All right, it is 6:02. We will call the select board meeting to order on February 4th, 2026. Our agenda tonight, we will start with a public comment period followed by the approval of meeting minutes from December 30th, 2025, January 7th, 2026,
January 21st, 2026. We'll have the appointment to the capital planning committee and then an appointment of an associate member to the zoning board of appeals. Then we will have Nimcog do the annual report presentation
followed by um Nimcog again reviewing the draft of the open space and recreation plan update and a quick conversation regarding employee health insurance opt out program and then a letter of support for the department of fisher game acquisition of land on Lel
Street and Graten Street. So we'll jump to the public. Is there anybody in the public would like to speak to anything not on the agenda? >> Question about public comment. Would it for our purposes would it be like a moment where if you have an unanticipated agenda item
>> that would come after >> this item? That's item. Yeah. >> Okay. >> And that's checked by our >> Mhm. >> So it's like an additions and deletions like unexpected type of thing. >> Something that could happen within 48 hours of the meeting. >> Ah, okay. >> Yeah.
>> All right. typically more we know. >> Okay. There be no one from the public wishing to speak. We will jump to the approval of meeting minutes for those three dates. >> Everybody good? As written. >> Good to go.
>> Y Let me see. While he's doing that, I um I um got to a motion to approve the meeting minutes from December 30th. Nope. >> No, that's wrong date. He doesn't have it yet.
>> Okay. >> Um from December 30th, 2025, January 7th, 2026, and January 21st, 2026 as presented. >> Second. All those in favor? >> I >> I thank you.
>> Okay, next up is an appointment to the one open space to the capital planning committee. We had uh several people that had submitted interest in this position and we deferred it to today. >> What are your thoughts, folks?
Well, one of them um uh decided to withdraw and focus on a associate ZBA role, which is great. >> Um you know, I know DOC has some participation in some other groups in town. Um so I always like to have some,
you know, new perspective and fresh blood, I guess, if you will. I say with all the appreciation for that. Um and then so we're really between Robert Ladaga and Paval Chazinski um to sort of see you know who would be the best fit for that capital planning side of
things. Um you know as I think of capital planning I think they offer a lot of perspective to the town and budget review and such um in terms of departments that may need a new truck or you know new software things like that um some high dollar
value to it. Um, so I'm, you know, really torn on those two individuals. It sounds like they each have some finance background. Um, and may offer good perspective to the town. So, it's really kind of a tossup for me.
Um, you know, I guess I'm kind of crossing dot off my list because she has participation elsewhere, right? Um, you know, to be appropriate and, you know, sort of separated between options three and four there on the candidate list.
Ron, what are your thoughts? >> No, I'm kind of lined up with Karen on that on the thinking for this. I think we're down to really two. Robert and Powell. >> I know I've chatted with Powell.
>> Pavo Pavo, I think it's Pavo, right? Um I know I've chatted with him. Yeah. With the P, right? In regards to other things in town. I always found his input in sort of perspective wise. I don't know Robert, so that's my only sort of sort
of gut inclination there. So, so I'm kind of leaning more towards Pavl's side of things just because I I've chatted with him about other topics and I've I know he's spoken at town meeting. >> He he's absolutely I don't know. I I want to be
careful here not to um not to to to um understand whether Robert has been at town meetings, but he has and he's gotten up several times and
spoken. And so I my inclination is is to um is to put is to ask him to fill that spot on that. >> Makes me think you're a glutton for punishment. So maybe you Um, you know, and I really appreciate
Robert's interest, and I suspect there'll be other opportunities for him to maybe be a part of um in the near future. Um, unless you guys have any other feelings on that, but that's sort of where my head's going logistically.
>> That makes sense to me. >> I move that we appoint how >> Hold on a second. My Polish isn't so good, but I get along with some Chadzinski to
to appoint as a member of the capital planning committee for a term to expire on June 30th, 2026. >> I will second that motion. >> All right. All those in favor? Hi, please. >> I guess it's I do want to make sure we sincerely appreciate Robert and Dot's
volunteerism and again encourage them really to seek out other opportunities and love to have him join us for other things. So >> we shared those opportunities with them. >> Okay. Um that's why Lucas is interest
and Robert has said if he his primary interest was capital planning committee >> but if he wasn't appointed to that committee he was interested in some of the others. So >> it was tax aid committee right that had some technical detail to it as well >> master plan. >> Yeah
is one of them but I think >> and so yeah I'll reach back out to them. >> Yeah wonderful question. >> All right. Did I say all those in favor? >> Our newest member has a he has to be sworn in. He has a question, >> right?
>> June 30th, 2026. >> So, it's four months. That's it. Or pass out. >> So, it's a short appointment period because I think someone else stepped off. So, you're back filling >> it roll. Yeah. You're filling in a space that got vacated. So you'll finish out
this term and then you'd have to go through >> it's just another appointment period. Yeah. >> Everybody gets reappointed. >> Appointments are annual. >> Annual. >> Yeah. >> It's like the bills from Verizon. They just auto renew you. So
>> did I call the role and people answer me or have I I don't remember. >> All those in favor to be safe. I Okay. procedure. >> You probably did it three times. >> All right. Very good. Moving on. Next one is the appointment for the associate member to the zoning board of appeals
and Lucas is one of the only names that have been put forward for that. So, well, Lucas was here um last two weeks ago, right? >> Yep. >> And
um he's expressed an interest. We have an opening. I think he's qualified candidate based on the discussions that we had, right? >> Yes, I believe so. Yeah, >> he's very relevant experience. He's an architect. >> Yeah. >> So, he's very relevant experience. He
has experience on the other side um working at CBA. So, I think >> great fact. I move to appoint Lucas Sturm as an associate member of the zoning board of appeals for a term to expire on June
30th, 2026. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> I >> Good. Okay. the moment we've been waiting for. Incom >> Yeah, no problem. So, I'm >> very nice to see you all this evening.
