This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable subscribers. >> Good morning, Southampton. Those who have had breakfast can sit down. Those who haven't can go home and have some breakfast and come back and they'll still be doing my preview talk.
So private joke 50 is present. I call our fall we're still fall town meeting to order. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. Stephen Thor Johnson, would you lead us
and join us if you wish? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Thank you. Please be seated. Good morning, fellow citizens of Southampton. Welcome to our 2025 fall special town meeting. I'm Robert Floyd, your town moderator. It's a privilege to
serve you. Thank you for your support. It really is. We have some technical difficulties with the internet tonight. So, this will not be going out live. It will be recorded and will be going out as soon as possible after the
meeting. For complete transparency and disclosure, I also serve you by being Southampton Cemetery Commission Clerk. I devote my time as clerk of the Southampton Cemetery Commission to be the contact for burials, requests, and
all communication matters for the commission. There is no compensation for this privilege to serve you. It's a busy season. Thank you for prioritizing this morning and coming out with our light dusting of snow. Our town meeting is a business meeting of Southampton. Our
legislative branch session is called according to a posted warrant. is the official record of what we will discuss and the only topics for our town meeting this morning. I'll read the warrant. Town of Southampton special town meeting
William E. or a school. And you are hereby directed to serve the warrant by posting tested copies thereof at six usual places and said town 14 days at least before the town time of the holding said meeting hereof. Fail
not and make due return of the warrant with your doings thereon to the town clerk at the time and place of meeting as for mentioned. And it's signed by select board and the constable. May we have a moment of silence now in
keeping with Southampton's culture for those who have moved on ahead since our last town meeting. Hold them dear in our hearts. like to thank E Media, Tim Riley, Jacksonfoot, and the team for setting it up this morning and dealing with the
difficulties of no internet and the work that may be required later on. I publicly thank Siri Simmons for her first successful year as our deputy moderator. Without objection, Siri is permitted to continue continue as deputy moderator through the annual town
election. Congrats. It's unanimous. Could Sierra come up? Will our town clerk Lucy Dalton administer the oath of office, please? Hi. Thank you. Thank you.
>> Thank you. It's official. The warrant. The articles are posted in at least five locations to warn the public about a legislative meeting. You have been heed of the warning. The executive branch of our town's government, the select board, finance committee, treasurer, collector,
accountant, town clerk, and administrator have worked hard to create and weigh in on this morning's special town meeting. Warren articles. Their work is done. Some members of our executive branch sit in front. According to our tradition, everybody at the head
tables is a guest of the moderator. They do not have more of a vote or input than any of you in our special town meeting. Town moderator's rules rather than the town council's legal opinion apply while town meeting is in progress. Your moderator allows commercial TV cameras,
which are a privilege, not a right, provided they stay at the back of the town meeting room on the far side of the floor line or outside the building, avoiding aisles and hallways. As your town moderator, my role is to facilitate an open process that voters can trust,
administering the rules and guidelines in an even-handed and partial and consistent manner, regardless of who you are. I do not guarantee any specific outcome. One of my duties as your moderator is to safeguard the rights of
individuals against illegal encroachment, whether unintentional or otherwise. Moderators authority is limited to the process, not the outcome. I trust the outcome to you, the fully informed voters of Southampton.
Procedure achieves goals rather than manipulate town meeting proceedings. I assist every dedicated voter as I serve the town. Therefore, if your inexperience here is holding you back, let me guide you through the process this morning.
You challenge my process with a point of order shouted from your seat. I will invite you to the microphone where you can describe what pending action is frivolous, irrelevant, illegal, or contrary to proper procedure. Any attempt to misuse this as a tactic to
usurp the floor will be addressed firmly. Your responsibility is to serve as a legislative branch of our government for today's articles. A town meeting is a legislature where the government trusts the people. You have
the power to enact laws, control the budget, and execute your freedom of speech. Speaking and participating in a town meeting is a right, but like all rights, it should not be abused or denied. The moderators responsible for
conducting the meetings as authorized by our Commonwealth Journal Laws, Chapter 37, sections 15 and 17 are bylaws and traditional customs and practices which we have followed for many years with guidance from the principles and rules
of conduct in town meeting time, a parliamentary handbook of guidance for townies. There's a new one out at $75. I can't afford to buy two of them like I did historically for the library for you to
use, but you can get any book for $9.99 for the rest of the month. This organic process remains dynamic as our customs, traditions, and practices evolve. Once a motion is read and I have asked for and received a second, I
invite a pro statement and a con statement. All discussions must be relevant to a motion under a warrant article and within the scope of each article before us, including the merits or lack thereof of the motion. It's when after a comment is ruled out of order or
scope, the speaker continues to debate the moderator. At that point, the speaker is directed to sit down. Speaking at the mic, ready to contribute something new, please approach the microphone at the front. Stand in line to be acknowledged by the moderator.
First come, first heard. I recognize speakers only when they stand at the mic, unless it's a point of order. Address the moderator clearly. State your name and address. Avoid speaking directly to others. Helps to avoid lecturing, bullying, and intimidation.
All crossexaminations are out of order. Speak up to five minutes at a time. Some towns only allow two. As long as you stay on topic regarding the motion and direct your opinions, questions and answers and remarks to me, not the town
meeting audience and speak no more than twice in any article except to correct an error or answer a question. Please ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be heard before you ask to be listened to a second time on an article and make concise to the-p point remarks.
Both sides will be heard regarding each article to keep the integrity of our town meeting as intact as possible. I will permit anyone who has previously spoken to address the meeting a second time with a new point of rebuttal. No repetition.
Before you cast your vote, whether yes or no, you are free to question, amend, and table or kill any motion. This is to legislate in a civilized manner. Amendments are letting the town meeting adjust an article to make it more
palable rather than voting it down. Amendments must be submitted in duplicate. Please print your name on it for our records. I will use tellers for counting unless it is unanimous or clearly a majority. Our pre-appointed counters when needed
will count a section as a pair and then compare their counts. If they disagree, the count resumes to ensure a complete and accurate count is announced so everyone can hear. They count from front to back. Please do not applaud, cheer,
boo, shout, but listen to what each person has to say before you make your final decision. Please show respect for your neighbors who may vote differently from you. This is a legislative body and should be contemplative. Anyone unwilling to
comply with these rules will be removed after the third warning. So, let this be our first warning. My goal has been to provide the town meeting with as much factual information as possible so that you can make informed votes that are best for you. Anyone unsatisfied with
the lack of information for an article may motion to adjourn a special town meeting so that the presenter can obtain the necessary information. Are there any reasons to change the order of the articles? Hearing none, we proceed. Simply because
someone states something doesn't mean it is accurate. The majority that leans towards approval does not make it right. Any nine voter speakers to vet. Listen attentively. Vote according to your conscience. Thank you all for your
patience and for respecting everyone this morning. These guidelines will help us have a more efficient meeting. Can I hear a motion for article one, please? >> Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote to transfer an amount totaling $327,185
from the accounts as listed in article 1 of the December 6, 2025 special town meeting warrant to the group health active employees account number 01-914-5170 said sums to come from the FY26 listed accounts.
