Good evening everybody. It's Monday, March 2nd, 2026, 6:30 p.m. With a quorum being present, I'll call to order the Freetown Board of Suck meetings. Uh tonight's meeting will be recorded and will be available on the town's YouTube page. Um today, after our open session meeting, we will be going into executive
session. I don't think I need to say why right now, so I'm going have to say that again later on. That fair? >> Good. Okay. All right. So, um first two agenda items here are actually
related to or just to ratify the um meeting agenda from uh February 22nd, 2026 at 3 p.m. where the board voted to declare a state of emergency. Um so now we're going to do that in open session. >> Yeah. >> So J item one here. So um I'll enter in
a motion to declare a state of emergency. >> Motion made. A >> second. All in favor? I >> I All right. Agenda item two. Uh this is discussion of vote whether to approve the following appointments. Last last name is going to be tough for
me. >> I think it's Severki. >> John Severki as part-time custodial maintenance effective 2226 through 6:30 2022. And Timothy Dwire as full-time signal operator effective 2226 through 6:30 2026. >> Motion made. >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> I. >> I. Okay. I just wanted to tell you um Tim Dwire came back. You know, he was a an operator and then he came back >> and their union contract states that if they come back within two years, they come back with the with their um
>> Yes. and everything. So, we didn't want you to to be aware that he's coming back as a step forward because that's where he was and he gets he gets like what he left on the table, which was his sick time, he gets that reinstated because it's within the two years. I've done that with other employees. It's not
necessarily 100% clear in the CBA. Um, >> that's just been the way it's done, >> the way I've been doing it. So, I did it for him. And so, I didn't put that before you because that's been our practice with the CBA. And the CBA clearly says if they come back within two years, they come back with their uh with everything that they
>> I guess if there's any issues with it, maybe going forward, we try and clarify the language in the contract. >> Yeah, I'll work on that. Um, so, but I just wanted you to be aware. >> Oh, thank you. >> Makes a lot of sense. Mhm. >> Okay. All right. Moving on now to agenda
item three. It's a discussion of vote whether to approve the open session minutes from um February 2nd, February 9th, and February 22nd, 2026. Any questions or concerns? >> Move to entertain a motion to approve the open session minutes on agenda item three.
>> Motion made second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. Jen item four, discussion of vote whether to ratify the signature on the agreement between the town of Freetown and Greement Peterson, Inc. for survey, design, procurement, and construction services for the North Main Street
sidewalk. >> This is the project that was voted at town meeting that Chuck has um had before us in the past. So >> just trying to I I was trying to get the agenda open before it and started and I
got sidetracked. >> It's for the engineering. I think it's 49,000. >> Yeah, that's what I was looking for. I forgot what >> engineering and they do the procurement piece of it. >> Y Okay. Any questions or concerns with this? >> No, >> it's 49,000
>> needs to be done. 49 $49,120. >> Yep. >> Okay. So, with that, I'll entertain a motion to ratify the signature on the agreement between the sound of Freetown and GPI for survey, design, procurement, and construction services for the North Main Street sidewalk. >> Motion made second. >> All in favor? >> I
>> I. >> All right. Agenda item five, discussion to vote whether ratify the signature on the fee and time frame proposal from uh Deli Appraisal Services for 12 and 23 Alexander Drive Sonet Mass. >> This is required by the new tax.
>> Nothing we can do about it, right? >> It's 3500 and within 15 days. >> Yep. 3500 within 15 days. That makes sense. All right. All right. So with that entertain a motion to ratify the signature on the fee and time frame proposal from Deli Daily
>> Daily uh >> daily appraisal services for 12 and 23 Alexander Drive Sona Mass. >> Motion made second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I Okay. Uh agenda item six discussion of vote whether approve the agreement between the town of Freetown and Roselli
Clark and Associates for fiscal year audit services for the years ended uh year end July 30th 2026 and 2027 2028 so three-year agreement and this one is >> sorry >> 2026 is 26,500
2027 is 27,000 and 2028 is 275 Five. >> This is for our auditing. >> Good old audit fees. >> To do so, same thing. Nothing we can do. >> Nothing we can do about it. >> All right. Any questions or concerns on that?