Thank you for having us here. We really appreciate it. I'm Jenny Reed. I'm the executive director of BIMP. And I'm Kelly Landma. I'm the deputy director of great. Thanks for coming out. >> Absolutely. And so this is basically our, you know, certainly not the only time that we've talked to the board and
the board visit the board, but annually what we've been trying to do is visit every select board or the city council in Louisville to provide an update on the agency, what we've been up to um in general, what we've been, you know, and also to educate people about Nimro and who we are, what we do, what we can, the
services we can provide. um to also give you a snapshot of what we've um what we've the services we've provided to your community and then what we're doing across the region, what we're planning in the uh year ahead with your community and also some other things that you might be interested in and then give you
an opportunity to ask us questions. Um it typically this report and update typically mirrors what we provide to you as part of your town report, your town annual report. So, but that actually this year will have a lot more detail um
and information about across all of the different programs that we operate um in Nimrog and you know, so you'll be able to see a little bit more information, but I'm we're glad to answer any questions that you might have >> along the way or we'll get going and just uh come back to you. >> Great. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> So, um just a bit about Nim for those folks who may not be familiar with us. We're the regional planning agency based in Wolf. We were established in 1963. Um we serve these nine communities as seen
on the screen including of course Dunable. And uh the goal is really to increase municipal capacity. By that it means working with your you know staff uh volunteer boards, committees um etc. uh people in the community to provide
additional services, foster regional cooperation and coordination and also provide direct local technical assistance uh to and any other types of planning or other services to all of our member communities. So we do both local level planning and then of course things
that are relevant across this particular region. We are governed by an 18 member council and uh it means that there's a representative two representatives from each community with an alternate as well. this past year actually uh in
January of 2025 we adopted our strategic plan after a 2 and a half year process of putting it together and uh so the plan is for three years and it set this sets forth a lot of there's a lot of details in the strategic plan which is
um linked to this document but also directly on the NIMCOG website and it sets forth uh three key strategic priorities over these three years ones that are that are easy to recognize and that we've interacted with when it comes to NIMPA, including that we are here to
help you to mobilize and accelerate your local plan goals and attain them, but also the regional ones. Um, that we are at NIMCloud leading regional collaboration, advocacy, and engagement. And that comes in a lot of different shapes and forms at this point. Um,
including engagement with town administrators and managers. um trying to elevate uh issues and concerns around municipal finance. Um advocacy around housing, environmental issues, um new policies or programs that the state
might be introducing. trying to provide our regional voice to that conversation to both inform state government or state officials and our state uh legislative delegation about our priorities, but also to make sure that we engage across our communities to understand what their
priorities are and that we're vocalizing them correctly. And then as with every strategic plan, we also want to make sure that NIMCOG itself is healthy and we are you know strong in terms of our agency, our principles and of course our staffing as professionals to in service
to all of our communities. So um just a quick snapshot, Ron is your select board rep to the council. Jim Wilkey from the planning board is the representative. He also served as our assistant clerk through October of 2025. October is our annual meeting. So that's why that date
is there. Um and Jason has been serving as the alternate. And Jason also because we in the last year also revamped the membership of our metropolitan planning organization and were able to add seats to the uh member board. uh we created a
seat for a to represent a smaller community and Jason stepped up to uh fill that role and so now serves as a representative on the Northern Middle Sex Metropolitan Planning Organization. Um and so with that, I'm going to let Kelly walk through some snapshots of
what we've done in the town in the past year. >> Yeah. Uh so over the last year, um you may be familiar, we've worked with you and Pepper Talzin and Littleton on regional energy management services. This includes um assisting with green communities uh supporting for and
applying for grants and looking at ways to uh shift toward renewable energies as far as um as far as your municipal energy division is concerned. Um we do provide that green community support. You will hear from Mike in a little bit about the ongoing work on the open space
and recreation plan. So we'll delve into that. Um we are working with Jason and we're hoping to set up a design review committee uh to study Route 113. Um we're nearly complete with a visioning process that we started in August of
last year. And that visioning process is going to turn into um looking at developing a complete street plan and engineering work for Route 113 from town hall all the way down to the post office. Um and this is to both improve
safety which was one of the key outcomes of what we heard in the visioning process. Um not just for vehicles but also for people who are on foot and maybe people who are biking. Um and this will also incorporate land use recommendations that basically extend from the intersection of Route 113 and
Lowel Street all the way down to the post office. Um we assisted with the flood plan bylaw and map updates that were approved by town meeting last spring. um and our continuing work on the community path. So Jason just released uh through Jason we released an
RFP for the feasibility study and we'll help to administer that funding and work with the consultant to complete that project on the potential for a off- streetet trail connection throughout the town center. Um we have completed work on the Union School building and we
continue to assist the town with pursuing grant funding um to continue work on that building. We also provided a memorandum on the ADU by update to allow the town to remove position state.
