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Martha's Vineyard Bank. Your goals, our guidance. Okay. Good evening. I'm going to call to order the Town of Family Select Board meeting for Monday, May 18th, 2026. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance

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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. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh our first order of business is a proclamation. Uh, and I'm

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going to uh read that proclamation. Uh, Felmouth Chamber of Commerce 2026 Outstanding Citizen of the Year Proclamation. Whereas the Felmouth Chamber of Commerce annually acknowledges and pays tribute to a citizen of the town of Felmouth who has

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made a lasting positive impact on the community through participation in a broad scope of activities and whose commitment to the town has been demonstrated by many years of service beyond his or her profession. And whereas Ron Nunees is an exceptional

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citizen of the town of Fmouth, Massachusetts and New England, well known to all for his professional accomplishments and widespread contributions to the betterment of society. And whereas Ron Nunez is a model citizen admired esteemed for

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successfully balancing his devotion to family with years of integrity, tireless civic participation, and commitment to community progress. And whereas Ron Munz quietly works to build a better town, to provide support and food to those in need, to support the active boards and

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committees so vital to all our interests, to preserve Fmouth open space, and to protect the values and rich character of Falmouth Cape Cod. And whereas Ron Nunes's many accomplishments and contributions singularly and collectively are memorialized in the

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minds of those he has touched and chronicled on the pages of organizations across this town and as he continues to make a difference in the town of Felmouth. We do here and declare that this citizen is worthy of high praise and great recognition.

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And now therefore we Robert P. MScali, Heather MH Goldstone, Douglas C. Brown, Colin W. Reed and Jack P. Richardson as members of the select board of the town of Falmouth by the authority vested in us do proclaim Ron Nunez Falmouth's 2026

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outstanding citizen of the year. >> Thank you. absolutely awarding on Thursday night. >> Okay. Well, thank you, Ron. We'll uh we'll get this to you. It's got to be processed in town hall, but we'll get it

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to you. But thank you. And and I'm not sure if there's any tickets left, but if you haven't, uh the uh uh the the event is Thursday night at the Serest, the Falmouth Chamber Commerce Citizen of the Year dinner. Um

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so moving on uh recognition uh and I would like to um recognize um the Alden Kindred of America has selected Falmouth artist, author and community leader Karen Ronaldo whose

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lifelong devotion to art and history has made her one of Cape Cod's most respected artists. as an honore for the 19th Speak for Thyself awards which celebrate women who embody the courage and spirit of Mayflower passenger Priscilla Mullins Alden. So

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congratulations uh to to Karen a well welldeserved recognition. Any other recognitions? >> Yeah, I think this is one of those uh Felmouth is has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to our incredible uh residents. uh would like to recognize

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uh Reverend Neil Field Neil Nil Fields. Apparently I'm done talking for the day. Um uh of Wuait Church who was recently recognized um as a Commonwealth heroine, one of 147 women um in the state recognized in that way. And then also to

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recognize uh Wilson Smith who on the occasion of his 85th birthday was recognized uh by our state representatives for his longtime service to the town of Falmouth in a range of volunteer positions including his uh service on the finance committee and for multiple nonprofits.

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Mr. Brown, >> I have a couple as well. >> I'd like to recognize Laura Citroen, our finance director. She's only been with us a couple years, but she's done a lot in that short time. I know she's retiring a little ahead of what she had hoped to do for family commitments, but

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uh I really appreciate what she's done, especially in this last month of putting this whole financial pro projection together for us. So, best wishes to Laura and her future. And also, I just noticed today that it's national uh Department of Public Works recognition

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week. So, hats off to our DPW, probably one of the best in the state. And uh May is police appreciation month as well. So there's a lot to be thankful for. >> Oh, that reminds me. Um recognizing Falmouth's three recent uh police

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academy graduates. Um Abigail Burns, Julia Croft, and Carlos Frier. >> Good. And uh speaking of retirement, I'd certainly like to recognize our 20 plus years town clerk, Michael Palmer, who will be retiring at the end of this

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month as well. All right. >> I should have said at the beginning, please silence your cell phone and notify the chair if you are making a video or audio recording of this open session meeting. The placement and operation of the recording equipment should not interfere with the conduct of

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the meeting. Uh, moving on to any announcements. Is anyone on the board? Mr. Richardson? >> Uh, two things. One procedural. I do need to adjourn from 7:05. I will return at 7:25. Uh, fortunately, I am in campaign season

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and there's some things I can't move. Uh, and I also just want to say thank you, Falmouth. Tonight is my last meeting on the select board. Uh, it's been an honor to serve with the people of my right, uh, to my right and I've learned a lot from you guys. Uh, and I think we've done a lot of really impactful work. So, I thank you for your trust and uh, I'd be honored to serve

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this community further in the new year. So, thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Richardson. >> Uh, Mr. >> Any more announcements? Go ahead. >> I just want to announce uh there's another celebration of the Shinency Bike Way on Wednesday, May 20th. Or let's see, that's Saturday, May 30th, 1 to 3

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at the bus depot. I thought it was a typo, but it's confirmed. So, there's another celebration there. We just had one a couple weeks ago. And then uh Wednesday, May 20th at the Lawrence School from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. is the uh

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the mass DP know the mass uh DOT presentation on capital projects, you know, roadway projects if people are interested in that. >> And I I'm not sure of the particulars, but there there will be also a discussion of the betterment by uh by

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Amy Low this >> that's that's correct, Mr. Chair. uh wastewater superintendent has a community meeting. >> That's what it was. >> About 170 residents. >> I didn't fill in that note. Thank you. Okay. >> That was what I meant to say about the Lawrence School at 6:30 on Wednesday. >> Thank you.

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>> I also wanted to announce uh tomorrow at both 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. um in the libraryies uh Herman room, the solid waste advisory committee will be hosting an information and question and answer session on the new trash cart programs. Um, thank you to um that committee for

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all of their efforts over the past few weeks to get information out. So, a couple more sessions tomorrow if you have questions or answer uh questions you would like to get answered. >> And and the final announcement for those of you who don't know, member Colin Reed uh is a new father and deserves a round

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of applause. >> Okay, now >> my lovely wife deserves a round of applause. Should be announced that it's election day tomorrow in case anybody doesn't know. >> Just in case why don't you announce it? I don't want to sound self-s served.

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>> Okay. Tomorrow's election day. Everyone knows it, but just don't don't forget to vote. >> Okay. Um so, Mr. Renure, town manager report. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh two items. We have the lengthy agenda, so I'll try to be brief. Uh first and foremost, uh this is a recognition and a welcoming of

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sorts. I want to recognize our new fire chief, uh Mr. Jeff Lewis. Jeff is in the audience. Uh Jeff, this is week start of week three uh with Felmouth Fire Rescue. We're thrilled to have Jeff as part of our team. He's already hit the ground running. Uh decades of experience. Jeff

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came from us, as you all know, from uh the uh County of Fairfax, Virginia, uh where he had just a tremendous amount of responsibilities in a very large uh urban uh uh fire rescue department. Um, I'm really excited about Jeff's emergency management experience, um,

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search and rescue, uh, just a vast amount of, uh, experience in that area. Um, Jeff started on May 4th, so I said this is the beginning of week three for him. Um, and, uh, he's what what immediately impressed me about Jeff even during the interview process, but certainly meeting and working with him

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face to face, is his, uh, analytical skills. He's very analytical in nature. Kind of looks at a problem or breaks it down into its component parts. And we're we're excited about Jeff being here. Jeff, do you want to say a few words? >> Sure. >> I will be very brief. I know you have a

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very large agenda. Um, as I have told many, uh, if if you asked me to construct a department to be a part of and to be the chief of foundless would be it. This is exactly where I want to be. And on top of that, the personnel and the community have been incredibly

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accommodating and incredibly welcoming. I would be remiss if I did not thank Chief Smith for his efforts and Chiefs Abston and Fresher and all the personnel in the department for all the help that they have provided me during the transition and all the work they've done in in during the transition. Though I

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expected it to be busy, I did not realize just how much I was going to be jumping into the middle of, but it has been an absolute blast. I am thoroughly enjoying it. Thank you all very much for the opportunity to be here. >> Thanks very much, Jeeoff. Thank you. >> Welcome, Chief.

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And uh secondly, Mr. Chair and select board, there's been a lot of uh uh not confusion, but some questions uh recently regarding uh drought level conditions. And I just wanted to spend a couple of moments, if I may, to talk about there. First off, this is kind of a a public service announcement. There's a tremendous amount of information on

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the public works website, the water division site. So, if you haven't visited the uh the water division website, please do so. Um, but I want to take just a moment. Um, as as some of you may know, um, the town follows the Massachusetts drought management plan, which is administered by the Executive

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Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Um, this plan, the drought management plan outlines how drought is defined using, as most of us know, five drought levels uh, for six drought regions across the states. Drought levels are established after review of

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various parameters and this is important. precipitation, stream flow, groundwater levels, reservoir levels, fire danger, and crop moisture. Massachusetts also has a drought management task force. A lot of folks in the community that I've talked to recently seem to think that the town

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itself kind of sets these conditions. This is actually a statewide initiative and effort. Um, and it's led by this drought management task force, which consists of officials from a wide variety of state and federal agencies and professional organizations with responsibility for areas likely to be

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affected by drought conditions and who have technical knowledge about drought conditions. The task force makes drought recommendations to the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs who in turn declares these drought conditions for Massachusetts. As you all may have seen, uh, we just recently were advised

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that we improved our our conditions. We went from a level two significant drought here in Falmouth, uh, the Cape specifically, uh, to a level one mild drought condition. That's not the same for a lot of our, uh, our partners' neighbors in other parts of the state. U, the majority of, uh, the state of

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Massachusetts right now is in a significant level two drought and particularly in the islands. Uh, Nantucket uh, is is in a significant drought, level two drought. Um again, um I wanted to point out that um although recent pre precipitation and snow melts, a lot of folks have asked me, well, what

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about all the snow we had this winter? Doesn't that have any impact? Yes, it does, but it's a cumulative effect. Um and all of that snow melt have led to some localized improvements, the overall system remains well well below normal precipitation levels. The current drought, which began back in 2024,

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continues to affect the natural environments like steam flow, stream flow, vernal pools, and ponds and dependent species, fish migrations, and declining groundwater. The droughts also drying out vegetation and ground cover. While local water supplies are currently stable, the persistence of drought conditions combined with the start of

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growing season and increased water demand across all of our communities makes continued conservation even more important. So last uh PSA if you if you'd like more information please do visit the water division's page there's a lot of links directly to this drought management task force very informative

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information so thank you Mr. Okay, thank you. We'll move on to public comment. Uh public comment may be made on routine matters not on the agenda this evening. Comments are limited to 2 minutes. Please introduce yourself and since the matter has not been included

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on the agenda. The select board may not participate in discussion of the topic. Would anyone like to speak in public comment? Please address the podium. Identify yourself. Thank you, Chair Miss Galley. Uh, I'm Eleanor Ling and I'm a member of the

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energy committee and I just have a very short announcement on behalf of the committee. Um, we would like to take this opportunity to help publicize the National Grid customer assistant event

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to be held on Wednesday, May 27 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Gus Kanty Community Center, which is right next door. The purpose of the event is to help Felmouth community members to manage their energy

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bill. Um experts will be on site to help customers to explore options and determined eligibility for assistance such as discount rate for gas and electric accounts, payment plans, budget

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plans, and other programs. Representatives from other companies such as Eversource and Cape Compact may also be on site to provide assistance. Eversource advises customers to bring their energy bill and other relevant

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documents such as benefit cards and our acceptance letters from other assistant programs to enroll in the discount rate program. The sustainability specialist Stephanie Matson and the energy committee are um

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partnering to have a table at the event as well. So um we hope to you know be able to provide some additional information as needed. Um I will leave some flyers on the uh first seat on the

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third row there. Um if you are interested and you know you're welcome to share the flyers with uh your neighbors your friends in the in in Felmouth. Um the flyer meant because the flyer mentioned the type of specific

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benefits cards and acceptance letters for eligibility determination. So thank you very much. >> Ellen, could you just repeat the time? And I think you said May 27th, but what time? >> Yes. Yes. May 27th from 2 to 6:00 p.m.

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>> You don't need to register. People can just stop by. >> Okay, great. Thanks. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Ling, and thank you for good work of the energy committee. Thank you. We will now move on to the consent agenda. >> Oh, I'm sorry.

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Mr. Dubbie, introduce yourself. >> Richard Dubie, Blacksmith Shop Road. Um, I would request that the board include on a future agenda a discussion of the enormous operating budget deficit that was part of the presentation by um the

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the um director of finance um to the finance committee in the form of the operating and debt forecast. This was originally presented to the select board on April 27th of 2026. This forecast shows an operating budget

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with a cumulative deficit for years 2026 through 2035 of 105,953,82. I would also request that a future agenda item include a discussion as to why article 8 of the town charter

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calling for a quote revised long range financial plan for the town including anticipated municipal problems was not in recent times developed and presented to the town manager basically what the finance director just presented. I've

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spoken with members of the finance committee and they have no memory of having been presented with such a plan. The purpose of any proposed discussions is not to assign blame but to ensure the town understands the issue and can

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identify solutions. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay. And then we will move on to the consent agenda. Licenses. Number one, consider the application by Cape Kids Treasures for a secondhand dealer

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license. Number two, consider a vote to approve an application from Barnstable County Agricultural Society for a special 1-day all alcohol beverages license for 7 days for the Balstable County Fair, Cape Cod Fairgrounds, 1220

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Nathan Ellis Highway, East Felmouth, from Monday 7:20 to Sunday 7:2626. Number three, consider a request for administrative approval of updated floor plans for Devour Artisan Eery LLC, DBA,

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the Rebel Room, including an all alcoholic beverages restaurant license, an entertainment license, and a Sunday entertainment license that were approved on May 4th, 2026. Number four, consider a request to

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approve an application from WM Cycling Events, Inc., very special one-day wine and more liquor license for the Really Rad Festival of Cylo Cross at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds, 1220 Nathan Ellis Highway, East Melmouth, Friday through

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Sunday, 10:23 to 10:256 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Number five, consider a vote to approve an application for a special 1-day wine and malt liquor license from Shipwrecked LLC for the Shipwreck AS6 Fmouth Road

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Race after party in the parking lot of Shipwreck the Heights Hotel, 263 Grand Avenue, Felmouth on Sunday, 8:16 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Number six, consider a vote to approve

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the application by Historic Highfield at 56 Highfield Drive for six special 1-day wine and more beverages licenses to be executed as follows. June 21, 2026, 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. July 20 July 1st, 2026 7 p.m.

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to 8:30 p.m. July 26, 2026, 400 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. August 2nd, 20 206 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. August 9th, 2026, 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. And August 23rd, 2026,

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400 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Administrative orders. Number one, discuss and consider the approval of the submission of a one-stop for growth grant application in the amount of 1,001 1,200,000 for the construction of a new roadway

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and associated utilities in support of the proposed affordable housing development at zero Locustfield Road. Number two, consider a vote to appoint inspectors of animals Katherine Poquette, Khloe Erici, and Molly Mason.

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And number three, consider a vote to approve and sign a regulatory agreement for the units deed restricted at 120% of the area median income at the affordable housing project located at 464 Main Street.

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Uh, is there a motion? >> Yes, Mr. chair with thanks to staff for their uh work on the regula last regulatory agreement and the revisions there. I would move approval of the consent agenda as read. >> Motion. >> I'll second that. >> We have a motion and second. Any further

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discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. We're going to move on to uh public hearings. I'm going to ask Vice Chair Goldstone to read the public notice. Notice is hereby given under chapter 140 section 183A of the general laws as

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amended by chapter 299 of the acts of 1926 and amen and amendments there too that Barnstable County Agricultural Society has applied for an entertainment license and a Sunday entertainment license for the Barnstable County Fair to be held at Cape Cod Fairgrounds

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1220 Nathan Ellis Highway East Falmouth from Monday July 20 through Sunday July 26 2020 26. A hearing on the above application will be held in the Old Silver Surf Drive program, Senior Center, 780 Main Street, Falmouth, on

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Monday, May 18th, 2026 at 6:45 p.m. >> Thank you, M. Mr. Rancher. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, Miss Wendy Brown of the Barnes County A Society has applied for an entertainment license and Sunday entertainment license for the county fair to be held at the fairgrounds, as you mentioned, Mr.

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Chair, from July 20th through Sunday, July 26th. Um, I did not know this, uh, but I'm very impressed. The Barnsible County Fair has been annually held annually since 18:44. The hours of operation are from noon to 10:00 p.m. The county fair is scheduled to have uh,

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country bands and light rock bands on the main stage during the hours of 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The applicant has provided a list of the bands scheduled to play and their performance times along with an area map showing the location of the main stage as well as other attractions and amenities. Um, and

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as you all know, the county fair will have various amusements and ground acts during the hours from noon until 10 p.m. And Mr. Chair, following the public hearing, it's uh staff's recommendation that the board vote to approve the applica application by the Barnsible County Agricultural Society for the entertainment license and Sunday

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entertainment license for the Barnes County Fair. >> Okay. Thank you. Is the applicant present? Please come to the podium, address yourself, and tell us a little bit about the event. Hi, my name is uh Wendy Brown. I'm the

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general manager of the fairgrounds and it is uh as the dates are July 20th through the 26th just as described. It's uh our intent is family um family entertainment. Um we actually open Monday through Thursday at 4 p.m. and

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close the gates now a little earlier 9:30 and the midway at 11:00 and then Friday, Saturday, Sunday we open at noon and close by 10:00. Okay, thank you very much. Anything else? No.

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Any questions? Mr. >> Point of procedure. Uh, we've been doing this since 1844. Is there any way to make it more efficient for the Barnesville fairy uh fairgrounds to do this on a three or fiveyear basis instead of a every every year?

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I'm not sure the charter allows for three or five year licenses, but certainly something to look into. >> Reminder to get out and vote tomorrow. >> Okay. Any other comments, questions from the board? Uh, anyone in the public have

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anything to uh add or questions with respect to this application? >> Motion to close public hearing. >> None. There's a motion to close. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I >> I Any further discussion amongst the board? >> Uh >> I move approval.

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>> Second. >> Okay. So move approval Sunday entertainment license and entertainment license for Barnesville County Fair Cape Cart Fairgrounds 1220 Nathan Ellis Highway Eastbound for Monday July 20 to Sunday July 26, 2026. All in favor? I

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>> Okay, we'll move on to number two. Vice Chair Goldstein. >> Uh, notice is hereby given under chapter 140 section 83A of the general laws as amended by chapter 299 of the acts of

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1926 and amendments there too. that Shipwreck LLC located at 263 Grand Avenue, Falmouth, Massachusetts, has applied for a one-day entertainment license and Sunday entertainment license for an event to be held in the parking lot of Shipwrecked and the Heights

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Hotel, 263 Grand Avenue on Sunday, August 16th, 2026 between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. A hearing on the above application will be held in the Old Silver Surf Drive program room, Felmouth Senior Center, 780 Main Street, Ma Fmouth, Massachusetts, on Monday, May

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18th, 2026 at 6:45 p.m. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Ranch. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Briefly, the uh applicant Shipwreck LLC submitted its application for one day entertainment and Sunday entertainment license back on April 14th. The internal working group for special events met about a month

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later on May 13th and recommended approval of the licenses. Uh the application for entertainment was submitted along with a narrative which is included in your packets. Uh the application states that music will consist of live entertainment and the music will be lightly amplified uh

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during the race but will not infringe per the application upon the proceedings of the road race itself. Mr. Chair, following comments from the public hearing, staff is recommending that the license applications be approved. >> I see the applicant is present. Would you care to come to the podium, Mr.

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Khan? Introduce yourself. Tell us a little bit about the event. >> How you doing? Uh my name is Alex Khan. I'm the owner of Shipwreck. And uh the Found Road Race uh has been a real um joy for me personally. I started running

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it when I was seven. And uh obviously it wasn't my decision at that age, but uh but it was uh it's something that I really look forward to and to be able to continue that, be part of it uh with with my my kids and uh and

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having an opportunity to see old friends from when I used to lifeguard and hanging out and growing up in the summers and found it's just such a joy. We have been doing this personally uh since I've um owned Shipwreck, but obviously well before that. And um it's an event that a lot of

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people really look forward to. Um and uh I think that it's uh it's a great time and I appreciate u the board's uh consideration to continue this moving forward. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Any questions? Any

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other members of the board? >> Uh >> Mr. ground. >> What year how many years have you been doing this same event now? >> So, uh me personally running it or me uh hosting it at Shipwreck? >> Hosting it at Shipwreck. No, >> I'm kidding. So, at Shipwreck, we've had it uh since I purchased the uh the

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property in May of 2021 and every year it's it's uh really become a staple for people's summer. >> Yeah. Thank you. money from the format. Any other questions? No. Anyone in the

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audience uh like to speak? Yes, sir. >> Uh please up there if you can. >> I got the memo on the blue wager and the takis. So, I am uh my name is Bill Coin. Uh my wife and I own a piece of real

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estate uh summer home at 9 Nantucket Avenue, which is about 30 ft from the parking lot that we're talking about here. It seems to us to be a bit extreme to have music at 9:00 in the morning when

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the race starts in Woods Hole at 9:00 and the general finishing public doesn't get to the Heights until 11:00 or so. Uh, I would respectfully ask you to change the time from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00

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a.m. for music and the place usually clears out by 4:00 in the afternoon. would ask you also to roll back the 5:00 uh end to 4:00 in the afternoon. There's plenty of activity over there to be sure, but uh the music uh is an

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impediment to those of us that live approximate uh and uh that is my request of you. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Mr. Khan, would you care to address Mr. Coin's comments? Yeah, this year is um a little bit

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different. The uh the road race is starting an hour early and so as you all know it's very difficult to get down to the heights um in general particularly uh in the morning. So we feel that the

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music should start around 9 when people are getting there getting themselves situated. Um, and um, at the end of the day, it it does it does tail off. I don't mind having the music stop at five. Um, but you know, it it hasn't in the past and uh, and uh, it seems to be

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a great event that more than uh, a lot of people enjoy and and I've said this before, it's it's really one of the town's biggest marketing events um, uh, that that we can be proud of. And I I think that a lot of other towns, the

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other 14 within the Cape Cod would dream of having such an event uh there. And if if it's one day uh we have a a special event where there's some music and festivities that

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to be honest people had been doing since 1973, then um I think we should allow it personally. >> Motion to close public hearing. Uh one second. Let's just see if there are any other comments or questions from anyone else in the public and then then I'll

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turn to you, Mr. Brown. See if there's anyone else. >> Okay, there's not. Mr. Brown, >> we have to vote. We have to vote. >> Mr. Khan, can you uh offer to turn the music down between 9 and 11? >> Absolutely. We're not It's not a a rap

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concert by any means. It's people kind of still getting ready, getting going up. And um we we typically try and keep the music down anyway. Um and certainly we are as is we have to be good neighbors. We are nestled right in uh a

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neighborhood and uh and and uh we have a lot of neighbors that uh really come out and tell us that we are good neighbors. So we're going to try and continue that as much as possible. >> All right. Appreciate that. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh there's a motion to

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close the public hearing. Is there a second? Second. >> Okay. Second by Mr. Reid. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion to approve the application from Shipwreck LLC for a one-day entertainment license and Sunday entertainment license for the shipwreck/acmouth road race afterparty in the parking lot

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of shipwreck in the Heights Hotel 26th Grand Avenue Fmouth on Sunday August 16th 2026 as presented. >> Okay, there's a motion. Is there a second? Mr. Reed is seconding. >> Second. any further discussion. >> I do understand sorry

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>> go ahead. >> While I do understand um living in close proximity um the the concerns I I do think it's one day and uh I feel like in past years with this same event we've actually we didn't hear a lot um this

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year but we've actually heard from quite a number of neighbors um to Mr. Khan's point um that shipwrecked is a good neighbor and they actually enjoy the event um and and embrace it. Um so I I guess I would be in favor of approving the license. >> Okay. So we have a motion and a second.

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All in favor? >> I Okay, thank you very much. >> I'll be adjourning until 7:25 and I will recuse myself from any items I missed the discussion of. >> We will be waiting for baited breath, Mr. >> Thank you. Okay. Consider the request

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from the friends of Felmouth Bikeways to name the Shining Sea Bikeway Extension from downtown to North Falmouth as the quote Patty and Leonard Johnson bikeway extension and to place a plaque in their honor. Mr. Wshaw.

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>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um the uh naming process uh was initiated uh last year last February 11th um by representatives of the friends of Felmouth Bikeways uh per our facilities naming policy. The reasons given for honoring uh Patty and

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Leonard Johnson are described in the supporting information provided in your packets this evening. Um as you all are aware, select board designated chair MSCI to seek input from town staff and committees while uh with oversight of the Shining Sea Bikeway. Um, at its select board meeting on May 4th,

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Chairman Mscally reported on the information he had gathered uh from speaking with staff and uh and others familiar with the bikeway and the board voted to schedule and advertise tonight's public hearing uh to seek input from the community. And uh Mr. Chair, select board, as you know, following the hearing, the board may

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vote to name the public facility or place as requested. A vote of four members of the select board is required to approve a naming request. >> Okay. Well, thank you, Mr. Ren. Yes, I was honored to be able to investigate this and report favorably

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on the on the request to dedicate the the black uh you know Patty and Leonard Johnson are stellar residents of the town of Falmouth have done so much for the town and it goes without saying that the extension that six mile plus

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extension uh probably would not have happened but for Patty and Leonard Johnson's effort efforts. Uh I'm going to call Mr. Paul Sylvia to come to the podium uh in in connection with the friends who made the application. Tell us a little bit about uh Mr. and Mr.

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Johnson. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairperson. Um I I can't say enough about uh Patty and Leonard. Um they were the ones who be who started the friends of um

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Felmouth Bikeways back in 2009. I believe that they are the only ones that are still on the committee. They're uh playing leadership roles in the friends of the Felmouth bikeways.

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Uh Leonard has been treasurer for I think that the whole 17 years that it's been in existence. Uh Patty was the president for many years and um beyond the the work that they've done that way,

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they've um worked with the the bike lab and made contributions to the bike lab on uh Ticket Road. Um they've uh sponsored um bikes not bombs. Um it's an

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organization that is in uh Jamaica plane that um takes any bikes they can get and they refurbish them and they dispense them to uh the the youth in Boston that

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need bicycles and they also uh ship them all around the world on cargo containers. And um they usually have a a card of tools that go with each shipment so that some of the under developed

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countries uh will have a means to uh perpetuate uh cycling. um in getting this uh extension approved, the the final uh 5 and a half miles

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um went on for years and years and years. I believe it was 2009 when um the extension uh went from Carlson Lane in downtown Felmouth up to u North Felmouth at the

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terminus. And um that was many years of Patty and Leonard. I I think Patty did more of the road work going into Boston to harass the people in the uh several

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departments and uh she prevailed as always. She is uh a terrific um person and uh has done many good things for the town.