>> Nope. >> Necessary evil. >> Yeah, I know. I was an auditor at one point in my life. It's definitely evil. Okay. So without a motion to approve the uh agreement between town of Freetown and Rosselli Clark and Associates for fiscal year
audit services for uh July 30th, 2026, 2027, 2028. >> A motion made second. >> All in favor? >> I I Okay, moving on. Agenda item seven. This is for some surplus
potential surplus items. Um so hold on. Just let me find my spot here. Been a long day. >> Okay, so it's the the PD. They have a bunch of junk. >> Yeah, let's discuss working.
>> So 10 item seven discuss >> simple >> discussion vote on whether to declare the following items requested by the police department as surplus >> and to dispose them to the transfer station as they are not functioning. So we have uh three Samsung 15-inch televisions. uh GE 1000 watt microwave
and C HP laser jet P 2035N printer. The uh assessed value by the chief here is $0 if they don't work. Yeah, >> nothing works. >> So we just sent them to the transfer station. I mean >> it's just crazy. Three TVs don't work.
I've had TV for years and still kicking. >> Yeah, just >> I know. Are they throwing things at him? Don't we had that electrical issue where we shorted out and we we shorted out and we had all the lights on and that whole mess that we had going. So, that might have had something to do with it.
>> The good news is they're a 50-in TV where you can go and buy one for about $50 a piece now. >> Yeah. My parents just bought two TVs for the house in Vermont and I spent like 320 bucks for two like 75 in TVs. >> It was crazy. >> They've come down quite a bit. >> I need a new TV.
>> Yeah. Okay. So with that, I'll entertain a motion to um declare the items listed in on agenda item seven as uh surplus and to dispose of them of the transfer station. >> A motion made second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I.
>> Okay. Then item eight, discussion of vote whether to hold the annual and special town meetings on 61 2026 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Aonquit Regional High School. >> I'll be no longer sitting in the front row this way. I still will attend.
>> I still will attend. >> Um, >> yeah. I mean, yeah, I guess more up to you guys than me. >> Well, I guess my push out of this one is looking at like >> it's by law really first Monday in the June. >> Be on the first. >> It has to be on the first Monday in June.
>> I want to be after like this year because they have to vote for an override. >> I think it would in May. They usually do go before us. >> I hope so. >> Yeah, but it to Debbie's point is it is bylaw so there's nothing we can do. >> You'd have to change the bylaw. put on that meeting. All right.
>> Yeah. I'm just try I'm just trying to think ahead. Don't want to vote on something that they vote down without us knowing not being prepared. >> All right. So, we'll have to figure that out >> for the school budget. You're saying >> school budget. Yeah. I just my concern is if they're looking at override, what
does that mean for us? Do we have to adjust what they're but what we're given for our town meeting or >> I'm going to find out the details for you or that's a good topic for Thursday's meeting the joint meeting because I don't know the answer to that >> and what you're saying if they vote down the override >> right they're looking at anywhere from
a2 to5 $5 million override depending on how it all shakes out right >> I I don't live in Lakeville so I don't know whether or not the residents are going to want to do that or not right so if they do go to town that changes what we need to vote on so I'm just just trying to think out loud.