Um and then finally we through the metropolitan planning organization we do a lot of work with regional traffic counting. Um so we've taken a lot of traffic counts in the region and this both goes to support the week 113 project project as well as work that's happening up at Maine and Oak. um and
then supported the town in pursuing reclassification for Main Street going up to New Hampshire so that road could be reclassified so that it could become eligible for future future federal funding. Um because up until that point it was not eligible for funding and we want to make sure that it is an eligible
roadway for future funding. And so with that I'll turn it back to Jenny um talk about our regionwide programs. >> Oh sorry yes the slide that I'm most proud of. Okay. All right. Um, we are really h I and I have to say like I think the work
that we've been doing with the town is something that I have a lot of pride about. Um, and and it's something we've been doing interviews with potential staff and they've asked what kind of brings me the greatest joy in my work and I think this is this is evidence of that. Um, we've helped the town in
pursuing and receiving about I would say maybe 7007,000 in in funding um from state uh resources and then we've also applied for federal grants. Um an additional $400,000 to address the Woodward Mills Pond Dam. Um
and then applying for a complete streets grant for sidewalk design. Um this is something that your um safe pathways committee had advanced years ago and that came about through doing walkstable and region 13 visioning process to see if we could advance a sidewalk there. Um
and then related to the union building work applied for a mass cultural council facilities grant to continue to advance work on the union building to really help restore that to a vital um community focused building at your town
center. Um, so we're just really happy to be able to support the town in in pursuing this kind of funding and augmenting your budget in that kind of way. >> It's it's appreciated on our end. >> And um and I'll note that um the reason
that we're able to support the town with uh pursuing those grants is because, you know, we we actually have a variety of funding sources. The our annual budget is about $2.5 million. We have about 14 staff when we're fully staffed. Um and uh we one of the mechanisms is an annual
assessment member community assessment to each prairie that each community pays in that's based on per capita. certain number of people in the community and um uh Dunl is paying about $1,254 um a year annually to participate in
NIMCOG and we are receiving funding through state grants and all kinds of state programs as well as our federal grant program that is essentially uh the the uh funding our staffing towards the metropolitan planning organization. Um, but one of those funding sources enables
NING staff to help our communities pursue grant opportunities. Um, it's been state and federal grants. We will be uh continuing to provide those services, but primarily focusing on federal grant opportunities moving forward into the later part of this year. Um, so we we still have that
assistance available. So, I'm sure I'm sure there are many more opportunities for that. Um, but there's a lot of other things that we're regionally just to radar. One is uh the town does actively participate in the northern middle sect stormwater collaborative. This is a collaborative that formed in 2009 um to
ensure that communities were compliant with the MS4 permit uh process. Um we also had participation from the town in developing our regional economic development strategy um which is called greater a little stronger together. And there's many elements to that plan uh
moving forward that actually relates to other technical assistance work that we've already talked about. uh but to to ensure that you have a strong town center, you know, good strong infrastructure socially um and healthy economy in in whatever whatever that might mean to your community. Um we also
are continuing to advance and I think one of the last times that we were here we probably spoke with you about at home in GR the regional housing strategy. That work continues. Um we are also doing a number of things related to regional transportation planning but currently um uh working to complete the
greater goal bicycle and pedestrian plan. And then we also recently completed a regional digital equity plan which um also has an implementation component um to support work in all actually a cross greater role to ensure
that you have you know the technology available uh potentially other supports to help implement the plan as it might be relevant to dustable and I don't recall off the top of my head what those things were. I believe the library was one. Um things with Townfall, just ensuring that you have the digital
technology to make it so that people can participate and engage or access services that the town office offers. Um or to ensure that people can uh use you know technology to go online and participate not just here but in other things that help with uh their you know
whatever they're working on personally home or trying to advance professionally and professionally. Um, we also have a group that meets monthly called the Northern Middle Sex CEO Group. It's for town managers and administrators to meet together to talk about issues of
importance, elevate concerns and help us to basically find opportunities to work together. And a lot of these things actually have been an outgrowth of our conversations with that uh monthly uh group uh meetings, but also in conversation and consultation with our council who's very active in setting and
establishing these regional goals. Um, and then the next thing, uh, is just what's ahead. So, we are, uh, obviously tonight we're going to talk about the open space and recreation plan. That's not on here, but it should be, um, because we know it's not yet completed.
Um, but a sort of a partner to that is the larger field master plan um, assistance. And with that, we're really just helping with the engagement side of that opportunity. As you've already heard, we're continuing to help with the Union School building and that would be potentially a business plan and reuse
study depending upon the funding that is received. Um we're going to help with a brochure uh continue the Route 113 corridor study. Um we also while we are not going beyond uh this fiscal year we are continuing to help provide any
assistance on regional energy management um services which is uh in helping you to gain access to other grants through green communities perhaps additional energy reduction uh planning that we want to do for uh municipal buildings and and potentially more. we uh would
love to help you with an ADA self-evaluation um if possible and I already noted a couple of these other items that we're moving forward with and that you've been already actively participating in. The last item is a pilot of tip funding and
that one probably relates mostly to the roadway that was just reclassified and when that funding and revision so we're working very closely with MASDOT right now to see if we can augment the funding that you have for getting to 25% design
to see if we can use our TIP funding to get that project to 100% design in construction administration. So, this is a really good time to think about how that state grant could be used as a match um so that the town wouldn't have to put any additional funding forward to
get to 100% design um in advance up to construction. >> And while I didn't talk about it in great detail, I would encourage you to check out the comprehensive watershed study that we're in the midst of uh putting together which will help us to identify some you know vulnerabilities
within the wershed. This is the lower marment wershed. um and also some opportunities for potential resiliency of coal burns and other infrastructure in the workshed area. So with that say thank you and I think we'll see if you
have any questions. >> Yeah and just to note that we really just appreciate the town's partnership on on all of our work and we think you've been great supporters and we really just appreciate working with Jason and the other staff. when you talk about the shift um to more
federal focus, is this, you know, with the caveat that the federal government's funding less grants? So like what what's causing that shift? Um not just with Nimco, but you're seeing with other agencies in terms of limited availability, but you know, at the same time, you know, the Massachusetts sort
of grant group is sort of opening up more gateways for funding. What's sort of causing that shift away from state to federal? Yeah, the um the main shift is actually when we were able to help apply for state grants, it was because we had ARPA funding. >> And the ARPA funding, as you know, it's
running out at the end of this calendar year. >> And it was um basically supplanted by a funding source that will only allow us to go to pursue federal grant opportunities inside of state. Um it doesn't mean that we still can't find other ways to support. If you have state
grant opportunities that you want to pursue or you need support with, I'm sure we can figure out a way to help you, but we don't have a dedicated funding source that will be supporting that. It just be creative to figure out how to how best to serve. >> So then, do you see an opportunity for
Nimco communities to sort of gather themselves and say, "Okay, would we be willing to spend more, you know, in terms of $1,250 doesn't seem like a lot to me for the town of Dunable?" I mean I with respect to the budget but you know if you were to add more to that would
that enable you to you know focus more on the state grants because you had other funding from other communities to offset that. >> It's a possibility to you know to look at our assessment. We actually did already the last three years we raised our assessment and it's unlawful that we're going to do that for the next the
next coming years due to our known uh issues in terms of fiscal municipal uh fiscal conne. So we'll probably be identifying other sources, but what you could do is help us to ensure that we have a great amount of district local technical assistance, which is our
primary funding source to provide direct technical assistance to our communities. And it actually is the primary source for all regional planning agencies. The governor's budget, as issued, included a $3 million line item, which is actually the level of funding that we've received since 2009. >> Yeah.
>> Um, yeah, you said enough about the emphasis there. What we would hope for is potentially to to raise that dollar amount and then that will enable us to be able to provide additional services which would, you know, could be great assistance or something else.