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Um, so at this point, um, are you going to say something, KJ? No, I guess not. Okay, >> please feel free, uh, to to say something, but just could you speak to the cost and who's absorbing the cost of

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this plaque? Would you >> uh, in paying for this extension? How much it cost? >> No, the the the plaque. >> Oh, the plaque. Uh, we don't have a figure with it yet. We've um u worked

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with this uh gentleman at Baker Monument for years and u we know it's going to be a a fair price and this is not coming out of the u war chest of the

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the committee. This is u some anonymous people that have stepped forward and they're going to pay for it privately. So it's at no cost to the friends of the bike way. >> That was what I was trying to get at. So

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thank you. Okay, KJ. >> Thank you very much. Katherine Jansen. I'm on the board of friends at Ficways and I'm also chair of the bicycle pedestrian committee. Uh Patty and Leonard, uh if it wasn't for them, I don't know if we'd have the extension.

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It was over 10 years of constant political juggling and visits to Boston as Paul made and efforts. And one of the things about Patty and Leonard is that um if you've ever ridden by U Cowissit

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and notice how beautifully trimmed everything is. If she rides and sees something in this, she gets out there with her clippers personally and clips. Uh, I've actually had the experience where I'm riding with her and she notices it and I say, "Hey, I'll tell DBW, don't worry." And before they can

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get out there the next day, she's already gone home, gotten her clippers and clipped it. That's the personal love and attention of the bikeway. And so, we wanted to honor them because um this is the bike way and her efforts and

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Leonard's efforts are based on their love of cycling. So, thank you very much for consideration. Thank you. And I I apologize. I think it was Mr. Richardson's getting up that um kind of confused me, but we never actually opened the public hearing. So,

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I'm going to ask uh Vice Chair Goldstone to read the notice of public hearing so we can, you know, come to that base, if you will. The select board of the town of Fmouth will hold a public hearing as required by the select board naming policy for public facilities and places

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to solicit comments from the public on the request to name the Shining Sea Bikeway extension from downtown to North Fmouth as the Patty and Leonard Johnson bikeway extension and to place a plaque in their honor. Comments may be sent uh via email to select boardfa.gov.

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The public hearing will be held on May 18th, 2026 at 6:45 p.m. at the Fmouth Senior Center, Old Silver Surf Drive, program room, 780 Main Street, Felmouth, Massachusetts 02540. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh, following along,

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are there any other comments from anyone in the public that would like to discuss the uh the pending application? Uh, if there are none, I will now entertain a motion to close the public hearing. >> So moved. Okay, we have a motion and a

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second. All in favor? I. Okay. And now the application is to uh approve the uh naming of the shining shining sea bikeway extension from downtown north as the patty and lettered bikeway extension and to place a plaque in there on.

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>> So moved. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. All in favor and we need four votes. I I Okay, you have four votes. Okay, very good. Thank you. Thanks to Patty and thank you Mr. Silva and Mason.

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Okay, moving on to uh D discuss and consider a vote to approve the application of the old casino LLC DBA. I'm going to ask Dr. Goldste to read the notes. Notice is hereby given under chapter 138 of the general laws as

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amended that the old casino LLC DBA the old casino has applied for a transfer of an all alcoholic beverages restaurant license located at 286 Grand Avenue unit 9th Massachusetts applications for a common veter license entertainment

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license and Sunday entertainment license have also been submitted a hearing on the above application will be held at the senior center 780 Main Street on Monday, May 18th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Red.

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>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Real briefly, I see Mr. Cling already. Uh the application was received back on May 1st. Um the uh applicants also had submitted previously common license application back in March. The tension

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engineers office board provided a house sign change on March 20th. license address should be corrected to 286 grand. >> Okay. So, now we're going to deal first with the transfer of >> Absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the board. Uh Mr. Chair, if

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it's all right, um even though we're dealing one at a time, my presentation is going to be effectively the same for both. So, to avoid redundancy, kind of present once and then any questions have to address. >> Uh for the record, Kevin Clower. before you this evening representing the old

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Casino LLC. I'm joined tonight by the owner Ellis Khan as well as the proposed manager of restaurant Chase Con before you tonight seeking approval for transfer of the all all restaurant license from the existing holder Rosem Corp uh to the old casino LLC for use at

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the property at 286 Grand Avenue unit 9. We're also seeking an entertainment and Sunday license. realize these are separate applications but mostly the same relevant information. >> This site has been the location of a restaurant for decades. Um since being

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raised and rebuilt in 2006 it's continued operation as a restaurant most recently as the warf under the uh leadership of the charity family. They've since opened up a new restaurant on Main Street has ceased operations at this site. >> So uh the property is owned by Mr. Khan.

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He purchased it just over two years ago and he's decided to undertake operations of the property himself >> uh in order to complement his existing business at Shipwreck. >> So Alex has owned and operated Shipwreck since 2021. He's been a great corporation donating time, money, and

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effort to the organizations. >> So we are requesting that the board approve the transfer of the existing license from Roseport to the old casino LLC as well as the appointment of Chase Khan as manager liquor license. Chase has worked at Shipwreck since his inception on a full-time basis since

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falling experience in retail services. He's certified. >> I think he's well suited to be the manager of the operation. >> Just to clarify, we're not seeking to alter the operations as have existed in any meaningful way. Effectively assuming operations from the prior owner

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hours will remain the same. We're asking until 11:00. >> I think he's well suited to be a manager of the operation. Just to clarify, we're not seeking to alter the operations as they've existed in any meaningful way. We're effectively assuming operations from the prior owner. Um hours will remain the same. We're asking until

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11:00. Um we do have some breakfast hours uh which would allow for breakfast and brunch service and as noted we have some entertainment Sunday entertainment license which is only to be for indoor entertainment. There's no outdoor entertainment being sought. believe that all the other

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necessary and relevant information has been submitted with the application. I along with Mr. Khan, Chase Khan will be glad to address any questions the board public may have at this time. >> Um, Mr. Prow, is it uh is it fair to say that the

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the the intention of the applicant would be consistent with all of the history of this application which is rather extensive with respect to variances and permits and and so forth. So there's not

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going to be any extension of of the use, the permits, the parking all will remain the same. Is that correct? same same number of seats, same number of occupancy as set forth in the special permit decisions. Um actually less occupancy than there exists today there is more than what's set forth in the uh

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special permit. We're reducing that to what's allowed by the special permit. So very much in line with historical use of this property as well as what's been allowed in the past and per >> and in particular the parking arrangements as well. You know any parking is required and so forth. Will that continue? Um I don't I don't think

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there's been valet parking at the site for quite some time but there is there is um but that will continue and they have the separate lot at zero >> behind over the

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>> All right. Any further questions? So this is with respect to the u application for a transfer of the alcoholic beverage uh from their current tube to to Mr. Tom. Uh anyone like to

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speak with respect to that matter? No. >> The the transfer of local? >> No. >> Okay. We'll move on to the entertainment. Okay. So um seeing no one wants to appear, does someone want to maintain motion with respect to the public hearing? Motion to close public

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hearing. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. All in favor? I. Okay. Uh, any further discussion with respect specifically to the application to transfer the alcohol and beverage license?

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Motion to approve the application by the Old Casino LLC, DBA, The Old Casino, for a transfer of license of an all alcoholic beverages restaurant license to be exercised at 286 Grand A Sweet 9 Fmouth, Massachusetts, Monday through Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

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>> I'll second. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor? I >> Okay, now we will move on to the next and I'll ask Dr. Goldstone to read the notice for that application. Notice is hereby given under chapter 140

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section 183A of the general laws as amended by chapter 299 of the acts of 1926 and amendments there too that the old casino LLC DBA the old casino located at 286 Grand Avenue unit 9 bmouth Massachusetts has applied for an

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entertainment license and a Sunday entertainment payment license. A hearing on the above application will be held at the Pallet Senior Center, 780 Main Street, Fland, Massachusetts, on Monday, May 18th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. >> Okay. Do you have to add anything, Mr.

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Clower? Just some clarification or >> No. Uh, not nothing in particular. Just as noted, this is uh we're not looking to really expand upon what's there presently. This is all indoor entertainment. Um, ours are entertainment application. We had 10

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a.m. to 10 p.m. Uh Sunday we had until 10 p.m. as well. 12:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. Um it says not to say that it'll happen during the entirety of those hours, but it's a lot within those parameters. Uh there are weddings that take place here. There are this is intended for indoor music.

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It's not to be uh you know obviously it's intended as entertainment and u as supplemental to really the use of this as a restaurant or venue. So it's not this is not a concert hall. It's not

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a nightclub. This is a restaurant and function. >> Uh anyone on the board any questions the applicant with respect to this application? uh >> the old casino in name only. Correct.

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>> In name only. We uh Alex actually did a lot of um community research when he was looking thinking about doing this and took a lot of input in from uh the neighborhood from the town and you know was asking people what they missed, what they liked and and they kept coming

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back. We missed the casino. Now we thought the old casino was a good name for a place that has had a number of names over the past few years. Some of which make more sense than others. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um, so would you like to speak, ma'am, to this application? >> Question.

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>> Well, then yeah, if it's come up to the public, please. Hi, my name is Glenda Newman and I actually live in unit 7 on the casino at the building itself. So, we share the whole thing. Anyway, I'm concerned about

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the parking. Um, the attorney just said he didn't we didn't have a valet. There's been a valet when the hours are busy there. We have parking on underground and we all people that own there also have spots. And if the people that come to the

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restaurant happened before with Johnny having the restaurant, we can't get in and out. Um, so if I have to go somewhere, someone's in the way. People that are visiting the restaurant have no idea. They can't park under there. So if there's not a valet, they do pull in and

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block the whole thing. So he said there was no valet, but there was a valet. So we need to control the parking there. That's a big concern for the residents because they share the same driveway going to the restaurant and underground through our parking, our private

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parking. So, if he could answer the question about the valet, that's my concern. >> And uh Mr. Chair, also if you could clarify the restaurant patrons are the building as well. Is that correct? >> Yeah, let's Yeah. Uh yes, there are two

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about the old casino and there are two dedicated valet parking spots right in front and then the valet lot is behind ship park on the ball field. I do have a contract with a company that is going to

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do the valet parking uh all day every day um in the summer and then dial it back as needed uh depending on what the hours are. Uh so we do I do a signed contract with a ballet company and uh and there are two ballet spots. Um other

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than that I can do well things in the past. >> One other question um is it true that I understand do restaurant patrons park under the building or is that just residents? >> No. >> There are 10 parking spots um uh deed to

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the unit 9. Um those will not be used by patrons. >> Thank you. Okay. Any other questions? Comments? >> Yes. >> Thank you. I'm William Tene. I'm one of the board members in the casino

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condominium. And um I just have a little bit of background question that I would like to hear from uh the applicant um as far as how much um I know there was some social media to try to generate some activity for this and I'm really curious

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um I'm I'm of course concerned with parking a little bit, but really curious to hear what positive and negative feedback came from the neighborhood and sort of how long how long this feedback period has been going on is it like a is it just since

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the social media stuff is when did it when did this integrated twotory designs like come to a decision? >> I can speak to some of this. I mean the the integrated twotory design is what has been the site since it opened in

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2007 or eight. I don't know exactly what the opening day was. Um and that's what Mr. Thomas taking over. Um, beyond that, uh, you know, he is an active member of this community. He owns a very busy restaurant, talks to a lot of people. So, there's been kind of ongoing, uh,

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feedback and and discussions about this with people in the neighborhood and in his restaurant over the past year or so as he's percolated this idea. Um, in terms of the public feedback, it wasn't a formal process. It was sort of like, hey, what do you think? You know, what

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what nice, what people like here. Um there was no formality to this. It wasn't u comment hearing uh session like you might have or legislative actions. Just sort of informal feedback that he solicited from the neighborhood from the community.

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>> Um I want to commend Mr. Khan for doing that outreach and before he came up with any plans actually listening to some of the suggestions of the the people throughout Balmouth. uh shipwreck has been a wonderful uh restaurant and

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experience for family ever since Mr. Khan took it over. Uh he has been very generous uh to the town of Fmouth. So um how do I feel about the application? Um there are any further comment or questions?

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Yes, >> please need to address. Thank you. big TV audience, >> tens of people watching. >> Sean Hefty, I'm about to bullsh you, you know, and I'm just curious

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about what the nature of the new restaurant will be or restaurants will be, what the nature of the entertainment plant is. >> You know, the heist is probably 99% residential. I just want to make sure

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that whatever it is, it's respectful of those who write the letters. Thank you. >> So again, this is very much continuation of of what's been happening there. The idea is to make it a little less formal, more of an informal atmosphere. The

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first floor is intended to be largely beach music. space intended to be open to people coming off the beach, people uh in in the neighborhood. Second floor uh would be um that's where the function space is. That's where they hold weddings. Um was one noted uh brunch music or some afternoon music in there

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as well. Again, we're not we're not fundamentally changing the operation how it exists today other than making it perhaps a little more informal, a little more um caff. >> Yeah. And I'll I'll add one more thing about the upstairs. Um when the previous

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restaurant left um they did leave uh prior to uh the lease ending and I kind of inherited a bunch of weddings for this summer. Uh so I'm honoring those weddings and um and so that's really what's going to be going on in terms of

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the entertainment mostly for upstairs this summer. Just to get a little more to the point of the question, what type of uh entertainment are you anticipating? Will it be like duets or six piece band with horns? What do you have in mind?

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>> Yeah. Well, one thing I learned uh at Shipwre is is there's really not much of a late night uh anymore. Uh what it used to be used to be um I think we all remember you you go out late and then you might even go to an after hours party now. um things die down quickly.

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Uh in terms of music, uh you know, sometimes there's a DJ at a wedding, sometimes there's um a band. Uh I don't really select those um at all if that's people. Um in terms of what I think works is, uh typically small, maybe one

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or two people, maybe three people. And and the noise can't be loud. It's not like a back in the day with a nightclub or a disco tech with you know huge bands. It's really about adding something visually to see

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something nice to hear and uh and in in participating in something other than music coming out of the ceiling. So that's kind of in terms of the upstairs again I I inherited a bunch of weddings so I don't know what exactly they're

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having for music but it was it was something I inherited in terms of downstairs. I mean, I like a oneman band personally. >> We talked a lot about um the loss of third places um outside home and work

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and I think what else shipwreck and what he's hoping to do here is create a third place where people enjoy coming. The ambiance is good, the environment is good. They were there to see friends that they're not to take in a concert. Music's there to help supplement what they're doing.

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Thank you. Any other questions, comments from the public? If not, I will entertain a motion to close the public hearing. >> Do we have a motion? Second >> and a second. All in favor? >> I. Okay. Any further discussion with

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respect to the application? If not, I will entertain a motion for approval. Make a motion to approve the occupation by the Old Casino LLC, GBA, the Old Casino 286 Grand Avenue, Sweet 9 Development for the Entertainment and Sunday Entertainment Licenses Monday to Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. be

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approved as presented. Second, >> 100% trust Mr. Con's record absolutely believe there's basis, but I'm just going to abstain. It's not the full public session. >> Thank you, Mr. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All in favor? I

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just want to send you. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. We appreciate your time. >> Thank you. >> Moving on to the business portion of our agenda. Uh and I am going to ask presenters to adhere to their limited

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time. We do have a very long lengthy um agenda. So uh this presentation update from farming family who have 15 minutes. Miss Coward. Thank you, Chair Bob. Good evening, everyone.

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>> Oh, yeah. It's not a >> I like Chair Bob as an opener. >> Please. >> Yes. Bear with me. Um There we go. Good evening. I'm Jess Cole

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with Farming Famouth and executive de director and thank you for having me tonight. We are here to discuss Farming Famus community food discussion series uh establishing a baseline for future ground grounded in resilience,

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sustainability and equitable local agricultural production. Our vision over four sessions for farmers, educators and community members identified core themes to strengthen FAUS regional food system.

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These key findings coordinated food system or food policy council participants repeatedly identified for farmland protection, grower resources, food distribution and

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public education. Many discussions pointed toward the potential value of food pulse council or similar coordinating body that could include representation from the town, schools, nonprofits, farmers, and community partners.

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Second was farmland preservation alone is not enough. Land must remain active. Conservation preservation alone doesn't guarantee food production. Participants emphasized that land must remain an active agriculture to serve

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the community. Gaps identified included underutilized town lands and the need for farms to farmer support systems to maintain legacy farms. Some of these policies were farm worker housing, integrating affordable housing

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for farmers directly on on or near preserved land. Perfect example is the 545 Main Street project. Tax ex um incentives utilizing and transfer tax revenue or short-term

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rental tax through land trusts access for small-cale farming lowering barriers for new and underser under reserved farmers to secure lander. infrastructure support, providing access

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to water, soil health programs, and climate resilient tools. The third was supporting local farmers required shared infrastructure and workforce development. Farmers consistently identified labor shortages, housing challenges, and the

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lack of shared infrastructure as major barriers. Residents expressed strong support for shared processing kitchen facilities, equipment, and apprenticeship programs with local schools and colleges. A formal a formal

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growers consortium of collaborative network. Better access to grants, marketing assistance, and technical support. Many participants noted that the region's aging farmer population makes succession planning increasingly

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urgent. Fourth is equitable access. Food access is about transportation, trust and relationships. Participants emphasized that rel

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relational outreach worker works better than institutional messaging. Suggest suggestions included a SNAP outreach coordinator, transportation and delivery partnerships, buddy programs to help firsttime farmers market visitors,

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partnerships with organizations such as the Brazilian Resource Center, and educational videos and multilingual outreach efforts. Residents also stressed that food access efforts must account for seniors, immigrant communities, unqualified residents, and

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families unfamiliar with the existing services. Big is our food education emerged as the strongest area of consensus. ideas for school gardens and composting programs, farm-based summer camps and

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internships, cooking and nutrition and food preservation classes, partnerships with local schools, Cape Cod Community College and Upper Tech, youth engagement through gardening and farmers markets, opportunities for townwide partnerships.

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Community members identified several areas where the town leadership could pay play a meaningful role in supporting farmland and local agricultural legislation. Exploring land use and zoning strategies that encourage an

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active cultivation. Strengthening collabor collaboration between schools, nonprofits, and growers. Improving visibility of local food systems and resources. participating in broader food system coordination efforts

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in um a case study for collaboration is the patch regenative success acquired in 2022. The patch is a model of farmland revitalization. It focuses on no till methods,

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permaculture and affordable housing for the lead farmer. This project demonstrates how neglected land can be transformed into productive community hub through strategic partnerships. I also want to note that this is a project that I'm sure all of you are aware of,

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but I want to say that it's a perfect example that you can have open space, affordable housing, and agriculture all in one space. And we hope that this is the groundwork for future projects. In conclusion, at its core, the process

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revealed that residents see food not simply as an agricultural issue, but as a community issue connected to public health, education, housing, environmental stewardship, economic development, and quality of life here in

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Bmouth. Help us build a more resilient, equitable, and local locally rooted food system. Advocate for round table with we advocate for round table with the select board local legislation and farming found. We encourage you to buy fresh buy

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local. Please join us at our food summit in early fall at high school and please visit us at patch this summer. Thank you so much for your time this

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evening. Any questions? >> Thank you. I have a couple. Um uh you mentioned u mic mentioned 545 uh main street. Uh what would be the involvement of farming

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found with that project? So the number one thing that um we come across is that farmers need access to housing and as a workforce we know lots of projects and areas that need um workers and in order

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for those workers to come here they need housing. Thank you. This question for for for council. Um I think to look at um I know that under the seasonal communities act uh there was a special carve out for

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artists and during the common process uh uh suggestions and comments were raised with respect to u uh to to people engaged in conforming. Uh that never made it into the uh into the final regulations.

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Uh but I was reading an article and a town on the case. It might have been Dennis and I can certainly forward the article. But apparently at town be they chose to uh include uh farmers uh

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farming as a as a as a class to uh uh to to permit for affordable housing under the seasonal communities. uh and I'm wondering if that is something that uh is possible uh and that if it is possible I suggest that we consider it

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uh for town meeting uh in our November uh warrant uh and for October 26th warrant and and I appreciate you a look at that to see if that is something that we can uh implement by uh by town meeting. So thank you. Okay, any further

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questions? Anyone else? Mr. Brown then Mr. Riches. >> Is there some also an idea that farming or maybe it's another group that was going to want to try to use the kitchen at 545 to do preparing meals outreach? I thought it

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>> is our president board of directors and has much longer history with that project. So I'm answer that. >> Hi, thank you very much. Um, so there is a kitchen at 545B main obviously because it was for the nursing home and we we

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believe very much that the town could use and uh there could be quite a bit of economic development around having a commercial kitchen in the town. So we think that's an excellent site and we have written a letter of interest to express the

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our recommendation that that that kitchen space be used as a a commercial kitchen where education can happen uh where people can come and rent space and time and they can take even when they're growing in their own half acre or you

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know 20 by 30 uh garden they can take that and turn that into product they can they can create income. So, we think it's a a very potent opportunity for the town. >> Well, following along on that thought,

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have you been able to interact with any of the restaurants along Main Street to work with them to, you know, get involved with Farming Falmouth and have them purchase work with you is their outreach to to current resident?

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>> I'm going to answer. Um, so right now all of the food that we grow is donated to the service center, Cape Town's veteran outreach centers, and soon to be a place at the table. We took ownership of the patch on June 17th of last year. So as we're building out our capacity

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this year, our plan is to be growing more and work with restaurants. We do we do know that we are supplying um eggs to Water Street Kitchen um and we will continue to grow.

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Mr. Richardson, >> do you want to respond? >> No. >> No, I just I I jumped out. Did that that answer your question? Chairman, >> yes. Yes. Thank you. >> Uh again, congratulations for citizen of the year. I can't be that Thursday. I

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hope I do here sometime when I see you. Um thank you all for all the work you do. Been um tremendous work you've done. Um, you know, one thing I would encourage and I know I said this at your uh last uh listening session you had at the library uh is to see how we can

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bring this to the upper cape beyond Falmouth. I think there's a lot of resources. I know Mashie uh through general commerce center has had a a free at least triple end dispensary in Mashie where they have a kitchen space now. So expanding this this really be an upper

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cape and then hopefully a cakewide initiative I think. and state grants become more competitive having a a a you know regionwide effort. Um you know I think it would be really good to get some investment from whether it be state or or or private. Um so I

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would encourage that. Um and then also um how how do you you know when we considered our strategic plan which we're discussing later uh agriculture and farming just like did not come up at all I'm pretty sure. Um, how do you see

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the town's role in ensuring that this is part of of of what we're doing going forward in terms of our respect as as a town? >> I think it's incredibly important for you to look at currently owned town land and how that that can be turned reverted back into um agriculture, community

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gardens, as well as looking at forming a farmland trust funded through, example, a portion of short-term rental or room tax revenue. I think that it's incred. Um, collaboration is important. I know

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that housing is important, open space is important. We are all willing to collaborate and we leave the town behind that. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> So, um, thank you for for what you have

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done in this um the food system assessment and these conversations. I think have have been really important in getting us um as a community the information and the ideas that we need. I love the idea of um the round table

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because in the one community conversation that I was part of and in informal conversations since then I think obviously this is the value of having community conversations when we got folks from different parts of the town together with folks from state representatives um legislative

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delegations um we were able to very quickly vet ideas and generate new pathways and figure out what's actually going to work. Is it, you know, modifying the seasonal communities designation or is it something else? Is there another way to move this forward? So, I think that's a a great idea. I will also just note

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that um I agree that making sure that we think about um town goals not only in terms of municipally owned land, but just kind of thinking about um our town as a whole, what our goal might be in terms of farmland and food production.

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um and recognize that um our municipal budget is really really stretched, but the environmental bond bill that is currently pending at the state level has tens of millions of dollars going toward should this all

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pass toward grant programs for the acquisition and preservation of farmland specifically. Um so getting this all together into kind of for lack of better better term shovel ready projects that can go to those state grant programs

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once um this is hopefully through um and those opportunities are there. I think there's a growing recognition at the state level right that's specifically called out in addition to um conservation for climate or ecological purposes. So >> and I would ask um thank you for

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bringing it up um Heather the environmental bond we are as farman we are behind this 100%. So as you all know the first farmers market of the season is this Thursday we will be there collecting signatures please come by and say hi

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>> Mr. Reed. >> Yeah I want to connect a few different things some recommendations just some thoughts thinking out loud. Um, on April 13th, the Association to Protect Cape God came here and talked about the valuable resources of the land that remains open. If you have not connected

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with them, I would suggest connecting with them because a joint force there would be good. I'm seeing head nods. You probably already are. Um, I think something that we just touched on um, very quickly through the kitchen is the form of economic development. Um,

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I think it's nice to say an incubator kitchen could help. I think we need numbers. I think we need business plans because what we're going into now, um, later on in this agenda today, we're talking about what Mr. Richardson brought up with our strategic plans

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current form, but very last item. Sorry, Jed 10:05 is the one stop for growth grant application to work on our local comprehensive plan. All of these are going to feed together for what could be economic development and business

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development in the form in which you could actually have a piece of this pie. Um, at the end of the day, this is another thought out loud. Um, I come from a um I was born in Vermont and we have a lot of farmer co-ops. I know our

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farms are dwindling here as they are nationwide, but they're able to get access to the consumer in many ways. Mr. Mscali talked about restaurants. I think that connection is very good. Um I think we have to look at how you're getting

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into uh grocerers beyond uh windfall. Maybe someday dreaming about what co-op could be here in town and co-op grosser. though it takes a lot to get to, but I think we have the demographics that could support it. Um, and then I think it just extends your buyer group, your

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clientele from um the farmers market where many people can't get to to something that's available during, you know, more regular hours. So there's it's all tied together here, but there's a lot of economic potential to what you're discussing and dialing it back

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all the way to we need more farmland, but we need to be aligning ourselves with these large groups to be able to make sure our priorities are aligned. Thank you for all that you do, Mr. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Jess, great presentation. Thanks for doing that. I just wanted to bring out and uh stable

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member uh Reed Jim Olsen and uh stable member Richardson mentioned here, but we do have a couple of new milestones added in the soon to be adopted strategic. Um specifically addressing identification of open space and farmland conservation.

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>> Yeah, I so I I thought we talked about it and I was trying to remember of course months and months to do this, but um it >> is in there. >> I'm glad it is in there. Uh, nice job on the SL board. >> Okay, >> Mr. Brown. Sure.

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>> Just one last easy one. Why uh what's why is it important to have no cell method? I mean, I tell them my garden every year. Why should I stop? >> Sure. So, there's my in soil that helps your plants grow, gives them nutrients, protects the water, protects the land.

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Um by doing no till we've taken a piece of land that was thought um follow and it's producing more food now because of the way we were farming. >> Will I get bigger flowers? >> Um I just want to follow up with um this

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was an executive summary over the full summary. I didn't think you guys wanted me to go through 17 pages from the findings. We will be going into that in deeper when in the early fall. I'm waiting on the school to release their calendar so I can have a date to give

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for our shaping the future uh food um food system summit in ESO. >> And before you leave the podium, I believe you also have an event coming up at the patch car. >> Yes. >> There's a live event. Um, this Friday we

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are hosting Care Day alongside Care for Capan Islands. It's from 9 to 1:00 p.m. You can still sign up. We are building a brand new field that will be growing specialty crops such as ginger and edible flowers and it's going to be a lot of fun. We'll fire up the cob oven.