>> But even at that point, like our agenda will be well, I guess our budget is always, you know, the amount of money that we're allocating is changing. But like what I don't know how that really works in >> I think that the school assessment with the budget that's voted on by the school committee doesn't change that. Therefore, it means that Lakeville will
have to >> somehow find the money. So they're going to have to cut. >> Yeah. Other that makes sense, too, right? So it's going to come out come out of anything other than school, >> right? But I don't hold me to that. I'll do some homework on that. But that's my um
sort of my thought process. If the school doesn't change its its assessment and it's voted on because the school committee votes on its own budget, if they vote a budget, this $53 million budget or whatever it is with the assessments as they are and Lakeville doesn't come up doesn't h if they need
to have an override to pay that and they don't get the override, then they have to still pay that school assessment. They just have to find another place to take it from. Now, they could take it from savings. Doesn't mean doesn't mean that they cut, but I don't know. I of course I'm I'm not the keeper of
Lakeville's budget, but I know that they're all over it and they're working diligently to figure this out. And I think that's a big part of our meeting, a joint meeting with Fincoms and Selectman on Thursday. Okay. >> The budget will be a big topic. >> Yeah. >> And so, I think we probably want to ask
that question because they're probably well more wellversed than we than I am. and what happens. >> Yeah. >> Very interesting. >> Okay. Well, with that, I'll entertain a motion to uh hold the annual town meeting uh and special town meeting on
June 1st, 2026 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Aponica Regional High School. >> Motion made second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. >> All right. So, now we have the proposed timeline as agenda item nine. >> It's a lot here. So today we vote on that. What we just
voted on gets posted tomorrow and Facebook posting. Warrants be closed for submission uh
on April 13th. >> The warrants will close April 1st. April >> April 1st. Yeah, that makes sense. And then um yeah, all straightforward. Nothing jumps out at me. Any concerns on the timeline?
>> No, I mean I think it's kind of what we've always done, right? Just kind of changing the dates. It seems like everything's pretty close to the normal >> cadence. I was just trying to think of any like problem anything's coming up any but we're good. All right. All right. So with that, I'll enter a motion to approve the proposed timeline for the
annual special town meetings on June 1st, 2026 as >> motion made. Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I All right. J item 10. Discussion of vote whether open the annual special meeting warrants for submissions from 3:1026
uh at 8 a.m. through 4126 at 11 to 11:00 a.m. >> Motion made. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I >> um ag 11 discussion of vote whether to approve a letter in support of the community funding request from uh Congressman Aenclaus for sewer line
sewer water line extension. >> So I uh these always come fast and furious. The Aen gloss the federal um requests for community project funding. Um we've been lucky in the past almost I think every year since I've been here we've gotten a grant from from
Congressman Aen Gloss. Um last year it was the extension of the water line up to the dump right. So but they're very slow like they've approved it but now I'm waiting for paperwork and whatnot. And then the bridge preservation project was also a federal ramp through Aenloss and in between
there we did get another one on the joint building but Trump had pulled back the grants that year so we didn't actually get it. Yep. >> Um, so this year I put in for two projects. We just got the email I want to say like Thursday that these grants were due yesterday. So I came in on
Saturday and I wrote both of these grants and and this one is for the you know we have the sewer line that's been permitted. >> Yeah, >> we got the grant to do all the engineering and the permits for that. I had it designed in such a way that it'd be three phases of approximately 6 to7
million each phase. We know that we need to get grant funding for it. There is a Mass Works grant that I can apply for that will generally fund about $4 million. So, I wrote a request to Aenclaus for the residual of um I think I asked for $2.5 million for the phase
one of the water I mean the sewer line construction. I also let him know that that has to piggy back on to state money. So, yeah, I asked for that. The second application or really my first application was for the joint combined COA library building which originally uh
we were awarded a million dollars to do the engineering study uh on it before it was done a couple years ago. That's the money that Trump took back. So I have asked for $3.5 million for construction of the project uh based on the fact that
we're you know we're much further along now. We have we have plans um based on the fact that we're looking at getting 8 to9 million in a library grant what our funding sources are uh able to do
and what I think we need to get over the hump so that we're not borrowing money outside our tax levy. >> Yep. >> So I asked for $3.5 million and so those are the two projects I put into Aen Gloss. Um Senator Marky's are coming up fast and furious too. He gave us about
two weeks to do his. So I just have to coordinate with um Senator Marky and ask him if he wants me to put the same projects in the Senate as I have done house. And so but I did I did work on them and um I've had great success so
far with the federal grants which are more difficult than the state grants. So but the so what we need now is they asked for the applications by the 1. By the 8th I need letters of support. So, I've asked the representatives, I've asked the COA, I've asked the uh library trustees, I'm asking the board of
selectmen. They want to know that you have buyin, that you want these projects. Um, I think the the sheer fact that we're so far along in these projects, I think they speak for themselves. But the more support I can get for the grant applications, the better off I think we always are. >> Yeah.