>> Motion made. Do I second? >> Second that. Motion made and seconded. Who would like to speak for this article? Mr. Moderator Scott Zach, town administrator. You might have heard that health insurance increases have become a very significant problem for mun
municipalities all across Massachusetts. Southampton is not the only community to be dealing with this problem, but it is one of the communities that has been hit the hardest. Southampton is currently a member of the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust, which is a group of over 70 municipalities that buy health insurance as a group. And we've been
part of that trust for decades. We are just one of those 70 member organizations with the trust, which means that we have very little say in the administration of the trust other than our one vote against the 70 other municipalities. Changes for the trust aren't just difficult, they're non-existent because
of this. Late last fiscal year, it was announced that for July 1st, 2025, there would be an 18 plus% increase in our health insurance costs through the trust. That amount was already devastating to our budget. Then in late August, we were notified that for the
trust to remain solvent, they needed another increase of 20% in October. And then on top of that, our retirey plans will be increasing by 20% for January 1st. And again, on top of that, we were notified that there would be another
double-digit increase coming down the road for July 1st, this upcoming fiscal year. That's more than a 50% increase in our largest single line item outside of the schools in one year. I won't go into my thoughts on and opinions on how the
Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust has been run. uh their executive director resigned last month, another employee resigned last week, and the state legislature has pending legislation to help communities exit the trust. However, none of that solves the problem that dozens of communities have now, which is to make sure that we can
pay our legally obligated health insurance costs. Health insurance costs are a little bit of a moving target. So, we expect this 20% increase to cost anywhere uh an additional $300,000 plus for this fiscal year. After January 1st, you will have to recalculate everything,
including the retirey cost increases and the new staffing levels, but this should take care of the cost for our town and the north school staff. This transfer, this transfer will get us to the end of the fiscal year, but at the very least annual town meeting. However, it's not
all bad news. We have been able to move forward with an agreement with our unions to join the State Group Insurance Commission, better known as the GIC, for the upcoming fiscal year. The GIC has over 280,000 subscribers and 460,000 members. It provides and administers
high-quality affordable health insurance and other benefits to the Commonwealth's employees and retirees. So basically everyone from the governor all the way down to the road crews at Mass DOT. It also provides coverage to participating municipalities such as Northampton housing and redevelopment
authorities personnel as well as retired employees for the state and the municipality. This move should save the town close to $400,000 next year from what the trust offered, provide stability to our health insurance budget, decrease our administration administrative workload, and offer more
options to town employees and retirees. There will be some risk depending on which plans employees migrate to and what our runout costs may be, even if they even if we are legally bound to pay them from leaving the trust. But there should be savings to the town of almost $7,400 for each employee on a family
plan. and the employees will be seeing a savings of nearly $3,000 for themselves. Thank you. >> Thank you. Who would like to speak in opposition to this motion under article one? >> Any other comments, questions? Come
right up. Don't wait to be invited. >> Good morning. My name is Elaine Daste. I live at three Hawthorne Drive and I'm a retiree of the town of Southampton. My community is very important to me as to all of you and a concern being
retiree is that Blue Cross Blue Shield which is our insurance has been fantastic for everyone. Now the cost that we're going to incur as well as the care that we may
come to with the new insurance is a concern for retirees. We have not really been given a choice or voice in what plan as yet we may come to a decision on, but we'd like to be included in that
decision making. And I just would like to speak to that and ask that the community remember that retirees pay their portion of the insurance as well. Thank you. >> Thank you. Mike Buer, 88 High Street. Uh, two
questions if that's okay. The first one is, uh, my understanding is that health insurance is an operating cost. So, is it even I don't know the word acceptable or legitimate to use capital uh, capital stabilization funds and uh, ambulance
stabilization funds for an operating cost. The second question is what will the I guess short to mediumterm uh short to medium-term impact be of using 150,000 of uh capital stabilization
funds for an operating cost? Will will that affect any big capital cost the town's looking at in the next couple of years? >> Thank you. Who would like to answer that? Bradley Scott.
>> So, the $150,000 transfer would be uh reduce our stabilization fund to $165,000 and our capital would be $150,000. Um is it the best case scenario? No. But we're currently in the middle of a fiscal year, so we can't take from any other already appropriated funds until
later on in the year. Um this was a surprise. We literally got this in uh late August, early September. Uh and no one really planned for a 20% increase. So right now, this is the only way that we could fund this is without cutting either operational cost or uh personnel
cost >> with the GIC. It should u help correct it for July 1st and hopefully we can replenish some of the money to our stabilization fund then. Okay, I think that answered the second question, but the first question was, is this even a
legitimate use of capital stabilization or ambulance stabilization funds given that health insurance is an operating cost? >> Uh, it is it does require town meeting to uh transfer the funds. >> Thank you. >> Answer your question, Mike. Cheers.
Anyone else? Questions, comments, opinions? Seeing none, we'll vote. All those in favor? No, hold it. We got to do this. >> All those in favor, raise your cards. Show me the green.
Okay, put it down. Opposed passes by majority. May I have a motion for article two, please? >> Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote to transfer an amount totaling 300. I'm so sorry.
Novice error. Sorry about that. Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote to amend sections 35-1, 35-2, 35-4, and add section 35-5 and section 35-6 of the town's general bylaws as
listed in article 2 of the December 6, 2025 special town meeting warrant. >> Motion made. Do I second? >> Second. Motion made and seconded. I am going to step down for this motion under article two because it involves the moderator. So, keeping with ethics
proper, we're going to have our deputy moderator take over. >> All right. Uh, who would like to uh speak in favor of this motion? Madam moderator Scott Zbacktown administrator. So these proposed changes to the finance
committee bylaw would further define their duties and responsibilities and change the positions from elected to appointed. Now the question is why do we need to make these changes to the bylaw? The short answer is unfortunately the current system simply does not work. Yes, there are a lot of points
supporting the change. The first is it's more efficient. there have been a lot of vacancies and it's quicker for the town moderator to interview and appoint. The second one is there are currently no qualifications for this important committee other than being a registered voter. This change would institute an actual vetting process based on
qualifications and experience just like we currently do with other appointed committees. It's also recommended best practice and over 85% of the finest committees in the state are appointed. Sure, each community is unique and different and should do what is best for them, but certainly telling that the vast majority of municipalities are
moving away from electing their fincome and it's becoming more and more difficult for citizens to volunteer to become an elected official in this current environment to put their names out there for voters, but also to be criticized and scrutinized when all they want to do is volunteer their time, experience, and expertise to make the
town better. Those are all legit legitimate points that should be considered. But the primary reason that this process needs to change is based on participation. And unfortunately, it isn't exclusive to the fincom. Other elected communities have vacancies as well. But when you look at the numbers
since 2019, positions for fin have appeared 23 times on the ballot. 13 of those 23 times or 60% of the positions were filled by Rydens or they weren't filled at all, remaining vacant, meaning zero votes and zero ridins. The clap
town clerk labels it a failure to elect. In 2019, there was a ride in elected with just four votes. 2020, three people were elected with a ride in of just two votes each. 2022, another position was filled with a ride in of two votes. And in 2023, a Ryden
received three votes. This is concerning because without a quorum, town business stops. Additionally, there hasn't been a contested election for FINCOM in over a decade. So when a name appears on a ballot, that is the only choice voters has. Voters have. This means that there
isn't a process for voters to compare candidates or determine what their positions and view are or to learn about their qualifications and experience. This leads to the only qualification being able to convince one or two friends to write your name on the ballot or to just get someone to the town caucus to put your name on the ballot.
When you look at the structure of our government, the independent branches and checks and balances will only be strengthened with these changes. The select board acts as the town's executive branch, similar to the governor president, and they're responsible for the day-to-day operations and general direction of the town, often acting through professional
staff. Town meeting acts as the town legislative body of the town. You approve the annual budget, authorizing specific expenditures, the issuance of debt, and the use of free cash. You also approve bylaws, specific policies, and other changes to government. Very similar to Congress. The town moderator
is the leader of the legislative body and this elected official is trusted to make decisions that directly impact the town on a regular basis. If we trust the position of moderator to guide town meeting, the position can certainly be capable of appointing the finance committee. And that leads me to the finance committee, the town's official
fiscal watchdog. Its primary statutory responsibility is to advise and make recommendations to town meeting on the budget and other areas of finance. The finance committee plays a vital role and is involved in every step of the budget process. Ultimately, it is the select board to prepare the town's budget and
it's the finance committee's responsibility to review the budget submitted to them and to make recommendations regarding the budget to the town's legislative body. You, the town meeting. However, for this to continue to happen, we need a sustainable system that isn't dependent on a few writing votes every year and
establishes minimum qualifications and experience to serve on the finance committee. Thank you. Um, would anyone like to speak in opposition to this? >> Go ahead. >> Tammy Wunes, 298 College Highway. Madame
moderator, um, what qualifications does the monitor have for making these decisions of who is going to be our finance group? Um the town meeting
doesn't listen to the finance group on many occasions and have been shut down at many special town meetings and annual town meetings with their requirements.
I don't see this going forward if we're we don't even give the respect to the group that we have representing the voice of our community. What gives you or excuse me the
moderator the qualifications to do this? Uh would someone like to answer that question? Chris Fowls, 11 Gun Road. I'm speaking both from a perspective I think from select board but also my representation
on the bylaw review advisory committee. It is true that we now have a sitting fin. We have four out of five seats filled. This is by far the most qualified financial committee that we have had in my time on five years on the select board and I thank them all for
joining in and will being willing to step up. I will say however not one of them I believe stood for election immediately. Uh everybody I think um was approached either by a member of select board or another town committee member
because they knew of their background and their qualifications especially in the financial field. All of these people have got financial background and that is incredibly important to us. Um, and with that approach, many of them, two of them I know for sure, uh, accepted to be
appointed by the select board for a period of time to try it out to see whether FinCom was really a fit for them and whether given the roles and responsibilities and the time commitment, it would fit their own personal life schedule. Thank goodness after a few months they decided to stand
for election and were on the ballot and were elected. Uh our last election in May uh we had another write in and thank goodness we had another person show her interest and step up. Uh that would have been a bigger volume I think of votes for that candidate but the word did not
get out quickly that this person was interested in being on fin. So we have the the votes that are um important because people have volunteered first to sort of at least talk about being on the fin try to maybe be appointed for a
little bit but then per our current bylaw they have to stand for election. Um it's really hard to get people to volunteer for almost any committee in town let alone stand for election. As it was mentioned I don't believe there's been a contested election not only of fincom but in general in town. I think
the last one for select board was a good five years ago. Um so it's really very difficult and I think by having the town moderator uh be that independent voice that is in my mind that is the bridge between the legislative body and the executive. So the town meeting and the
select board the town moderator is elected annually by all of you the voters. uh that is our independent in entity basically to try and establish uh a fincome and that person would be the one that would establish
qualifications having required financial background especially to be serving on the on the fincom and be that watchdog for the town finances. Furthermore, this bylaw uh had basically no requirements in terms of what their duties were. And
I think you'll see in the bold bolded section, the last sections, it has really made that a whole lot clearer in terms of the expectations of not only having an input in the budget, but meeting quarterly with the executive uh committee, i.e. the select board and the finance committee at in town hall, the
treasur and accountant um to really make comments about budget requests and put forth a budget for you in May. Thank you. >> Does that answer your question, Tammy? >> Yes and no. So, even on this article, we don't even have their
recommendations. So, we're not even including them on this document. >> Is that a Is that a question? >> No. Okay. Uh >> I can address that.