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If anyone's experienced our cob oven, we're going to have patched flatbreads for to eat the lunch. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Try this one. Okay. Well, now we will move on to an update from the 250th anniversary task

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force. Mr. Ranchaw. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just as an honor to the chairs here from committee task force as you know was uh formed last year by the select board of events to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the

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United States. Um in in effect the film of 250th is engaged educated celebrating his 250th anniversary um in developing comprehensive plan celebrating our anniversary this year. According to events we found the school district according to town events from local

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state regional federal officials and identified funding needs uh potential funding for public and private sources. Sure. >> Thank you very much. I'll I'll only take five minutes. Okay. get this back on chair Mr. Thank you.

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>> I will do that. Uh just want to give folks an update. I was here last couple >> You'll introduce yourself, chair of the committee. I was here a couple months ago uh asking for approval to put up the uh along the uh the street

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the banners which will be going up in the mayor really for the 250. It's something we did last year. We're putting up again. But our big event is going to be on July 1st. So, you're all invited. And July 1st, we'll be doing a dedication of a flag up on the uh on the

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Heights uh right next to the casino. And uh it's going to be in 10:00 and it's going to go from 1 10 to 11 shine. Hope Shine and but we're going to have a group of speakers there. Mr. Red will be

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our leadoff speaker there. He doesn't know what we have but he'll be and uh so we have the chamber the sheriff's department and number of other our keynote speaker is u is Dr. David Lton. He's a author and historian. Some

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of you may have heard of it. He's in the greens a number of times. He's going to be talking about the film and so it's going to be a nice event and we'll be doing the black education. uh also too

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is after it is uh going to be a journey to the casino for refreshments instead of uses towards that. Uh we've had a series of meetings uh meeting with the uh the DPW and the

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uh the police uh for that day. We're actually have a meeting uh this uh Wednesday uh just to make sure uh everybody gets a place to reinvent that our speakers are all lined up and should be exciting. And then the final piece of

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it that we'll probably do later in the summer is uh you might have seen on page three of the enterprise this week when I did a great story on the tree. I was doing a limiting tree and uh across the country uh limiting trees are

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going up early for the 250 and uh so I the trustees and uh to get approval for planting tree we actually have it it's a it's a 20ft elm tree and uh historically

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uh we saw a great piece at big historically and you know that the elm tree has really been a symbol of liberty of 400 a year. So we do not want to be the town that did not have the limited tree. So we do have a limited tree and

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we just hope to have soon and then we'll do a small dedication for that sometime later this summer. So we're looking forward again love to see everybody. Tell your friends and neighbors uh to be at July 1st. Okay. Thank you.

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>> What time? >> At 10 o'clock. >> 10 o'clock. >> Yeah. Mr. Ripley, what is the uh the future of the task force after these two events that you're talking about? Will it continue in existence and bring us to uh

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uh the u battle of fountain? >> It is going to continue to the end of the year. The battle of fment will be of course that was 1779. So that will be another committee that will take over. I am not asking on behalf of the committee that we don't

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continue for a couple years. support you done great work and a great committee. So, thank you for your for your time and effort. Thank you. >> Just one comment. We will close that road and ask the manager to have that road clos.

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>> I don't I think that was discussed and it's >> so we had the uh police chief and uh so we had we had a meeting two meetings ago the police chief came with a number of it officers to discuss that. And so they said we're

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working all through the BW cheers attend a podium and uh so again we you know we'll be meeting over the next couple weeks. We chose the wind Wednesday July 1st because obviously we didn't want to choose July 4th and we're

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hoping that uh you know it won't impede the beach parking there and but it was important that we really do it all. >> Yeah, it's just such a busy road. It's be tough and such a tight location.

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>> Okay, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay, any questions? If not, I see our water superintendent and very anxious too podium this evening. Uh so this will be a presentation and

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discussion of great pond phase one sewer man assessment. Uh Mr. Renshaw, please. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh as you mentioned, our standing wire superintendent, Miss Sandy Walls here tonight. She's going to be presenting and then leading in discussion with the

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select board regarding the great sewer assessment including but not limited to the assignment of sewer equivalent units or SCUs to properties in the service areas been identified updated project cost estimates and the resulting cost to be covered by the veterans cost to be

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covered by the town and cost per um and importly Mr. SL there's no um action to get more time today. >> Thank you. >> Wasn't trying to jump and gun getting up here. I just wanted to give my

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presentation. Um see get it to run. I can't see how to uh get it full screen, but here we go. >> Okay, thank you for the introduction.

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Manuel wastewater printed. Um you have a detailed memo in your packet. I have summarized that in the presentation. Um and uh I will get started. So the Raycon phase one service area is outlined here.

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It's um between Sandwich Road and Fountain Court, the entrance to Fountain Court and the um on Route 28 and South Room 28. Uh the select board voted a betterment policy in July of 2028 and uh excuse me

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of 2025, July 28th of 2025. And that policy was in your packet. I'm summarizing it here for um any audience members on uh watching at home. Uh the project costs applicable to the service

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area in that are part of that as voted in that government policy are the project costs um are the collection system construction. uh the cost of the grinder pumps if in a later vote the select board um purchases

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votes that the town will pay for those grinder pumps as well as 60% of the construction engineering cost 70% of those costs that I just listed the project cost applicable to the service area will be paid by service

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area property owners via abandonment all of the remaining project costs would be paid by the town as a whole that includes the lift station enforcement contract, um grinder pump subsidy if approved by the select board at a later date, police

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01:34:01.840 --> 01:34:19.440
detail costs and the utility alliance. Betterments will be based on the sewer equivalent units or seus to be assigned to parcels in accordance with the table which was in the betterment policy under the um betterment assignment

332
01:34:19.440 --> 01:34:35.360
table. single family residential properties, which is most of the properties in the sewer area, as well as single residential condomin condominium units, um, and multif family properties up to four bedrooms total are all

333
01:34:35.360 --> 01:34:53.120
assigned one sewer unit. Multif family properties of five bed, five bedrooms or greater, as well as apartment buildings and motel, all assigned. 25 a quarter of an SU per bedroom based on the based on the town's records

334
01:34:53.120 --> 01:35:10.080
as to numbers of bedrooms. All other commercial property and there are a few different types in the area were to be assigned based on water use. One sewer equivalent unit per 135 gallons per day of water use based on the average liter of water use over the

335
01:35:10.080 --> 01:35:25.920
preceding three years with a minimum of one SEU per commercial unit or property. The 135 is um the 135 gallons per day was used because that's the average water used for a single family home in

336
01:35:25.920 --> 01:35:43.840
live pond wershed. Vacant lots were to be assessed based on zoning and acres um using the SUS for potential uses uh as listed above and multi-use were to be a sum of the sewer equivalent used for the for the uses

337
01:35:43.840 --> 01:36:00.400
within that property. So the proposed betterment of sewer equivalent units have now been assigned with assistance from the assessor's department, the planning department, the building department and the conservation department. There are a total of 799

338
01:36:00.400 --> 01:36:15.840
properties in the service area which includes those individually owned residential condo units most of which are in Portland. Um of the total 749 of them were each were assigned one sewer equivalent unit which again includes

339
01:36:15.840 --> 01:36:32.719
single family residences. The condos the residential condos and commercial properties with water use of less than 135 gallons per day. There were 30 vacant or town or stateowned properties that were assigned zero sus meaning they will be not not be

340
01:36:32.719 --> 01:36:49.520
charged to betterment and that's because they are deed open space or drainage or recreation or were considered um clearly undevelopable for other reasons uh fully wetland coastal bank no access um

341
01:36:49.520 --> 01:37:06.880
20 properties the remaining 20 properties were assigned to more than one SQ And those were some multif family residential lots. Um the two motel uh called motel commercial properties with water use more than 135 gallons per day

342
01:37:06.880 --> 01:37:24.080
uh and combined commercial residential. So the total number of sus uh with that allocation was 848.25 which is 18.25 25 more uh more sus than estimated last July and we I'd said back

343
01:37:24.080 --> 01:37:42.400
in July that that was an estimate of the number of sus. The betterment list was included in your packet and the betterment list is about 20 pages with a list of all the properties in the area and there uh the assignment of the number of sus and then the the um cost

344
01:37:42.400 --> 01:37:58.400
for that or the betterment assessment the proposed betterment assessment for each of those properties based on the number of SUVs assigned. The total project cost has been updated. Um the total project cost is almost $50

345
01:37:58.400 --> 01:38:16.480
million. Um $49.65 million. It's about it's almost $10 million. Uh it's actually more than this was almost but more than $10 million less than the previous estimate and the appropriation which was $60 million because primarily

346
01:38:16.480 --> 01:38:31.679
because the collection system uh construction contract the bid for the loans for that work uh were substantially lower than the engineering estimate for that work. Um, in addition, the construction engineering agreement was lower, but that's not as significant

347
01:38:31.679 --> 01:38:46.639
as the first. Um, the 25% SRF loan forgiveness reduces the total project cost to uh almost $40 million. Now, those of you who are doing the math in your head will realize that

348
01:38:46.639 --> 01:39:04.560
39 million is not um 75% of 49 million. And that's because the SRF loan does not apply to all of the project costs. does apply to all the project costs that I listed. For example, rental pumps uh and rental reimbursements are not included on the SRO loan. Point is the loan

349
01:39:04.560 --> 01:39:21.360
forgiveness reduces the total project cost to the town to a little less than $40 million. Um so this table shows the updated project cost distribution between the betterment and the cost to be paid by

350
01:39:21.360 --> 01:39:37.280
the town. So the cost paid by betterment is paid solely by the um property owners assessed to betterment within the sewer area and the cost paid by the town is the rest of it. These two numbers at the bottom the 14.7 million and the 244.6

351
01:39:37.280 --> 01:39:52.000
add up to the total project cost in the previous slide. I have another slide that shows, you know, the amount by the by the that's going to be covered by the loan and, you know, all the other divisions of the cost, but I'm summarizing here um to try to keep it a

352
01:39:52.000 --> 01:40:08.800
little simpler. Um, as you can see, there's some zeros in here for the cost to be paid by the property owners uh via betterment as we as discussed in that summary. The lift station and the force veins to the wastewater plant, that's not going into the Betterment. being

353
01:40:08.800 --> 01:40:25.920
paid for by the town as a whole as is a grinder bond subsidy if that's excluded by the select board at a later date. Police details and utility limits are all zero under the betterment column because they're being covered in the town. So if you take that estimated total to

354
01:40:25.920 --> 01:40:43.520
be paid via that's the bottom of this the uh betterment column here. Um if you take excuse me that number and divide it by the number of sewer equivalent units you get uh $17,379

355
01:40:43.520 --> 01:41:00.800
is the current estimate of cost per seu. So for every property that's charged one SEU, that's the that's the betterment assessment, $17,39 $17,379. If a property that's assigned multiple

356
01:41:00.800 --> 01:41:18.000
SUS, of course, would pay multiple um multiples of that unit. The betterment can be paid over 30 years at 0% interest. uh if the property owner elects, the town is going to be getting a 0% interest loan for most of the

357
01:41:18.000 --> 01:41:32.719
project costs that's covered under the in the Ben column and uh and and part of the rest of it as well. Um and the town is um so the town has planned to charge 0% interest under the benefits and uh it

358
01:41:32.719 --> 01:41:50.480
can be paid over 30 years. Um, so if you pay that over 30 years, the cost per SEU per year over 30 years is $579 per year. So again, a single family residential property owner or a the owner of a condo unit, residential condo unit would pay

359
01:41:50.480 --> 01:42:07.199
$579 a year if they elect to pay this back over 30 years. uh this cost is uh significantly lower than the July 2025 estimate again because the total project cost is significantly lower because of the bid

360
01:42:07.199 --> 01:42:24.159
the good bid price we got on the collection system in particular and because the number of sus is slightly higher if the final project cost ultimately ends up being lower than the four than um than the total the sum of these two

361
01:42:24.159 --> 01:42:39.600
numbers Um then uh the betterment assessments can go down but they cannot go up after the order of assessment is voted by the select board which I'm which we're not asking to do tonight. There's no vote proposed for tonight, but once that is

362
01:42:39.600 --> 01:42:56.480
voted, the assessment pieu uh so just um I'm getting close to the end here, but the um betterment assessment process at a future meeting um to be determined based on the

363
01:42:56.480 --> 01:43:13.199
discussion here, how how soon you want to get to that point, the select board will vote the order of assessment with an attached betterment plan set which shows all the properties being better and where the sewer mains are as shown on the plans currently. Um and a and a

364
01:43:13.199 --> 01:43:27.119
list the finalized version of the list that I attached to um the agenda item. Uh then uh so before that meeting a notice would be sent to the property owners via um certified mail to the owners of record for each of these

365
01:43:27.119 --> 01:43:43.199
properties and after the uh order is signed by the select board it would be reported at the registering teams. After the project is complete, uh, which is expected for late 2027, the select board

366
01:43:43.199 --> 01:43:59.520
will vote to certify the final project cost and the sewer equivalent unit value. So, the final version of the numbers that we're talking about today based on the final project cost. The collector's office would then send an assessment notice to all the property owners telling them what that final

367
01:43:59.520 --> 01:44:15.360
betterment number is for their property and asking them to say whether they want to pay it in full upfront or whether they want to do it in installments over 30 years. Um after that the assessments will be added by the uh collector's

368
01:44:15.360 --> 01:44:32.159
office to the real to the real property tax bills uh as expected in 2028. The betterment assessment is a lean on the property. On transfer or sale, the betterment responsibility is to be negotiated between the buyer and the

369
01:44:32.159 --> 01:44:46.719
seller and the lenders have some generally have may have an opinion about that. Uh the property owner may seek an abatement within 6 months of the date that the collector mails the assessment notice. Um so that's uh that third

370
01:44:46.719 --> 01:45:03.760
bullet step there. Last slide here and it's about prep betterment tax exemptions for deferrals. Um that there's this under Massachusetts law people over 65 whose principal residence is in Fallon may qualify for

371
01:45:03.760 --> 01:45:20.880
an annual real estate tax exemption uh that can be um that can be applied towards the veteran. There are other income and asset criteria. Uh on the last project um the the uh town signed

372
01:45:20.880 --> 01:45:37.360
sent people a letter that could be used to apply for this exemption. Um so the town can can do that again. It is not applicable for everyone. Full deferral of betterment payments. This option if the town wants to use it would have to be approved by town

373
01:45:37.360 --> 01:45:54.239
meeting. Uh it is not it has not yet been adopted by town meeting to my knowledge. Under Massachusetts law, homeowners 65 or older whose principal residence is in fountain with less than $40,000 of annual income may be able to defer the betterment until the house

374
01:45:54.239 --> 01:46:11.440
sale or estate settlement. So, this is a deferment in in in some pretty narrow circumstances. It requires an annual application and there are other criteria as well. Um, so I we we should before fall town

375
01:46:11.440 --> 01:46:27.920
meeting or in well in advance of fall town meeting decide if this is an option that we want to um make available for those for plots. The Cape Cod Aqua Fund will help with sewer connection costs, but it cannot help with benefit costs.

376
01:46:27.920 --> 01:46:44.239
Um, and uh and the Whoops. the income income tax credit income tax credit is not applicable for event. So that's the end of the presentation. >> Can can you explain the abatement and

377
01:46:44.239 --> 01:47:01.520
what what's entailed with respect to the abatement that's available? >> Okay. I I um I cannot give a lot of detail on that. Um but I can say that um the law provides some pretty narrow um

378
01:47:01.520 --> 01:47:16.400
it provides a description what what might be um how an an abatement might be applicable. Um it and uh it would have to be appealed it would the abatement would go through the select board. Um so

379
01:47:16.400 --> 01:47:33.119
um the I assume the select board would get feedback from the assessor's office. But it would have to be the criteria involve whether it's a it's basically the assessor summarized it as a mistake. Can you prove to us that we made a

380
01:47:33.119 --> 01:47:50.239
mistake in estimating the value of this sewering to this property compared to the other the other properties. Um but uh we can talk about that more as we get closer to >> I I know it's not really relevant to to your discussion, but could you just

381
01:47:50.239 --> 01:48:04.960
touch upon the options that the homeowners have with respect to the connection from the their home to the to the sewer? >> Okay. >> Available options available to them >> for

382
01:48:04.960 --> 01:48:22.239
>> for low cost interest loans. I I don't have a a slide on them now, but they I will I will back up and just say there are right now this presentation is just about the benefit >> and uh there are two other costs that to the property owners of the sewer

383
01:48:22.239 --> 01:48:38.800
project. Um one is um the cost to connect their property their building to the sewer. And so each of those property owners will have to get a contractor to abandon their existing septic system and connect their building to the sewer. And

384
01:48:38.800 --> 01:48:54.880
there will be a cost for that. And there are fund there are some there is support available for that. And I have a slide. So a couple of things I didn't mention here. One is that I have a um I've there's a property owner information

385
01:48:54.880 --> 01:49:10.880
meeting scheduled for this Wednesday at the Lawrence School which is 113 Lake View Avenue here in B and that's from 6:30 to 8 uh day after tomorrow Wednesday May 20th and it is

386
01:49:10.880 --> 01:49:27.679
specifically for property own property owners of property within the service area and so I'll talk about the betterment and about this meeting tonight. Um, but I'll also talk about the sewer connection process and I have slide in that uh that reviews financial assistance that's available for property

387
01:49:27.679 --> 01:49:44.400
owners. Um, the maiden assistance is the Cape Cod AO fund which can provide low interest loans. >> And again, I realize it's beyond the scope of your discussion, but how soon do property owners need to connect? that

388
01:49:44.400 --> 01:49:59.280
I'm sure it will be discussed on on Wednesday, but I'm just wondering if you could touch on that a bit. >> Uh, good question. So, property people can't connect to the sewer until a whole sewer system is available. And that involves not just the pipes in front of

389
01:49:59.280 --> 01:50:15.600
everybody's properties in the road, but also the sewer lift station uh on the brick kilm road site 100 brick kilm road and the pipe from that lift station up to the treatment plant. So, we expect that full set of projects to be done by

390
01:50:15.600 --> 01:50:33.600
the end of 2027. So, we will be notifying property owners via mail uh when the sewer is available and that they have about a year to connect after that date. So, we expect to be sending out that connection letter at the end of

391
01:50:33.600 --> 01:50:49.679
2027 or the beginning of 2028. So, they'd have likely they'd be connecting in 2028. And one final question, the allocation of what the town's paying and what the Benaman is covering, is that consistent with what was done uh with

392
01:50:49.679 --> 01:51:04.800
the last sewer extension of Marav Vista as far as town looking up the police detail and stuff like that? >> Um overall it is similar, but there are some differences. Um one of the differences is that that project did not

393
01:51:04.800 --> 01:51:19.760
have a major lift station and the major pipes up to the plant. So right now the the the project on this particular project the cost to the town overall is greater because it includes that big

394
01:51:19.760 --> 01:51:36.639
portion which is um going to be used not just for this project area but for other sewer areas. So this project has a a larger portion that's being paid by the town as a whole because it's covering a larger part of town or it'll be used by a larger part of town. the police

395
01:51:36.639 --> 01:51:54.000
details I think may not that was a a a choice of this particular board for this particular project given the estimate that we're talking about last uh July I don't think it was exactly the same on the real time project >> and the final final question do the

396
01:51:54.000 --> 01:52:13.679
numbers change at the outall does not go forward or >> no >> so regardless of what happens if the outfall these numbers are are Yes, >> this is your back. Sorry. >> Leave that.

397
01:52:13.679 --> 01:52:33.440
>> Go ahead. >> No, I'm sorry. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Uh Amy, would it be correct to say that um the number the 17337 or whatever anticipates that we will

398
01:52:33.440 --> 01:52:50.239
vote to pay for those grounds? Is that right? So yes, it it assumes number one that the that the um it assumes it assumes that the select that the select boards a grinder pump

399
01:52:50.239 --> 01:53:07.360
policy that uh involves the town paying for the the grinder pumps for residential properties, single family residential properties, including those condos. However, let's look at that. Okay. So, the grinder pump procurement,

400
01:53:07.360 --> 01:53:23.119
right? If the town didn't buy any of the grinder pumps, if on on this on this slide, if the town did not pay for any of the grinder pumps, then the total project cost would go down by that grinder pump repair procurement line and um it would go entirely to the property

401
01:53:23.119 --> 01:53:40.239
owners. This is a conservative, this is based on a conservative estimate of the cost of the grinder pumps. Um but that line item would disappear from it would be subtracted from this table and it would go entirely to the uh property owners to identify those funds.

402
01:53:40.239 --> 01:53:55.840
>> Right. And one other I read this it says a letter is being sent this week to owners. >> I forgot to say that. Yes. So >> you must have written that a couple weeks ago or >> I wish I've written that a couple weeks ago. I wrote it last week. Okay.

403
01:53:55.840 --> 01:54:13.920
>> Um and um the so I we sent a letter to all the properties in the service area last week. Um which most of them would have received by Saturday, Friday or Saturday, but some of them still may not

404
01:54:13.920 --> 01:54:29.679
have even received it. Um honestly, and they the letter says you're the owner of this property in the in the sewer service area. for assessing abandonment. This is the uh number of sus that have been assigned to your

405
01:54:29.679 --> 01:54:46.719
property. Here's the cost of that number of SCUs and it lets them know that the select board will be discussing this at this evening's meeting but not voting on it and that there is this public meeting on Wednesday evening uh this property

406
01:54:46.719 --> 01:55:04.000
owner information meeting on Wednesday. Is there um any opportunity to send an email just to back that up? Do you have an email list? >> So I have what I've there I've done a few things. So the the letter went out to all the property owners and I I would

407
01:55:04.000 --> 01:55:19.280
expect that they they would get it um today. They wouldn't have gotten it today if they didn't get it earlier. Uh but they also I also sent out a a notification via the endowned by me uh the town's app which has 160 property

408
01:55:19.280 --> 01:55:37.520
owners signed up for it. Um the precinct 3 captain also sent it out to his email list. I do not have an email list for the entire service area. We have told people you know on many occasions that they refer to the notify me provide

409
01:55:37.520 --> 01:55:52.639
their email address to us and we can um put their them on that but uh that's that's what I have. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. >> First of all, I just want to say thank

410
01:55:52.639 --> 01:56:10.239
you and kudos. Um, I mean, a $10 million drop in project uh cost is um is impressive and important and given all the conversations that we did have last summer about fairness in how the costs

411
01:56:10.239 --> 01:56:27.920
are split and ensuring that this is uh not an undue burden. It is an additional burden um necessary work um but that it's not an undue burden on these property owners. um just really pleased to see that and I will also just uh say

412
01:56:27.920 --> 01:56:44.880
that at least from people that I've talked to my personal experience and my slight inbox um kudos on how the project is going so far obviously having um wrote uh disrupted uh is not easy um but

413
01:56:44.880 --> 01:56:58.960
it seems to have been going as smoothly as as possible. So great job on project management. Um what can you just uh lay out from here because there are a number of these votes that need to be taken and you said

414
01:56:58.960 --> 01:57:15.040
assuming like once the betterment um letters are not these forms you just sent. Um once that is set, it can only go down and there are a few votes that we still have to take with Ryer pumps

415
01:57:15.040 --> 01:57:32.480
and um a few other things. And then there's also pending uncertainty in actual project costs as it comes to fruition. So can you just kind of lay out the next steps of what needs to be voted in when we think we might be at that point of saying it will be this or less?

416
01:57:32.480 --> 01:57:50.080
>> So there are two two things. One is that um we need to the the select board needs to vote the order of assessment which um this is the first discussion of of this. Um and the select word can decide how

417
01:57:50.080 --> 01:58:07.840
many how whether they want to have whether you want to have another meeting before you do that and how you want how you want to proceed to that point. It could be the well one thing is we have to finalize a betterment plan before that um meaning a set of plans that go

418
01:58:07.840 --> 01:58:25.360
to the registry of deeds. Um and I I I'm not sure I think it will take a month or so to do that. I have kicked that off um now that we have a list that is I believe very close. Um like if you know some the selector will want to change

419
01:58:25.360 --> 01:58:42.000
something you know something will change and we'll get those those plans revised. So I need to get the plans revised within. So the select court can needs to vote the order of and you can do that uh at at a hearing um

420
01:58:42.000 --> 01:58:59.040
um in the next month or whenever you wish. Um then uh there needs to be a a set of meetings and a and a vote on brand policy uh on the on the grinder pump policy for this budget. >> But wouldn't the grinder pump policy

421
01:58:59.040 --> 01:59:15.040
potentially affect the betterment? >> Yes, but it would go down not up. >> And and just for clarification, we're still waiting for the approval of the state legislature with respect to the grander pumps and the ability of the town to purchase them for private land owners. >> Yes.