>> So, that's just what these are just, you know, approving the letters of of um recommendation for these grants. >> Perfect. >> Yeah. Any questions or concerns with that? >> No. >> No. Let's do it. >> Awesome. >> Simple. >> So for So for agenda 11, I'll enter a motion to uh send a letter of support
the community funding request uh from uh Congress Congressman Aenclaus for this uh sewer waterline extension. >> Motion made. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. And then for agenda item 12, second one. I'll entertain a motion to send a letter in support of community funding request for uh from Congress Congressman
Agen Claus for senior center. Motion made. Second. All >> in favor? Hi. >> Hi. All right. This is this is the one I've been looking forward to. This could be this is a scary agenda item. Discussion of over setting the pay rate for the loaders used in the cleanup for
the blizzard of 2026. So, as you know, we got hit with the blizzard and um it was a little bit um chaotic for the first day and and uh the second day, you know, Carrie and and Chuck and myself, we need
we need we need big equipment because the plow trucks can't move the snow. So, let's get on the phone and start calling for Lotus. So, I did. And they started asking me how much we'll pay. I'm like, I don't know. I'm going to be fair. I'm going to be fair. I don't know. Yeah, I just need you. Just come to work. I'll figure it out. So, I I looked up the
state rate and the state rate for the loaders was um uh >> 223 I think is what it was. And so, I told him that the rate would be 225. I did also ask one of the subcontractors and he said, "Well, I would be charging 250." And I'm like, "Well, will you come
for 225?" He said, "Yes." So, I think it was probably in in line with where, you know, based on the state rate. Um, and that's what I've told them all that, you know, given state of emergency we were in and it's big equipment with the operator that they came and they
they we were able to get multiple loaders for about three diff three days and we had different ones on different days. >> Yeah. >> And you see that I think uh Chuck sent in a letter for you guys to read uh tonight to to kind of give you some heads up. Uh we had uh Main Street Auto, we had
Cape Cod Aggregates, we had Eddie Breitman from Breitman's Lumber, we had a piece of equipment from Gurnie Sawmill, we had a piece of equipment from Bryant Hill Farms. I don't want to forget anybody. Um we had a piece of equipment, I think
also from Borgeous, you know, to the trucking. I think that's it. That's what we had. Um >> we should definitely like send them a letter of thank you. Yeah, >> that's uh and because we obviously appreciate that and thank you to you guys for for you know I know I know it
was a crazy couple of days so >> I think we all appreciate all the hard work and dedication and chaos. >> It was nice that the local companies jumped in because it was very difficult to get help at that point. Everybody was trying to take care of their own stuff too. I mean they all have companies so
they were all trying to take care of their companies but they jumped in and helped the town. Um, I think that says a lot for the for the people that we have in town. And I think that honestly my honest opinion is Chuck has great relationships with all of those companies, too.
>> And they knew they knew we needed them. So, um, >> they came. So, uh, but that's that's the rate. I've pretty much quoted them and I think it's it's fair and it's in line with what the state is paying. >> Sounds fair to me. >> Yeah. I mean, we needed them. They showed up. They could have gone to the
state, worked for the state. It's >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And then here's my only other question. State of emergency that could possibly mean funding back against all this. Right. So I don't say question as much as a statement. Right. Like >> Right. Yep. So we we're um Harry Harry
is the emergency management director. He's all on top of everything. That's why we had to declare a state of emergency. Right. So >> there if if the federal funding does come down, we'll be prepared. Right now MIMA is asking for uh an assessment of damages and I know Harry was working on
that. Yeah, >> I think they're trying to see how much it costs. So, all of these figures will be included in that. So, yeah, we're hopeful that we'll get federal funding. Just be aware that it probably take a year to get it, >> but um we do hope that we'll be reimbured for the heavy equipment and
some of the overtime, some of the other stuff and um like the salt and things uh between Harry's really on top of that, Harry and his staff. So, um yeah, they're they're all over it.