>> Yeah, I have a question. Can you run through again for me the digital equity plan and then the only thing I want to do is I mean I know you gave us a 10,000 foot
view, right? But, you know, plug in a scenario where that would work because I'm I I I'm trying to I don't know. >> You want me to do it? >> And then I'll talk about what we're doing. >> Yeah, that would be helpful. Okay. Thank you. Um, so the regional digital equity
plan looked at and and it was funded through the Massachusetts broadband. actually what broadband >> institute NBI um they had a lot of federal money to help with uh you know connectivity broadband and also to make
sure that people actually had digital literacy so they understood the tools that were available or even like literally like the tools having laptop access having access to Wi-Fi um having you know uh connectivity in a building that you know where they live perhaps in
a a unit that they live in a home that's in public housing and the public housing building doesn't have access to Wi-Fi for for whatever any number of reasons. >> True. >> That is true. Not here in Dunable necessarily, but but in other locations, yes, that is the case. And so um the
state provided funding through many federal resources to ensure that communities could map out in our case the region to map out all of the issues around each community's ability to connect and to access uh you know uh
whether it's broadband or internet or whatever it might be to be able to you know the way that we all utilize the internet to uh advance themselves individually to access job opportunities uh personal growth, trainings, um
connectivity or town affairs and participation, you know, more broadly in their lives. It's actually a big part of people's livelihood. So, for example, like children uh who might not have uh internet connectivity may have trouble
doing homework, you know, and they may not be able maybe they only have a a smartphone and don't have access to a computer with connectivity. And so, those are the types of cases where it's about digital equity, meaning that everybody has access. So the the plan
itself identified what the gaps were and what the needs were and then each community in the greater little region mapped out their key priorities and so that it was followed up by an implementation grant that each one of our communities was able to access to then pursue those individual priorities.
Most of the priorities related to libraries because libraries are a place that a lot of people go when they can't do things from their home. >> Absolutely. And it's also a place of you know social connectivity and potentially access to somebody who can help you to understand how to use the technology
which is the digital literacy component. So I don't um maybe even talk about what dunable is doing. >> So what that means in dunstable is as a result of the planning work that NECO led we were part of the grant application and received the $41,600.
And so what we're doing here >> is a number of things. So the library, speaking of libraries, the library here is implementing um laptop sharing program. So they've purchased laptops and they're working and leading the
effort to develop a program focused on seniors but not only for seniors to um lend out laptops if somebody doesn't have access to them or um or for other reasons. So that's so that program is in the planning stages almost ready to be
implemented. Now we also received money for the schools. So the schools uh we're funding um three or four I believe my memory is correct smartboards for classrooms and um at the high school.
So that's happening. um the owl technology that we have, we were able to upgrade >> and have them available in both meeting spaces now. So, we're not going back and forth. So, as long as you have a capable user, I'm not sure that's me, but I'm
making my way through it tonight. Um you can allow people to watch um and participate remotely if we so desire. And um the last program that this grants funding is actually a um
intergenerational program between the high school and the seniors. So high school, we're going to hire high school students to come in um and work with seniors on um educating them on how to use some of these um these devices. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's
fine. I now Yeah, I just connected the dots. Yeah. Yeah. I'll just say um in Dunville we don't have any planning staff really. Um so our reliance on
NMCOG is significant. I do my best to pretend to put a planner hat on them but I'm not. I'm not trained as a planner. So I rely on them a lot. Um and they put up with me a lot and um I keep them as busy as I can. I think I'm doing a
decent job with that. But they also keep me busy. But um when we look at This Amazing. Just the money. It's like seeing growth from you know, which I love to do. And then, okay,
let's see if we can seek funds to implement some of these things. And you know, over a 3-year period, we've been able to see some progress on a number of different fronts and um and some of them were actually seeing some boots to our
planning efforts and like literally none of that was we wouldn't have any of that without none of that. So, um I'm just thankful because it makes my job a lot simp because um because and at the end I
think ultimately once we're able to do this and actually accomplish it and implement it will make it will include the community which is is what it's all about right here. So, thank you for your >> Yeah, the vision is cool. like having
vision come through is fun. So, um, but the, you know, MBI stuff is invaluable. You know, there's other opportunities down the road for, you know, Wi-Fi on the public comment, things like that that I think people find pretty valuable, especially if you're out there and you're doing a class or you're
listening to the concert and you can get Wi-Fi out there. I know it sounds simple, but there's opportunity for that. >> I just have a quick question and it's just curiosity. Are there other NEMCOGs like South Coast? There are I didn't
know that >> one of 13 regional planning. >> So there are 13 are all the cities and towns tied into a NEMCO type >> communities part of a regional planning district is what it's called and they were established in the 60s >> followed by the metropolitan planning
organizations in the 70s. >> So we're the third smallest with nine communities. And most of them have, you know, about 30 40 communities. The largest is is the metropolitan area planning council which is has greater Boston 101 communities. But we actually
work with our our sister agencies all the time um as a group. We work all together, but then also we often work on the edges of our own region um with Massachusetts uh regional planning agencies, but also New Hampshire. >> Naturally. >> Yeah. So we we have a lot of
connectivity across >> I didn't know that. >> Yeah. >> That's great. >> They've done a lot of good work with us in the past several year. I feel um sort of a long time. I feel like there was a long period of time where we really weren't utilizing your services um
anywhere near to what we could have. But we're in the right hands of everybody now with our with our TA and our, you know, and you folks and we're accomplishing a lot of a lot of good stuff that we wouldn't have been able to do otherwise,
honestly. So, thank you. >> Yeah, you can you can rush. >> What's next? You have to get sworn in and then you'll be invited to a meeting. >> I'll email you. >> Oh, okay. >> I'll email you to set it up. Just because we're short staff, so I want to
make sure when you come here, someone's here to do it. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Thank you for your email. >> Good night. >> Thank you. >> All right, Mike, you ready? >> Okay. easy following up after Jenn and Kelly.
Good evening. Um I'm Michaela, senior planner of housing and land use for um I'm here tonight to give you an overview of the open space and recreation plan that'll cover the years 2026 through 2036. Um, so I'm going to uh give you an
update an overview of the OSRP and ask for the select board to quote approve the plan um to send to DCS for state approval. Um, tonight we're gonna go well, we'll probably skip over about >> Is your story different than
we'll talk about uh what what's in OSRP, what uh the structure of the plans, um what's used for we'll highlight the um OSRP planning process that we had investable and then we'll look at the specific OSRP goals and action items.