422
01:59:15.040 --> 01:59:31.040
So we have been updated most recently uh that it that it crossed another hurdle in the legislature is moving along. I expected to pass uh before the end of session which is the end of June. Um but

423
01:59:31.040 --> 01:59:48.960
yes that's right. We've been waiting to finalize that or have that grinder pump discussion until we have that option through federal legislation. So to clarify that the costs to the town for grinder procurement subsidy that are in this chart that we're looking at

424
01:59:48.960 --> 02:00:03.760
um are costs that we know we can pay without that. We don't need to wait for the state legislature in order for us to be able to pay these costs. It would just be if we were paying additionally if we were taking the rest of that cost

425
02:00:03.760 --> 02:00:19.199
property owners out of it. So um we have an appropriation right that covers all of this. Um and then we and we our SRF loan doesn't cover it. So we will need to borrow you know do separate

426
02:00:19.199 --> 02:00:36.080
borrowing for the grant costs. Um so that is borrowing that's authorized by the appropriation. the what I was saying about the cost. If if the town if the select board decided not to pay for any

427
02:00:36.080 --> 02:00:51.440
of the grinder house and let the property owners pay for those, then that would mean this this $14 million number would be lower and so the cost per se would be lower, but it wouldn't be high. He couldn't he could increase that

428
02:00:51.440 --> 02:01:08.320
number after if you if you vote for policy after the veteran has voted. It it just means that the the cost will go down. But you don't have to you don't have to vote a new number here. The the final vote where the benefit is fully

429
02:01:08.320 --> 02:01:25.440
set is at the end of the project when you know the final cost of the project. So here um um this oops this second bullet here after the

430
02:01:25.440 --> 02:01:40.719
project's complete late fall 2027 the select board will vote to certify the final project cost and the sewer equivalent value. So we'll go back at that time to this number and we'll we'll really we'll go back to see what the

431
02:01:40.719 --> 02:01:58.400
total is of the project cost and then and you know apply these same rules to it. So we'll have the final version of this top number divided by the same number of seus that was previously voted and have a final final and betterment cost per

432
02:01:58.400 --> 02:02:15.920
seu. And so if Solidor voted at a later date not to pay for the marine pumps that would reduce the cost of the cost per seu although it's 17,000 but you don't have to vote that again until the end of the project because you're going

433
02:02:15.920 --> 02:02:31.920
to have to take that vote again at the end of the project. Maybe I'm meeting a dead person tell me. So if if the vote were not for the town not to cover the grinder that comes out of the project cost altogether it just goes directly to and that's why the

434
02:02:31.920 --> 02:02:46.880
betterment goes down. Okay. Thank you. >> Sorry if that wasn't clear. >> Any further questions? >> Yes, Mr. Reed. uh put on my financial hat for a second and you know at a time

435
02:02:46.880 --> 02:03:05.520
that we have had a person speak and uh about the budgets that we have the deficits this part in our April 27th meeting um I think was one that was not discussed but

436
02:03:05.520 --> 02:03:22.560
it was one that the select board hasn't uh selected as a musty project in a previous folks, but it still has ramifications on our taxpayers. So, we're talking right now for for SEU, it's 579. Um, I just implore our select boards to

437
02:03:22.560 --> 02:03:37.119
keep an eye on the taxes and fees in totality, not just necessarily in in silos because in 2027 or 2028 when this uh hits our taxpayers, even if it's just

438
02:03:37.119 --> 02:03:53.760
a small subset of a butters, um, we have to be cognizant of everything else. But yet, we do have to do this as it does improve the town, right? we do have to do these things because we have to make make sure continues operations and

439
02:03:53.760 --> 02:04:11.040
regions by everyone. So I'm cognizant of the things that we have to do. I just implore us to uh at our next financial discussion have a maybe a standalone session of the sewer um because it is very complex because it does involve

440
02:04:11.040 --> 02:04:32.400
federal, state, town, uh different exemptions here and there. At the end of the day, I think you need to just figure out what's going on taxpayers. Anyone else? No. Anyone in the audience have any questions

441
02:04:32.400 --> 02:04:50.480
respect to this? There will be more discussions come forward and if you're open and interested, I implore you to attend the meeting on on Wednesday. Okay. Well, thank you very much. Thanks for all your hard work on the

442
02:04:50.480 --> 02:05:07.199
Okay, moving on to discuss the Easortur Found substation project. Let's zero a vote to submit an intervenor petition to the energy facilities sighting board. Mr. Ranch, please. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. uh as you

443
02:05:07.199 --> 02:05:22.960
mentioned although the uh the significance um aspect of this item is going to be to discuss and consider a petitioner's intervention intervent interveners petition I want to give a little bit of updates and background as you all recall Eversource came and gave

444
02:05:22.960 --> 02:05:39.520
a presentation to the select board back on March 23rd the first presentation that ever source representative gave uh to the select board um last week as you all know um and then during that I'm sorry during that March 25th presentation got great uh feedback and comments by

445
02:05:39.520 --> 02:05:55.520
select board as well as members of the audience. Um as you all know last week on the 14th there was a health care by the energy facility sighting board um having attended both of those meetings uh my personal observation is although

446
02:05:55.520 --> 02:06:11.760
there were elaborate suggestions and comments about what could potentially be done to lessen the impact of this project on those neighbors on the San Turner road. Um my observation was I ever source representatives of fans of the state to make any of those changes. That's just a personal observation um

447
02:06:11.760 --> 02:06:27.440
having intended both of those conversations. So that being said again the significant item is to discuss consider potential votes uh select the board to file this motion to intervene without 10 house I ask to present kind

448
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of the chronology and deadlines if you will and why the filing this motion is all this >> thank you Mr. manager. Um, so I've provided a little bit of an overview of um the substance of the petition before

449
02:06:45.840 --> 02:07:02.719
the EFSB in the um agenda item, but I wanted to provide you with some additional background on what the petition to intervene actually is and what it does. So um here we are

450
02:07:02.719 --> 02:07:20.880
considering whether to intervene in there's a procedure before the EFSB in which the in whichever source is seeking certain waiverss from the zoning and bylaws um in order to

451
02:07:20.880 --> 02:07:39.679
construct the tab substation and um I put a series of um specific speific waivers that they're looking for in the agenda summary. just briefly. Um what they're looking for waivers for uh waivers from are um

452
02:07:39.679 --> 02:07:55.119
uh substation public utility use in an agricultural a district substation public utility use and a water resource protection overlay district site plan review for wildlife corridor overlay district site plan approval dimensional

453
02:07:55.119 --> 02:08:13.360
controls for accessory structures and peritting of temporary structures. site plan review, a landscaping plan, earth removal limitations, and then certain other miscellaneous performance requirements related to construction. So

454
02:08:13.360 --> 02:08:31.360
here um the town has an opportunity to not only participate but to intervene as an actual party in the proceedings before the EFSB. um EFSB has broad discretion to allow a petition to intervene or petitions for limited

455
02:08:31.360 --> 02:08:47.840
participant status. Those are two different categories of ways that um other parties can uh can get a chance to participate in the proceedings. Under chapter 30A section 10, it states that

456
02:08:47.840 --> 02:09:04.400
um any state agency like the EFSB can allow an interested person to participate uh by presenting um arguments either orally or in writing or uh for any other limited purpose. Now, under the

457
02:09:04.400 --> 02:09:22.239
regulations, when the EFSB considers a petition to intervene or to participate, the board, the EFSB will consider um the scope of the proceedings, how how um difficult they are, and how how much um

458
02:09:22.239 --> 02:09:37.119
information they're going to need from parties with other information than what Ever Source has can bring to the table to help them get through the um the vast amount of information that they're going to have to sort through in order to make their decisions. They'll look at the

459
02:09:37.119 --> 02:09:53.280
nature of the petitioner's interests and whether and to what extent the petitioner's interests are unique and cannot be raised by anyone else. Um also whether the petitioner will be able to assist the EFSB in understanding um the

460
02:09:53.280 --> 02:10:09.440
nature of some of the interests of um the abutters or simply of the town. Um abutterss are customarily permitted to uh intervene rather than participate because uh as a butters the project is

461
02:10:09.440 --> 02:10:25.679
likely to impact um uh their personal interest in the property. So the difference between an intervenor and a participant here is important. Interjuditors can present evidence, they can file briefs, and they're considered a full party in the

462
02:10:25.679 --> 02:10:40.320
matter, which means that they have the right to file motions and have a right to appeal. Participants can receive any documents submitted, then they also have a limited ability to file briefs. Um I

463
02:10:40.320 --> 02:10:56.960
will note that if the select board um does decide to intervene um the petition to intervene is almost automatically granted because our rights are inherent because we're hosting the property uh hosting the project within

464
02:10:56.960 --> 02:11:12.320
the boundaries of the town. So with that, in addition to the information that I've provided in the background summary, um the motions, the petitions to intervene are due a week from Friday on May 29th.

465
02:11:12.320 --> 02:11:30.719
We um have an initial draft. They're going to go if board so chooses. Um and then once that deadline is met, the EFSB will consider any motions that they've received to intervene and to participate

466
02:11:30.719 --> 02:11:48.079
in limited manner and then the um they'll proceed to do discovery and um they will receive requests for documents and uh that will that information will start to be shared as long as >> Mr. Chair.

467
02:11:48.079 --> 02:12:05.920
>> Yes. Um yeah, I I attended along with um member Brown, member uh Goldstone and chairs Galli the meeting on the 14th. Uh what I said in that meeting was well it's one thing to host those things sessions for the community, one thing for the company to actually put uh our

468
02:12:05.920 --> 02:12:22.719
recommendations and our concerns to the plan and I think it was very clear uh from that meeting that they didn't do anything. uh you know they they unfortunately the Boston Globe's front page article was on air source today kind of timing uh they had mentioned that cost concern considering a

469
02:12:22.719 --> 02:12:39.119
secondary project um but uh the company just posted $1.69 69 billion in earnings, double what they did previous year. At the same time, their CFO received $15 million, 10% higher than what they did last year. So, respectfully, I don't understand why we

470
02:12:39.119 --> 02:12:54.079
can't make changes and pursue a different uh alternative um because clearly they have the money that they're asking rateayers to pay more uh as they are making record profits. Um and I think it's really important as you mentioned with that deadline uh to intervene and also you know we're not

471
02:12:54.079 --> 02:13:10.079
saying we're against a company putting their resources in uh you know we support energy and it's really important we upgrade our grid. Um but neighbors need to be listened to. What was also mentioned in this meeting is this is uh one of the most affordable pockets of Felmouth. Um and I think it's it's time

472
02:13:10.079 --> 02:13:25.040
that uh you know we need to respect areas of talents. uh you know we shouldn't keep putting projects where um people who are in the most need are keep getting property and over so uh I I will be making the motion um but I know I just spoke first

473
02:13:25.040 --> 02:13:42.000
>> well I'm going to echo what you said Mr. to what town manager said. I was at those hearings as well. Um, you know, Eversource has been a, you know, a good neighbor and and a good partner with with the town of Falmouth.

474
02:13:42.000 --> 02:13:58.159
Um, there's been give and take over the years, problems that have been worked out. Um and um I'm somewhat disheartened that in this particular instance uh it seems that Eversource is not u being as

475
02:13:58.159 --> 02:14:15.360
collaborative and cooperative uh with respect to what town resident's concerns are and and what I think the concerns of this select board uh is. So um I'm going to vote in favor of motion to intervene as well. Motion to authorize town

476
02:14:15.360 --> 02:14:31.119
council to file a motion to intervene. >> Second. Okay, we have a motion in the second. Any further discussion? >> Just think it's important for us to explore the opportunity to consider some of this infrastructure being built on the adjacent town property that was

477
02:14:31.119 --> 02:14:48.639
mentioned by one of the residents. I thought that was a good suggestion to at least be explored. Can >> I ask one question with regard to the intervenor status? um given that um they are seeking waiverss

478
02:14:48.639 --> 02:15:04.239
from essentially all um freight plan review um and clearly as has already been stated multiple times are not responding in a collaborative uh less formal way to request for changes to the site plan. Um, does that intervenor

479
02:15:04.239 --> 02:15:21.760
status give us the ability to specifically to request or to to request that they deny these raers? That can be requested, but um I will uh just I don't want to just um sort of

480
02:15:21.760 --> 02:15:38.560
manage expectations. The reason why the BFSB exists is to grant these waiverss. Um they that is probably the the the the um task here with the least amount of

481
02:15:38.560 --> 02:15:55.119
success that Eric and I will have um as when we intervene. We are going in there to um try to explore uh other sites. We're going to go in there to try to explore um being able to get the project

482
02:15:55.119 --> 02:16:12.159
moving in a way that has the least amount of impact on any alutters as far as setbacks and screenings and that kind of thing goes, the project will go forward. Um it's really just a matter of being able to again try to get in there and as an actual party to the litigation

483
02:16:12.159 --> 02:16:29.599
um that might give us an opportunity to collaborate and to negotiate in a different way than we would on the sideline. As far as being able to fight for the denial of waiverss, the success on that is minimal.

484
02:16:29.599 --> 02:16:45.280
>> This is the only pathway to potentially try to do that. There's there's no other pathway for the town to try to get those those wers denied. We will certainly ask, but I'm just I just >> No, I'm just I just want to make sure that there's not something else that we

485
02:16:45.280 --> 02:17:00.399
could or should be or the conditions to to try to get the waivers to. So, I look at the EFSV a lot like 40B that it's a statutory allowance that um is

486
02:17:00.399 --> 02:17:16.399
designed to roll over local zoning regulations. Um, so again, just like the CPA fights as hard as it can, um, when faced with a 40p project within within the boundaries of the law, um, we'll get

487
02:17:16.399 --> 02:17:32.240
in there and put our gloves on, but I just want you to hear that, well, we probably don't have any left. Brown, >> is there any uh I don't suggest right now that we would go there, but isn't there any opportunity to take them to

488
02:17:32.240 --> 02:17:53.679
Land Core or some other venue that would anotheration? >> So again, the EFSB is designed to circumvent that and to prevent that from happening. Um the course of appeal after this would be um through the superior

489
02:17:53.679 --> 02:18:10.240
court system and um the body of case law especially recently is all favorable to the EFSB. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we have a motion and I believe we have a second with respect to the

490
02:18:10.240 --> 02:18:27.120
intervenor status. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor that we intervene. I >> Okay, thank you very much. Okay, moving on to the FCTV update on the digital navigator project.

491
02:18:27.120 --> 02:18:42.800
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. As our presenter is working her way to the podium, I want to give a some brief background. This go may recall last September the town was awarded an $85,000 grants from the Massachusetts Institute. Um the town sub school issued a request for proposals or

492
02:18:42.800 --> 02:18:59.599
RFP from qualified entities to manage this grant um to create the town's first digital navigator project um and included in tonight's package to scope the services of that RFP document. Following a very extensive review of the submitted proposals, uh, back on

493
02:18:59.599 --> 02:19:14.559
November 14th of last year, the town awarded a contract for the pro provision of these digital navigation services to our outstanding community partner found with the community community television uh, incorporated. Um, there's a letter of that awarded attached to the packet

494
02:19:14.559 --> 02:19:31.359
as well. U Mr. share board members for the terms of the agreement between the town and FCTV. Um FCTV has submitted a midterm report um just uh last month. Um that copy of that report is also attached real briefly and I I think Debbie is going to talk about this. The

495
02:19:31.359 --> 02:19:48.880
digital navigator program uh aims to bridge the digital divide within communities. These programs provide a wide variety of supported services and not including one-on-one supports, training, and access to technology and help individuals access the internet, set up devices, and generally use online

496
02:19:48.880 --> 02:20:04.080
services more effectively. Digital navigators frequently help with using smartphones, tablets, which is going to talk about computers, uh providing guidance on accessing online services such as healthcare, job applications, housing, and education, and provide safety tips for online privacy and

497
02:20:04.080 --> 02:20:22.040
security. So that further over is Debbie Rogers and she's going to walk through the investigation. Debbie. >> Thank you so much. Good evening everyone. I'm Debbie Rogers. I'm Committee Television. I'm the CEO. I'm pleased to be here with you tonight. I'll be introducing uh the members of the team uh shortly.

498
02:20:27.840 --> 02:20:43.359
>> So as Tom Anderov gave you a little bit of background, I was going to also give a little bit of background. So sorry for any repetition. Uh just just so you know how we got here. I did put this in here. The town municipal broadband light found

499
02:20:43.359 --> 02:21:00.240
broadband municipal life plant in partnership with Cape Cod Commission developed a municipal digital equity plan. Using this plan, the town secured $85,000 in Massachusetts American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 AR funding and issued an RFP for a digital navigator program

500
02:21:00.240 --> 02:21:14.560
funded at $79,900 in October 20 for the period of October 2025 through September 2026. On November 14th, 2025, SCT's note was selected and the viral agreement was signed on

501
02:21:14.560 --> 02:21:33.840
November 28th, 2025. So, how did we launch this? Uh, we looked at five areas. We looked at management, partnerships, communication, training and support, and resources. We're going to get a little deeper into these. Uh, first we identified the team,

502
02:21:33.840 --> 02:21:49.280
and then we recruited and hired a digital navigator, project manager. We looked at partnerships, communication, training, and support, and resources. Um, under partnerships, we met with our partners, we pursued other partners, and we've secured commitments. We've been

503
02:21:49.280 --> 02:22:05.680
working on our communication promotion via video, social media, websites, and flyers. And under training and support, we've been developing curriculum, starting classes, and providing support. We've sought additional funding of resources including volunteers and

504
02:22:05.680 --> 02:22:22.399
computers going as well. And we've onboarded volunteer navigators. to introduce our team. Um, as you know, I'm Dennis Rogers, executive director and chief executive officer on community television. With me is our production and education manager, Anna Russell,

505
02:22:22.399 --> 02:22:37.600
SCTV's digital navigator project manager, Natalie Ruska, who began on March 3rd, 2026, and received hero digital navigator certificate on March 31st, 2026. Other RCTV team members who

506
02:22:37.600 --> 02:22:53.439
work on this project are Anthony Sierra who handles marketing, Kurt Aken and Riley Woods, video colleague, Andre and Marie Joe Juice, administration and working. I'm going to turn it over to Natalie now to give you some details.

507
02:22:53.439 --> 02:23:08.640
>> Thank you, Deborah. These are our partners for the digital navigator program. I'm going to start with the found public library. They are a computer internet training satellite location for the digital navigator program. We provide weekly tech help

508
02:23:08.640 --> 02:23:25.200
Tuesdays 12 to 2 and we also have a volunteer digital navigator on site. We provided them with four locking them ups for resident. Our next partner is Senior Center. They are also a computer internet training satellite location. We provide weekly

509
02:23:25.200 --> 02:23:41.600
tech help. That's Thursdays 9 to 11:00 a.m. And we have a volunteer navigator on site. We also have a monthly info table over there the second Thursday of every month from 11 to 1. And on April 13th, we held a

510
02:23:41.600 --> 02:23:56.880
presentational about our program and told them what we can do for them. And we have a future presentation where it's for July. Our next partner found Service Center. We provided them with 1,000 bilingual English Portuguese flyers and

511
02:23:56.880 --> 02:24:12.720
these were distributed to clients in their food bags. It just outlined the program, provided them with some resources and on May 26, our digital navigator will participate in our open house. Our next partner, Valin Community

512
02:24:12.720 --> 02:24:27.760
Veteran Center. They are a computer internet training satellite location available to veterans. Dropin hours for tech help and they held a fraud workshop on May 9th with additional workshops are in the planning stage with them.

513
02:24:27.760 --> 02:24:43.359
Our next partner Kate Guardian Cultural Center and Museum. They are a computer internet training satellite location. We provided them with weekly tech help Fridays 3 to 5:00 p.m. We have a volunteer digital navigator site to help them. We provided them with two

514
02:24:43.359 --> 02:25:00.319
Chromebooks and two laptops for lending or on-site use. And they also help us with providing some translation services for our flyers. Our next partner, our newest partner, Neighborhood Development, since March 18th, they are a computer internet

515
02:25:00.319 --> 02:25:17.359
training satellite location. We provide them with weekly tech help or we will starting May 22nd, Fridays 10 to 11:00 a.m. with a volunteer digital navigator on site. and we provided them with two Chromebooks and two laptops for on-site lending use. And we also have inhome

516
02:25:17.359 --> 02:25:33.439
assistance in the planning stages. And finally, Valent Community Television is our computer internet training location. I provide individuals with weekly tech help that is three days a week. Mondays 9 to 11, Wednesdays 3:00

517
02:25:33.439 --> 02:25:50.000
to 5:00, and Fridays 10:30 to 12. We held classes on March 23rd, March 26th, April 27th, and 30th for 11 participants just talking about scams, basics, and technology, anything kind of any direction they wanted to go. Uh we also

518
02:25:50.000 --> 02:26:05.439
held a class for capabilities. 12 people showed up on April 29th to learn all about the program, online safety, smartphones, and pretty much anything else they want to talk about. STV computer lab. We have established this

519
02:26:05.439 --> 02:26:21.680
with eight Chromebooks, 20 laptops, all for on-site use and lending. All right, a little about the communications we've done via video website and flyer promotion. uh a lot of flyer distribution to over

520
02:26:21.680 --> 02:26:36.720
30 locations throughout Fmouth, churches, libraries, administrative offices, public bulletin boards, and many of these flyer postings were also supported by some follow-up outreach. We have a logo that we developed with web

521
02:26:36.720 --> 02:26:51.359
pages created with program information and sign up options for volunteers and participants. We also have a monthly client newsletter at the suggestion of a client. And we also have created and produced and shared a promotional video

522
02:26:51.359 --> 02:27:07.200
via FCTV partners in social media. Shared through FCTV partners and social media. >> Okay. >> So far, we've served 40 residents in our group classes. We've held 30 one-on-one digital navigator sessions. We have six

523
02:27:07.200 --> 02:27:23.520
volunteer digital navigators trained and set up at least 13 weekly tech help hours. So far, our training and support has addressed a wide range of needs, including email use like spam issues, managing phones, MacBooks, smartphones,

524
02:27:23.520 --> 02:27:39.920
e-readers, tablets, storage issues, um basic online navigation, use of apps like Uber, the senior version, um my chart, video calls, using Zoom, more about scams, and online security and basic tech use.

525
02:27:39.920 --> 02:27:55.200
All right, thank you. and I'm going to turn it over to Alan Russell, our education and production manager. >> Thanks, Sam. So, uh, we've certainly sought out some additional resources to help get this, you know, program off the ground and to keep it moving forward,

526
02:27:55.200 --> 02:28:11.120
uh, in, you know, future years as well. We want to make this a sustainable program that, you know, far outlast this grant. Um, and so in efforts, we've reached out to the Felmouth Fund. we received uh $5,000

527
02:28:11.120 --> 02:28:27.120
uh in funding from them. We also uh applied through NBI um to receive laptops um and that's where we got 42 different devices from that we've been able to loan out to all of our partners and get our um computer lab up and

528
02:28:27.120 --> 02:28:43.200
running with. Uh and those come with Microsoft Office pre-installed on them. We also have Deep Freeze, TD Snap, Jaws, Antivirus software. All of that is included through the grant. Um, so that was a huge help for us. We also uh have

529
02:28:43.200 --> 02:29:00.240
an informal commitment from Falmouth um that plans on uh giving us around $24,000 to help this program. And we have a few uh future grant opportunities that we're currently uh applying for and uh trying to receive. One is the Cape

530
02:29:00.240 --> 02:29:16.720
Cod Foundation Catalyst Grant. So, we applied for a three-year grant from them uh for $50,000. And we also have an upcoming meeting this week with the uh Billian fund to um see if we can get some funding there as well to really

531
02:29:16.720 --> 02:29:32.800
keep this program going into the future. And so far, it's 100% positive responses from all of our uh clients and participants and partners. um from you know really enjoying the hands-on assistance. Uh they they don't know that

532
02:29:32.800 --> 02:29:51.439
we could do any better. They they say we did the very best. It's a much needed service. Many thanks. Um and so we've gotten tons of great feedback from everyone so far that's participated in this program. >> Yep.

533
02:29:51.439 --> 02:30:07.600
So, um um I know you're asking that the it be extended to December 31st of 2026. Uh does that require any formal action by this board of this evening? Mr. Rancher, as far as you know,

534
02:30:07.600 --> 02:30:24.000
>> not as far as I know, Mr. Chair and also Mr. Chair, if I could. >> Yeah, please. much. I just want to as Allan mentioned the whole team really the goal of this and I've seen it in other communities is to see you grow a strong foundation and then to add on and make it a sustainable program. So I want

535
02:30:24.000 --> 02:30:40.720
to applaud SCTV for putting together such a solid plan and also reaching out and obtaining additional resources. It's going to be a great asset going forward. And I'd be remiss comments to not thank Mr. Peter Clark um and Mr. Courtney B and the members of the Minnesota

536
02:30:40.720 --> 02:30:57.120
whiteboard with their involvement initially in the uh in the award of the $85,000. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Just want to applaud the efforts of education. Um my folks just recently

537
02:30:57.120 --> 02:31:14.080
were uh targeted and successfully not not positively for them. Um they were scammed because they didn't know. and my dad totally dealt for it, right? Um the misperception or misconception is that

538
02:31:14.080 --> 02:31:30.240
it only happens to older folks. We see that you're trending right now towards older folks, but younger folks are more online longer um on more different devices, social media, AI generated things that are now happening um and

539
02:31:30.240 --> 02:31:46.479
they're more likely to fall for scams more frequently. So my question is version one, you're building the foundation. Um you're getting positive results. You're showing us the number of residents that are being um that are leveraging your services. What's the

540
02:31:46.479 --> 02:32:03.600
next level? Do you have thoughts of getting into schools? Do you have thoughts of um getting into um the everyday workforce? Because this is a growing problem. >> Yes. And yes, I'm going to let Alan take us. >> Yes. So absolutely. Uh we've been working on a whole summer program that

541
02:32:03.600 --> 02:32:20.240
we're looking to roll out. Uh Natalie's been working uh really closely on this. The flyer should be coming out in the schools this week. Um and it's going to be uh family focused. So it's going to focus on kids and parents. Um and that's really uh kind of something that we we

542
02:32:20.240 --> 02:32:35.200
plan on focusing on pretty hard during the summer. And then we're hoping in the fall to move on to more workforce development and um you know how to actually find jobs as well in this uh this plan as well. So we're you know

543
02:32:35.200 --> 02:32:54.479
currently exploring the mass hire uh to kind of take take that on in the fall. >> Mr. Brown, are you tracking the numbers how many people you're impacting because I know when you're going to go for grants are going to be asking you that. >> Yeah. So, so far, um, you know, we've

544
02:32:54.479 --> 02:33:09.280
only have recently gotten started in the past couple months. Um, so we've had 40 people in so far, uh, through our group classes, but I think the biggest impact we're really having on people is with the one-on-one sessions. Um, because we can really sit with them and nail down

545
02:33:09.280 --> 02:33:25.040
what issues they're having. Um, and I think Natalie has done a great job of working with all the people that come in and really helping them understand the technology, but also, you know, taking the time to walk them through different scams and stuff that are going on. And

546
02:33:25.040 --> 02:33:40.560
we had the police department come in and help walk us through all of that and gave us some great resources. Um, and we've also been working with the sheriff's department on that as well. >> And if I if I could, I just want to say a thank you to our partners. So you

547
02:33:40.560 --> 02:33:56.720
heard the list of the current partners. We're looking to grow those partners in all different directions with all different ages and needs. Um the other way we're going to really be su successful is by having volunteer digital navigators. So we have six trained so far. I think we have another

548
02:33:56.720 --> 02:34:13.120
two ready to be trained. So that'll be eight that we can send out or have in house. Um, and I think that the more people that we can find to help to volunteer, we can touch more people communities. >> Mr. Richardson. >> Yeah, thank you all so much. I really

549
02:34:13.120 --> 02:34:30.080
like, you know, um, you know, reminds me of Lendos from, you know, from from 1 to 99. You guys are really targeting everyone and helping the entire community. Uh, one other person I can I would encourage you to reach out to is um, district attorney, Robert Gallo. He's trying to establish an office on elder frog specifically for the Cayman

550
02:34:30.080 --> 02:34:46.000
Islands. has been requesting funding from that from the state legislature. So I think you know again kind of like what folks found in their work with other regional partners uh you know as much as we can work together you know it really helps make a difference on we can help uh try to get more money for brokers like this.

551
02:34:46.000 --> 02:35:06.880
>> Okay. Yes. One more comment and then we can wrap this one. >> Couple of questions. Um in the feedback you're getting do you know how people are finding you? What's your favorite question? >> Survey or form. How did she find out about us? And from the feedback I've

552
02:35:06.880 --> 02:35:24.319
seen so far, uh, one was a church flyer. Um, another one was a flyer. I think it's mainly the flyers, but also a lot of this here at the senior center is word of mouth. >> Yeah. just cuz especially folks who are looking for help with computers, they would see that the flyers are probably

553
02:35:24.319 --> 02:35:40.880
going to be more effective on social media. Um, so thinking about where do you put your your resources going forward? Um, I'm also curious how you determine what services go to or with each partner, right? That you got loaner computers going out to through the Cape

554
02:35:40.880 --> 02:35:57.680
Cod uh Kian Museum but not the Veterans Center and that sort of thing. And and then also what has the uptake been on the the laner computers? How important a resource is that? >> So in terms of determining what's needed, there's an evaluation. We we had meetings with our partners and there was

555
02:35:57.680 --> 02:36:14.640
an evaluation done on what they had and we asked what they needed. We also asked what they wanted to do and some wanted to do more than others. But once we determined who wanted to be a training lab or a computer learning center um or just an access center where people could

556
02:36:14.640 --> 02:36:30.880
access internet computers um we didn't really talk about the library which has the space of place but is also a partner. Um we were able to determine what it was they needed in terms of the classes that we're offering that is also on our surveys and we do we do reach out

557
02:36:30.880 --> 02:36:49.200
we ask both the partners and the individuals that reach out to us what what it is they would like. That's where those one-on-one classes are really important. >> Okay, thank you. >> That does it. Thank you very much, Ben and your team.