We want to give you a note of Gurnie. Gurnie saw him though. Yeah. Did you say Grie? I think you said G. >> I wasn't sure. >> Good catch though. >> I don't want to miss anybody huge >> to to able to get the the help and it
wasn't easy for them to because they had other things, other commits, but they did come. >> That's great. >> So, um yeah. So, that's so that's the rate and I think um like I said, I think it's a fair rate. >> Yeah. for everyone involved. And without
it, I I don't I don't know where we would be. >> Well, yeah. Yeah. And I think >> if River was still digging out over there, >> 100%. >> Drive down all our roads and you can see where the buckets from the machines picked up the snow and moved it off the
side of the road to show you how many buckets went up and down the sides of our roads and how much those loaders did. >> Yeah. And I mean I I have friends I'm not going to name any towns out specifically, but I have a lot of friends in neighboring towns who similar to Freetown where they were they were
not plowed out for days like like you know. So, >> and while we're at it, we have to say we have to shout out to the guys and and gals that worked the highway department, the fire department, and the PD. I listen to the radio all weekend as you know. Um, so
>> yeah, I try to I try to keep up and make sure if there's anything I can jump in and do that I do. >> They all did 150% beyond their jobs. They did whatever needed to get done. Whatever it was, they jumped in. They did it. We had, you know, you know, we had Harry in equipment. We had Paul in equipment. We had the police chief and
equipment. >> Yeah. >> They did some crazy courageous things. Uh, for sure. And we couldn't have gotten through it without all of them. So, >> leading leading ambulances to properties, right, and plowing out roads in order for ambulances to get
>> and there's a lot I was listening to the radio, too, and there was a lot of calls. Like, there's a lot of >> there's a lot of calls. So, kudos to Chuck for leading the way and and keeping keeping it all together and Harry right by his side being the emergency management director. Um, an
incredible team you have here. I've said this in the last storm, but this one was far exceeded that. your teams of your departments, your teams are amazing and we are lucky. >> Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, >> all three of them PD fire and and dispatch can't miss dispatch because
they are vital. >> There were I mean I was Yeah, there was definitely they were working some crazy hours and uh yeah, so appreciate it. That's a lot to keep keep just organized. >> Yeah. So, we got it. We we survived and
I think without huge you know issues. So yeah, thanks to all of them. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So with that, so I I'll entertain a motion to um set the pay rate for the loaders used for the cleanup of Blizzard 226 at $225 an hour. >> Motion made. >> Second. >> All in favor?
>> I can't forget Colin Tim. >> Shovel. >> All right. Item 14, discussion of vote whether approve addendum one to the agreement between the town of Freetown and P3 project planning professionals. This is just an addendum to the OPM contract because we had to have test
borings done on the land in order to do the uh MBLC grant. >> Yep. >> And it wasn't included in their original um contract and I thought Riverhawk was going to do it as part of theirs, but it it they ended up doing it um because it
wasn't part of Riverhawk's thing. So, there's just an extra cost for that. >> Yeah. Extra 44,000. >> No, it was 14,000. >> 14,000. Huh. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, the total amount was for >> Yeah, because we have to amend the original. >> All right. So, with that, I'll entertain
a motion to approve the add item one to the Green County Freetown and P3 project planning professionals. >> Motion made second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> All right. And then agenda item 15, discussion on fiscal year 2027, school assessments and impact on the budget.
Here we go. >> I just wanted to make you aware, right? You have the budget. You have the assessment of um it's a 13% increase, $1.7 million increase for free town Lakeville. Um
>> it's a to yeah total that's just for the folks at home. Total budget right now well it's 53 total spending would be 53.6 million. >> Yeah. >> And that's Freetown is responsible for
43% of that. >> Yeah. So you can see it down. >> So it's ends up being a year-over-year increase of 13%. >> So I just ran, you know, our our fiscal year 26 budget number was 32,772,000.
I'm rounding a little bit, but I just took that budget spreadsheet and I put in the school both schools BP because BP went up uh about 300,000 maybe. I put this the uh regional school in and I put the health insurance increase which are
the three known numbers I have right now which health insurance was 5% but you're talking a $2.1 million budget so it's another hundred and some thousand and that pushes our budget up and that's nobody else no increases no contracts no anything to 35 million200
>> just that's too big of an increase right >> so I'm expecting to have you know new growth of about 300 $100,000 and maybe uh my tax levy can go up 2.5%. So I may be able to get three a million.