And then we'll take any questions that you might have and talk about next steps. There you go. >> Um, so this piece is going to be set up a little bit different from the the last um I believe the first one that was done was like 1965. Um there's a new workbook
from the state that uh kind of gives some new um requirements um and takes takes back some some older requirements and but most significantly um it extends the u action plan an extra five years so it could be a 10-year plan. So the first
section um is kind of a brief u overview of the the plan kind of an executive summary. Uh the second plan the second section goes through statement of purpose. It looks at the planning um process and goes and highlights the
enhanced outreach and public participation. Uh the third section is the community setting section. This gives kind of a a regional context. Uh looks at population characteristics, growth patterns, um and history of of the community as well.
Section four deals with uh it's kind of a snapshot of environmental uh inventories. What's what types of geograph geology? Uh yeah, types of um land characteristics,
geology, soils, um water resources, vegetation and uh fisheries and wildlife within the the town. Section five deals with the u the inventory of land, conservation lands, and recreation interest. Um it it basically is a um a
catalog of every parcel um what the the town either the town owns or it's in private ownership or state or um with conservation or recreation interests. Um s section six we go over the analysis
of needs. We look at um all the outreach and all the um the data and and kind of come up with um a summary of what's needed for resource protection uh community needs and management
management needs as well. And then section seven goes gets into the goals and objectives which gets transferred into the 10-year action plan which uh gives a prioritized action list um of um
goals, objectives and action items and gives an implementation table to assign uh potential funding sources or responsible parts. itself. Um so you might be asking why we go
through this process. Um the OSRP it reflects the uh the needs of the desires of the community. Um it's required for certain grant programs. Uh it helps um maintain and enhance the benefits of open space that together make up a lot
of the character of Dunable. It ensures equitable access to green space. Um it protects the green infrastructure of the community. Um it it can bring about economic and fiscal benefits. Um and it's a communitydriven plan that shapes
the future of festivals outdoor spaces and recreational activities. And the current OSRP um expired last year. >> It didn't get extended for another three. >> Oh, it got extended the next two >> for three more years. through. Oh,
right. >> Well, yeah, it'll be uh when we get approved of this next one, it'll go for the the full 10. So, >> yeah. >> Um and NA works with a um working group from the town. Um it consisted of Leah
Allen Cheney from the planning board, Tiffany Mountains mission, Jason Silva, and Carol Rock from the planning board as well. So the planning process um we started
out with community outreach to try and um learn the community needs that that can include uh interview that included interviews, a survey um and public forums. We collect the data and analyze the data um uh with the community
outreach and that helps us define the goals of the RF OSRP uh which then the next step is we formulate uh objectives and action items to achieve the goals. Um after that process we uh draft the preliminary uh
plan send it around for reviewers take the Um there are some core themes, quantitative core themes to improve access and usability of existing title and land. Um focus on targeted land acquisition as well as stewardship and
activation. Strengthen uh water field as a an inclusive recreation hub. expand community spaces and programming through partnerships. Uh coordinate boards and clarify oversight of open space and
recreation. Um in top survey results we found most important needs were hiking and walking trails followed by playgrounds and wildlife habitat. Uh the most important improvements that we uh people listed
were better with the trail signs, trail connections, and better maps of the conservation properties. And ranked in order of importance, it was preserving uh rivers, ponds, streams, and wetlands, preserving and enhancing land surrounding water
supplies as well as aquafers, and preserving and enhancing wildlife habitats. So um as I was talking with the chapter five of the um of the OSRP with the inventory, it also um produces a a good
map to um illustrate the connections and show where the um where the conserved properties are and also some properties that have um the yellow is the chapter 61 lands which they're not permanently um conserved but they are in a special
tax program that annually um it gets annually renewed, but it it gives you kind of an idea of potential properties that that could become um uh available for sale and potentially
purchase for conservation. So now we go through the goals and action action items. There are seven goals in the plan and we really aim to uh to make the the plan the action items kind of achievable uh or actionable and
goals achievable. So the first goal is to manage and expand dunels open space and recreation infrastructure. Um it includes uh inventory of signage um developing improvement plans for a lot of field evaluating and reuse of
under utilized baseball fields um and evaluate the union building as community space. The second goal is to improve accessibility and include an ADA assessment and uh implementation plan
inclusive intergenerational programs. re-evaluate town uh conservation life for potential compatible with low impact uh recreation and then develop a townwide trails improvement plan.
Goal three um is to support uh farmland preservation and sustainable land uh food systems to develop a farmland viability strategy. Highlight the community garden and seed sharing initiative ensure no net loss on uh
agricultural land. So trying not to lose any more um land and and if possible try to get maybe some more land to uh to the food system. uh strengthen public understanding and appreciation of the town's agricultural
history through educational opportunities. Uh go fours to expand programming and community engagements. Partner with stewardship organizations to offer adaptive and inclusive programming. Um launch a seasonal intergenerational
program series focused on activities for seniors and youth. create a program uh create and promote a community recreation calendar and highlight events and youth oriented activities and then promote community engagement through
surveys, forums and inclusive outreach. Uh goal five is to strengthen communication, outreach and wayfinding, consolidate digital trail maps, post QR codes at trail heads, install signage on priority properties, enhance signage and
mapping and wayfinding across the trail networks and to seek funding and organize seasonal events, pop-ups, and multigenerational uh programs. So that's a theme that that has had come up trying to um get everyone included including the youth
and the seniors. Uh pool six would be to build capacity and coordinate for stewardship form an open space and recreation uh implementation working group. Um that it's a pretty important uh action item
because we feel like it it would help to uh to keep the plan to not have the plan collect dust and um really get the implementation keep it on track for uh throughout the 10-year uh uh process.
um and explore explore uh funding options to hire part-time land steward to develop, implement and manage invasive species management program. And goal seven is to advance climate resilience and
improve ecological function through nature-based solutions and targeted land acquisitions. It's a mouthful. And so it's to assess potential amendments to the wetland uh bylaw to strengthen buffer requirements,
integrate nature-based solutions such as tree planting, invasive species removal and green infrastructure in recreation sites. Um to use the land acquisition system, land acquisition and protection criteria system to prioritize um
acquisition and protection protective actions for parcels. Um in one of the um appendices there's a um kind of a a criteria scoring criteria um that the town can use to um to kind of grade um
parcels as they come up um or or to to kind of develop a a targeted list of of properties. Um then we have to integrate uh heat resilience at recreation sites through provision of shade and water access. acquire lands to protect water
resources, enhance gateway and habitat connectivity, and to continue to support MS4 compliance by coordinating coordinating with the highway department and the town storm water consultant to reduce storm water runoff pollution.