>> Okay. Uh another response to that. >> So, uh just to address our lack of recommendation, I believe we all have personal recommendations or feelings about this bylaw change. However, we are, you know, basically tasked with recommending on finance matters. And
because this is a bylaw, although it falls on and impacts the finance committee, it's really outside of our kind of powers and responsibilities to give a recommendation. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next up to the mic.
>> Hi, Moren Grod and Cheryl Lane. I disagree with a comment about the recommendations of the finance committee. I think there are many people in this town that look to the finance committee at town meeting to decide whether or not they're going to support an article or not. I know having been on
the select board, I valued tremendously this finance committee meets with every single department in town. I've seen them take a budget and ask the right questions uh and make changes in the budget based on their knowledge and background. So, personally, I would want
an experienced and ethical finance committee to be appointed to make decisions on our over $20 million budget in this town. When I was on the select board, uh we continued to have problems getting people elected and stepping up for the finance committee. I did get one
person to get uh to be appointed and because of personal reasons, he wasn't able to then become elected after that. I sent out postcards to over 50 people in this town. I went through the town clerk street listing and I looked at every single person that listed their
occupation as a banker, accountant, uh, insurance person, everybody that had a background in finance I sent a postcard to, which was over 50 people and not one person stepped up to be on the finance committee. So, I think we need to have a very experienced, ethical, and
knowledgeable finance committee in this town. Thank you. Next. >> Good morning, madame moderator. Uh, my name is Brad Tol and I live at 9 Maple Street in Southampton. Uh, first, I am aligned with Tammy's earlier comments.
Uh, I also have great respect and appreciation for the folks that volunteer their time every day to serve our community and the various committees. So, thank you. On article two, however, I am strongly voting no regardless of any edits or amendments made here today. The current elected
finance committee is a group of smart and savvy business people as indicated by the select board chair. In my opinion, the committee members are fully capable of reviewing and monitoring the financial plans of our town. Any changes in the job description could end up eliminating highly qualified people who
perhaps don't have the right letters after their name. I've taken the time to get to know a couple of the members and they have been very direct and open in sharing the financial challenges of our town, characterizing Southampton as approaching a financial cliff. I trust them. It is this level of transparency
that I, as a resident, would like to see more of, especially given our current financial challenges. I want the finance committee to serve as our check and balance to the rest of the leadership team and their plans. By voting on article two, I am voting for against
article 2. I am voting for maintaining an independent and outspoken finance committee that can openly share information and opinions that seem increasingly in contrast with the select board. I am hopeful that as an independent committee, they will participate in bringing forward a comprehensive capital expenses plan so
we can openly and transparently prioritize Southampton's financial needs rather than put specific projects on the ballot only to learn later of yet another financial crisis. Again, I will be voting no on article 2, and I hope you'll do the same. Thank you.
>> Would anyone else like to speak on this article? >> Hi, I'm Charlie Kaki, West uh Charlie Kcki, 162 Valley Road. I got one question. Why is the position appointed by the moderator, not the town of select, the select board?
>> Who can answer that question? I'll give it a try. Uh basically anybody appoint any committee any person on a committee appointed by the select board technically reports to the select board. Therefore you don't have that independence. The independence would be
by having the town moderator as an elected official here in town every year do that. So that there is that bridge as I was talking about that separation between the legislative and the executive. Does >> that answer your question?
>> Go ahead. >> Mary and Krasco, Glendale Road. Um and I the last speaker just answered my addressed my second issue which was exactly why we need to vote for this. Um
this the um having the moderator make the decision does guarantee that it's independent which was the um the person who spoke no that was one of the concerns. The other is the quality of the finance committee. And when you look at and you see what's
happened over the years, there is no guarantee that the finance committee in fact will meet what that speaker is looking for. Whereas if we have an independent decision maker looking at the qualifications and guaranteeing that
the qualifications will be there, then we will have exactly the kind of finance committee that that speaker was looking for. And that's why I'm voting yes. >> Thank you. Anyone else next? Becky Plimpmpton, 197 College Highway.
I'm a member of the finance committee, but I want to be clear, this is my personal opinion. So, uh, three of the four committee members, uh, have been appointed, and all four of us ran unopposed.
um in our elections after that. Uh we sorry I I got distracted. Um we are not um
sorry I need to regroup. Go ahead. Tracy Smith, five Anita Drive. Uh the bylaw as written if uh it says that if there is a vacancy after an election that the select board can um put someone
in that position. So that's already in play. I know there's some discussion about the moderator might be a better person. So perhaps that's what we need to consider changing in the bylaw. Not that it should be an appointed position totally, but that there should be an
election and if there's a vacancy, maybe then the moderator could step in and uh appoint someone. >> Thank you. Go ahead. >> Sorry. As I was saying, Becky Plinton, 197 College Highway. Um, we we have been
appointed. We have been elected. Um right now until more people stand up and serve on the committees, what we have is the illusion of choice. Um and so we need more people to serve. Um that being
said, if this um amendment goes through and we remove a barrier for people to serve on these committees, then I am for it. >> Thank you. Next. Hi, Melissa Lucy Greenbergs, Fulmer
Road. Um, I have a couple of concerns. One, is there >> Sorry, just one second. Could you repeat your name one more time? >> Melissa Lucy Greenberg's Fulmer Road. My concern is that there's less than zero guarantee that the moderator is in any way, shape, or form qualified to make
the assessment and appoint the financial committee. The other thing is why is this at a special meeting and not the annual meeting? This feels sneaky. There's like a small portion of the town here. If anybody could talk to that, I'd
really appreciate it. Can someone answer that question? >> Yeah, I I don't know that I can totally answer that. I mean, bylaws get um brought forth at both special and annual town meetings. uh the bylaw revisory advisory committee um works on them and
puts them forth when they're ready to be presented. So, uh this was the timing of it. It still after this uh should it pass, it still goes to the attorney general and there'll be another what 90 days at least before anything would take effect. Thank you. Does that answer your
question? All right. Next. Hi, Jennifer Roberge, 134 Brickyard Road. Um, I'm concerned if the moderator is interviewing people, but nobody's that the other woman said
50, she sent out 50 pe 50 postcards to people and nobody came up like who's this who's the moderator interviewing. First of all, that's my first thought. And secondly, why is it just one person the town
moderator? Why not the town moderator plus for towns people? So, it's a a committee picking versus just one person. Can someone answer that or respond to that? >> With the number of vacancies that every
committee carries, I can hardly recommend forming a subcommittee to do interviewing. The fundamental problem is that we're a small community and we're all busy and have
our own priorities, but we need more helpers to run this town. Um, it's it's not to put a badge on my chest, but since I've got the microphone, I will tell you as a member of the select board, I have been
desperate to see the finance committee adequately populated so they could even legally meet and operate. So, I'm delighted. I trust the process with a moderator. It's not about this moderator or the other moderator. It's
about the role of the moderator and uh ultimately that's my point. Thank you. >> Does that answer your question? >> It does. But my first question of how we finding these candidates, what's the what's the how are we going to go about, you know,
getting volunteers to come up to even be interviewed? >> Can someone respond answer that? >> Yeah, I think uh I think Rey talked to it a little bit and maybe I did too. Um, basically we put the word out on our website at various meetings saying that
we're looking for candidates and it's not only for fincom. We currently have vacancies I believe on the assessors on the school committee on the planning board and on concom. So these are all elected positions. We as a town have a lot of elected positions and it's very
hard to get people to stand up for election. People don't want to campaign. they don't want to uh be challenged and and have a debate which is what one would normally hope for if we had a true election process. So as a result it relies on word of mouth getting the word
out through various networks all of you here and people that you know saying hey my neighbor two streets over you know happens to be an accountant and you know I don't know if he's interested or not but you know here's his name and maybe you could contact him. That's exactly how this has happened. That's exactly
how folks have been found currently and we are very fortunate that we not only found the qualified people but they have been willing to step up and say yes when we've asked them. >> Does that answer your question? Yes. Thank you.