558
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>> Okay, moving on. We've discussed and consider adoption of the select board FY23 to FY27 strategic plan. Mr. Reno, >> thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, so it was have this slated for 25 minutes, but I'll try to make this as you all recall. I think

559
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it was back in March when I first presented a copy of the strategic plan. Um the past two years um the uh review process uh for updating the FY23 to FY27 strategic plan is typically about a

560
02:37:20.080 --> 02:37:37.680
single workshop sessions and a Saturday um facilitated by myself and the assistant town manager um and typically has been conducted in late summer. uh following this review and vision process and select order is typically approved and adopted the big strategic plan uh in

561
02:37:37.680 --> 02:37:54.640
the fall late fall of each year. Um we decided this time around the third year uh to uh change that model a bit as you all recall we hired outside consultants uh college center university of Massachusetts Boston uh to uh help lead and facilitate a 3-day uh workshop

562
02:37:54.640 --> 02:38:09.920
session. was a very deep dive into the existing um or formally um adopted and previously adopted the strategic plan. Um the representatives from the college center scheduled again a series of three Saturday meetings. Those took place as

563
02:38:09.920 --> 02:38:26.800
you probably recall September 20th, November 22nd and December 6th of last year. And uh importantly, one of the primary goals of the uh the workshops was to produce a streamlined strategic plan uh comprised of seven key strategic

564
02:38:26.800 --> 02:38:43.359
priority areas which again the plan is included in your packing and this is the most important part um to create more objective measurable set of goals and milestones with each one of those seven key strategic focus areas. Uh what I'm asking the SL board to do uh this

565
02:38:43.359 --> 02:38:59.359
evening is to review again a copy of the updated revised uh plan. Um it's a red line plant and I want to thank the SL board. I think it was a few weeks ago I sent out distributed individually to the board and asked for some last uh edits

566
02:38:59.359 --> 02:39:14.960
uh and comments and I want to thank you all for providing those to me. I think I've written just about all of those comments, but if I miss something, uh, tonight is, uh, it's my ask is it's on you to provide those to me so I can do that in final stages and hopefully have

567
02:39:14.960 --> 02:39:30.399
this plan adopted and I'll mention real briefly and then stop talking. Um, this is likely going to be the well, this is the final year of 207, but this particular 5-year plan. Um I think it's going to behoove the town going forward the next uh iteration of our strategic

568
02:39:30.399 --> 02:39:45.920
plan to involve a comm community employment in the process and goes absent from the from the current strategic plan. It's going to be important elements I vote for. >> Okay. Well, thank you. Um I don't know how we want to approach this. Uh we'll

569
02:39:45.920 --> 02:40:03.200
start with Mr. Richardson and work our way down with respect to any comments or questions with respect to the strategic plan. Um, can you go the other order? >> We'll start with Dr. Goldstone. How

570
02:40:03.200 --> 02:40:18.319
about that? We'll go that way. >> Excellent. I've got um too uh quick to at least get out there. Um so, we were talking earlier tonight about farmland. Definitely um protecting farmland is in here, but we have not had a lot of the

571
02:40:18.319 --> 02:40:33.600
conversations to rigorously determine what the goals would be in terms of like what percent of town land we would want protected and in fact what is currently in this draft very appropriately is x% is protected for farming. And so my one

572
02:40:33.600 --> 02:40:49.520
proposal would be that um we modify one of the milestones under the optimizing our use of formal restrictions to protect natural ecosystems and farmlands um to be uh convene discussions and um

573
02:40:49.520 --> 02:41:05.600
determine goals for farmland protection um for the found um so that we can actually move that forward and do it in a responsible way. How would we do that this evening or in the future meeting? I mean, >> you mean in terms of that provision? >> Yeah.

574
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>> Um, my proposal would be approval with that amendment. >> Okay. >> Um, I have one other amendment that I would like to propose and this is part of a broader discussion involving the

575
02:41:20.319 --> 02:41:38.640
comprehensive plan as well. Um but given the um fairly comprehensive process that we went through for this strategic plan and the fact that we are looking to kick off a comprehensive planning um process

576
02:41:38.640 --> 02:41:54.000
which would involve significant community engagement and which should ideally by charter influence our strategic plan right our strategic plan should be aligned to the comprehensive plan. Um I would like to propose that we extend this strategic plan by one more

577
02:41:54.000 --> 02:42:10.880
fiscal year to an end date of FY28 to be updated next year but then to be fully uh you know the next 5year cycle to be initiated in a way that could align with um the end stages of a comprehensive planning process for the town.

578
02:42:10.880 --> 02:42:27.120
>> I was hoping that we would be able to start a new as Mr. menture mentioned u in FY27 and and scrap the old one and and move forward as opposed to as using this one as a as a basis and extending

579
02:42:27.120 --> 02:42:43.840
it by a year. Yes, Mr. >> So uh thank you Mr. Chair for that. Um vice chair is correct um and it was mentioned by some member Reed I believe earlier about the uh this dubtales should dubtail with the local comprehensive plan update. So my desire

580
02:42:43.840 --> 02:43:00.960
to get this current version through um and start a new so to speak next year is probably going to be dependent probably um needs to be slowed down on initiating LCP the comprehensive plan. So I I I would

581
02:43:00.960 --> 02:43:17.600
suggest Mr. agend does consider extending this a year to allow that dubtail to the developments of the LCP comprehensive plan and this process to kind of go. >> I was going to say I think my hope would be that essentially we would be starting

582
02:43:17.600 --> 02:43:32.960
the process you're talking about Mr. share of the community engagement necessary to to get to a fresh five-year, but that that would be part of >> encompassed within the discussion on the LCP >> engagement around the the LCP so that we

583
02:43:32.960 --> 02:43:50.080
can essentially more bang for the buck, two, one stone, whatever be starting that community engagement to get to both plans. I I I think the key takeaway is that uh you know we need to really adopt a strategic plan that makes sense that's concise that's targeted and focused so

584
02:43:50.080 --> 02:44:05.680
that we can make sure we're adhering to it with with community engagement. Anyone else? Mr. Brown. >> Yeah, I think we should change the uh the order of prioritized list and put financial and economic stability at the

585
02:44:05.680 --> 02:44:23.520
top. That was one of my suggestions in the uh response to Mr. Winch's request for final edits. The uh financial situation I think is the primary concern that we would at the top of the list. Uh

586
02:44:23.520 --> 02:44:40.319
the other comment I have is and you know this was an interesting process with the consultant but I felt like it was maybe a little too much geared toward the the uh assembly of the plan as other than

587
02:44:40.319 --> 02:44:56.319
more to the details of the plan. I felt like at the end when these consultants had us, you know, writing down ideas on the sticky notes, it was wasn't as well managed as I would have liked. I really prefer the thoughtful discussion that we

588
02:44:56.319 --> 02:45:13.600
typically have every year and we take the goals that we have and adjust them and modify them. I know sometimes that leads to a sloppy document and I think we can maybe use Mr. Reno's leadership on the uh the focusing, but I still think that that's an important element

589
02:45:13.600 --> 02:45:29.600
of the drafting of the plan is I really feel like we should be sitting down on one more Saturday and refining these priorities, but I'm willing to work with this as it is for now, but I also want to remind the board that typically every

590
02:45:29.600 --> 02:45:47.600
year we would update the long range plan and we would adjust the date on it and we haven't done that now we're talking about changing it to a home date or your I think you just suggested a whole new strategic plan document. I'm not sure what what you mean by that, but I think

591
02:45:47.600 --> 02:46:03.439
we should just update it every year and adjust it as needed as we change our or rep prioritize as the conditions underne just just a note with respect to the priorities. Uh I I think what's listed

592
02:46:03.439 --> 02:46:21.920
in the strategic plan um is that they are listed alphabetically and and there's absolutely no indication as to one being more of a priority than the other. Clearly uh economic or economic situation cries out for uh for further

593
02:46:21.920 --> 02:46:38.439
discussion. But I don't no one in no one should look at the strategic plan and think that the way they are laid out is in any way an indication of what what our priorities are. >> Although historically it was that's another thing that's changed.

594
02:46:38.880 --> 02:46:53.760
>> Well, you know, with all due respect, I think it it had always said that that the priority that they were listed in alphabetical order. the whole version was gone >> and uh you know and that I always questioned that they really were in alphabetical order because the first one

595
02:46:53.760 --> 02:47:11.200
was housing which was not the first one in alphabetical order but at any event uh I don't think they are in any way indicative of what our priorities are. >> Well, I think they should be and that's another part of the conversation. >> That that we that discussion we can have but what's in there now is not are not

596
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listed as priorities. That's not the point I'm making. That's where the conversation's important. >> So, I'm gonna go before call because I think he's going to talk a lot more than I am. >> No. Uh, since this is my last meeting, I won't be asleep as I usually am. Um, uh,

597
02:47:28.560 --> 02:47:43.680
I I really do appreciate this process and and thank you Mike and Peter and that the consultants brought in. Um, I just I just really like the way that we uh refined a lot of the goals to be more actionable. Uh and a lot of these

598
02:47:43.680 --> 02:47:59.920
goals we have already uh approved or or or are in process to be done which is terrific. Um the only thing is I I I do agree with Doug. Um I think that I I kind of wanted I think our first meeting we were kind of going through the process and you know we our expectations versus what was supposed to be in that

599
02:47:59.920 --> 02:48:16.720
first meeting I think was uh was a little off. I think after that it got a lot better. So I I agree with Doug. Um you know I think one more session uh on the weekend. I don't know how that would work with me legally leaving off the board uh in 48 hours but um you know I think that uh is part of the process. Um

600
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I do I do see Mr. call the point about a separate strategic plan as well moving forward. But um I do I agree with I think that we should get into the details some more session. >> Mh. I think we should make I think we should

601
02:48:36.800 --> 02:48:52.319
approve it with the basic revisions right now and move on. Um I think in parallel starting right away asking town management to put together a um almost an enterprise risk management type of

602
02:48:52.319 --> 02:49:11.279
evaluation uh proposal for us that involves community input but also is data driven to help us figure out our long range plan, our local comprehensive plan and our strategic plan so that they are all united and starting on that

603
02:49:11.279 --> 02:49:28.399
Um because I think Mr. Renshaw and Mr. Johnson and the entire team have done Young's work tying all of their work to a strategic plan for compliance reasons, but it's not driving um their work the

604
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way it could. It's not helping them the way that it could. There's a lot of tiebacks, but we need to we need to look at this strategic plan as driving forward for the major needs. And we can go back and forth with small edits. We're here till, you know, Timbbook 2.

605
02:49:44.560 --> 02:50:01.680
We're not going to get it until we like put a period on it and start over. Um, use the plan that we have cuz I think with what Mr. Wrench asked us to do in those few sessions to get to actionable, I think it was great. We were able to take it from a shelf trophy to something

606
02:50:01.680 --> 02:50:16.800
more actionable than before. Now, I think we need to get to the next level. So, um, with that, I don't know if the appropriate motion is to approve, um, with the suggested edits, um, or not,

607
02:50:16.800 --> 02:50:32.399
but I think we're ready to move on from this one and really start getting to something um, better. >> I agree. I'll second that motion. >> Okay. Please. >> No. >> Can you just clarify the motion that

608
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>> adopt the revised uh select board 20 FY23 to FY27 strategic plan with Dr. Gold Stones and Mr. Brown's

609
02:50:48.479 --> 02:51:05.520
suggested changes. I don't think we need to see them. I think we can just have that and then be done with this. And to clarify, Mr. Brown, your suggested changes that would be with our >> I would just suggest that the first priority would be the financial and I

610
02:51:05.520 --> 02:51:20.560
understand Mr. Scarley doesn't agree that that was any indication that it's a more important issue. But in my opinion, it does indicate that and I thought that was >> but then what's number two, three, four, five, and six and seven? I mean, I'm

611
02:51:20.560 --> 02:51:37.840
sure that this is I think that's just going to draw this out a little bit honestly. Yes, Mr. >> Mr. Quick comment. So, I I do appreciate uh Senator Member Brown's desire to have a focus on priority last to be clear. Um the old strategic plan for that uh the

612
02:51:37.840 --> 02:51:53.040
the the historical reference to alphabetical order that housing was now housing was affordable housing and then it truly wasn't alphabetical order. When we changed that last year, um it it upset that that order. I'd suggest as

613
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part of the overall update, you know, extending this a year to allow us to meet with the community, have the community engagements um as part of this update process and the local comprehensive plan. That's when you get the community input to help the select board identify priorities. I I don't

614
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know how this board, I'm going to be frank, would would identify, rank, order, and priority one through seven key focus areas right now. I think that's what we rely on publicly for as part of the process. >> Mr. Brown, would you be willing to uh

615
02:52:25.279 --> 02:52:42.160
wave your your suggestion with respect to priority and we'll discuss it going forward further so that we can move the strategic plan as as it's written. >> I suppose I'd be willing to go along but I just want to just point out that in years past we did reorganize what was on

616
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the top of the list and it did have importance not just alphabetics. Don't worry, Mr. Brown. I'll be driving the financial problem. I don't think any of us >> I don't think anyone is questioning that. I think it's the other ranked

617
02:52:59.600 --> 02:53:16.240
orders that that you know at this point would would be difficult for us to do at this point and I think we need to move this. >> Thank you. Okay. >> Motion to approve with Dr. Goldstone. Second. All in favor? I

618
02:53:16.240 --> 02:53:32.800
>> Okay. And finally, thank you very much. All right. Um, now we are at update on diversity, equity, and low warming, the EIB activities, and discuss town management's proposal to retain a

619
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consultant. We have allocated 20 minutes. And Mr. Reno, >> thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, first I want to thank our HR director, assistant town manager, um, for helping, um, in the preparation of the presentation. uh Susan Ming, our HR director, is going to

620
02:53:48.319 --> 02:54:03.200
lead us through a discussion, ask some a slide that I prepared, but I wanted to offer uh some opening remarks. Um so, three years ago when I was hired as town manager, um one of the goals, objectives was u in regards to the uh DEI officer

621
02:54:03.200 --> 02:54:19.439
position. Um we had, as you recall me saying, uh a couple of unsuccessful attempts at filling that position. So the decision was made at a management level um that was important to lay a foundation of of knowledge within the organization. The uh diversity, equity,

622
02:54:19.439 --> 02:54:34.560
inclusion and blogging principles I felt um have a tremendous uh value in any organization. Um so we uh highly consulted kind of led an initial process. Um Susan's going to talk. I think this is important. Over the past

623
02:54:34.560 --> 02:54:50.080
two years um we've taken great strides and um in and across the organization, not just the HR department, but all of the departments have really um identified um the and understood the value of

624
02:54:50.080 --> 02:55:07.279
having strong DIP principles in in town. Uh we've incorporated and ingrained and has become woven into the fabric of our hiring practices. Um recruitment and retention practices. Uh we recently had um I think some fantastic training that was provided uh by labor council Jack

625
02:55:07.279 --> 02:55:23.279
Dolan uh back in was February and the training was provided. Um so my point to all of this is that uh and in order to have a strong foundation I feel that we need to continue moving forward with educating training staff. Um we just had

626
02:55:23.279 --> 02:55:40.080
a long discussion with the strategic plan. There are some elements uh currently incorporated in the plan that was just adopted. Um there's proof of improvement to that certainly but had some powerful metrics that we can measure our performance and progress towards making um Fmouth the town of

627
02:55:40.080 --> 02:55:56.880
Felmouth the most inclusive um inviting uh organizations possible is important to town management. So, I'm going to turn it over to Susan to go through the slides and and the purpose of this is to have a discussion with regards to um all of the work great work that's been done over the past at least two years,

628
02:55:56.880 --> 02:56:12.399
probably even longer. Um but also to talk and get some feedback um and support hopefully uh from uh management's uh direction to uh bring inite consultant or consultants to assist us and again improving and

629
02:56:12.399 --> 02:56:28.080
enhancing that strong foundation which I think has already been built upon. Uh one of the uh benefits of having a consultant at this period of time in my opinion is it's going to allow us an opportunity to select specific skill sets that perhaps one person um uh would

630
02:56:28.080 --> 02:56:44.560
not have. So it really allows us a little bit more flexibility to bring in um some very specific skill sets. So that's alternative. >> Thank you. Good evening and thank you for the opportunity to provide a brief update regarding the town's diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging

631
02:56:44.560 --> 02:57:01.279
initiatives. A foundational step in this work began in the fall of 2023 when Tommy manager Mike Branch began a collaborative process to develop the town's first mission and vision statements and identify town core values. Over a period of several months,

632
02:57:01.279 --> 02:57:17.200
each division and department review the select board strategic plan and discuss townwide mission vision and core values proposals with their staff. The management team then came together over a period of months to propose and then align a proposal um that then came

633
02:57:17.200 --> 02:57:33.600
before the SE board in May of 2024 when the select board officially adopted these mission included treatments and core values which included accessible and inclusive language focused around serving all members of the found. We then use the select board strategic

634
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command and his newly adopted statement as found as a foundation in describing the town of Balmouth as an employer. Most often during recruitment efforts and to applicants through job postings and during interviews and as we repeatedly described who we were and who

635
02:57:49.520 --> 02:58:06.160
we were trying to be as an employer over time, we got better at it. And in the fall of 2024, we realized that there was an opportunity to strengthen the town's written commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to match our verbal messaging that had evolved over

636
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time. So, this led to the town's first value statement proposal, which the select board reviewed, discussed, and improved upon to the final statement shown on your screen. The town of family strives to be an inclusive, welcoming, equitable, and diverse community and an

637
02:58:21.520 --> 02:58:36.560
employer that provides the highest level of customer service to all individuals and groups of various abilities, cultures, backgrounds, and identities through the equitable application of policies and procedures. These current statements establish an

638
02:58:36.560 --> 02:58:53.680
important foundation for the town's DEIB initiatives, which are intermingled with workforce development and organizational culture efforts. Our human resources team feels very fortunate to have a role in workforce development and organizational culture efforts. And as part of this broader

639
02:58:53.680 --> 02:59:09.680
foundational effort, we developed a written departmental vision focused on hiring exceptional staff, supporting town staff and advancing a healthy, safe, and inclusive work culture. We knew our employment practices and our work culture is vital to our DEIB

640
02:59:09.680 --> 02:59:25.840
initiatives because our approach is that diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work is not a standalone initiative. We believe that these principles are best achieved when they are woven into the fabric of the organization. as South Manager Wrench stated through each staff member

641
02:59:25.840 --> 02:59:41.200
performing their individual role through an equitable and inclusive lens. As part of the effort to hire qualified candidates who share these CIB values, we have updated our written recruitment and employment communications to describe the workplace and public

642
02:59:41.200 --> 02:59:56.800
service culture that the town is building and striving towards. This written description of the town empowerment as an employer, which we are continually improving, is posted on the employment opportunity section of our town website and is also part of the job

643
02:59:56.800 --> 03:00:12.720
posting for each recruitment that we conduct. And I'd like to take a moment to read this important communication. The town of Felmouth is a people- centered municipality committed to public service excellence. We strive to foster an inclusive and supportive work

644
03:00:12.720 --> 03:00:28.479
culture grounded in professionalism, collaboration, and accountability. And we invest in our employees through ongoing training and professional development opportunities. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified

645
03:00:28.479 --> 03:00:44.800
candidates. The town offers competitive compensation and benefit eligible positions offer comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance and other valuable benefits that include participation in the town's pension plan. All applicants must be able to interact

646
03:00:44.800 --> 03:01:01.439
and work effectively and respectfully with individuals and groups of various abilities, cultures, backgrounds, ages, and identities. All of our positions, including police and fire, are non-Ivil service, which means that anyone can apply directly to an open position, and

647
03:01:01.439 --> 03:01:19.359
our employees perform meaningful work that provides vital services to the Dominic community. In addition to using this important messaging in each recruitment, we're updating our job postings to use accessible and inclusive language. And in the hiring process, we focus on

648
03:01:19.359 --> 03:01:36.000
transferable skill sets and demonstrated competencies rather than prior titles or exact matches. And one of the ways that we try to objectively measure those transferable skill sets and competencies is through the implementation of skill screenings for many of our positions. We

649
03:01:36.000 --> 03:01:50.640
evaluate minimum qualifications carefully and accept equivalent experience for education when appropriate. We advertise as willing to train for entry level and selective positions and we look for ways to eliminate barriers to applying. For

650
03:01:50.640 --> 03:02:06.800
example, for lifeguard positions when we which require certification, we'll include a link to how to obtain that certification. Our HR assistant removes any photos that people are increasingly providing as part of their application so that those are removed prior to the applications

651
03:02:06.800 --> 03:02:22.720
are reviewed. And during our interviews, we reiterate the town's values by explaining to candidates that as an employer in a diverse community, it is very important to the town that all community members receive the same highle customer service and equitable

652
03:02:22.720 --> 03:02:37.840
service delivery regardless of their ability, culture, background, age, identity, or any other factor. And we include interview questions to provide insight into the candidates's ability and desire to be part of a team with those values.

653
03:02:37.840 --> 03:02:53.600
Using these practices, we've been very fortunate to hire many new employees, including those in chief and director level positions who share these values and who bring an equitable and acoustic lens to their positions in their respective departments and positions.

654
03:02:53.600 --> 03:03:09.359
Another way that we are integrating these principles throughout the organization is through updates to employment contracts, collective bargaining agreements, and job descriptions, which are being updated in collaboration with department heads, division heads, union stewards, and

655
03:03:09.359 --> 03:03:24.560
union representatives to reflect genderneutral pronouns and more inclusive language. These updates may be as simple as using chip strength instead of manpower. Or it may be a complete rewrite of a job description like the example shown on

656
03:03:24.560 --> 03:03:40.399
your screen for the recreation program administrator for enrichment and special events in which we rewrote the primary function and primary purpose to read performs professional administrative and programmatic work to design, implement

657
03:03:40.399 --> 03:03:56.960
and oversee a diverse portfolio of enrichment programs and community special events that strengthen community connections and enhance the quality of like profound with residents of all ages, cultures, abilities, identities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. And you

658
03:03:56.960 --> 03:04:12.880
can see that language carried into the first essential function of that position. In addition, as we update each job description across the organization, we are adding must have the ability to interact and work effectively and respectfully with individuals and groups

659
03:04:12.880 --> 03:04:28.960
of various abilities, cultures, backgrounds, ages, and identities in the required ability section of each updated job description. These updates are critical to integrating DEI principles as job descriptions are also foundational documents that are given to

660
03:04:28.960 --> 03:04:45.359
an employee when they are hired or when the job description is updated and they're used to clearly communicate expectations and for accountability. And I want to emphasize that these documents are all being updated collaboratively with other town staff and with union representatives were

661
03:04:45.359 --> 03:05:02.439
appropriate. And as we've had continuing conversations about the town's values and we continually updated these documents, these groups have come to expect these updates and we're all on the same page as we're reviewing them which has been really successful.

662
03:05:02.640 --> 03:05:18.960
We've reviewed the work that we're doing to ensure that we're bringing in new hires who share these values and we also are engaging with current staff regarding DEIB principles. In the fall of 2024, the town conducted a survey, a staff survey to better understand the

663
03:05:18.960 --> 03:05:34.960
current staff's readiness to integrate DEIB principles and to identify training needs and opportunities. Approximately 34% of all town staff responded to the survey and 63.2 2% of the respondents were not managers or supervisors.

664
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Through this first attempt, we discovered areas in which we could improve future surveys, but the information gained from this first survey was a good starting point. In January of 2026, the town held training for townwide management for the townwide management team focused on increasing

665
03:05:51.680 --> 03:06:09.279
awareness of and reducing barriers to conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. raising our individual and collective consciousness of bias, highlighting ways that bias and inequity can manifest in individual actions, organizations, and communities,

666
03:06:09.279 --> 03:06:27.200
building allyship in the workplace, and supporting a workplace culture that welcomes and values everyone. As this foundational work has progressed, we are seeing the new employees we are hiring and our current employees performing their individual roles throughout the town with an

667
03:06:27.200 --> 03:06:42.720
equitable and inclusive lens. And I'd like to touch on just some of the examples that are occurring across multiple areas of town operations. Under accessibility and ADA related initiatives, the town has secured CBC funding for the design of the

668
03:06:42.720 --> 03:06:59.279
multigenerational accessible face base to be located at Google Park and design to be inclusive beyond ADA compliance. We have started providing additional Hobie maps and accessible beach chairs. And the DPW completed a pilot program for accessible playground maps. The

669
03:06:59.279 --> 03:07:15.200
recreation division provides accessible portable toilets at each of their field sites. and the library held an accessibility staff development day and have accessibility and have improved their accessibility features on the public computers. Under community programming and

670
03:07:15.200 --> 03:07:30.720
engagement efforts, the town of Alabama community services department organizes pride events annually and more recently bianually since 2023. The human services division supports weekly LGBTQIA plus support and

671
03:07:30.720 --> 03:07:46.479
conversation groups. And one of our human services clinical social workers attends the Valmouth High School's gay straight alliance meetings to promote intergenerational connection within the LGBTQIA plus community. The library has

672
03:07:46.479 --> 03:08:02.319
implemented Walk This Way, the town's first regularly scheduled LGBTQIA plus programming. And we're seeing an increase in gender inclusivity across the town as different departments and divisions are updating forms, library cards. We now have a family dance

673
03:08:02.319 --> 03:08:18.880
instead of a fatherdaughter dance. Um trying to be more inclusive um in all aspects under language access and inclusive services. Um pictured in this photo here is Melini, our first part-time bilingual clinical social worker who provides

674
03:08:18.880 --> 03:08:34.240
social worker services in Portuguese for our Portuguese-speaking community members. Our young adult librarian enhanced and promotes world languages collection in the young adult room with an emphasis on books written in Portuguese. And when reviewing new software, one of

675
03:08:34.240 --> 03:08:51.200
the factors that we're looking at is the ability to translate. And we're working on providing top flyers in multiple languages as well. under ongoing training and organizational development activities. Lieutenant Kurt I believe has provided the AEL training and we're also the

676
03:08:51.200 --> 03:09:07.439
human services department offers funding for homeless prevention and stabilization mental health services. We have our affordable housing efforts that go on throughout town. And these are just the I want to emphasize these are just the initiatives that I know of as the individual departments divisions are

677
03:09:07.439 --> 03:09:22.000
performing their roles through an equitable and inclusive lens. There are other initiatives that I'm not even aware of that that they're doing on their own through that um through their work that they learned the training and and their own initiatives that they

678
03:09:22.000 --> 03:09:39.279
brought to the organization. I wanted to to highlight two upcoming events. Um on the left, the Pride Carnival uh coming up on June 12th. This is the town organized community services department event. And on the right,

679
03:09:39.279 --> 03:09:57.120
Junth on um June 19th, the town supports the um the Junth celebration committee's annual event that they hold and just had their walk as well. So next steps like like town manager Renshaw mentioned um we are are proud of

680
03:09:57.120 --> 03:10:13.279
the meaningful foundational work and initiatives that we've done but we recognize that there's a lot more to do that this is ongoing work and one of the ways that we're proposing to move forward with this work and integrating the EID principles across the organization is to establish the EIB

681
03:10:13.279 --> 03:10:29.439
strategic plan and as town manager Renel mentioned the next step would be an RFP for a consultant to help evaluate work that we've already done and help provide a road map for future work. >> Thank you.