That's where we're at. >> Yeah. Does anyone have any questions? >> No, I don't. >> No. >> No. I'm not quite sure we have our final draft yet. So, we're still work in progress. >> I checked the last of the CRS to to this
afternoon that you said. >> Okay. >> And I think Carla had a question on three parcels, but u everything else seems to be okay. >> In line. >> Yeah. And there were a couple other things that the the committee questions had, but so we can address that at
either I can talk to you and Megan. >> Oh, sometime later this week or next week, whatever. But >> yeah. >> Okay. Joan, uh I wonder why does it matter?
Uh says equitable access to green space. however you were just explaining to me what that means. >> Yeah. Um we want to make sure that everyone's able to enjoy the open space. So um if if there are barriers to people
um maybe physical barriers, uh maybe it's it's location, maybe it's getting to the to to the space, um we want to try and make make sure that everyone has the ability to to be there in that space. Well, mind you, not every open space
parcel is going to meet that criteria. So, um, where >> Yeah. Where where where possible and if there are ones that have been designated to try to enhance it. >> Yeah. >> You have any questions?
>> No, I think it's great. Uh, why 10 years? Like, and how violent is that? >> The stage used to be seven. >> Yeah. used to be between five and seven and now they extended it to to 10. I think it's it's >> more just to to have a bigger planning
window. Um >> and that's >> a lot of work. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> To keep revising every 5 years. So seven seems short, 10 seems reasonable now. >> Yeah. And you can always amend it. >> Yeah. Right. If there's a drastic change, great.
>> Yeah. It's not like COVID was a drastic change and sort of the whole thought mentality of a lot of things shifted. We don't have that again. >> That's great. >> Thank you, Michael. Anybody else? Not you're on part of it. So, we're good.
>> Want us to come back at your next meeting for the final draft of the plan? >> Um, yeah, let's pencil that in. I just want to make sure that some of the concerns that the committee had are addressed before,
>> but we should be able to do that. >> And what is the what is the next scheduled be? >> Uh we would be in two weeks 18th. >> Is it the 18th? >> Yeah. 17th holiday. >> That's after Wednesday.
>> We're still on the Wednesday schedule, Jason. Preferably preferably just >> it doesn't matter to me >> if it if it's better for you then it's better but I think yeah >> that week Tuesday works better for me
but I >> really >> whatever works best for Wednesday I can make Wednesday work >> yeah I'd love the 18th I'm available that night if that's possible >> would it be helpful to make it earlier here
>> would it for you earlier? >> Do you want to do like an 8 a.m. meeting? We haven't had one of those in a while. >> We haven't had one of those or like a 9 a.m. >> I mean I actually I think that was good every now and then to have that just because I got staff sometimes in here.
>> Sleep here on the night before >> or or you could do it from Zoom on the way in. We could >> it's it's up to >> that's a long day for >> whatever works. Whatever works. He's usually here by 9 anyway. >> We could do 9. >> Doesn't matter to me.
>> How about 8:30? >> No, that's too early. 9 >> I'll buy the donuts. >> 8:30 9 or I can do >> What do you do on 8:30? >> I have things I have to do in the morning. I don't need to tell you what they are. >> I can only imagine. >> Yeah, I'm sure. >> I don't know if you guys You may not
have to come back. >> It depends on the condition of the planet. I mean, you may have already, you know, so everything might be wrapped up by that. >> Um, >> that's true. You don't necessarily have to be. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Don't don't drive here just because
>> Wednesday the 18th. >> Wednesday the 18th. I figured out a timing. >> Yeah. Timed. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> For posting purposes. >> Sounds good. >> Yes. Thanks. >> All right. Thank you all for coming in.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Excellent. Um Jason, employee health insurance opt out program. >> Oh yes. So I no vote, no nothing. I just
wanted to I I included some materials in your packet from other communities that offer a similar program. So it's an employee opt out health insurance opt out program. It essentially incentivizes
employees through payment to shift from our public insurance plan to their partners' health insurance plan. If they're able to if they do that then they would get a certain amount paid for them which would could potentially
benefit them. But it would benefit us um through savings of health insurance. So if the board is open to the concept, I would come back with a fully baked plan. I just didn't want to do it unless there
was some willingness to consider it. I would come back with a fully baked plan. I think I will also bring it to the insurance advisory committee to get their feedback and um and then as long as there's consensus then offer to
employees. I don't I don't know what it will result in. The outcome could be nothing. The outcome could be something. I just I don't know until they offer it. >> I like the idea and I guess I think of setting it up. could be make it almost
like a or like a trust type setup so that if you had one year where you you put $5,000 in it and only one person rolled off and then you'd still have that for the next year in case someone else said, "Hey, I'm interested." Or two or three more people were interested just so then
it always was available. Um yeah, I don't know. I don't know. Just trying to spitball away so that in case a lot of people try to sign off then we have the money and >> I mean but if if a lot of people sign off we have the money and savings
through the savings health insurance line. >> I think it's certainly worth looking into if it's going to save some money. I mean >> now didn't we set this up before with was it with the police >> it was in a podcast.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. So I guess the precedent's kind of there. So we just kind of follow that pattern. >> Well, right. And I think that was part of the negotiations if we figured we were going to >> We had talked about that. Yeah. Yeah. There's kind of We have We had talked about that conceptually during that time period.
>> Yeah. >> And we're not an OPED town. So >> we're not we're one of >> three I think. I think. So is this being I mean I saw your film as a or something that there
were several. Yeah. >> Are they other than a right in orange? Are we around here? Are any of the towns around here doing this? Brought it. What is he giving?