>> All right. Next up, >> Kurt Nan, 51 Cottage Avenue. I have a couple questions. That's okay. >> Yep. Just come close to the mic. >> Okay. Sorry about that. Uh just say your name one more time please. Uh >> Kurt Nean 51 Cottage A. >> So my first question is if I'm reading this correctly is the appointments are
going to be for three years now instead of the one two three. That's the way this is written up. >> Can someone answer that? >> Says right there, will it shall be appointed for terms of three years to succeed the members whose terms may expire this year? That's what it says right in your article.
>> So they're they're basically going to be staggered terms for one year, two years, and three years as usual. The current people that are in place that have been elected will continue to serve out their term as elected officers. When their term comes up, they will in turn then be appointed for
either one year, 2year, or three-year terms. The intent is to always have a staggered expiration. >> Okay. Well, that's not what it says on here. No, I believe it does. >> I just believe it does for it will serve for a term of one year. Mhm. >> Two members will serve for a term of 1
year, two members for 2 years, and one member for 3 years. >> And read where it says there thereafter, finance committee members shall be appointed for terms of 3 years to succeed the members whose terms may expire that year or the balance of terms >> to succeed the terms. So if I was
serving for two years and I expired as an elected official, when I get appointed, I would be appointed for two years. >> But there's no longer be elections. Everyone's going to be appointed now, which means you're appointed for 3 years when you're appointed. That there no longer is going to be an election for one, two, or threeear term. It's going
to be strictly appointed, >> but it's still going to be appointed for one, two, or threeear terms. >> Yeah. Then you correct the article to say that. >> Okay. >> It's not what it says in the article. >> I believe it does, but >> I just read it to you. >> Can anyone else uh help clarify the
language of the article? >> Just just to add one part to it's I'll read it again. the terms to be appointed for terms of 3 years. So that's the maximum amount anybody can serve on the finance committee. You can't serve any longer than that. Some there are some boards here, believe it or not, that
have a 5-year term. Park Commission, for one, has a 5-year requirement. Okay? The terms of 3 years to succeed the members whose terms may expire that year. So again, if I were serving as an elected person for two years, when I get appointed, again, I'm going to be
serving that term as an appointed person for two years. >> Okay. >> Okay. Do you have a second question or a second comment? >> Uh, I did, but I can't remember what it was. Sorry. >> Okay. Um, next. Come on up.
John Lyri Valley Road. Um I spent some time on the finance committee myself and um it is very difficult. We never had a full board when I was there or committee and now it was actually very depressing to be on that committee because you worked with
budgets and people that needed things you couldn't promise or or give them. You worked very hard all year long trying to come up with a budget only to get it roatilled
by the select board turned over. It's strictly an advisory board. You want more members, give them some authority that sticks and bites. They're wasting their time. I wasted my time.
Sorry to say it like that, but it is true. Thank you. Next, >> Charlie Kcki, 146 Valley Road. I move the question. >> Uh, there's one more person who'd like to speak. Um, who's been waiting?
>> See her f first of all, just to clarify the uh >> Sorry, could you say your uh name and street again? >> Jonathan J. Coleman road to clarify what was being said earlier thereafter um is really the key here. It's in the
pre it's in the prior it's in the currently it's in the existing bylaw and it's going to be in the new one. Nothing is being changed essentially except going from on that part of it uh going from elected to appointed. The first
sentence there really says in the beginning this is how it's happened. We're going to start with staggered terms and then after everyone's elected for three years when those staggered when the respective terms end. So nothing's being changed there in going
from elected I'm sorry elected to appointed. The other thing is is that as someone who's written a lot of bylaws in my life um there's no perfect answer. There's no perfect answer here and I congratulate the select board and others
input from the bylaws committee you know on what they've done to come up with the best thing. Third really the what happens if this doesn't quite work out. There'll be town meetings in the future. It can be revisited. There'll be more
input. We'll know what the experience is. Um I move I don't move. I I'm wholeheartedly in support of this motion. I think it's the best uh the best that we can do for right now and we'll have the experience.
Thank you. Um we have were you two waiting in line? We have a couple people waiting in line. Um Charlie, we're going to uh wait to vote on calling the question until everyone who's been waiting has a chance. Um go ahead. Uh Mike Buer, 88 High Street. I think
most people in this room agree that the process of uh staffing the finance committee has not served the town terribly well in recent years. So the the question is how do we come up with a solution that simultaneously gets us expertise and talent on the finance
committee while ensuring accountability to the citizens of the town. And frankly, I'm I'm not loving either solution that's been on the table. Um I think an elected a process of electing finance committee members both as we've discussed doesn't do great simply
turning up any candidates. And second, I think there I don't think an electoral process provides sufficient vetting for the kind of talent, capability, and experience we're looking for. The problem is having the moderator appoint finance committee members doesn't
provide the level or to my mind doesn't provide the level of openness, transparency, and accountability that the citizens of the town would like. So, frankly, for my money, I'd much prefer a solution, like it or not guys, that had the select board
appointing finance committee members because the select board meets it. They have the expertise. They have the experience. They have public meetings that are televised and recorded and they're accountable both to each other and to the voters. So that for what it's
worth, that's the kind of solution I would like to see rather than continuing with an electoral process or moving to moderator appointments. Thank you. >> Thank you. I'm going to let these next two people come up and speak and then we will uh take a vote on calling the
question. Hello. Martha is a >> uh can step up to the mic and pull it down to your face a little bit. >> There you go. Martha Isad, a golden circle. Uh, as I listen today, I'm going to shorten my
statement because it's already been said. So, I want to thank you all for allowing me to speak. I'm asking all of us here to vote no on the changing the finance committee from elected to appointed. This change takes the power
away from us, the voters, and hands it to the town. Right now, the finance committee is elected and the bylaw already allows, as we know, the town to fill any vacancy until the next election. There was some comments about
write in ballots and doing away with that that it's not a good solution. Well, we the people can elect a president by writing ballots. So, I'm going to that's that just doesn't click with me. uh what we're doing again I'm
going to kind of exclude some things that have been said uh we are shifting to a fully appointed model which to concentrate the power of selection to one person the long-term impact of that
depends entirely on who holds that role in the future. Once we give up our vote, we don't get it back. We need transparency, accountability, and real checks and balances. The change, this
change undermines all three. Massachusetts was built on the freedom of self-government, keeping voters in charge. I ask everyone to vote no. >> Thank you. Come on up. >> Hi, I'm Teresa Parks, Six Lori Drive.
This is my first town meeting. Um, so I just want to >> state that um I do feel like um I'm very sensitive to the vacancy issue that the town has. It sounds like there are a lot of committees um where we need people to
step up and and to serve. Um however, you know, as a member of the town, I am very concerned about the slippery slope of moving to an appointed process versus an elected process. I am also sensitive
to the lack of qualifications that perhaps our writing candidates may have. But at our essence, we are, you know, a democracy and we do give people the right to vote for a reason. So, I would suggest that the town, you know, double
down on the efforts to try to get people to raise their hand to serve because the bylaws already provide the town the power to appoint if there is an elective fail. So, I will be voting no. Thank you. Thank you.
Okay, we've had a a motion to uh call the question, which means we're going to hold a vote to decide whether we're going to end this discussion and just push it straight to the vote for the article. So, this first vote, we're just voting whether we're going to go ahead and vote or not. You're not voting on
the article yet. So, um I'm going to ask if all those in favor of moving the question and going straight to a vote without any further discussion, please say I. >> I. >> All oppose, please say nay. Okay, so questions and called. We're going to
move straight to a vote on this. Um and it's a voice vote, right? We're not doing the Okay. So, um, all those in favor of the motion for article two, please say I. >> I. >> All those opposed, please say nay.
>> All right. So, we're going to have to do a count. Can I get the counters up, please? Uh, sorry. The people who are coming around to count. I'll let you know when it's time to raise your ballots or your thingy things.
You guys coming up? >> Point of order or point of clarification. What's the threshold for this vote? >> Is it >> uh a simple majority? >> Thank you. >> Everything okay with the uh counting process? We got enough people there. >> Okay. You ready? Ready to go.
Okay. Um, everyone who's in favor, please lift up your uh green thumb thing and keep it up. >> Yeah, this is a pass uh article to in favor of article two. That is Hold your thumbs up nice and high.
33. Okay, that's for one section. Keep them up. We're still counting. 20 on that side. >> Said 20. >> 20. >> Is that all the sections? Anyone else still counting? We're good. Okay. You
can put your hands down. All right. All those opposed, please raise your ballots and keep them up. I don't know why. Where did that come from? Paddles. Paddles. That's the word I'm looking for. Yeah. Make sure you hold them up high so
you don't get missed. Yeah. >> 20 on that side. >> 20 on that side. >> 30 >> 30 on that side. Oo, that was a close one. All right. The motion passes by majority 53 to 50.