682
03:10:29.439 --> 03:10:46.479
>> Thank you, Susan. >> Yes. >> Sorry. Again, my ask tonight and and this was intended to be a discussion. I wanted Susan to be able to provide uh the board and the community an update of all of the great efforts and activities and initiatives. Uh but the uh the

683
03:10:46.479 --> 03:11:02.640
primary goal tonight is to obtain SLboard support for this uh model of moving forward with consulting services. Again, I think there's some significant uh positives uh with regards to identifying specific skill sets of one

684
03:11:02.640 --> 03:11:19.760
or more consultants likely more than one consultant based upon an assessment of their needs, current needs within the organization. um seeing this be effective in other communities with regards to again laying that proper foundation. Uh so again, what we're looking for tonight is uh support to go

685
03:11:19.760 --> 03:11:35.120
forward. We've had this uh draft RFP which included in your packets this evening uh for about a month and a half and an opportunity to attend I believe was last month's uh TIV advisory committee um where we get some feedback uh from the group members that were

686
03:11:35.120 --> 03:11:51.359
present at that meeting. um the draft version included in your packet does not include a couple of those comments, but we certainly consider adding some additional uh edits. But the important thing in my mind um and this is critical as that we move forward with this RFP um

687
03:11:51.359 --> 03:12:07.920
this is as possible uh because I think we're losing um kind of an opportunity that was gained um with the uh January uh transition management team. I want to kind of build upon that and not lose that moment. Thank you, Mr. Venture. I I agree. I

688
03:12:07.920 --> 03:12:23.120
think it's time to move this forward. It's been around for a long time. Uh and I would be supportive of moving forward and and directing the town manager to proceed with proposal to retain a consulting

689
03:12:23.120 --> 03:12:39.279
according to the RFP. Uh Dr. Goldstone, I know you've been involved with the uh with the committee. Maybe you have some comments with respect to this. Certainly. And I would like to say uh welcome and thank you to multiple members of the DEIB committee who are

690
03:12:39.279 --> 03:12:56.880
here this evening as well. Having um uh been in not all but but many of the recent conversations of that committee and and uh I think speaking to the the passion that um our residents have uh

691
03:12:56.880 --> 03:13:14.399
for this work. past members of that committee have showed up um to recent meetings to also engage in those conversations and and really appreciate um all of that. And then also having been in uh conversation with uh town

692
03:13:14.399 --> 03:13:31.680
manager and town management um about this plan. Um I think sometimes um there's a sense that we're farther apart than we actually are. Um, and I think it's really important that um,

693
03:13:31.680 --> 03:13:48.399
we remember and focus on the shared goal, which um, I I just want to say thank you um, uh, to Susan um, and to all of our town staff. I think it's really important that this work has

694
03:13:48.399 --> 03:14:07.520
essentially started with the functions of recruiting, staff development, workplace culture because it's uh difficult if not impossible to expect people to do work to um include others

695
03:14:07.520 --> 03:14:23.600
and uh you know extend beyond their maybe current skill set or comfort level if they're not being supported, if they're not committed to the values, and if they don't feel valued themselves at work. So, I think that's a really important core to start from, and you're starting to see it ripple out from

696
03:14:23.600 --> 03:14:40.000
there. And and to the town manager's point, it's really important that we capitalize on that momentum and move this forward. And what the select board put into our strategic plan was that we need uh I think the language has

697
03:14:40.000 --> 03:14:56.960
modified a couple of times, right? We need an assessment. We need a strategic plan. We need an action plan. We need someone um who can fully dedicate their time because this is well beyond the scope um Susan of of your already very full days to work with every single

698
03:14:56.960 --> 03:15:14.720
department head, division head, what have you to figure out, all right, where are you? What's the what are the next steps? How do we move this forward? Um and while I know we've had this um position that was approved by town meeting um for years, I think this

699
03:15:14.720 --> 03:15:30.880
uh the consultant pathway does offer us as the town manager has said an opportunity to get um first of all sometimes someone who's outside the organization can can give a perspective um that someone inside the organization could not. um but have an opportunity to

700
03:15:30.880 --> 03:15:48.479
really more rapidly bring someone in who is who's doing this work on a regular basis and really help us accelerate and see where that leads us in terms of once we know exactly what's needed and what the work is to be done see what is needed in terms of of future resources.

701
03:15:48.479 --> 03:16:03.600
So um I in reading through the um the scope of work I think personally I think that the focus is great. It really does convey that sense of we are a service-based organization and what we

702
03:16:03.600 --> 03:16:20.239
need to do is is help our staff figure out how they can best interface with the community in a way that reflects and upholds our values. Um, and I I guess I had a couple of minor

703
03:16:20.239 --> 03:16:35.760
suggested uh tweaks to the um the scope of work really um one in terms of the demonstrated experience. It says demonstrated experience in the field and again I

704
03:16:35.760 --> 03:16:50.560
think this focus on service based organizations is really important and so making sure that we have language in this RFP bill but then it could be really different working with an organization whose work does not involve as much interfacing with the community they might have done

705
03:16:50.560 --> 03:17:07.760
incredible assessment work but if they haven't worked with communities or organizations that are doing that kind of work where what needs to happen is is figuring out what we need to do internally to be able to project that outward. Um so just but to proposers

706
03:17:07.760 --> 03:17:22.479
with demonstrated experience in the field or working with community starting organizations or some you know flirting to that effect. Um and I I would like to see it it I understand from a budget perspective um

707
03:17:22.479 --> 03:17:39.600
the need to absolutely focus on utilizing town resources to the greatest extent possible. I I personally would really love to see that bullet in the scope of work built on to say utilize existing town resources to the great extent possible and identify critical

708
03:17:39.600 --> 03:17:57.560
additional resources needed. Um so we do also have in addition to here's the work that needs to be done um have coming out of this RFP and here's how we what we need to get that done. Well, questions.

709
03:17:57.680 --> 03:18:13.279
>> Um, >> yeah, I sound of course been former and current committee members for all the work they've done. Um, is there any way and I understand how much of it's just not been possible to hire someone position. Is there any way we can continue forward with a consultant but

710
03:18:13.279 --> 03:18:28.160
still have the vision of an open of a long-term hired personnel? Um, so we don't give up on that. Is there any way we can do both? Uh, at least that's very clear. And I I think the goal is to hire someone in that position at some point

711
03:18:28.160 --> 03:18:44.239
within the next 12 to 18 months. >> So I mentioned I want to be candid with the board that that's been my goal since being hired three years ago and I've said that publicly support. I think there's value. Um I also um said last month during my my uh budget

712
03:18:44.239 --> 03:18:59.359
presentation that I think we need to going forward look at everything in terms of adding additional cost to the organization. Um, you know, I was I was candid last month when I met with the uh the advisory committee of this specific position. Um, I think it's I mean that

713
03:18:59.359 --> 03:19:16.080
discussion needs to be had in in this summer's um discussions to the budget um and going forward. Um is this is this a a position that the community sees that value to to to fill the position or do we continue along

714
03:19:16.080 --> 03:19:32.800
this path with Right. The only thing I want to be cautious on that is it's town meeting and that's just town meeting decision. I don't do that personally as artist for that. But um for me it's we haven't position you've been trying years. So uh

715
03:19:32.800 --> 03:19:48.880
you know I not at all questioning at all your commitments. It's just if there's a way we can still keep that possibility as we have and I just want to be clear that's what we're still trying to do here. But this is so we can get momentum. >> Yes. I think that's an option that we need to continue to pursue. I'm just

716
03:19:48.880 --> 03:20:06.319
again I want to be candid in in with the board. I think that needs to be part of the overall budget discussions going forward this position and and the other baiting decisions that we're going to hold. So I'm meeting the creation of the position. That's correct. Um and we did have a couple of unsuccessful attempts

717
03:20:06.319 --> 03:20:26.800
to fill it. Um right now I think the best path going forward is to again consultants to to continue uh the great work that's already been done >> and and thank you to you and admiration committee for their lead which is

718
03:20:26.800 --> 03:20:46.479
fantast really travel to the super >> Mr. I see that the uh the budget isn't complete because the scope of work is not fully refined and I'm wondering should this actually be a request for qualifications

719
03:20:46.479 --> 03:21:05.120
rather than a request for proposals and then we could use the response from the RQ to tailor an RF more informed I think you have a pretty good sense of the the qualifications that we're

720
03:21:05.120 --> 03:21:22.560
looking for and I think we can hire a qualified firm um and proceed with the tasks that we've identified. We can certainly modify the scope going forward in future phases. But uh you know I think we're we're

721
03:21:22.560 --> 03:21:38.800
eager to move this along and to actually have a consultant on board and and start um making real progress. And I don't I guess I personally don't see where a two-step process is going to be more work for us. It's going to be more delays. I don't know it's going to

722
03:21:38.800 --> 03:21:55.359
result in better. >> I just wish we had at least a general idea of the budget. Seems like we're committed to something here that it's an unknown. How will we determine the what the appropriate budget is? >> Well, we'll have a cap. Well, we will

723
03:21:55.359 --> 03:22:12.080
have a cap when we issue here. We'll have a cap on. Can you share what that would be? >> Um I I just don't want to spend as much money as what we might actually hire somebody or consult tonight. >> Yeah. It's a temporary thing, but still

724
03:22:12.080 --> 03:22:27.200
it's one more expense. >> We're going to stay with We have to stay within the limits of the budget. So it has to be under the salary. >> I could give you an example. Uh last year we utilized about $50,000 I believe. Um so Peter's correct. We'll

725
03:22:27.200 --> 03:22:44.160
recap it. um and and we have to maintain um any expenditures from the available budget and then to the end we're utilizing the funding that you're currently carrying the operating budget for the position offset cost. So we keep looking those

726
03:22:44.160 --> 03:23:01.279
last time we actually advertised and tried to interview. >> Is it ongoing open? >> No, we haven't posted a recruitment as soon as we can probably answer this better than I can. It's been it's been 18 months since since

727
03:23:01.279 --> 03:23:18.399
the last month. >> I'm wondering this position is not actively posted. Yes. >> But do you feel that the consultant is going to set the stage more effectively for the person to come in? Is that the reason for the consultant? >> So that there's one reason and I think

728
03:23:18.399 --> 03:23:35.439
I've said that publicly in the past too. Uh and I've talked about laying foundation strong foundations. um that was that's that that was the rationale uh behind the decision to move forward with consultant last year. But yes and as you read through the scope of services uh scope of work I should say

729
03:23:35.439 --> 03:23:56.080
um phase uh one is um apologies phase two is the creation of a strategic plan with some measurable outcomes and milestones I think that's lacking um we identified that clearly um is one of the lacking areas of our strategic plan this going to be one of

730
03:23:56.080 --> 03:24:12.000
the important um assignments as a consultant is to again assess needs, where are the gaps and then create a strategic plan that position going forward and ultimately and I've said this before um with that strong

731
03:24:12.000 --> 03:24:27.600
foundation with the with the uh creation of a strategic plan and focusing on DEI allowing uh in the future um a DEI officer uh to be more successful having strategic plan being laid out have all the groundwork already laid out. Good.

732
03:24:27.600 --> 03:24:44.399
Thank you. >> I So, I didn't realize it had been 18 months. It's a little concerning. I thought this was kind of something we're still doing. Is there a reason why we kind of I mean, other than we have been able to fill it, I think 18 months is incredibly long

733
03:24:44.399 --> 03:25:02.000
time, especially with the amount of layoffs that have been happening around the country uh in this field specifically. >> Is there a question there? Yeah, I didn't I just I didn't know that. It's a little >> Why why why the delay from the from the last which I think was the third

734
03:25:02.000 --> 03:25:18.720
recruitment. Um I can speak to uh I can speak to that. The delay initially was due to the fact that um we didn't feel like going back out to the markets at that point. This is probably closer to 18 right after the the third unsuccessful attempt. We didn't feel like going back to market um in that

735
03:25:18.720 --> 03:25:36.160
environment was was productive. We' had two previous failed recruitments. Um so um in the interim we opted to use this consultant model and uh and again um we had I think made great progress um and

736
03:25:36.160 --> 03:25:52.479
we discussed in the past you know u the uh the miss perhaps with um previous consultant was that some lack of responsiveness and that needs to be addressed and better managed going forward quite honestly um in terms of setting expectations for for

737
03:25:52.479 --> 03:26:11.040
deliverables you using the sequence and deliverables extensively in this RFP. Um that that was the reason why I spent a year and a half. We didn't feel at the time the market uh it was going to be productive to go back out and I didn't want to to basically waste uh time.

738
03:26:11.040 --> 03:26:31.279
So we decided to use this model. >> Yes, Mr. I I think the minutes will clearly reflect the importance of this position and what it means to the town. So with that, I'd like to move to support the town's managers proposal to retain a DEI

739
03:26:31.279 --> 03:27:00.880
consultant while we continue doing so. >> Before we get there though, I I do want to recognize Dr. Famon Silver who's had her hand on it for a while. If you'd like to approach the podium, >> as the maker of the original motion in

740
03:27:00.880 --> 03:27:16.720
uh June of 2021 in the middle of COVID uh when uh the DEIB position was sort of on its it last legs. Uh the the town town meeting voted

741
03:27:16.720 --> 03:27:32.720
to fill the position and to uh move forward on hiring somebody to fulfill fill this position. In the interim, the position itself has transformed

742
03:27:32.720 --> 03:27:49.760
and whereas formerly it was a town of Felman diversity, equity uh inclusion and belonging uh officer, the town of Felon, not town hall in Fallon.

743
03:27:49.760 --> 03:28:06.080
This position has been radically transformed to serve a small subset of our vibrant population. And there's so much more to diversity, equity, um, inclusion, and belonging

744
03:28:06.080 --> 03:28:20.560
than training, employees, and town hall. We have work to do in our community affairs, in the business community, in the real estate community,

745
03:28:20.560 --> 03:28:37.600
in um in our uh service uh to elders and to um people with disabilities. And these people do not live in town hall. They live in our community.

746
03:28:37.600 --> 03:28:52.399
educating our population to what it truly means to be a diverse and welcoming community. And ideally, the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging person is the leader of that

747
03:28:52.399 --> 03:29:08.239
movement. is a charismatic person. That people who are directly impacted by issues and problems related to race or gender or sexuality

748
03:29:08.239 --> 03:29:24.720
um or age uh find a safe person that they can go to to complain to voice their concerns. I am on the board. I am the found representative to the bars human rights advisory commission. And what that commission has found in

749
03:29:24.720 --> 03:29:38.800
Fountain for year and not in Fountain but in Capewide for years is that racism is the number one problem that is is expressed in our communities

750
03:29:38.800 --> 03:29:56.239
whether whether it's racial uh racial uh events at at the schools in the schools that are not dealt with in a way that children learn and and grow uh and learn to embrace diverse people other unlike

751
03:29:56.239 --> 03:30:12.880
themselves. Or whether it's in town where people are harassed on the sidewalk, on the street where racial epithets are thrown at people from different ethnic uh or cultural groups.

752
03:30:12.880 --> 03:30:28.560
So we need to move out of town hall. I mean, you can do all the trainings and all the workshops that your staff needs, but we have the rest of the town to uh to bring into our diverse diversity,

753
03:30:28.560 --> 03:30:44.560
equity, inclusion, and belonging uh image and ideal and vision for our community. So, I ask you to go back and read the job description of that position

754
03:30:44.560 --> 03:31:02.399
that strategically added, you know, and the town of Balmouth, not just town hall. So when we walk out of town hall, we you know, and I'm not even sure that that we've solved the crisis of of uh hate

755
03:31:02.399 --> 03:31:20.319
in in the town hall of BA or related uh employees and so forth. So, I really strongly encourage you to go back to the drawing board, go back to what we envisioned. for many years. Our

756
03:31:20.319 --> 03:31:36.399
last town manager almost got rid of the the line item for that job when it became obvious that that the schools were going to hire their own full-time person and the town of

757
03:31:36.399 --> 03:31:52.880
Balmouth had to hire at least a half-time person because the money was there, the line item was there, and they committed to a full-time person. So now you're going to erase the line item again because you can't afford it. Well, our town should be able to afford

758
03:31:52.880 --> 03:32:08.399
this person who would provide should be an executive level position and that person will provide the leadership and vision and passion to make sure that EP episodes that I

759
03:32:08.399 --> 03:32:24.960
heard about from people in town going to a restaurant and being uh treated very badly because that person was acting in a racist fashion. And this was a person who had just come to town,

760
03:32:24.960 --> 03:32:42.319
a man of high esteem in town, who had a very important job here, went to a local restaurant wearing a hoodie. And the people in the restaurant practically would not even serve him, would they? >> So, we're going to

761
03:32:42.319 --> 03:32:58.720
have got to find a better bishop. >> Thank you. Okay. Oh, we do have a motion on the floor. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. All in favor to direct the town manager to

762
03:32:58.720 --> 03:33:16.560
proceed with the R&D for consulting. >> Before we before we close this, I I do actually with all due respect, Dr. Fayman Silva want to resp the the back of the room. I I do think we need to be realistic about what a

763
03:33:16.560 --> 03:33:34.479
town of Felmouth employee is and can do. And no employee of this town can solve all social ills within our town. What an employee of our town or a consultant

764
03:33:34.479 --> 03:33:49.680
working with the employees of our town who are not just at town hall. They are all through our community. They're doing an incredible amount of good work. What a DEID consultant and or staff member can do is work with

765
03:33:49.680 --> 03:34:06.080
each and every one of them to make sure that they are having the biggest impact within our broader community, not just in town hall. But I don't think it's realistic to expect any employee of the town to solve all of the very real and

766
03:34:06.080 --> 03:34:20.800
important problems that you're talking about. And I think that expectation is probably part of why um recruiters in the past have not have not been successful or we've not been able to retain people. That is not a realistic expectation for an employee of

767
03:34:20.800 --> 03:34:37.920
the town to solve all of the issues that that you're raising. >> We can set a tone and and we can attempt to lead, but we cannot stop every unwanted behavior in town. >> Mr. Brown, >> and if I could uh Mrs. Renshot just

768
03:34:37.920 --> 03:34:53.680
illustrated that this is a consultant to set the stage for the next DEIB person. So it's not giving up on the line item. It's just refining the mission and the goal so that it's more

769
03:34:53.680 --> 03:35:08.800
effectively fulfilled. I'll reiterate that I don't think anyone has decided to absolutely remove that as as a as a goal in the future. So, so I do think we have a motion and a second of all in favor.

770
03:35:08.800 --> 03:35:26.560
>> Mr. I think just wanted to make sure you saw this. >> Yeah, I mean to the extent that it is consistent with what Dr. Fame and Silva said, I I you know, if if there's something to add, then then I'm happy to

771
03:35:26.560 --> 03:35:56.399
hear it. Otherwise, I I hope not. >> Okay. I'll be very brief my name, chair of the uh diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at the time of conduct. I'll be here very brief. First of all,

772
03:35:56.399 --> 03:36:13.840
absolutely massive thank you to Susan Lumpian and Mike and also the board. We are all going to the right towards the right direction. This is all tremendous work. Um it's like 10 step forward uh a step back one

773
03:36:13.840 --> 03:36:28.640
step forward. We're going to the right direction. So thank you for that. My comments today is uh I believe the um committee has sent to the select board a memorandum and this has not addressed

774
03:36:28.640 --> 03:36:46.000
was not addressed tonight. Um, so I'm just going to read the recommendations of our committee as you prepare to make a motions and I'm going to skip the two pages because you have a copy, but the comments are if the times to proceed

775
03:36:46.000 --> 03:37:00.640
with the consultant approach. The committee recommends to shorten the proposed timeline from 12 months to from 18 months to 12 months or less. So practical and timeline um

776
03:37:00.640 --> 03:37:16.479
uh topic here and we requiring the consultant to provide a clear road map for hiring and retaining a DIP officer as a core deliverable and the third recommendation is requiring the consultant to assess the

777
03:37:16.479 --> 03:37:31.359
risk and impacts of the failing to establish and retain the CIO serve implications of the time DBA initiatives. So as you prepare your motions those are recommendations. Thank you Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. >> I move approval with some suggested

778
03:37:31.359 --> 03:37:53.120
amendments. >> At this point I just appreciate the the motion to direct the town manager to issue the RFP as presented which is the original motion. There's a motion and a second.

779
03:37:53.120 --> 03:38:12.319
All in favor? >> I I >> Richardson of state. >> I >> Okay. All right. Very good. Thank you. >> Moving on to an update on Cape Cod Country Club Solar Project and I think we're going to hear from Mr. Johnson.

780
03:38:12.319 --> 03:38:29.920
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the uh Cape Cod Country Club solar project as the board is well aware there's a private developer of Pure Sky Energy is pursuing a large scale ground mount solar array on the property at 48 Theater Drive

781
03:38:29.920 --> 03:38:46.800
which presently operates at the Cape Cod Country Club Golf Course. Um I always feel obligated to say the um this project was initiated by the owner of the property and not by the town. uh and uh that's that's what brought this um

782
03:38:46.800 --> 03:39:03.040
this project along. the developer has received its approvals from the Cape Cod Commission. After the developer um also uh so the sorry the scope of the project is that the developer proposes to donate

783
03:39:03.040 --> 03:39:18.960
the entire property to the town and lease it back uh from the town to the developer Pier Sky Energy will own and operate the 23.3 megawatt direct current and solar array and battery energy storage system.

784
03:39:18.960 --> 03:39:34.800
Um just quickly some of the steps that got us to where we are today. November 2025 town meeting authorized the select board to acquire the property from the owner as a gift and to petition the Massachusetts legislature for special

785
03:39:34.800 --> 03:39:51.200
legislation to approve the procurement process appropriate for this transaction. Town council has filed this special legislation. is now in third reading in the house um working its way through the legislative process. Also, the planning

786
03:39:51.200 --> 03:40:07.200
board has undertaken a site plan review for the project that in involved notification of abutters. Uh the planning board addressed issues like screening setbacks, fencing, walking trails, etc. Um and the planning board

787
03:40:07.200 --> 03:40:24.000
did approve the site plan on April 14th of this year. So the steps that we now still have in front of us are to negotiate five agreements um between the town and the developer. The first being a land lease

788
03:40:24.000 --> 03:40:40.000
which ultimately would be brought to this board for execution. Um there is a payment in lie of taxes which the developer um would um is interested in pursuing that would address the per personal property tax. So the value of

789
03:40:40.000 --> 03:40:55.279
the solar arrays but not the real estate taxes. Uh so that's a second agreement. A third agreement is a decommissioning agreement. So the by our town bylaws and I think it's also in state statute. The developer must be bonded and be

790
03:40:55.279 --> 03:41:11.760
responsible for removing the solar arrays um either at the end of the useful life or if something happens in the inter project is no longer viable. Um there is a donation agreement. It's sort of a parent agreement to this whole thing that lays out the steps of the

791
03:41:11.760 --> 03:41:29.439
transaction. And then the final element is a subsidy that is offered by the solar developer. This is part of how a project that's financed under the state community shared solar um system where they have to provide certain um certain

792
03:41:29.439 --> 03:41:47.200
subsidies certain discounts to help um anchor tenants and categories of individuals with their electricity. So in our case, we are um we will be as part of this negotiation um looking to negotiate an alternative

793
03:41:47.200 --> 03:42:03.200
on bill credit purchase agreement. Essentially, it's um allocating a portion of the town's electric load that we would get a subsidy from this project. Um and so that's what we are doing. Um the Wii is a team that is

794
03:42:03.200 --> 03:42:19.279
comprised of associate town council Eric Camelan uh sustainability specialist Stephan Madson. We have retained special counsel Jenny Mar Jenny Merrill of Harington Heap uh and she brings specialized

795
03:42:19.279 --> 03:42:36.000
expertise in energy procurement and complex Joe. And finally, we are we've issued a bid and we will soon be contracting with a um an appraiser. So an an appraiser that

796
03:42:36.000 --> 03:42:51.600
has particular expertise in appraising energy um energy projects. Um so that is the group of folks that are working through these negotiations and many of them ultimately would be executed by the town manager but as I said the lease

797
03:42:51.600 --> 03:43:09.200
agreement acting board. So we have we have a ways to go. It'll probably be a good 90 days before we have the results back from the appraisal and that's sort of the foundational piece for the financial elements. So that's sort of

798
03:43:09.200 --> 03:43:25.359
roughly what we're looking at in terms of timeline. But in the meantime, we are working in formally of these agreements. >> Thank you. Anyone have any specific questions? >> Yep. I thought I had understood um much

799
03:43:25.359 --> 03:43:42.560
earlier in the process that um lowincome residents of the town stood to benefit and I thought so you're nodding. Okay. So I thought when I was reading through the packet all I saw was that the town felmouth would benefit. So can you just clarify that piece? >> Absolutely. Thank thank you for raising

800
03:43:42.560 --> 03:43:59.680
that. So I've been hyperfocused on what's our negotiation. the um the community shared solar does require that a percentage of those subsidies that I mentioned go there are two categories one is for low to moderate income

801
03:43:59.680 --> 03:44:15.439
residents and the other is available to residents of all income streams those are mandated under the um under the financing that the developer is pursuing so it's not something that we negotiate Brown will the town participate in the

802
03:44:15.439 --> 03:44:34.479
negotiation of the power purchase agreement with those source. >> Uh no, no. So we're only our only negotiation is the lease and um the on bill credit that the municipality would be a direct recipient. So, we're not

803
03:44:34.479 --> 03:44:59.520
involved in any of the other um pure skyscrap discounted energy rate for the town and I was hoping we could get in there and get something like that for the schools as well because I think that the discount only applies to municipal properties but not school building. Is that

804
03:44:59.520 --> 03:45:15.279
>> No, that's not correct. It's school. >> Oh, it is. Yeah. Okay. Uh, with respect to the pilots, it's only with respect to the the solar array and the personal property. Is that correct? >> And as far as real estate taxes, >> you're responsible for full

805
03:45:15.279 --> 03:45:29.760
>> full real estate taxes. That's not a pilot. That's just their obligation. >> That's correct. >> Thank you. >> Can you Mr. Brown any other uh advantageous side benefits so much of the month with

806
03:45:29.760 --> 03:45:48.720
the discount? Is there any >> Yeah. So there the the program that uh that the landfill was done under was a different it was a completely different state system for um regulation and financing of solar projects. So what we

807
03:45:48.720 --> 03:46:04.560
are going to be negotiating is exactly what I've outlined. So what we're you know the town's going to get the land all of the land that's going to be donated to the town. We'll have a lease payment. So, as part of the lease, I guess that's something I didn't know, probably should have mentioned more

808
03:46:04.560 --> 03:46:19.199
prominently, part of negotiating that lease is what is the payment that the developer is going to make to the town. So, yes, we're negotiating a lease payment. Yes, we're negotiating a a subsidy that's based on our our usage.