>> I don't know. >> It's not the full value of the insurance over the course of a year. >> No. No. I mean there's got to be there's got to be skin the game on both sides here. But we did say it they >> doesn't do it
>> being discussed. >> Yeah. I'm not I'm not sure if others in this area would do it other than I I talked to the town. >> I mean I just have a couple of things. One I'd certainly ask if I would like Yeah. Let's fly list by them. Yeah.
Right. And then I want to see some numbers on what the potential would the payout would be. like 10 grand for a year based on some we think some more than others. It's um >> some like I think it was the town of
Athal I had a exchange with um with their town manager and they're aggressive and basically like look if we can save 10 I'll give you 10 you know >> and then there are other communities who you know I think one gives 25 I think
there's one that gives five I mean it's all about I mean it's basically your decision on how much you want to offer M >> um so I I'll go back and kind of do a more I didn't want to do too much work on this if the answer was don't bother.
>> No, I think it's a good idea conceptually. I think I'd just like to know my uh numbers. >> Yeah, I just I want to know numbers and maybe you need to talk to Kevin Pos along the way. >> I'll do >> I'll survey um I'll throw that in there.
No, >> I'll survey some other communities. um and try to get a sense of how much is being offered. >> Yeah, >> I'll compare that to what our um our annual cost is for our family and
individual health insurance plans. Obviously, if they're on an individual, they get less of a payout >> than on family and then I'll come back with kind of a more formal proposal for the board to chew on and consider. >> Okay. >> And uh and then we can go from there. Um
I'll um we now have um our new um uh health insurance consultants on board too. So my plan was to talk to Ron as well. >> Yeah. >> Can you like dovetail it into like say it's $100 a paycheck. So that's $2,600 for the year. Can the town elect to put
that into a 403b for the employee? So then it's a it's it's tax offset as well. So but not extra income. I know that adds a layer of complex. be up to them though. >> Oh, you mean like just stash it away >> rather than giving them the money? Yeah.
I I wouldn't want to restrict it >> or give them the option. Option A is take the money, but your income goes up. They have more liability. Option B is it's a tax deferred vehicle. >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, they would have that. I guess they like to your point,
they would have that option individually anyway if they wanted to. >> Yeah. Yeah, they could put it, you know, paycheck. >> Well, actually, it' be after tax on a paycheck. So, the town would have >> they could just Yeah. Well, to I guess,
yeah, we could talk about the logistics. I mean, it would depend on how we pay it out. Like if we're paying it out on a >> right regular basis, then they could say, "Okay, that $200 in my check is just I'm just going to take it and yeah,
and deposit it in in the in the for whatever it is, 403b or whatever the the 401k, the the government 401k." Yeah. Um, so that could be that could be an option or someone could just get a just
a straight up check for that, >> right? >> No, the answer is yes. Pursue it. >> I'll come back. I'll come back once I have something to >> Yeah. Okay. >> to really show you. >> Advisor will want to have the same >> Oh, absolutely.
>> I mean, sure. Jake's going to want to see how this shakes out. So, it's it's Yeah, it's a good thing to have. It's a good thing to do it. It's a nice perk. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> And Yeah. I mean, yeah, I'm good with it. >> And it could help us.
>> Yeah. Even Even I mean >> I mean, even one person, if one person hops out, >> you give them whatever you're giving. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It's going to save us. >> Yeah. >> For us, >> it hard to find savings of that
magnitude in other places. Yeah. >> So, >> good. Well, thank you for that. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Last thing we have here um is a letter of support for the Department of Fish and Game acquisition of land on L Street and Groten Street. Um so, there
were two parcels of land that Fish and Game um are under agreement with to purchase from the land owners. So, um, one is it's a 30 acre parcel off of L Street, and this is the one that
probably many people know. Uh, it's that strip of land right before the, um, where the solar field is. It has been perked numerous times by different entities and essentially been
determined that it is not buildable. Um so um the owners of the property have finally decided that they were willing to sell to fish and gain. The other parcel is on the other side of town. Um it's like an 8 or nine acre
parcel right on the town line of Grten and Fish and Wildlife is looking to purchase this parcel as well as the abuing parcel but it's in Grten. Um, so it'll make it a a much larger piece and that will add into there the uncoded brook um wildlife management area. So
that again that's a parcel that is has a significant amount of wetlands on it. Um it's also right in the heart of our PAS area. Um so there's probably limited desire to pursue that development as well. Nonetheless, the two private
property owners have engaged with the state to purchase these. So the town really has nothing to do with it. We're not losing any tax base because state does pay essentially a pilot for the land that they purchase. And then then that's basically it. Um
you familiar with the >> Yeah, I was looking at it in my Yeah. What's the t I mean I know it's we still get something from fishing game for taxes but is it are we going to lose out a few thousand bucks or what's the >> I mean the the pilot we get is
doesn't match it's not a dollar but um but it don't it it less about I mean what it will do is it will um if they're not if they're not really develop developable um it's not going to reduce the taxes we
get. It's just going to spread it to everybody else. And it's I'm I'm assuming it's not a lot of money we're collecting from it anyway. >> Yeah. >> Is that it doesn't have an address from anyone, right? >> Wait, say that again. >> It has no address. Just these are
>> Oh, I don't I don't I don't But it doesn't it won't reduce the numbers the ship. Yeah. Yeah. And I mean the in this case it's I can't imagine we're getting >> it's undevelopable undevelopable
such a fun and so it's 500 bucks or what I'm guessing. I don't >> it'sable. >> Yeah. And then we have no PAS concerns there like does that eventually become an area that's got to be >> Well, it's right. It is right next right next to the high school.
>> Yeah. It's likely to have some sort of PAS if you were to test that. >> Yeah. So, we're not put no one's putting a house there, not putting a septic system there, but fish and game would be responsible for any future pollutant type issues on the land if there were
any that had to be mitigated. Right. >> Well, I they they're not tapping it for drinking water. So, I don't see that going to remain open space. Yeah. They're not going to cut the soil out of there because all of a sudden we find out that PAS soil has got to go or whatever. They are basically going to leave it as it is.