>> No applause. Not allowed. All right, come on back up. >> Please give me a few minutes. I got some housekeeping to do. There you go. I'm going to call Before everybody leaves, I need to have us
reconsider article one. I ignored the twothirds requirement. I know we made twothirds, but I need the official vote. So all those who are opposed for article one which was the majority in the minority please raise your hands or your
paddles. Counters I need you to count. We're counting again for those who voted no. Article one.
This is for article one. We voted. The vast majority voted yes. The small number voted no. We definitely have twothirds. I need a number for the record. So, anybody who voted against article one, please raise your hands and
counters count and give me a number. one on that side. >> Okay. >> Three. Three. The number is four again. Article one passes this time by 2/3.
>> Article one. Article one. I was very clear on that. >> Hello. Um Todd Vita from Ford Donna Marie. So, article two passed by two, right? >> By three. So,
that's way too close. We should have done at least a recount or a blind count. We shouldn't just pass it on three votes with this many people and with subject of people counting flags. >> This is what we've historically done. I've established a procedure where we
have two counters versus the historic one. They compare notes. If they failed with the number counted, they count again. That stands. The count stands. Motion for article three, please.
>> Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote to repeal the town's personnel bylaw as said bylaw was amended by town meeting on May 16th, 1988. as set forth in article 3 of the warrant
for the December 6, 2025 special town meeting. >> Motion made. Very second. >> Second that. >> Motion made and second. Who would like to speak on the motion for article 3? >> Mr. Moderator Scott Zback Town Administrator. So this is the first of
two articles. Uh this specific one would repeal the personnel policy and procedures board and the second would replace the wording uh with the select board. The personnel policy and procedure board or the PQB try saying that uh adds an unnecessary layer of
bureaucracy. It slows the process of hiring, delays updating our town employment policies and risk having conflicts of interest and ethical problems. Personal management is a profession. It's a technical skill which I did for municipalities for the greater part of the past 20 years. The day-to-day personnel management
needs to be left to the department heads, administrators, and our town council with continued oversight by the select board. Our process needs to be more efficient to compete in today's labor market. Let me just go through a potential timeline if a department wanted to hire an employee today. So, an employee resigns on July 1st. It's going
to take a couple of months for the PQB and Select Board to update the job description. Now, we're potentially in September. Next, the PQP has to approve the position advertisement. This could be an additional month or two delay that pushes the advertisement back to October. Once approved, this can be
advertised for 30 to 45 days. We hope to find several candidates and it will take a couple weeks to conduct the interviews. At this point, we're into late November, early December. The department head needs to then negotiate a salary and benefits with the candidate, not knowing what the PQB will approve. And don't forget the PQB is a
committee subject to the open meeting laws. So everything is recorded and transparent and out in the open for that candidate to now uh have the potential of having their employer know that they're looking elsewhere. This is a difficult position to be in. Hopefully there comes to an agreement with the
candidate and now the department head needs to seek the PQB approval to hire the person at the discussed rate and benefits. If they're rejected by the PQB, it's back to the starting line. we now could easily be in early January before it
goes to the PQB for approval. But also remember, again, I can't stress this enough, is the PQB is an official committee subject to the open meeting law. So now the candidates name is going to be public without having any um employment contract or any real guarantee of employment from the town of
Southampton. Now, if that's approved, it's going to go to the select board for approval. This could be in late January or early February. Now the offer is complete and after an additional couple of weeks to complete the pre-employment physicals, background checks, etc., the candidate can now give a 30-day notice with a
start date of sometime in April. The position would have been vacant for almost 9 months. This is a realistic scenario of our hiring process. It can take up to 9 months to fill a position or even more. Even at its fastest, it would be 6 months with all the layers of approval that department head must go
through at the minimum. Myself and the professional staff agree that these processes are too burdensome and adds little value to the final result. It's really just more obstacles. It should take no more than 120 days from a vacancy occurring to the replacement's first day of work. It's the same for the
personnel policies. For example, the remote work policy, which we changed last year, which previously was just one sentence, took almost half a year to update. We do not need the additional layer of bureaucracy to basic human resource functions that should be performed by the professional staff.
The day-to-day personnel administration needs to be left to the professional department heads, administration, and reviewed by town council. Simple things like approving a job advertisement shouldn't need multiple levels of approval. The job market is way too competitive to have these types of delays. And the fields of employment law
and human resources changes far too fast and and far too often to have these types of obstacles. Every policy and procedure move will still be vetted and reviewed by professional staff and town council, then ultimately approved by the select board in public. Policies and procedures will continue to be a
collaborative process that is public and transparent. Additionally, there is the very real problem of employees serving on the same board that determines their co-workers pay and benefits, their own pay and policies that apply to them. Just last year, two out of the four members of the personnel policy and
procedures board were active town employees. That puts everyone in a very difficult position. This means that we have active employees voting on the compensation of co-workers and policies that would directly impact them and their department. I don't need to stress how much of a huge legal liability that
could be. We need to make our personnel processes more efficient to trust the qualified and experienced professionals, staff, and administration and to move Southampton forward. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone like to speak in opposition? Anyone like to speak at all?
>> Carl Kenir, County Road. I just have a question in regards to this. Uh I was on the personnel board a few years back and one of the things that the personnel board was
one of their responsibilities was to act as a mediator in the event of complaints or problems between employees and their department heads. If you eliminate this, you're
eliminating that step for the employees to have that ability to to arbitrate a problem that might not necessarily have to go to the select
board. The select board was the next step after the personnel board. I think it's a bad idea to eliminate this. >> Thank you. Who else would like to speak on this? Good morning. Ian Ellingsworth, police chief and uh resident on Kylen Circle.
Um I'm in support of this this article and I want to echo what the town administrator had said as well. Um, essentially this board acts as a uh human resources department and for me I found it very challenging to hire people
uh especially in with the current workforces that we have right now and and the with police officers in particular. It can take a long time to hire somebody. And what I've experienced in the past and and I want to preface this first with this has nothing my opinion on this has nothing to do with
the dedicated volunteers that were on the board that I've worked with. They've provided nothing but insight and helpfulness in the past. Where the inefficiencies lie are in that bylaw as well as the meeting schedules. And to to um just follow up with what Scott Zbeck
had said, the personal policy and procedures board meets typically once a month. the third Thursday of a of a of a um of the of the month and where that person may reside and you have to hire somebody. If you miss that
that third Thursday, you have to wait an entire month and that adds to this process. And it's because they're volunteers. They don't have the they do not have the time to dedicate a weekly meeting. And then because it's a two-phase process of hiring people, that complicates things even further. And
I've had positions um that have taken far too long to hire um as a result of this antiquated process I'd call it and inefficient process. What I think is important that uh if
somebody resigns on my department for instance, I would like to be able to go to the board, go to this um the town administrator and say I need this position filled and not have to go through that multi-phase process that takes many many months to to complete. And as a result of that, personally with
my department, these shifts have to get filled. They're backfilled with overtime and I uh um it affects my budget. >> Thank you. Arthur Lawrence, 113 Crooked Ledge Road. Uh, thank you, Chief, for throwing me
under the bus. Um, for eight years, I was a member and the chairman of the personnel policies and procedure board, but I totally agree with our talent administrator. Um, and I'm certainly
going to vote for this particular article. I'd like to with your indulgence uh uh highlight a couple of things. I think uh some of this has been covered, but let me uh let me do my piece. Um, one
thing we do need in and I'm a volunteer and I've volunteered for about 12 years now in town hall. Um, kiddingly, people tell me, and I tell myself, if I was a regular employee, I'd be totally vested
in the the retirement system. Um, and I've seen a lot by uh volunteering in uh in in town hall. Currently, I work in or I should say volunteer. And let me be totally transparent here. I've never
received a penny from the town for any of my services and I don't expect to be. Um, and that includes I don't get any uh rebates on my property tax or anything like that. I enjoy uh coming in every day and I come in every day. I probably
have one of the highest uh uh records there as far as attending work or volunteering and I enjoy it and I work in the uh um and some of you have seen me in the uh building department. Uh, I help facilitate getting the uh,
building, plumbing, and electrical permits out the door. >> And your point, >> pardon me, >> your point. >> I'm getting there. >> Okay. >> And give me a minute. Huh? You told me
five minutes, so I'm I'm getting there. And I want to justify my position. So, I have no axe to grind here. >> Let's get to the point. First thing we need in town hall is an HR group or a personnel department. In