809
03:46:19.199 --> 03:46:37.199
The minimum is that they would take any any portion of our electric load that's not already committed. So a portion of our load is already committed to the landfill solar. So we can credit that. We can't get a discount on that through both projects. So of our I think

810
03:46:37.199 --> 03:46:53.920
it's about 11 megawatt 10 or 11 megawatts. We figure that we've got um at least 3 and a half megawatt that is available that we could get this credit on. And then the question becomes the state law says the minimum credit is 10%

811
03:46:53.920 --> 03:47:09.760
and can we negotiate something higher >> and that comes back to us for final approval the lease. >> Um yeah I I'm not sure that that does the lease the lease >> the lease the lease does. Yeah. Okay

812
03:47:09.760 --> 03:47:34.080
Julie and chair board. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh John Rley, uh council representative of Kai Commission. It's been my understanding that um Pierce Sky is going to purchase 14 approximately 145 acres to be the entire

813
03:47:34.080 --> 03:47:49.359
golf course in the SW and they they're planning on donating 138 acres and they're going to keep seven 7 and 12 acres out of the

814
03:47:49.359 --> 03:48:06.560
donation and I'll just u ask the uh purpose of negotiating is what just got into trying to get them to put that additional seven 7 and 12 acres. It's basically the fourth wall for the golf course black is going to be and it would

815
03:48:06.560 --> 03:48:23.120
be a perfect site for affordable housing through an RFP or we had discussions tonight about farmland. Uh it's just be perfect for why they're keeping it out of the donation to the town.

816
03:48:23.120 --> 03:48:44.560
Little bit of a mystery. Mon commissioner meeting that I had a question. They indicated they were keeping it in case they had to raise some additional some 145 acres. We we could we we did ask

817
03:48:44.560 --> 03:49:00.479
directly Mr. Kerry was here representing the the development and I specifically asked that and seemed like we kind of missed that opportunity a couple years before when we signed up for and they

818
03:49:00.479 --> 03:49:16.800
weren't they were not willing to part with it and we accepted that last year when they gave us that answer has been discussed before and we appreciate you bringing it up again Mr. Thank you. Well, it's been finalized. I

819
03:49:16.800 --> 03:49:31.040
can't say anything about it, but it has been finalized. There are there are three homes on the site that are being torn down and when they make the presentation G commission I couldn't get the G commission too

820
03:49:31.040 --> 03:49:49.359
included housing is part of their felt impact they basically set that aside so it was such bad to our community that housing was not going to be part of the condition

821
03:49:49.359 --> 03:50:06.080
so that's my true sense Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You got it. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Stop. Moving on. We are a little behind schedule. So, uh, discussion and vote to approve the issuance and details of a

822
03:50:06.080 --> 03:50:23.120
loan from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust and sign related closing documents. Uh, Mr. Wshaw, uh, you want to give us a little background? >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will. Uh so last April town meeting as you recall meeting

823
03:50:23.120 --> 03:50:38.800
approved the issuance of $60 million in debt for construction of the great bond phase one. Um as you heard earlier this evening that amount construction amount is actually less than that um town meeting the voters uh approved it and u

824
03:50:38.800 --> 03:50:53.920
the voters approved it in May 20th of last year annual town election that that issue tomorrow. Um construction bids on the project as I mentioned and as Mr. L mentioned came in much lower than anticipated. Tonight the select board is

825
03:50:53.920 --> 03:51:10.720
being asked to consider and approve two interim loan notes. Um the purpose of this is basically point out construction as you all know painfully obvious is underway and uh and funding is needed to pay the contractors. The select order is asked tonight to consider the approval of signature loan notes in the amounts

826
03:51:10.720 --> 03:51:27.120
of $37,11,35 and $4,285,000 to the town fel Massachusetts Clean Water Trust the finance the trust elible portion of the cost of the project. Um the finance director noted that um the

827
03:51:27.120 --> 03:51:41.279
intro notice and certificate which are included as part of the packet were prepared by town's bond council. uh the notes will be issued at 0% interest rate credit as ML indicated earlier and also as she indicated are eligible for an additional

828
03:51:41.279 --> 03:51:59.520
subsidy forgiveness and 25% to keep that permission and Mr. chair. My recommendation is that the board vote tonight uh to approve the issuance of the bonds and details of the loan and importantly as as recommended by bond bond council have the clerk of

829
03:51:59.520 --> 03:52:15.120
the select board which I understand is the vice chair read the records of the select board again that document is document >> motion to approve. >> We apologize for the length of this uh

830
03:52:15.120 --> 03:52:30.720
statement that Dr. Goldstone needs to read into the record at 10:20 p.m. But it is absolutely essential apparently according to bond council that it be included. So >> and the order of operations is that I read this prior to the motion.

831
03:52:30.720 --> 03:52:46.080
>> I believe so. Yes. And then we'll have a motion. >> Excellent. I the clerk of the select board of the town of Fouthouth, Massachusetts certified that at a meeting of the board held May 18th, 2026 of which meeting all members of the board were duly notified and at which

832
03:52:46.080 --> 03:53:03.520
quorum was present. The following vote was passed all of which appears upon the official record of the board in my custody. voted one that the town shall issue a bond or bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $60 million in parentheses the bonds

833
03:53:03.520 --> 03:53:20.800
pursuant to chapters 29 C and 44 of the general laws and a vote of the town adopted on April 7th 2025 article 15 and excluded from the limitations of proposition 2 and a half so called by a vote of the town passed May 20th 2025

834
03:53:20.800 --> 03:53:35.840
question one for planning or construction construction of sewers or other water and other water pollution control abatement infrastructure. The project two that the terms of the financing agreements between the town and the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust

835
03:53:35.840 --> 03:53:51.760
Trust together the financing agreement and the project project regulatory agreements between the town and the department of environmental protection of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts D. the project regulatory agreement each relating to the notes and bonds are

836
03:53:51.760 --> 03:54:09.520
hereby approved. Just want to check to keep going here. >> Okay. Three, that in anticipation of the issuance of the bonds, treasurer is authorized to issue an interim loan note or notes the notes from time to time in an aggregate principal amount not to

837
03:54:09.520 --> 03:54:26.560
exceed $60 million. Four, that each bond or note shall be issued as a single registered security and sold to the trust at a price determined pursuant to the financing agreements. Five, that the treasurer is authorized to determine the date, the form, the maximum interest

838
03:54:26.560 --> 03:54:42.560
rate, and the principal maturities of each bond and note, and to execute financing agreements with the trust with respect to the sale of the bonds and notes, such date, form, and maturities, and the specific interest rate or rates of the bonds and notes to be approved by a majority of the select board and the

839
03:54:42.560 --> 03:54:58.720
treasurer and evidenced by their execution of the bonds or notes. Six, that any certificates or documents relating to each bond and notes collectively the documents may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be regarded as an original and all of which shall

840
03:54:58.720 --> 03:55:15.120
constitute one and the same document. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to a document by electric mail in a PDF file or by other electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart signature page to

841
03:55:15.120 --> 03:55:30.800
such document. and electronic signatures on any of the documents shall be deemed original signatures for the purposes of the documents and all matters relating there to having the same legal effect as original signatures. Seven, that all action taken to date by

842
03:55:30.800 --> 03:55:46.319
the town and its officers and agents to carry out the project and its financing, including the execution of any loan commitment or agreement by the treasur are hereby ratified, approved, and confirmed. and eight that the treasurer and the other appropriate town officials

843
03:55:46.319 --> 03:56:02.479
are each hereby authorized to take any and all actions necessary or convenient to carry out the provisions of this vote including execution and delivery of the financing agreements and the project regulatory agreements relating to the project. I further certify that the vote was adopted at a meeting open to the

844
03:56:02.479 --> 03:56:17.920
public. That no vote was taken by secret ballot. That notice stating the place, time, uh place, date, time, and agenda of the meeting. Which agenda included the adoption of the above vote was filed with the town clerk and a copy thereof posted in a manner conspicuously visible

845
03:56:17.920 --> 03:56:36.160
to the public at all hours in or on the municipal building that the office of the town clerk is located or if applicable in accordance with an alternative method of notice prescribed or approved by the attorney general as set forth in 940 CFR 29.032B 032B

846
03:56:36.160 --> 03:56:51.680
at least 48 hours not including Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays prior to the time of the meeting and remained so posted at the time of the meeting that no deliberations or decisions in connection with the sale of the bonds or notes were taken in executive session and the official

847
03:56:51.680 --> 03:57:07.760
record of the meeting was made available to the public promptly and remains available to the public all in accordance with GLC30A sections 18 to 25 as amended. I further certify that the vote has not been amended, supplemented or revoked and

848
03:57:07.760 --> 03:57:33.279
remains in effect on this date. >> Congratulations. Thank you. I think she would deserve a round of applause. >> So, I'm going to wait for Mr. Richardson to begin >> save my entire

849
03:57:33.279 --> 03:57:49.600
No. >> So, so, so just to just to clarify, we are are voting to approve the issuance of details of the loan from the Massachusetts Clean Board of Trust and sign related closing documents as

850
03:57:49.600 --> 03:58:05.920
outlined by the vice chair clerk of the the board. >> So, moved. >> Okay, we have a motion. >> Second >> and a second. Uh, all in favor? Um that's the vision council as far as what we need to do tonight.

851
03:58:05.920 --> 03:58:21.520
>> At bond counsel sorry at bond council's direction I believe so. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Very good. Moving on. Yeah there are papers that need to be signed before you leave

852
03:58:21.520 --> 03:58:38.319
tonight. Uh so the next item is the select board acting as trustees of the found affordable housing fund discussing considering vote to resend the financial award from the fund to Bushwood 545 LLC.

853
03:58:38.319 --> 03:58:53.439
Mr. Raw Mr. Thank you Mr. Chair. Uh so as was discussed at our last meeting on on May 4th um it was back on summer on October 29th of last year. My board acting in the capacity as trustees in the founding the form of a housing fund

854
03:58:53.439 --> 03:59:11.520
voted to award Bush Bushwood 545 LLC Mr. Lwood Glass being manager a financial award of $3.4 million from development for the housing fund for a housing project located at 545 Main Street. These funds did not disperse to the

855
03:59:11.520 --> 03:59:27.840
developer because the developer did not meet the requirements for closing on the purchase of the property. Purchase and sale agreements between Bushwood 545 LLC and the owner of the 545 Main Street has now expired. The time it was notice by the owner of the property, the

856
03:59:27.840 --> 03:59:44.399
expiration of that purchase and sale. On April 14th of this year, the owner of 545 Main Street entered into a purchase and sale agreement with a different developer, Felon Housing Corporation. This agreement is attached to the meeting path this evening. On May 4th, as I mentioned, the owner of

857
03:59:44.399 --> 04:00:00.479
the sorry on May 4th of this year, the owner of the property, the Mamry family sent an email to Mr. Colossa stating in part, quote, "The memory family and the seller will not entertain any further proposals, assignments, or involvement by you or your affiliates with respect

858
04:00:00.479 --> 04:00:14.880
to the property or any related transaction. This position is final and not negotiable." Mr. Mr. Chair Sword, it's clear now that the owner of 545 Main Street with the Matray family will not move forward with the project proposed by Mr. Glass on behalf of 545

859
04:00:14.880 --> 04:00:32.479
Bushwood LLC. As such, importantly, the question before the site board tonight is not whether it supports the project as proposed by Mr. Glass or whether the board supports project being proposed by Felon Housing Corporation. The question is whether or not the select board again

860
04:00:32.479 --> 04:00:46.720
acting as trustees of fulfillment affordable housing fund decides to resend the $3.4 million award in the town that project again acting fiduciary to pass his custodies. Mr. Sheriff

861
04:00:46.720 --> 04:01:04.640
select board um the u project 545 main streets by Mr. lasso huge pass and the funds can be made available for future projects should we start to work from 54.

862
04:01:04.640 --> 04:01:20.800
>> Um just just a couple of things in addition to the uh the email that you mentioned before that was addressed to Mr. Velaso the select board also uh received an email from uh from Mr. memory uh with respect to his intentions

863
04:01:20.800 --> 04:01:34.399
with respect to the property and it's my understanding that our council also had a telephone conversation uh with Mr. memory uh in regards to that and I'm just wondering if the town council can

864
04:01:34.399 --> 04:01:55.279
uh recount or summarize that discussion >> just very briefly. Um I I did have have a um a conversation with the owner of Mr. memory and he just wanted to let me know that he was very frustrated with

865
04:01:55.279 --> 04:02:10.640
um some of the events of um the last few weeks with regard to um the facts surrounding this this agenda item. And in particular, he um

866
04:02:10.640 --> 04:02:28.960
said that he had retained counsel and was seeking advice about um uh concerns he had about the interference that's going on with an existing contract that he has with Fman Housing Corporation and Linda Clark. and

867
04:02:28.960 --> 04:02:43.359
um he has every intention of proceeding with that contract and he's distressed that there are efforts to work that um with a project that is non-existent

868
04:02:43.359 --> 04:02:59.520
right now. Um and I I uh um through the course of the conversation um Mr. Mayor said that he'd come and talk to the SL board and offer any additional information. Um, I let him

869
04:02:59.520 --> 04:03:17.279
know that it was um I I was glad that he extended that um that offer, but that I think we're going to be able to move forward here because the facts are pretty clear. Um there is no longer any

870
04:03:17.279 --> 04:03:33.840
contract with um Bushwood LLC and um the owner of 545 Main Street and Vista Memory has an existing contract right now with Linda Clark and Fountain of Housing Corporation.

871
04:03:33.840 --> 04:03:51.120
Because of that, there's no more entitlement to the $3.4 4 million uh for a project that is that simply just doesn't exist anymore. Um and that's a side note. Um I I hope that in the

872
04:03:51.120 --> 04:04:08.239
future there will be another project and that the fountain housing fountain housing fund can put money towards that. But for now, today that's not that's not a reality. Um, so I just I just want to say that

873
04:04:08.239 --> 04:04:23.680
sorry just want to say that I just want to say that u you know as as I think everyone understands you know the sweat board is the policym um entity for the town of Fman and I

874
04:04:23.680 --> 04:04:40.640
think the policy that this board has expressed support for uh over the past few years in support of the Mr. Colosso's application has been that there is a need for workforce housing in the downtown area which Mr. Gasso's

875
04:04:40.640 --> 04:04:56.239
project sought to uh sought to provide. But the matter before us this evening is not a policy decision. It is a fiduciary decision that as Mr. Blure as as mentioned we are trustees of the fmouth

876
04:04:56.239 --> 04:05:15.199
affordable housing fund and as such uh we need to approach this discussion and this question solely with respect to our responsibility as trustees and our fiduciary responsibility. the ultimate uh use of that property uh

877
04:05:15.199 --> 04:05:31.199
will will will proceed according to to a process uh that that will go forward. Um but I think the decision or the discussion this evening uh is is clearly with respect to uh our responsibility uh

878
04:05:31.199 --> 04:05:46.560
as trustees and our fiduciary responsibility. Um I will afford Mr. also an opportunity to work to speak to the issue if you would like to do so. >> I'm just going to say personally my last vote on the select board will not be to

879
04:05:46.560 --> 04:06:07.080
kill one of the most cold affordable housing projects. >> Well, thank you Mr. >> I said good evening. Thank you Mr. Chairman member of the boardass. I'm the managing member of LLC.

880
04:06:08.160 --> 04:06:23.120
So I thank you. How much time do I have Mr. Chairman? Because I know that some other people if you would allow them would to speak. So I don't want >> I'm not sure there's going to be any discussion with respect to the issue of the policy. Mr. Mr. Gasso I mean as I said I think the issue is is it's going

881
04:06:23.120 --> 04:06:39.680
to be solely with respect to you know the the precision if if that's what the board decides or or not. But with respect to, you know, discussion about the, you know, the policy with respect to the need for workforce housing, uh, I don't

882
04:06:39.680 --> 04:06:55.279
think we're going to take comment on that issue. That's that's my decision. Let's let's, uh, speak to, >> but you have 10 minutes, Mrs. Okay. So, when I signed the original contract in Dennis Murphy's office right down the street, purchased the Royal Nursing Home

883
04:06:55.279 --> 04:07:13.439
from Mr. Mr. Jim, um, whose uh realy trust own North Bay nursing home uh in our community. Mr. Mary said to me, Mr. Jim Mry said to me, "Michael, I'm selling this my nursing home to you because we are going to turn

884
04:07:13.439 --> 04:07:30.319
it into housing that I need as a nursing home operator for my staff." That was his intent during the last few years. Yes, it's been a bumpy road for some of us. we were never able to uh secure a contract that was long enough for us to

885
04:07:30.319 --> 04:07:45.760
do all the work that we need to do. So we had numerous revisions to the original contract and um whenever we went into the negotiations there was always another buyer involved as part of the negotiations and we lost the contract I'm going to

886
04:07:45.760 --> 04:08:01.279
cut short my presentation because I want to make sure I don't have as much time. Um we um you know our our we had numerous discussions with them over the years um and we lost our contract when they

887
04:08:01.279 --> 04:08:16.960
wanted to reduce the purchase price which we very much appreciated and in order for that they wanted to get a char a charitable donation to their their entity. In order to buy that that charitable contribution, we needed to

888
04:08:16.960 --> 04:08:34.319
retain a nonprofit entity in order to do that. We had a nonprofit entity working with us. We actually asked Linda Clark if she wanted to be that nonprofit. She never got back to us on that. And so we took some time while we were out of contract to secure the nonprofit. During

889
04:08:34.319 --> 04:08:49.439
that time when we out of contract is when the family housing corporation made an offer. I believe that if we of course I can understand some Jonathan Mory's comments these days because you know who would

890
04:08:49.439 --> 04:09:05.840
want to have another offer on their property. You know uh it's an offer that has a number of contingencies on it that um gives them a certain amount of time to secure. One of those contingencies is that this town resends money from this

891
04:09:05.840 --> 04:09:21.120
project in order to allocate it to that project. That's the That's the bottom line. You may allocate it to some other projects too, but the real intent is to take funds from us in order to fund their project, which we really don't know a lot about.

892
04:09:21.120 --> 04:09:36.399
I want to talk before I for a moment on some of the conditions contained in the community because that's really the problem. We have a commitment letter from the town that says for the next three years and we have 3 million4

893
04:09:36.399 --> 04:09:52.800
available to to develop our property develop the nurs save the historic building at 67. That's what's within the commitment. There's two sections. There's section seven that says that we have two years to put together a fund

894
04:09:52.800 --> 04:10:10.399
for the project which will along doing that. we have 25 of the $27 million put together for a project. The other portion of that says that the um the power

895
04:10:10.399 --> 04:10:25.920
has the ability to extend the time period of the commitment letter and I believe that's allows time for us to resolve any issues I may come from during during the three years of time

896
04:10:25.920 --> 04:10:43.040
committee. I think he's like what when that condition was added was looking ahead knowing that difficult projects like this sometimes have some bumps in the road whether it's moving contracts for a little while construction costs going up so the town was right enough to

897
04:10:43.040 --> 04:10:58.880
include a provision in the commitment letter that allowed them to select or to extend time to resolve those such is we hope that you take a look at that portion condition number seven and apply that of this case. I think that there's

898
04:10:58.880 --> 04:11:15.359
an opportunity for the town to have a victory to save the historic building and housing for our workforce. Many people are here tonight in our community and to save historic building and find an alternative location for a

899
04:11:15.359 --> 04:11:31.279
senior project. There are many great locations that are senior project to be developed in discount. Some probably even more favorable than tear down a historic building main street. And I think that those opportunities should be explored too and not just cancing

900
04:11:31.279 --> 04:11:46.880
funding for a project that I believe everyone in this community wants to see develop. So let's work together, find the solution. I've started that campaign to talk to a number of people of land that would be a coit for a 15 senior

901
04:11:46.880 --> 04:12:03.080
project and not destroying what we've worked for for a number of years. Please retain our funding that the town is committed to and give us an opportunity to look at other alternatives that could be planned so that maybe the town

902
04:12:03.279 --> 04:12:19.279
corporation our entity can all benefit from this. people from farmer town here. They want to use some of the facility there which is I think a great idea. Dan is here who's the chairman executive director of our nonprofit that we're

903
04:12:19.279 --> 04:12:34.319
working with submitted an offer to the min offer and put up $100,000 deposit. So there are other options I think for 64. I think um taking away our commitment taking away the commitment of town to

904
04:12:34.319 --> 04:12:51.399
the department we do not do today. So thank you for your time available to answer any questions. I think we have a lot of opportunities here that can help solve a number of our health issues. Either way our funding is not Thank you very much.

905
04:13:07.359 --> 04:13:23.279
Okay. >> To hear from some of the other members of the board, Mr. Richardson, we've already heard from you, but uh if you'd like to expand on that >> last time again on the soap box. >> Yeah. I again I'm not going to let my last no disrespect to the last two

906
04:13:23.279 --> 04:13:38.159
things my last meaningful vote be to kill an ambitious affordable housing project. Let's let the partners in the private sector do what they need to do. We should not our our board should not be the one killing this. And then from a fiduciary standpoint uh the money is

907
04:13:38.159 --> 04:13:55.760
still there. This is the money is not going anywhere. We're not losing any of this money. If this hasn't been able to work out two weeks from now, then the money is still returned to the final level, but we're not losing any money here. So, I I I favor of letting let's

908
04:13:55.760 --> 04:14:15.359
let them try and work it out if they really can. And uh >> anyone else, Mr. Brown? >> Yeah. I'm I'm not ready to resend the funding. This is a project that we funded. The other project we had a big

909
04:14:15.359 --> 04:14:37.279
idea what it would be. It's not what we voted for. It's not the the primary uh use that we were interested in the workforce housing. So I'm not ready to resend the funding. three.

910
04:14:37.279 --> 04:14:54.720
>> I would second what my two colleagues on either side of me said. I guess that would be a third. Um I think workforce housing is an absolute critical need. This is a project that's here and now. Um we cannot read the future. Um, we're

911
04:14:54.720 --> 04:15:10.399
not fortune tellers, unfortunately, but we know that in 25 years, the people that are not going to be able to live here in town are those that work in our grocery stores, in our restaurants, in our bookshops, in our coffee shops,

912
04:15:10.399 --> 04:15:27.199
etc., etc. Um, and this is one of the first projects meant strictly for workforce. So, I'm not in favor of of rescending it. Um, and to Mr. Richardson's point if it fails in two weeks um that's not on our conscious

913
04:15:27.199 --> 04:15:51.199
it's still um still have to get past effort for the workforce. Yeah, I think this project um well post to be clear um represents what

914
04:15:51.199 --> 04:16:08.399
I wish every uh project in this town embodied in terms of innoviveness, creativity, responsiveness to the town's needs. Um and we recognized that

915
04:16:08.399 --> 04:16:28.880
um incredible fit and um and the uniqueness of the project with an unprecedented uh commitment of resources. As has been said, none of that money has been dispersed or

916
04:16:28.880 --> 04:16:47.439
will be dispersed until um Woodward LLC closes on a property. Um and so I guess my question and and Mr. you phrase this as a fiduciary

917
04:16:47.439 --> 04:17:04.080
question is I guess I'm having trouble seeing the fiduciary risk in allowing the commitment to continue. I see potential competition for resources

918
04:17:04.080 --> 04:17:20.720
um for that 3.4 million. Um >> well I mean so there's a finite amount of money in the f of housing uh affordable fund. Um the um I think the

919
04:17:20.720 --> 04:17:37.760
the responsibility of of the the trustees of the fund is to uh is to take a look at those funds uh and while they are um you know not dispersed uh but currently earmarked for a project that

920
04:17:37.760 --> 04:17:53.359
uh does not seem to be moving forward. uh the we as trustees I I think have a have a duty to consider uh that those funds might be able to be used uh in in

921
04:17:53.359 --> 04:18:11.279
in a different way. Now they may or may not be decided to to uh to be used in a different way. Uh but while this project uh is uh while these funds are allocated uh towards a project that that does not

922
04:18:11.279 --> 04:18:28.640
seem to be moving forward uh it is stiming stying the uh the fund from from taking other actions with respect to other other possible other projects that are you know that are that are out there. So that's where I think the

923
04:18:28.640 --> 04:18:46.080
fiduciary responsibility is. Uh I I don't think this uh you know I I think we're conflating somewhat the issue of of policy and and and what the particular issue is here uh this evening. But it does not appear um that

924
04:18:46.080 --> 04:19:02.800
uh that there is uh you know support amongst the board for resending the uh uh the uh the award at this point. Uh it would require a positive motion. Uh and not hearing if anyone is willing to make that motion.

925
04:19:02.800 --> 04:19:20.760
>> Can I ask one last question? Um and apologies I didn't give anybody a heads up. Um Miss Fish, I'm guessing you have these numbers emlazed in your your brain in terms of >> you do have those. Okay,

926
04:19:21.120 --> 04:19:38.239
>> affordable housing fund and if possible pending requests um for those funds. >> Yes. Um thanks to Kim, we do have this information handy. Uh so I'll I'll sort of simplify it because there we have funds in hand and we have funds that are

927
04:19:38.239 --> 04:19:54.000
authorized by by town meeting that will not become available until July 1. So, but putting them all together, um, we have $5.7 million of revenue available. The projects in the pipeline, um,

928
04:19:54.000 --> 04:20:11.279
looking just at projects for town land that we have initiated request for proposals and are looking to develop. Um, those projects total 5.3 million. So we have a balance unencumbered of

929
04:20:11.279 --> 04:20:28.399
$400,000. So you know enough for two and a half units of housing. Um so and you know my question you know recognizing where the board is tonight is um how long right because these this is

930
04:20:28.399 --> 04:20:44.080
a a large amount of money that's tied up to this project and at what point does the board revisit the question? Well, I have a privilege of notific question um this is now meeting but again I'm just thinking um just let them

931
04:20:44.080 --> 04:20:59.840
figure it out and if it's very clear two three weeks from now it's not going to make any that future board which I will not sit on unfortunately not make that decision for me it's I don't think we should we should be uh this

932
04:20:59.840 --> 04:21:22.479
I have work at 7 a.m. motion. We do nothing and move on. That's my belief today. >> Just I could just remind you the other project is another half a million dollars and more for the acquisition.

933
04:21:22.479 --> 04:21:41.279
it'll happen. >> But but again, I I I don't think we should be focusing on the other application. Um we we know what the contract says. Um

934
04:21:41.279 --> 04:21:59.600
we don't need necessarily need to deal with that right now. I think the overall question, as you know, Mr. Johnson stock points out is uh how long uh and while and until we make a decision uh those

935
04:21:59.600 --> 04:22:16.560
funds are going to be tied up and projects are not going to be able to move forward. Uh but as I said I mean uh there doesn't appear to be a a sense for a positive motion to to resend. Uh Dr.