>> Okay. All right. I move to send a letter as presented in support of the Massachusetts Department of >> Okay. >> The whole street propert. >> Yep. Is that on the
opposite side of the road of the uh >> it's be of >> it's that strip of undeveloped land if you're heading >> on the right hand side if you're >> heading towards Tingsboro. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. That's all I
>> Okay. >> It was the best best property. >> He owned it for a long time. Yeah. I remember I remember somebody was looking to, you know, to develop it at one point
and uh it was uh it was a nogo. So I thought that was >> Yep. That's it. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. I move to send a letter as presented in support of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game
Fishing Games proposed purchase of fee interest in two properties located in the town of Dunville comprising approximately 30 acres and 8 acres of wildlife habitat as depicted on locust
map track numbers 2026- -12 and 2026-16 on Lowel Street and Broton Street. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> I
Great. Thank you very much. They will be very pleased. Um the closing on the one on Low Street is anticipated to be done by the end of February and the other one um they were going to initially thinking waiting the
120 days but that may get accelerated knowing that they have our support. So and I think that's it. Anything else? Yeah, you have it. Yeah, I do. I open we I want to just close here with kind of a
little bit of a my thoughts. You know, this is in regards to Max, right? >> Okay. >> And and we as a board and Jason too, we had a reasonable amount of
And because you that money and I know the it's got some pain associated with it but you know nonetheless the people that went up there and gave testimony this was a level of support and and for their efforts and you know if this
matter were to cross our hands again with some other dog. You know, we need to look at it from that perspective. Uh the the guy and his wife, I'm going brain dead. Um that lives up there, right, with the Chihuahua dog. >> I mean, he went >> David Hawkins.
>> Yeah. He went twice to this to these things and he stood up on the stand and you know, he had cross-examination. He was answering the questions. He was certainly caught in mouth, which meant he was under a lot of stress, right? And it was uncomfortable. So, like I've said before, no one likes confrontation
unless you're a lawyer. Um, and I'm grateful that we did that. I'm grateful that as a board we decided to do that. Um, where this goes from here, if the guy is really going to do any of
this, because he first he said, "Yeah, I just don't want to have the muzzle on the dog." Now, we're finding out that I'm not putting the muzzle on the dog. The dog's getting neutered and I'm not doing any training. And the judge was, she was very good about just looking at him going just like um so now we've got
some teeth in this thing and you know retrospectively yeah there's pain over the legal fees and we make these decisions all the time in in business. Are you going to go to court? It's going to cost you 100 grand but the settlement's 25. Just give them the 25
and forget it. I get that. But I'm glad that we did it. I'm glad that as a board we decided to do it and it certainly worked out the right way and we had all the right people. The discussion was good and I'm glad we did it, guys. I'm very glad we did it. >> Yeah. And you guys really carried the
water there. Thank you for going and dealing with that. >> I I didn't make it. Ron >> Ron, you have I didn't have the capacity for it. So, it's it it means a lot, I think, to the residents to have select board representation, town administrator representation. you know, Brian Faulk's firm is pretty top-notch, Mrick and
those guys. So, >> yeah. No, it it worked out really well. And I know I was involved in the still, oh, we will a lot of apprehension about wanting to chase this down because of the extents of the legal fees of it. But, you know, at the end of the day,
in my mind, it was money well spent. >> Well, and we have the precedent set. We can, as you said, we can fall back to this if it something ever comes up again. But >> she said her opening rem one of her opening comments was, "I think the
dustable select board is more than reasonable." >> How many shakes at the process do you get? >> Yeah. I mean, she actually Yeah. The judge actually said that she probably would have done more. >> She wanted to do more. She wanted to have a locker. She offered additional
farms but then ultimately yeah >> pulled them back and just um relied on the board's >> condition. Yeah. >> So I have one thing >> who knows >> not quite as serious as that but 213 Hall Street is a town owned parcel
that's town owned and it says recreation department underneath it. >> 213 Hall Street. >> Hall Street. It's a 5.69 69 acre lot that we bought from Kent Tullies many years ago. Um the affordable housing
trust had it come up in their discussion as like should we be looking to put a piece of affordable housing there and then my thought went through my head like what are we doing with that parcel in general? 5.69 acres is I think there's some power lines that run through part of it so that might reduce
some of the street frontage. >> I'm not familiar with that. It's just after um if you look at the old Dunville geo map. Um it's this lot right here.
Um so it's just after horse. I just don't like is this one of those town owned properties that >> I don't know about. >> Oh, the one under the power lines. >> But the >> Yeah. Yeah. Not the entire like that's why it's such it's a very long rectangular block. Is it something we
could Peace. on the table here for financial situations and we have ball fields that aren't used now. >> So, just something for us to consider at a future meeting. >> 213 ball shirt. >> Yeah. I mean, like we literally have baseball fields that we're spending money on for
CPA just to make active for one year last week. >> Are you saying the town I don't I know they're possible, but I never saw a sign there. >> No, there's no sign. I mean, but the town has owned that when the Horsehill subdivision went in. >> Yeah. Right.
>> And it was designated to the previous owner wanted there to be a baseball field there. So, it was given to the management of the recreation department, >> but Horse Hill was done. That was finished what, 20 years ago?
>> Yeah. At least. Yeah. >> We haven't done anything with it. Again, we're I'm just trying to think of other ideas for us to come up with some money for as a town without asking the residents to do another override when we're sitting on land that's just kind of sitting,
you know, >> cash, >> whether it be free cash or it, you know, it's um we lease it out. We let affordable housing do something with it. You know, that >> you'll have to talk to the recreation department because they're the ones who technically own it. >> Yeah. They had a >> and I don't know if that I mean if land
is used in recre land used in recreation there is a protection to it that may >> has to be in the deed. >> I'll have to yeah we have to look at the yeah if it's in the deed. Sure. But >> the use of code is 988 or something like that. >> Yeah.
>> If there were conditions on the transfer like that. I don't know if there were but if they if they weren't um >> something you could consider. >> Yeah. Or you know throw an RFP out there. you know that same group thought the same for the best trying you know to kicking that idea around again
>> whether it be Habitat for Humanity or whoever. So just sharing what was going on for other cool group motion to adjurnn. Second. >> All in favor? >> Yo.