my day, it was personnel department and today it's HHR. We need the uh capability of having uh employees being able to come right in and discuss their their issues. And uh hopefully that would uh straighten these
things out pretty quickly. and if not um uh we hopefully would not get involved with town suits and so on so forth. I also formally agree totally agree with the chief and other folks um uh the
hiring process is and I went through it too was it just took forever to sign off after sign off after sign off. Uh I do agree that uh a lot of these hiring people want to keep it quiet and I don't
blame them. Um one of the things I hate to see is when we have an open forum and people come in and get interviewed by the uh select board. I think that all should be done uh quiet more more quietly. Maybe the final if there's
multiple people uh running for a position. But certainly uh once the word gets out, it gets out and that can raise the the the cost of the individual. Um u the the the town or city can come back
and uh and put a lot of pressure on the individual and basically uh the the co important thing here is to get good candidates. Um the final thing is that we do have
and you've heard him speak a little bit about it. We have a person with 20 years experience in as an HR director um in a couple of uh cities that I think you've heard of. Chap being one. Uh Lawrence uh Mass being another. Can you
imagine being an HR director in Lawrence? Sorry, nothing against the folks of Lawrence, but uh uh it's been receiverhip after receiverhip. And I believe uh Welssley was the the last uh place. As far as I'm what I see is that
the select board is going to be putting or delegating the responsibility for this onto our our TAT administrator and uh I'm very happy to see that because of that 20 years of experience and uh uh
believe me uh at times it's it's nice to have that. >> Thank you. So, if you uh would join me and uh and and uh you know, we talk about democracy. Thank you, Robert. Um I if you'll join me in passing this uh
article, I would appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. Thank you. Anyone else like to speak on this motion? Seeing none, we'll vote. All those in favor of the motion for article three, please indicate by saying I. >> I. Opposed, please indicate by saying
nay. Do I hear a nay? Okay. Passes by majority. May I not motion for article 4, please? Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote to amend chapter 61 of the town's
general bylaws entitled personnel policy and procedure board update by amending the existing language as noted, deleting existing language where noted and replacing it with the new language as shown as set forth in article 4 of the warrant for the December 6, 2025 special
town meeting. >> Motion made. Do I second? >> Second that. >> Motion made and seconded. Who would like to speak on this? Mr. Moderator, Scott Zbacktown administrator, this is the um second part of the U change for the personnel policy and procedure board. Uh this
would just substitute the language of the PQB uh to the select board. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone to speak in opposition on the motion for article 4? Any thoughts on article on this motion? Any comments? Seeing none, we'll vote for the motion
for article 4. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. I. >> Opposed, please indicate by saying nay. Passes unanimously. May I hear a motion for article five, please? >> Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote to transfer the sums of monies from the
accounts listed as shown in article 5 of the December 6, 2025 special town meeting warrant for the previous fiscy year bills totaling an amount of $12,338.17. Motion made. Do I hear a second? >> Seconded. >> Motion made and seconded. Who would like
to speak on this, please? >> Mr. Modiator, Scott Zbec, town administrator. Um, this is a requirement for town meeting to approve any bills from the previous fiscal year that need to be paid. Uh, as usual, we always receive some of the invoices after July 1st, after the close of it, and in order for us to move forward with paying them,
it requires town meeting approval. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone wish to speak in opposition? Any comments? My decaf coffee has kicked in. We realize we need a 9/10 vote on this uh motion. All those in favor, please
indicate by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed, please indicate by saying nay. The motion passes unanimously meeting our 9/10 requirement. May her motion for article six, please. >> Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote
to transfer the sum of $60,279 from retained earnings to the water enterprise fund line within the water department. >> Motion made or second. >> Second. >> Thank you. Motion made and seconded. Who
would like to speak on this please? >> Mr. Moderators backtown administrator. Uh first I would like to thank our water superintendent and the water commission for working with me on uh finding this. Uh what this motion would do would essentially change or transfer money within the water department about $60,000. And this is from something that
we discovered from back in FY22 FY23 that the town had inadvertently paid um an overage for a water main replacement uh project. So, what this would do would be transfer the money within the water department and that would allow the water department to reimburse the town
uh for roughly $60,000. Thank you. >> Thank you. Who would like to speak in opposition for this motion? Any comments? Any questions? None. Seeing none, we'll vote. All those in favor of the motion for article 6,
please indicate by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed, please indicate by saying nay. Motion for article six passes unanimously. Mayor, a motion for article 7, please. >> Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote
to transfer $19,4668 from land use coordinator account to the conservation agent salary account. >> Motion made. Do I hear a second? >> Seconded. >> Motion made and seconded. who would like to speak on the motion for article 7 please.
>> Mr. moderator Scott Z account administrator. Uh so what this motion this article would do would be transfer money from the land use uh planner position to the conservation agent. Uh during the budget process of last year we uh budgeted the conserv conservation agent for 3 months in anticipation of of
transitioning to a land use coordinator position. uh that land use coordinator position will not be filled or moved forward with this fiscal year, but we still have a lot of work that the conservation commission needs to do and we require their services of the agent. So, this would continue to fund the conservation a conservation agent
part-time for the rest of the fiscal year. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone want to speak in opposition for article 7? Any comments, questions? Seeing none to vote, all those in favor of the motion for article 7, please indicate by saying I.
>> I. Opposed, please indicate by saying nay. Passes unanimously. May I hear a motion for article 8, please? >> Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote to transfer $5,97.70 from the land use coordinator account to
the health agent salary account. >> Motion made or a second? >> Seconded. >> Motion made and seconded. Thank you. Who would like to speak on this, please? Mr. Moderator, Scott Zback, town administrator. Uh, similarly to the previous article, this would transfer
money from our land use coordinator position, which again is is not going to be pursued this year, uh, to the health agent. And this was due because, uh, our wonderful new health agent, Claudia Sandy, I don't know if she's here. Oh, there she is. Um, doing a fantastic job.
She was actually hired after the budget process uh, last year. So this would require the funding to bring her for the rest of the fiscal year and she's done an amazing job and had a very large shoes to fill from Jerry but she's doing a great job. So thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone want to speak in
opposition for this motion? Any comments? Any questions? Seeing none will vote for the motion under article 8. All in favor please indicate by saying I. I. >> Oppose please indicate by saying nay. Motion passes unanimously. Mayor, a
motion for article 9, please. >> Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote to transfer $12,000 from the prior year incumbrances account to the street lighting account. >> Motion made or second. >> Seconded. >> Motion made and second. Who would like
to speak on this, please? >> Mr. Moderator Skyback Town Administrator, I may need a little break from walking up and back. >> You did a chair right there. So, this would uh transfer money from our prior year incumbrances account, which is money that we set aside from the prior fiscal year to pay off any
funds that may incur in the next fiscal year. Uh that account has been closed off. Everything's been paid off. Uh so, we're able to transfer transfer 12,000 from that into our street lighting account. Uh during the new budget process last year, we didn't I didn't transfer enough money into the street lighting account, so this would just
even it out for the rest of the fiscal year. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Who would like to speak in opposition? Any questions? Any comments? Seeing none, we'll vote. All those in favor of the motion under article 9, please indicate by saying I.
>> Opposed, please indicate by saying nay. Motion for article 9 passes unanimously. Mayor, a motion for article 10, please. >> Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote to authorize the select board a to acquire by purchase, gift, or imminent
domain a fee, simple interest in 40 acres of land, more or less, located at Rattle Hill Road, Rear, Southampton, tax map 12, lot 10, and being the premises described in a deed recorded with the Hampshire County Registry of Deeds in
book 159, page 614 to be under the care, custody, and control of the conservation ation commission pursuant to the provisions of chapter 40 section 8 C as it may hereafter be amended for conservation and passive recreation purposes subject to the protections of
article 97 of the amendments to the Massachusetts constitution B to raise and appropriate borrow or transfer from available funds including the community preservation fund the amount of $50,000 for the purpose of funding said
acquisition and costs incidental or related there too. Provided, however, that said monies shall not be expended unless the town receives the amount of $50,000 from Kestrel Land Trust or other sources for reimbursement of said
purchase price. C. to authorize the select board to grant a conservation restriction on said parcel in compliance with general laws chapter 44B section 12A and D to authorize the select board to enter into all agreements and execute
any and all instruments on behalf of the town as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this article. >> Thank you. Motion made a second. >> Second. >> Motion made and seconded. would like to speak on this, please.
