, we can just definitely postpone. That what we're saying there table >> take no action. >> Take no action. But otherwise, this is ready to go. I'm starting to prep. I just basically want
to get a head start on prep. So, the sooner can we get approved without our judges? Like I said, if it if you want to wait. Um, >> I don't see the point in waiting. I don't know how much >> Yeah, I agree with her. >> Okay. As long as you're comfortable with 18 being >> Yeah.
>> no action, I'm comfortable with that, too. >> And May 11th is the meeting. >> May 11th. Great. Thought we were going to have a I thought we were going to have a fairly quiet easy town meeting and then everyone wants to change zoning.
>> No, the uh the economic development group made sure that that's not going to be the case. >> What's the next night, the backup night? >> Overflow night. >> But you don't usually have 267.
There's some real details in these for zoning purposes that >> true are. >> Yeah, I think it's going to make it interesting. >> Yeah. >> I mean, these mar just as a side note, you know, these marijuana retail
facilities, there's a lot of them closing. >> Yeah, there's a lot. It's, you know, there's this big burst of we're going to sell the stuff and be millionaires and, you know, that's just not the way that's going. Some of these places, you know, I call them pot shops,
>> they're just going away. Even the growers, you know, we had all these people, he was here, we're going to this is going to be we're going to be growing marijuana every place. The the truth is that the guys that are growing this these are 300 400,000 square foot
>> places and they're it's chuch-ching. We got a guy with you know a couple green houses that wants to grow a pot. It never took off. >> It just never did. >> We saw retail space. You got two Well, you got two in Tingsboro. >> Oh yeah. The ones in Grten are kind of
you know it's the ones that like were there early the early adopters are like the known spaces. The one in Tingsboro. >> Yeah. on the back porch one sex road >> right they they have these details there you know police details there because of some of the holidays and the one across the street people are like well if I can't take a left I'll just take a right
>> that makes sense and it's right on the border you got the casino there >> you know I think >> you know >> no there was an article in the Globe a couple weeks ago talking about this exactly like there's such a glut of the product out there that and the prices are so low that even the ones that are still in business not making huge
profits >> but you see that with like liquor stores too like you get a in a new new part of town and then one will succeed and one will just kind of >> right >> go with restaurants happens to you know that's the nature of business >> it is >> yeah I mean I don't I I want to be careful not to fret over something that
has a not a likelihood of getting any traction and you know cold storage warehouses would certainly be one um cuz I understand them but this pot thing you know are we going to have a pot shop industable. I doubt it. I
just I'm I'm mean the one in Kingsboro, Nature's Remedy, does really well. The one across the street, doesn't seem to have much traction. The two in Pepper are what I call pot shops. >> It's just they're But you can go to air
and there's a gauge in air, right? >> Right. Yeah. >> Yeah. It's all done up. It's a You know this. Yeah. I don't know why we would have a pot shop here. I I don't I just put Okay, we'll let town meeting. >> We'll let the town decide, >> right?
>> All right. Well, >> okay. >> A motion to approve the warrant. >> All right. We have a motion to approve the 2026 annual town meeting warrant and to sponsor articles 1
through 12. Article 16, 18, 19, 20, and 21. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> I >> I >> Next up, the contract with Allegiance
Fire and Rescue for the new forestry truck, which as a reminder, um, fire chief received a >> tremendous grant to purchase this vehicle, >> correct? This is the FEMA grant, $285,000.
>> He did. And I think we just he just scored again with the >> um firefighter state money from like 11,000. 11,000. That was a lot of money. >> Yeah. You know, they're they're doing great over there. >> It's snowing.
>> Yeah. >> Snow nice, huh? >> Great. >> This sounds great. I think um >> Okay. >> Where's this put us in the queue for delivery? Is it like about a two-year? >> No, October. >> Yeah. Oh, really? I think you said 10
months or something. >> Oh, awesome. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. This is wonderful. Let's get this going. >> Yeah, it's great. So, my only question with this is, and it's really it's just a right in this amount, he has everything he
needs for the truck, right? >> Graphics, lights, radios, the whole nine yards. >> I think everything's in this. So the the vendor we're using is on the bid list and but he does have it itemized in this quote.
>> Yeah, I didn't see that. >> No, no, this uh I we just got this so it wasn't in the pack that I sent for but it is in No, that's why you haven't seen it. I apologize. We got it late. >> Um diesel engine platform running board, traction tires, trailer brake
controller, GVWR, whatever that is. >> Post vehicle weight. Okay. XL chrome with film package fog lights bumper pro AGM batteries rear view camera and prep kit power heated
mirrors transfer stick radio heater backup alarm well liners and fire rescue diesel emissions package that's what's item >> my bigger question will he sign off on this
>> this was completely put together by the vendor with the chief. >> Okay. So, we don't have any issues. All right. And and that vendor is a vendor that does a significant amount of fire truck business in the area. >> They do he they do they do
>> state state list too, which is good. So, >> checking all the boxes. >> Yep. I move to approve the quote in the amount of $290,000 provided by Alagant Fire and Rescue and authorize the chair to sign and accept
the quote on behalf of the board. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I can see that. Thank new truck coming. >> I know we've had a lot of fires in the past year. They seem to be >> couple forest buyers, too. So, this
would be good. >> All right. Next up, the annual town election schedule. >> Mutual achieve every year. >> Yeah. >> Didn't we just do this last last year? >> A different
Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Right. Yeah. All right. Nothing's changed. >> No, it's just they're looking for >> a rubber stamp. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Move to approve the Northeastern
Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Inter Agency Mutual Aid Agreement as presented and authorize the chair to sign the agreement on behalf of the board. >> Second. All >> in favor? Hi.