936
04:22:16.560 --> 04:22:32.800
Goldstone, you have your finger on the microphone. Yeah. >> To say, >> but just one more comment that >> sending the funds slows the whole thing down even more. There's a possibility that this property could be closed the

937
04:22:32.800 --> 04:23:09.520
next day. We leave the funds in place. We don't know that that won't happen. I can make a comment, please. Mr. Thank you. My name is Kevin Ari. I'm a

938
04:23:09.520 --> 04:23:26.239
broker in the town of Col and I represent the owner of the property and I have for since 2022. I dealt with Mr. Galasso originally and Mr. Colossal had great intentions. Unfortunately, his project has been

939
04:23:26.239 --> 04:23:41.680
underfunded. He has continued to make commitments to the owner that he's not been able to fulfill. He's entered into a purchase and sale on three separate occasions.

940
04:23:41.680 --> 04:23:56.560
The purchase and sale we're speaking of now would require an owner not only to take a million dollar contribution off of the sale price. But for the owner to take back a million dollar mortgage on

941
04:23:56.560 --> 04:24:12.880
the property in the second position. This owner is to the point where there is no credibility left for Mr. Gowski. It is not the fact that he didn't want to do business with him. He wants to see

942
04:24:12.880 --> 04:24:30.159
the property developed. It would either be themselves that would do it or somebody else. But he's not willing to enter into a negotiation now or in the future with Mr. Colass. It's unfortunate, but it it's come to

943
04:24:30.159 --> 04:24:46.319
that point. Mr. Gasso wasn't able to make committed payments for operating costs all the way back from December a year ago. And unfortunately,

944
04:24:46.319 --> 04:25:03.359
that meter had continued to run. The owner had continued to substantiate and be able to absorb additional costs. He's not willing to take back a million dollars in taper. That's why the project

945
04:25:03.359 --> 04:25:18.319
has failed to move forward with Mr. Gasasso. He entered into a new agreement with a nonprofit that was the arch dascese of Austin that Mr. Goso brought forward.

946
04:25:18.319 --> 04:25:36.239
They left the project. that was why he was willing to take back a million dollars in paper because of that nonprofit. I just think that, you know, um there are no winners, there's no losers here.

947
04:25:36.239 --> 04:26:07.279
Bottom line is Mr. Gaso had great intentions, but unfortunately he will not be able to move this project forward. Thank you. Well, I guess we're at a point where um uh there was support for

948
04:26:07.279 --> 04:26:23.600
the recision of the award from what I'm hearing um to uh to at least let the process play out and without any indication as how I would ultimately vote. I will not make a motion that the

949
04:26:23.600 --> 04:26:42.880
select board move to resend the award uh to 545 pushing. There's not a second. Then the motion will fail. Motion from Peter Johnson. Do we put a

950
04:26:42.880 --> 04:26:58.560
30 or 60 day limit on it or to revisit this in 30 days? >> The closing date of the current purchase and sale on the property is June 30th. Um, I do think it

951
04:26:58.560 --> 04:27:16.880
is in the best interest of the town and uh in terms of our strategic priorities for housing that we do keep a very close eye on this. And certainly um if for whatever reason um that does not go through that we'd be ready to um to

952
04:27:16.880 --> 04:27:32.399
consider um contingency plans and and think about the future of that property in a constructive way and in a creative way and if that purchase and sale does go through then the question is moved.

953
04:27:32.399 --> 04:27:48.720
Just sorry I missed which purchase and sale are you speaking about? >> Uh the I believe what I'm looking at here is the uh existing purchase and sale uh with housing corporation

954
04:27:48.720 --> 04:28:06.159
>> which is contingent upon financing that we've heard is not available at this point. Is that correct? That's my understanding. So, so I don't know how we get to where you

955
04:28:06.159 --> 04:28:22.640
think we we would be if if we don't have the ability to uh and I'm not saying we would, but we don't even have the ability to entertain the application because we don't have the funds available because they're

956
04:28:22.640 --> 04:28:42.479
committed to this project. And how does that project how does that get forward? How do we keep an eye on it as you say? I mean I >> motion >> I guess you know to your um

957
04:28:42.479 --> 04:28:59.359
I we have not had a presentation of that project um to this board but I am not hearing uh support from fellow board members for that project concept. I'm hearing continued commitment to the project concept that we've already

958
04:28:59.359 --> 04:29:15.520
committed funds to, understanding that that project is highly unlikely to move forward. Um, and so I think this board needs to put some serious and creative thought into what other options um might

959
04:29:15.520 --> 04:29:31.600
be. We have been willing to commit $3.4 4 million um to see that parcel developed um as diverse uh affordable housing. And so thinking

960
04:29:31.600 --> 04:29:50.800
about um if it's not one of the two projects that are that have been proposed or currently on the table, what it might look like to try to advance those those priorities. >> Okay. Okay. So, there's not a motion. So, we

961
04:29:50.800 --> 04:30:09.600
will not be receiving the award at this time. Okay. Moving on to a presentation and discussion on winter storm Fernando after action report from Mr. Shaw. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's late, so I'm

962
04:30:09.600 --> 04:30:26.399
going to keep my comments brief. got included in the back a uh 113 page after action review reports concerning our performance during winter storm Fernando uh during the period of February 23 through February 24 this year. Um, as

963
04:30:26.399 --> 04:30:42.880
you all likely know, the purpose of an AA after action review is to have a candid discussion, uh, group discussion with all the participants, first responders, um, looking at what went well, uh, where we need to improve upon and, uh, and and develop a timeline for

964
04:30:42.880 --> 04:30:58.080
those improvements. I won't discuss, I won't go into the detail. It was a bad storm. 47 in of wet snow and 75 mph wind gusts resulted in in a lot of um a lot of impacts that beyond even what we projected in terms of down trees.

965
04:30:58.080 --> 04:31:14.560
Ultimately um we experienced significantly greater impacts. Um about 250 trees in total came down. Many of those trees remain blocking roadways and snow and tangled in down the firewalk down those powerful lines awaiting the

966
04:31:14.560 --> 04:31:31.040
resources response to deenergize the lines. We maintain a level one coverage which is basically an all hands on deck at the fire rescue and police department for 76 straight hours responding the fire rescue department itself responded over 250 calls for service including a structure fire that occurred on Monday

967
04:31:31.040 --> 04:31:46.880
evening storm as you all know has been reported over 93% of the town was without power for a significant amount of time through the events what I wanted to do Mr. chair and select talk about again some of the limiting factors with weak areas of weaknesses and some of the

968
04:31:46.880 --> 04:32:03.680
recommendations for improvements. Um again I won't go through each page the 15 point review but I'd be happy to answer questions but I'll hit several of the highlights major limiting factors and areas where performance improvement was deemed necessary um following that March 12th afteraction group review. Um,

969
04:32:03.680 --> 04:32:19.040
in the area of communications during the first 24 hours of the storm, messages to the public were disseminated by only one outlet and that was generally Facebook fire rescue. >> We realized that the rave alert system can be used to send voice messages to

970
04:32:19.040 --> 04:32:36.800
all the landlines in town and to include individuals who register for their mobile phones and email addresses. What we also realized um late was the fact that um there's 19,000 subscribers to the Final Alert system. However, the categorization of the different um uh

971
04:32:36.800 --> 04:32:52.319
information uh requests that people want in terms of storm coverage, road closures, we really need to do a significant clean up of those categories within the Felmouth uh alert system. Well, a number of film departments have have had a social media presence.

972
04:32:52.319 --> 04:33:08.160
There's no overarching town social media presence. We've had a discussion internally as soon as town manager and I regards to having a town social media account. Um perhaps having someone be able to sign an account for maintaining that. However, it's a huge issue

973
04:33:08.160 --> 04:33:23.680
throughout the storm. Um but primarily after the first 12 hours of that 72-hour event um loss of emergency generators of radio tower the public works communications and operations. There's a very specific radio tower and I won't

974
04:33:23.680 --> 04:33:38.480
mention it. It's over well mentioned it's over in the uh industrial park area. Um that generator failed and required us to borrow borrow um a generator from Eversource. Uh what

975
04:33:38.480 --> 04:33:54.959
we learned is that we needed to uh have redundant of generators and supply. So that's already been addressed. Public works recently purchased a uh portable generator simply all we had on the police department powers the police department and communications.

976
04:33:54.959 --> 04:34:11.600
Um what we also learned um was that as a result of losing power that public works antenna radio degraded radio communications with plow crews lack the software system that allowed us to see accurately monitor and report on road segments clear the snow during the

977
04:34:11.600 --> 04:34:27.760
storm. Uh we've been in communications with Bartown Barsel. We have a uh a package that will allow us to do a better job in the next storm. Uh it again monitoring progress as crew as a road crew plows a street for the first time. It uh basically illustrates in the

978
04:34:27.760 --> 04:34:43.760
map real time that plow that that road has been punched through the initial clearing conducted and then ultimately those pls after we're at a certain point in the recovery those crews go back out into a final data. So it allows us to better track and monitor uh exactly

979
04:34:43.760 --> 04:34:58.879
where we're at with our percentages of roads cleared. received multiple complaints and you've seen a lot of them from residents complain stated that it had been a lot they hadn't seen the fire go through the road the road system as you all know the roads um hitting the

980
04:34:58.879 --> 04:35:12.959
major arterials and the reflector streets and also finally the neighborhood streets um but having a better system going forward in terms of tracking and monitoring those road services that have been produced snow important

981
04:35:12.959 --> 04:35:29.680
um a lack this is a huge um ISS for us and and I have a recommendation going forward. Um other communities, coastal communities that I've had the opportunity to manage in have what's referred to as a pre-event disaster pre- management uh plan in place. Basically,

982
04:35:29.680 --> 04:35:45.039
you contract with a with a with an outfit a contractor who provides assets, mobilizes those assets in advance of the storm and you have them on station, so to speak, without having to to wait for the resources to be deployed. Um it supplements and augments the the the

983
04:35:45.039 --> 04:36:01.600
heavy equipment that municipality has in place. It also um like I said has those assets multiplies in advance of the storm. So when we're not in finding ourselves in a position of having to borrow uh from other agencies in the middle of the storm.

984
04:36:01.600 --> 04:36:16.719
Um this was reported by DPW director included in the after action report. Um we have uh multiple very poorly maintained private roadways which created significant challenges for our DPW. A lot of the roadways are are

985
04:36:16.719 --> 04:36:33.920
constricted by um overhanging tree limbs and damage quite honestly a lot of our DPW equipment. They're attempting to uh to plow private streets. So coming up with a policy revision to address some of those issues. Requiring that those streets be clear of that vegetation is going to be hugely important going

986
04:36:33.920 --> 04:36:50.000
forward. um failure of emergency power generators. Included in the package is a uh is a PowerPoint slide presentation was put together by our facilities manager that talked about um some of the issues that we experienced with generators. Um

987
04:36:50.000 --> 04:37:06.561
having again um redundancy in backup uh generators is important. I mentioned that VDW recently purchased within the past couple weeks actually had it delivered a portable generator similar one over to the Houston public facility. warming center operations. Um, clearly

988
04:37:06.561 --> 04:37:22.000
it was evident early on in the storm that we need to do a better job scheduling adequate numbers of volunteers for our warming centers. The school stepped up and provided a warming center when our recreation investigating facility uh generator failed. Um, but not having adequate volunteers lined up

989
04:37:22.000 --> 04:37:37.600
in advance. So, it was a serious challenge for us. We need to do a better job number one communicating internally with regards to ling volunteers and also with Bars County regional purchase management. Those folks are ultimately the ones that make the decision about um

990
04:37:37.600 --> 04:37:56.080
a a shelter versus a long service. Loss of internet connectivity um a huge issue for the police department. We lost um ability um with regards to some of our like computer assisted dispatch. Um expanded fiber redundancy and examining

991
04:37:56.080 --> 04:38:13.359
what options we might have um with other providers to have redundant fiber optic backup is important. Right now we rely almost exclusively on Comcast. Having a third provider again providing some redundancy and and fiber connectivity is really important.

992
04:38:13.359 --> 04:38:28.959
Um this is a simple correction. Nobody saw uh the need of having it members of our IT department embedded in the emergency operation center. Um was important when things started to fail. We were fortunate the first 48 hours of

993
04:38:28.959 --> 04:38:46.240
the 72-hour event. We had the system set up in the EOC. It was performing well. There could have been some adjustments with regards to um the phone system and how they operated, how the ranking feature operated in the phones and the consoles in EC. It could have been and we had embedded it were able to they

994
04:38:46.240 --> 04:39:02.561
were already stationed at the ESC or had the ability and flexibility to make those changes. Unfortunately, we added back to our ability to to change some of the funations in advance in the storm. um in throughout the report in the TPW public

995
04:39:02.561 --> 04:39:17.760
public works uh uh limiting factors is heavy equipment. Um recently with honor advised that they ordered use of chapter 90 funds for another front end loader to add to the inventory. Um so we're not as reliant on in the future going forward

996
04:39:17.760 --> 04:39:33.920
on outside assets have been away from this from other counties. Um, as you all know, we had a couple of counties um offgate across additional training equipment. So, those are a couple of the highlights. Again, I can answer any questions that you might have. Um, the

997
04:39:33.920 --> 04:39:49.120
report I think does use the template that I've used in the past through these after action reviews. I think there's some valuable information in there, valuable lessons that were learned. We're making progress. I mentioned multiple items they were identified as various weaknesses that we've already

998
04:39:49.120 --> 04:40:04.480
addressed and between myself and and the senior management team will work on addressing these other items with regards to improved communications again that social media presence perhaps even at one point having somebody that's assigned a public relations PIO to have

999
04:40:04.480 --> 04:40:21.760
a conversation is going to be important for future discussions to talk about that to stop and answer your question just for I want to commend you for the uh the detail of your afteraction report. Uh a lot of good information in

1000
04:40:21.760 --> 04:40:39.680
in that report. Uh I think that going forward uh as we discussed internally uh that it would be a good idea for uh for the for the town to hold uh a meeting uh

1001
04:40:39.680 --> 04:40:55.840
maybe during hurricane season. And we uh uh snow season to let people know uh how they can sign up, where they might be able to go for warming centers and have some public discourse about that in

1002
04:40:55.840 --> 04:41:12.480
advance of uh of those possible uh wave uh instances. So that's that's kind of what I'm thinking. Anyone else, Mr. No, I commend the entire team um for the

1003
04:41:12.480 --> 04:41:28.560
emergency response um of this storm. Uh second to none. It was great. Um I think my biggest concern is that we've discussed before is the role of communications. I think this was an experiment that showed us that as

1004
04:41:28.560 --> 04:41:44.080
technologically advanced as we are in society, we still need to, you know, be able to do some of the rudimentary things for communicating to people. Um whether that be uh the old I still have

1005
04:41:44.080 --> 04:41:59.920
a hand crank emergency radio uh reminding people that we might need to do that because when the internet goes down, so does everything else. Um, so to that point, Mr. Enja, I appreciate that you talked about the role of the public information officer. I think that is a

1006
04:41:59.920 --> 04:42:17.040
role that we need in town for the size of the town that we have, but also the um size of our budget. That's this the complexity of everything that we do. Um, let alone the crisis communications of an emergency like this. So whether it be

1007
04:42:17.040 --> 04:42:31.920
um assigned to somebody right now, I know the new fire chief Lewis has a lot of experience as a public information officer or maybe there's somebody else. We need to be able to communicate across all channels, all mediums, uh, all

1008
04:42:31.920 --> 04:42:50.480
media, all and and answer TV requests, um, and be available and have not only primary PIO, uh, duties assigned, but also an alternate, um, so that if someone is pulled away, we can always answer when the phone rings. Um, and I

1009
04:42:50.480 --> 04:43:05.440
think the more we can do that to communicate at a rudimentary level to the most complex, I think it's great. Um, just experientially our own group on the uh on the select board. Hey, we're in emergency text

1010
04:43:05.440 --> 04:43:22.400
chain. Um, we realized that not all of us are on the brave fountain of alert. Um, and it is very complex. So, the more we can do to Mr. uh mscali's u point of pre-informing and educating with the

1011
04:43:22.400 --> 04:43:38.080
bad. So a brief again that's just constructive criticism to help us to get to a better spot of communication but overall I think you did with your team did an amazing job digging this out literally and figuratively. Uh, if I could add the ex pretty much the exact

1012
04:43:38.080 --> 04:43:54.560
same exact same point, the actual brick and mortar getting it out, getting the dog jump, tremendous work from you, from DW, from police and fire. Um, I'm glad you mentioned specifically the social media one cuz that was a concern I brought up when we talked about it. So, thank you. Um, but again, it's just for

1013
04:43:54.560 --> 04:44:10.958
me reaffirms two things. One, and I'm sorry, Peter, I still believe we need a new website. Uh, from what I've heard from the community, and it's my last chance to say it. So I I still think we can re our website to be a little bit better so uh you know people can kind of see these emergencies. Uh and secondly

1014
04:44:10.958 --> 04:44:26.160
you know Paul's wiki uh the president chamber of commerce after this said the need to invest towards underground utilities um which are much more resilient in this instance. So any we support that after it's a little bit outside of of this but still kind of

1015
04:44:26.160 --> 04:44:45.040
parts you know how how do you mitigate uh emergency responses you can help mitigate power. Yep. And that's something that anyway we can support that after the uh we were really lucky that the temperature rose after the storm and

1016
04:44:45.040 --> 04:45:01.360
what I'm most concerned with is that our warming centers were closing at 9:00 and if it was really cold it'd be awfully hard to send people home to a cold house. I'm wondering is there any possibility that we can set up a place

1017
04:45:01.360 --> 04:45:18.320
with costs if there could be overnight facilities. >> So that that Mr. Chairman that would be the definition of a shelter versus a warm center. The warming center is supposed to be temporary and I I I understand your point we're having.

1018
04:45:18.320 --> 04:45:34.798
we're going to tell people to go home and whatever the time and all of the warming centers were closing and the uh in the uh in in the late evening hours. Um the shelter operation and uh and uh establishment of a shelter is directed

1019
04:45:34.798 --> 04:45:50.320
by our support of emergency regional emergency management and that they involve when you operate an open shelter involves an entire host of Red Cross volunteers and other folks from outside of the area. So having and I I talked about

1020
04:45:50.320 --> 04:46:04.798
that having a better coordinated response with regional emergency management at the county level um and our facility what I'm trying to say is found could not make a decision independently of of the county to open a

1021
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shelter. Um yes and that decision is made at the regional level shelter and they rotate based upon availability of Red Cross resources um and that information is kind of held by and coordinated by Marster County regional

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system. So independ maybe each municipality the way the system is growing except the world operating does not have the ability to open up its own maybe our biggest challenge in planning for future events. You've outlined a lot

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of things that concrete steps that we can take and it's great that we're able to we didn't have any loss of life and you know we can look back and learn from this and I'm glad you know what you brought here was really well thought out. Appreciate it. But that part is

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just the shelter plan needs to be needs to be addressed and and and and again um we have we have high school is one of our shelter locations. that has staged and stored all the equipment you mentioned of cops and things that uh

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mobilizing is primarily Red Cross as I understand here those assets um and making them available to his county shoulder as a decision that's made generally regional emergency management >> maybe we need an overall petition to to

1026
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get some rules here so we can um it's worth the discussion you know to you know all of the all of the agencies involved the the local county and state level. Uh what what what model was discussed cuz that was the concern. At what point to we I think the nearest

1027
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shelter one day was the shelter that was opened um down the down cate um it was a waste and how how is somebody from a mastery or stand going to get to the shelter down you know in the small >> in terms of how that decision is made is

1028
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there advocacy that we can be part of now to shift that and make the case for an upper cave shelter location and I I'm fully admit I'm more than a little biased especially with the fact that not only do we already have the equipment at high school but we are working toward a

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resilience hub at the high school I think would make that a great candidate but but can we be doing something now proactively to try to influence that decision >> yes having those discussions in the dialogue again all the local state and and county officials making sure you know paper

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wise plan and to be fair each of the other municipalities in the mall also have C stored at their high school as well. So they have facility as well. I guess my point is the decision to mobilize the resources needed to operate that shelter is handled with that

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accountable. Um, and that's something that would just need to have a dialogue and discussion. Is that the best model? Is there a better way? I mean, if it comes to it, I'd rather be in non-compliance than somebody reason. >> Amen.

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And I'll just echo everybody else's thanks that this is I think a really important I know it takes a lot of time and effort to do this kind of deep dive after action report. I think it's really important really appreciate the insights that are in there and we do have in our strategic plan that we just approved um

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to consider dedicated communication staff and I think this is one more uh example of why that's in there. I would I would need for sure back to that dedicated and consistent messaging. >> Okay,

1034
04:49:36.798 --> 04:49:56.878
moving on. I thought you were just Why didn't we put Mr. Dakota? I was wondering that myself as we are here to discuss and consider the approval of the submission of a one-stop for growth grant application in the amount of $150,000

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for the update to the town's local comprehensive plan. And Mr. Denture, do you have anything to add? >> Motion to community ballot director. >> No, Mr. Cornak is up there writing now. So just all right the overview. Well,

1036
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um, thank you for having me. >> I'm all >> Yeah. Um, so I'm really excited to apply for this grant again. Uh, this will be our second go at it for the one stop for growth program. Um, this year we're

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applying for again the $150,000 max. Um, and we seek to hire a consultant to help us out our local comprehensive plan. We've talked about it uh at times this evening and we've touched upon all of the different elements that it would cover. That's housing, it's transportation, it's natural resources,

1038
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it's open space, etc., etc. There's a lot to it and so we're very excited to apply for it. Included in the board's packet is also a letter of support. So, if you do um uh agree that this is an important initiative, we I just ask that

1039
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you support that letter as well. Um and one uh really um exciting part of this application is the participation of the EDIC. Um uh member Reed was at the meeting that I attended last week uh

1040
04:51:18.480 --> 04:51:34.400
where I outlined what the LCP would be and the uh efforts that we would go through and the EIC uh voted to allocate up to $20,000 as a match to this effort and to also be a partner in the application. So, I think we're going to

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put together a really strong application that we're um crossing our fingers that we get before you. So, with your support, we'll submit it by the deadline. >> So, first of all, I want to apologize because I think I'm the reason that you're here instead of on the consent agenda.

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>> Okay. >> Apologies accepted. three. Um, wonderful to see EDIC um with the the potential $20,000 match. And I see you're also seeking $30,000 in matching

1043
04:52:06.480 --> 04:52:24.000
funds. Um, and I would love to see if if the board and the town management think we could go a step further and muster those matching funds now to kick off the community engagement and input as kind of a phase process and make that very clear in the

1044
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grant application that we are committed enough to this process. But we put our match up front. We're starting the work and we need 150 to finish it. So there's a challenge in doing that simply because well one I I don't have

1045
04:52:39.440 --> 04:52:56.480
the staff to in you know start that work but if we were to go out to hire someone it's challenging to solicit a consultant who may or may not get the the next uh stage. I understand the concept um because I I think a lot of people have

1046
04:52:56.480 --> 04:53:13.920
have sort of been pushing this this idea really want to get started. So I would just caution you on on that component at all simply because of timing. >> Yes, Mr. Reed, >> just as a co-chair of the EDIC um we

1047
04:53:13.920 --> 04:53:30.638
fully endorse this because we at the EDIC are looking at what we can do to assist the town with u developing a vision but also a plan or economic and business development. EIC was formed to

1048
04:53:30.638 --> 04:53:47.600
uh be really a projectoriented uh body and we're looking at what can we do to assist the town in creating a vision and um some things and this is our way to um support the town in this endeavor for

1049
04:53:47.600 --> 04:54:03.440
this grant. We think it's extremely important. We want to be a partner and we will be a partner um as much as Mr. for will let us do. Um, but we want to really help with the economic vision, sustainability, business development

1050
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side of house of in many different facets that are in there. We were very interested. So, >> thank you. It was about time that the EDIC stepped up and realized what its importance to this town is. So, so thank you because it is definitely u an

1051
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important part of the economic development of this town. So, thank you. Another technology park is all done with potato chips. Gone. >> My last motion motion to authorize the actually I'll motion to >> just

1052
04:54:36.480 --> 04:54:52.958
before before mention your last motion was made. I I suggest we amend the motion listed to include um uh the uh sale of the uh letter support. Motion to authorize the community development director to submit a onetop for both grant application metal of

1053
04:54:52.958 --> 04:55:09.600
$150,000 for the updated council members plan and to send the letter of support. >> I would like to offer an amendment with some strengthening sorry of the letter of support. I want to make sure we get this. And if we're not going to actually start anything, I think the letter of support needs to say true

1054
04:55:09.600 --> 04:55:24.160
>> that we have a commitment of $30,000 of matching funds from the town of Felmouth as well as $20,000 from our EDIC that this is a community that sees the absolute need for this LCP. >> I agree. And I think we should spend

1055
04:55:24.160 --> 04:55:52.160
another hour smithing. >> Not for anybody. Uh mo motion for to to do feather's motion. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second motion. >> I don't know approval of minutes, Jack.

1056
04:55:52.160 --> 04:56:07.120
>> No. >> So I I just want to mention that I did receive a a text from David Vieier during our meeting. he wanted to at least clarify with respect to the statement about a bill being in its

1057
04:56:07.120 --> 04:56:24.000
third reading. Uh he says that that in fact the the bill was engrossed by the house last week and sent to the senate but it is not in third reading. So I just want to clarify that. >> Which one is that? >> Uh with respect to the kick country club I

1058
04:56:24.000 --> 04:56:39.120
believe in that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, so, uh, we have minutes and I think we should make sure we approve them because it is Mr. Richardson's last meeting, uh, and we want to make sure we get them approved. So, Mr. Richardson,

1059
04:56:39.120 --> 04:56:53.760
do you have a motion with respect to the minutes? >> Uh, one's just one correction, which is maybe it could just be deleted because I couldn't make sense of it on par uh, minutes of 427

1060
04:56:53.760 --> 04:57:09.360
number five, paragraph 5, Mr. Brown mentioned to see a shared use path to little one. I had no clue what that was. I think that was in reference to the path of 131 maybe that I would like to see us. >> Yes.

1061
04:57:09.360 --> 04:57:26.160
>> Continue that. Okay. Put that amendment. It could be either amended or deleted. At least deleted. >> The uh there's one word I said that's not in the minutes. >> Yes. >> Brackets. >> I would like it in the minutes. >> Sure.

1062
04:57:26.160 --> 04:57:42.638
with your career. >> Yeah. >> All right. I'm on Doug Nice. >> Okay. So, is that a motion as as as amended with the police and all those in favor? >> I Okay. Board reports. Anyone?

1063
04:57:42.638 --> 04:58:01.760
>> Thank you. >> Well, thank you, Mr. Richardson, for your service. Uh and uh we always appreciate and hope you come and visit us every now and then. See, in November, go ahead.

1064
04:58:01.760 --> 04:58:16.560
>> Get it out there. >> It's only 11:25. >> I attended the MO meeting the municipal planning organization for transportation. I found it interesting today that the solution authority is

1065
04:58:16.560 --> 04:58:33.920
requesting $15 million of CIP fund used on the parking lot amenities 14.7 and then another laundry list of other small

1066
04:58:33.920 --> 04:58:48.878
things. No, I I hold it in favor of it because I thought it's really good speed, but just keep that in mind when they tell us that they pay for everything out of the air box because it's really not always the case.

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We only make sure before you would take a vote. Motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjourn. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> All right. Thank you very much. Hosting services for fct.org are

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04:59:54.718 --> 05:00:10.000
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