>> Thank you, Mr. Moderator. I'm Mark Cassus, 19 Fulmer Road. I speak today as a chairman of the Open Space Committee, a member of the Community Preservation Committee. Um, this is a project that has been fully supported by the Open Space Committee, conservation
commission, and um the CPA committee that strongly endorses this. This is a 40 acre parcel of land that's adjacent to 50 acres of the Great Trails Conservation Area which is at the end of Walcott Road on the eastern slope of
Pomroy Meadow uh mountain. The um this is consistent with uh what's listed in the open space plan and master plan for the town. Uh purchase will extend recreation opportunities and hiking trails for people. This is a parcel land
where the family wants to conserve this parcel. It's not the town going after, but this is what the family who currently owns it wants to see happen with this land. Um, we want to thank Kestrel Land Trust for coordinating the funding to actually pay for the purchase
of the property by the town. Um, at this point, uh, the only expenses potentially to the town would be the legal closing costs and in fact, we're trying to find a grant for that. Um
the impact uh on town um taxes has come up of concern for some people in the past. At this point the total taxes on this property were last year $516 which means 9 cents per person per year of taxes that they would have to make
up. It's pretty minimal. Um, this vote leverages the CP uh um support of Kestrel Land Trust basically to get this property for what's going to be closing costs or maybe nothing. As a reminder,
the um uh we've been able to leverage funds uh to get properties at minimal cost to the citizens of the town. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone want to speak in opposition to this article?
Anybody want to speak in general? >> Charlie Kcki 146 Valley Road. General question. The $50,000 that we're going to allocate through CPA money that's going to be reimbursed. Is that going to be reimbursed back to the CPA or is that going to be as part of our free cash for
the coming year? >> We'd like to answer that question. Mark, >> thank you for the question. This uh there's a misunderstanding in that question. I just want to make sure we have the right information. There is no CPA funding for this. It's all funds that Kestrel Land Trust will put
together. Um so the town to purchase give to the town to purchase the property. There's no CPA funding. The uh there's no reimbursement issues for this parcel. there are for some of the other parcels that are on the um articles and the warrant.
>> Thank you. That answer your question next. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Uh Evan Huff, 132 Fulmer Road. I'm the chair of the conserv conservation commission. Um just like to speak briefly in support of this article. So this past August, the
Conservation Commission voted um unanimously to recommend acquiring this piece of land um using outside funding specifically through Castrel Land Trust. As Mark noted, this land abuts existing protected open space and its acquisition
would expand conservation in this area. Preserving this land ensures continued protection of the valuable wildlife habitat and maintains the rural character that Southampton is known for. Additionally, I'd like to thank Kestrel for the work that they've done to raise
the funds to cover this purchase price, leaving the town responsible only for the closing fees, which, you know, as Mark just pointed out, may be covered by a grant. So, for these reasons, uh, the Conservation Commission supports Article 10. Thank you. >> Thank you.
Anybody else like to speak? Questions, opinions? Seeing none, we'll vote on a motion for article 10. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. >> Opposed, please indicate by saying nay. Motion for article 10 passes unanimously. Mayor, a motion for article
11, please. >> Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote to authorize the select board to A to acquire by purchase, gift, or eminent domain a fee simple interest in 27 acres of land more
or less located at Fulmer Road, Southampton, being all or a portion of tax map 27, lot 23, PN 3 acres, and all or a portion of tax map 27 lot 3
PN's 24 acres as approximately shown on the sketch plan on file with the town clerk to be under the care custody and control of the conservation commission pursuant to the provisions of chapter 40 section 8C
as it may hereafter be amended for conservation and passive recreation purposes subject to the protections of article 97 seven of the amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution.
B to transfer the amount of $426,900 from the Community Preservation Act open space account PN's remainder of available balance and PNS and the undesated account for
the purpose of funding said acquisition and costs incidental or related thereto provided however that such funds shall not expended unless the town is approved for a local acquisition for
natural diversity land grant from the Massachusetts Division of Conservation Services andor any other such sources for reimbursement of all or a percentage of the cost of said property.
C to authorize the select board and/or the conservation commission to apply for, accept, and expend any funds that may be provided by the Commonwealth or other public or private sources to defay all or a portion of the cost of said acquisition, including but not limited
to grants and/or reimbursement programs in any way connected with the scope of this article. Which grants and/or funds so received shall be used to repay all or a portion of the sums transferred from the community preservation act
here. D to authorize the select board to grant a conservation restriction on said parcel in compliance with general laws chapter 44B section 12A. and E to authorize the select board to
enter into all agreements and execute any and all instruments on behalf of the town as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this article. >> Thank you. May I have a second, please? >> Seconded. >> Motion made and seconded. Who would like
to speak on this? >> Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Again, Mark Cassus, 19 Fulmer Road, uh, representing Open Space Committee and, um, CPC committee. This is a 27 acre parcel off of Fulmer Road. It's adjacent to 102 acre parcel
that a lot of people know as a Wolf Hill Conservation Area that currently has wonderful hiking trails. Um, and this will provide an opportunity to connect those trails to existing trails. We um it also connects to over 4,000 acres of land that's protected by Holio
Waterworks providing incredible wildlife corridor protecting there's otter in Alder Creek. There's moose in the larger area waterfell other wildlife a unique opportunity to protect an important carter. It will allow for additional
walking trails. The town was successfully able to apply for and receive a land grant. The open space committee with the assistance of the ad hoc grant committee uh applied
for a grant for a total of $420 um for $6,900 of which 66% of that will be reimbursed from the state to pay the family to purchase this land for the town. it will be owned out right by the town.
The uh that um 66% which is $271,754 will be reimbursed to the town and go back to the CPA funds after all the um closing of the property. Um the grant also includes other costs
of surveying and the closing costs. So again, there will be minimal uh no other costs to the town as best we understand. Um just want to remind people CPA funds which this does uh use can only be used for certain um functions. They cannot be
used for salaries or any capital costs for the town. Can only be used for open space, recreation, historical preservation or um affordable housing or community housing. um we've been able to raise funds and um
historically 80% of the funds raised locally have been matched by a state trust fund. So in this project less than one out of every um uh $5 is actually coming from local funds. The rest is all
state fund. So, we've been very effective at leveraging the town's uh limited resources. Again, to um address uh tax concerns last year, uh because this was in chapter 61A, the total taxes for this parcel were $91 to the
individual impact on taxes. If it's bought by the town, it will be less than 2 cents per resident per year. Actually, very close to 1 cent per resident year per year. Um again, this vote, if you support it, helps leverage um use of our limited funds and again CPF funds that
are can only be used for certain functions and the incredible help of Kestrel Land Trust to purchase this uh beautiful parcel. Um thank you, Mr. Moderator. >> Thank you. Anyone wishes to speak in
opposition of this motion under article 11? Any other general comments, questions? >> Thank you. Moderator or moderator Evan Huff, 132 Fulmer Road, uh chair of the Conservation Commission. So, I'm here to speak in support of of this article. Uh
on August 18th, the Conservation Commission voted unanimously to acquire this 27 acre property, and it was an easy decision for us because of the value. There's open space, recreation, wildlife habitat, and the protection of Southampton's character. As Mark pointed
out, the land sits directly next to the 102 acre Wolf Hill conservation area in Alder Pond, and it also connects to the 4,000 plus acres owned by Holio Waterworks. The adjacent property at Wolf Hill has offers a trail that's about a mile and a quarter long. And by
acquiring this land, we should be able to expand that trail network, giving more opportunities for families and hikers to enjoy what Southampton has to offer. On the wildlife side, it does provide habitat for all of the the species that Mark listed, otter, bear,
deer, moose, waterfell, um, and is as well as many others that depend on connected, undisturbed natural areas. I also want to emphasize that the current land owners want this land protected. They have intentionally chose conservation so that future generations
could enjoy the land as they have and then and for these reasons the conservation commission strongly urges support for article 11. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other comments, questions? Seeing none, we'll vote on the motion
for article 11. All those in favor, please indicate by saying I. I. >> Opposed, please indicate by saying nay. Motion for article 11 passes unanimously. Mayor, a motion for article 12, please.
>> Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote to appropriate the sum of $150,000 from the Community Preservation Act undesated fund account for the cost of installing a walking path and spray pad within Conent Park and any cost incidental or related there too. Provided, however,
that no funds shall be expended until the town has received a grant commitment in the amount of $99,000 under the park PRC grant program per chapter 301 CMR5. >> Motion made or second? >> Seconded.