>> Hi. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Godspeed. >> Okay. Annual town meeting election schedule early and mail in voting. >> This is just going to speak to this. She left.
>> Yeah. No, she left. This is this is just um you need to for local elections you need to opt in to um in person voting and then we usually just authorize the chief to assign police officer phone
locations. That's what this >> Okay. What kind of Yeah. >> For the early voting we just do what's required rather than recommend. Like we only like you don't have to do every Saturday, right? like I would we have what 10 to 15
people vote early the numbers aren't hot >> it does cost us money to do it >> you know I guess I would be choosy with >> how much is always the poster do we have to offer that >> early voting early in person voting
>> no >> but it's tough >> I was going to say we we're a staff issue right now. >> Staff issue, but we've also talked a lot about, you know, being mindful with our budget and then that say we have someone sit here for 4 hours and pay him 20 bucks an hour.
>> Absolutely. >> You know, I just want to make sure we're sending the right message. >> So, >> maybe pick one Saturday before the meeting or before the election and then call it a day. >> What do you think, Dan?
So, I don't the clerk has not established this early inerson voting schedule yet. Um, I can talk to her about the desires of the award if if you'd like. Um, staffing isn't an issue. I I actually
think she has already reached out to um has already reached out to um our normal workers in their lineup. So that wouldn't be an issue for us. Um budgetarily it's there. Um it is
budgeted. So um it's up it's up to you. I know I know the town clerk is recommending it. Shoot, you know, just to allow as much access to voting as possible, but um you're right. Early early inperson voting is the least used
out of the options for sure. Um so I You can either hold off. Um, >> do we have a deadline by which we need to have this approved? >> Not that I know of. >> Not that I know of. >> Um, you can either hold off or I can
work with her on a schedule that works for the board. >> Yeah, I don't I think you need this motion to go through and I think you got some timing around it. >> We could authorize two dates like up to two dates at on the town clerk's at the town clerk's convenience
>> discretion. Yeah, discretion. That was Yeah, exactly. >> We didn't really offer that many days to begin with. >> I think we did four. >> I think we did. Yeah, I actually think we did five. >> Did we? >> Okay. >> I just, you know, and it's we have wonderful pole workers. So, like
they're, you know, agreeable to do it, but do we need it? >> Right. >> I do it just simply because I'm low all the time. Like, just Yeah. I'll try. I'm like, oh, it's easier, you know, than a work day on a Tuesday, but you know, >> I certainly don't have to. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, this motion doesn't really bind us
to anything specifically in terms of the number of >> It doesn't. No, but it leaves it at the discretion of the town clerk. >> All right. Let's Are you okay with that one? Is that what we're going to do? We're going to leave it at her discretion, but we're going to encourage her to >> How what would you like to see as a
sinking for for early voting? Because I can communicate that with her. What would be >> that seems like a Saturday would be good because if people can't get to the polls because they're working then a Saturday would be a day. >> Yeah. Maybe two two days or up to >> and I'm not trying to be
>> I don't want to if she strongly advocates for having these day I don't want to overstep what she feels is the right thing to do either. I love >> I would rather leave it loose and saying yeah we'll we'll support what you want but if we have to >> and I I also can provide the feedback
that yeah you know based on >> private turnout like let's think about how >> couple days >> the mailin is great mail and voting is wonderful >> but you know the early like >> yeah no I see are we okay with this
going through with this >> yeah it's I mean Bren has a great you know sense of the temperature for So yeah, >> she can, you know, >> okay, >> go from there. Move to authorize inperson early v voting for elections held during calendar year 2026
with the dates, hours, and location to be established by the town clerk and further move to authorize the chief of police or designate to assign police officers as needed to polling locations
for elections held during calendar year 2026 to maintain ain public safety and orderly operations. Second, it's >> in favor. >> I love seven. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah, that's what >> All right. Good. So, the last thing is we have some openings on some boards. >> Yeah, we just um Leo served in a number of different roles and now the shared planning board isn't running for
reelection. We serve on um a number of different roles. So, just want to make sure you all were good with us starting to push out the communication um with filling some of them. >> Yeah. >> And soliciting candidates. >> So, is advisory is one of them that
should be on this list? No. >> Zoning. The only reason I didn't include advisories because basically the budget season draft I could we could but because the budget season drapped up and the election's happening. >> Yeah. >> Even though one of them look it appears
that one of them's still going to be vacant. Figure after the election. >> Okay. Yeah. That makes sense. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Um >> but you are right there is advisory board vacancy. >> Yeah. one,
you know, for whatever reason, we've had issues getting that board maintaining quality stat. I mean, you got to have some understanding of finance and certainly Excel in order to live on that board. >> They the group we've had there have been there for quite a while and I think
they're all been very very good. >> Yeah. No, but there it's like when I got on I had Dave Wallace, Ryan Reynolds, myself, Dan St. Jean. >> Yeah. I think for me it's always it's been it was Jake Harold as always was always there.
>> Yeah, he's fixture. >> A couple other folks rotate through. So >> good point. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Anything else? Ron, you >> okay? >> You said you had stuff, but did you
already express them during the course of the show? Okay. All right. That's it. Anybody else? We good? Okay. A motion to >> motion to adjurnn. I think I got like two more meetings left and you guys are done with me. >> Hallelujah.
>> Oh, >> you can watch me. You can watch me on TV later on tonight. You'll find out. >> All right. Is there a motion actually and a second? >> Move to meeting second. It's in favor. Bye. Bye.