>> Motion made and seconded. Who would like to speak on this, please? >> Good morning, Mr. Moderator. Dylan Mossley, Caitlyn Wei, and Park Commission Chair. Uh this is I was standing here a little over three years ago I believe at the regular town meeting discussing this very exact
project. The town uh overwhelmingly supported it and we began the difficult task of of planning a whole new installation at Conan Park. Uh in that process we ran into roadblock after roadblock after roadblock. The most persistent one being the if anyone who
spent time over there the difficult nature of the soils that are Conan Park specifically around drainage and water infiltration. We had to go back to GCA environmental who was the lead designer on this multiple times to dig desk pit test pits and uh do additional testing to ensure that if we were to install
this project it would be done in a way that was environmentally friendly and accessible and usable for the town for for years to come. Uh unfortunately through all the process and these challenges we faced we ran into a time crunch where we ran out of time on the grant and were no longer able to access that park grant. In the meantime, the
state came back and told us they wanted to complete a master plan before they would reauthorize any money in the intervening years. We were able to develop a master plan for Conan Park, which is available on the website, I believe. And we uh through the support of the grant committee reapplied for that park grant. The equipment has
already been purchased. It's at the highway department. We are ready to move forward on construction. There's very minor changes that would need to be made to the design. Uh we actually had a meeting on this very issue about a week ago to discuss with GCA environmental for any changes that we would need to make and everything seems to be on
budget and and on the proper timelines. The thing I want to be most clear about on this is this is not new money. This is money that was previously allocated at a prior town meeting that were that when CPA funds were earmarked for. We are simply asking that that money be reauthorized for the purpose of
completing uh this project. So this is not an additional ask of the CPA or the taxpayers's money. And to address one other concern which I know has been brought up in the past is how does a parts commission plan on paying for this moving forward. As part of the redesign project, we looked at doing a really low flow splash pad. Um this is a little
smaller in scope than I think we originally anticipated, but at maximum would be about 28 gallons per minute and it would be a time system. So realistically you would have no more than 8 to 10 gallons per minute on. uh we've calculated out expected usage with weather patterns and and it's well within the department's uh current
budget of user fees and money that it generates internally to be able to fund the ongoing usage and maintenance of this project. It would not be an additional burden on the taxpayers from the general fund. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone wish to speak in opposition of the motion for article 12? Any comments,
general opinions on the motion? right up. >> Tammy Wunas 298 College Highway. Um, I know the money has already been approved for this, but is there a way as a moderator handouts to be in a font that everyone
can read? because these are this this font is very blurry that a lot of us have said >> there wasn't the moderators uh all >> I know but I believe they're brought to your attention and you have to approve them >> okay we'll think we'll think that in
future thank you >> thank you >> uh hi I'm Sierra Simmons the chair of the community preservation committee Um, yeah, I just want to reiterate that this is uh not only is it not new money that and it was something that was already
voted uh several years ago. Um, but I just want to remind everyone that CPA funds can't be used for any other kind of like operational cost. They're designated to only these three categories, one of which is um open space and recreation, which is this one. So, this isn't taking money away from
anything, you know, like health insurance or things like that. This is money that's designated only for this and that's matched at around 80% by the state. So leveraging state funds uh is a great deal. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Curt Neil and 51 cottage a one quick
question. Has anyone done a impact of the water consumption with the restrictions we already have with the water department for the spray park? Does anybody know what kind of impact it's going to have on the water department and the water usage?
>> Thanks for your question. Uh Dylan Modley Park Commission Chair. Um the water department has been involved in the conversation. I can't say we've done a specific direct impact on total potential usage in on on the aquifer. That being said, um usage wise,
this is going to be substantially less than I think most residential uh sprinkler systems would be using. it I mean if we ran all the time it would be multiple households but it is not is not an unbelievable amount of water. Additionally it's a public resource. It's considered a cooling station for the purposes I believe of start of the
state concerns around water usage and it is also on a time ballard. So this would not this is not water that would be running consistently but would be used um only on demand when when people are actually there and and using the using the spray deck. >> Thank you. Did that answer your
question? Cheers. >> Mike Ber, 88 High Street. Just a quick question. Where exactly in Conan Park will this splash pad be located? And is there anywhere online where we can see a plan? And I'm only wishing my kids were
in 21 and 24 now. Thank you for the question. And uh the sighting of the splash pad is if you can use your mind's eye to imagine Conan Park if you were parked at the Edwards Library lot and walking into Conan Park with the pavilion on your left and the small top playground on your right at uh
if you were to draw a line from kind of where the front of the pavilion where the stage is normally set up directly to that top playground. It's about a 25 foot uh circle that would be placed equidistant between the uh top
playground and the pavilion. Right near kind of the where the end of the current gravel path that leads up onto the field space is is where it would be located. So, we also did consider um looking at uh summer concert usage and Celebrate Southampton to ensure that the placement
of it would not impact other users of the park um in in the ability to use the pavilion and being able to um have access to those fields. >> Can I answer your question? Great.
>> Oh, go ahead, Tammy. Tammy Lun, it's 298 College Highway, co-chair of Celebrate Southampton. With hearing this, this is the first I've heard of this of being included in on the conversation of where
this was going. Do we know when the building of this is going to be taking place? Because we've already picked a date for Celebrate Southampton 2026. >> This is beyond the scope of the article. Michael, did you have a followup?
>> No. Okay. >> Is there a plan online? >> I think we have a draft site plan. Uh, I don't know that it's online yet. We can put it on the website on the park commission page. Sure. Yep. No problem. >> Any comments? Any more opinions,
questions? Hearing none, we'll vote on the motion for article 12. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed, please indicate by saying nay. >> Motion for article 12 passes by majority. May I hear a motion for
article 13, please? >> Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote to authorize the select board a to acquire by purchase gift or eminent domain a fee simple interest in 2.39 acres of land more or less located at Glendale Road,
Southampton, tax map 19, lot 11A, and being the premises described in a deed recorded with the Hampshire County Registry of Deeds in book 13211, page 336 to be under the care, custody, and control of the Conservation Commission. ition pursuant to the provisions of
chapter 40 section AC as it may hereafter be amended for conservation and passive recreation purposes subject to the protections of article 97 of the amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution B to raise and appropriate borrow or
transfer from available funds including the community preservation act fund the amount of $50,000 for the purpose of funding set acquisition and costs incidental or related thereto provided however that said monies shall not be expended unless the conservation
commission contributes the amount of $35,000 from the Hazel Young Memorial Account andor the Conent wildlife account or other such source to pay the balance of the purchase price. C to authorize the select board to grant a conservation
restriction on said parcel in compliance with general law chapter 44B section 12A and D to authorize the select board to enter into all agreements and execute any and all instruments on behalf of a town as may be necessary or appropriate
to carry out the purposes of this article. >> Motion made second. >> Seconded. >> Motion made and seconded. Who would like to speak on the motion for article 13, please? Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Evan Huff, uh 132 Fulmer Road, chair of the
Conservation Commission. Being the last article between us and the rest of our Saturday, I'll try to keep this very brief. Um, so the conservation commission voted uh recently to move forward with bidding on this parcel off of Glendale Road um with using 35,000
from our own conservation commission accounts towards the purchase. The land is small in size um but important in function by effectively completing the roughly 100 acre SIPA conservation area and I apologize if I pronounced that
name wrong. uh with the CPA covering the remaining portion of the offer. This acquisition guarantees continued long-term recreation recreational and conservation benefits for Southampton. We're bringing the article to town today to avoid potential delays by having to
ask the seller to wait until the special town meeting this town meeting in May. Um if they accept our offer, uh should it be accepted, the approval today would allow us to go through with that acquisition. The conservation commission is in support of this and as
am I. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone want to speak in opposition? Any other general comments, questions? >> Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Mark Cassus again um speaking for CPA committee. Again, the CPA committee did approve the
funding of $50,000 towards this project, which we consider important. Um it is a um as said a small portion that preserves the view onto the existing zip to conservation land, protects water resources, uh prevents um this land
potentially going into a development of a house or something that would obstruct views. Um as a reminder, CPA funds are still only available for this sorts of project. Um the uh just to clarify uh under this um
proposal, Kestrel Land Trust um or a similar agent would be holding a conservation restriction on the property. Um we put in a request that we would only purchase the property contingent on the barn not being an issue um either being removed or
excluded from the parts that would be purchased. and um the um grant uh the current funding was put in so that it covers legal costs so there were not additional restraints on
the general town legal costs. Um again want to thank Kro Land Trust for helping support projects such as these. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Charlie Kcki 146 Valley Road. First, I'm delighted to hear that the barn's going to be removed before we own it because
we don't need to own another barn. I don't believe. The second question is there's a lot of stress going on about protecting the groundwater for the well and everything else. I assume a 21E is going to be conducted to evaluate to make sure there was no chemical spillages in Nails Barnes given the fact
that it was an agricultural operation prior to us accepting ownership. >> Thank you. Who would like to answer that? Mr. Moderator Mark Cassus again um the language uh purchase agreement would
only be put in contingent upon passing a or acceptable um level one um ESA which is environmental site assessment I um to address concern about any environmental issues on the property.
>> Thank you. answer your question. Thank you. Anyone next? Come right up. >> Mike Fuer 88 high. Which CPA account would be used to fund this acquisition? That would be from the undesated account.
>> Answer your question. Great. Any other comments, opinions, questions? Seeing none, we'll vote for the motion on article 13. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed, please indicate by saying nay. The motion for article 13 passes
unanimously. That includes our business for the morning. I will entertain a motion now to dissolve our special town meeting. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Opposed. The special town meeting is
dissolved. Thank you. Lucy Dalton, our town clerk, deputy moderator Sarah Simmons, our accounters, police chief, and e media Tim Jackson and Ryan. Thank you for your valuable participation.
Told you I'd get you home before lunch.