So 33 million. I may even be able to go to 34 million. But to hit the $35 million is going to be difficult. I'm not raising the red flag. We're not there yet. I'm cutting everything that I can cut in terms of positions that we've had on the
books that we haven't filled. Um, wherever there's fat or excess, I'm cutting. And so we'll see. I'm really trying to keep each department level funded. Um, so if they had $100,000 budget last year, they're getting $100,000 this
year. And I'm moving monies around between their department lines based on their historic if they needed it or didn't use it. I'm cutting. Obviously, I can't do that with everybody. There's going to be some budgets like police and fire that just inherently are going to go up and I'm not going to be able to cut. Um, I'm also not including any
capital projects this year, but I have forewarned them for the last couple years that we were going to get to this point where we were not going to be able to fund capital projects and everybody's in really good shape and nobody's asking me for capital. >> Okay. >> So, that's not going to really be an issue. So, I I have been funding OPED,
too, um, to the tune of like 4 or 500,000 a year, which is the the retirement >> the use. Yeah. But it's the use amount. our financial policies say to, you know, fund it 200,000 a year. So, that'll come back down and I may not fund it at all.
So, I'm not raising the red flag in terms of we're not to do it. >> It's a yellow flag right now. >> Yeah. But I just want you to know and I've been about it because I'm waiting for the school to kind of they're still adjusting numbers, right? So, their numbers are going to come down. I think they give you the worst case scenario
because that's what they have to do, but their health insurance number came in and they're going to be adjusting that. So, I'm not raising red flags, but I'm letting you know that it's not just like cart blanch and we're going to write a check and it's going to be easy. There are things that I have to keep an eye on
and it's okay this year. My concern, as I've been saying, is sustainability. Where do we go if this number just keeps growing? >> So, I'm just giving you that's all I really wanted to let you know. Yeah. >> Um, >> as you move forward and in the next few weeks, we'll really be honing in on the
budget. Of course, the storm and everything pushed our budget numbers and you know, I was out sick. >> I was out sick. Sorry. I don't know how to shut this thing off. Um, I was out sick. So, um, I'm a little behind on the budget. I had to reschedule some of the budget meetings.
>> Yep. I'm excited. >> So, I don't know if you guys have any particular questions. I just wanted to give you >> No, I think it's good. It's good for us to have this um, you go to these eyes wide open. Hopefully, this number does come down a lot. >> Yeah. working on it. From the school committee meeting that I went to, they're talking
about using END, which doesn't really >> cure my sustainability issue, but it cures my short-term issue in terms of funding. >> Um, >> I don't hate END, but I also do feel like it's a a band-aid, right? And that's the problem. And then
we're talking percentages, right? If we're going off, if things go up and then the percentages continue to go up, it's it's that much larger of a number next time. And that money is going that money is going to evaporate. So it really needs to become a more creative approach now in order to fix it long
term rather than just throwing bee at it. >> And if you take anything that's really what I've been saying to them. So over the last 11 years if if you include this year's 13% increase, the school budget has increased by 51%.
Whereas the town can only increase tax levy by 2.5%. >> It's unsustainable. So, it's unsustainable and it's going to hit a hit a wall. I mean, it really is. So, I've been saying this for a few years, but I'm trying to say it again to um I got a new phone,
but um so I I'm I keep saying it over and over. Um I think people are sick of hearing me, but I really think we need to have a round table with some key players to really come up with some ideas of how we're going to how because nothing happens quickly. So, if we don't
do anything soon, 5 years from now, we're going to be in real trouble. And um >> I don't even think it's going to be 5 years. I think we're right there because the problem is if we're on the yellow flag this year, that budget is going to continue going up every single year. We
we should raise that to a red flag now or at least a striped flag because we can't afford it. And unfortunately, the way you're looking at it is layoffs are coming. It's either this year or next year. Unfortunately, but then putting the E and D involved last year increased the budget five to 7% respectfully. So
if they do that again this year, it's an ugly situation and the town can't Right now we're at what 1.67 for our levy, something like that. 1.7 to go up to 2 and a half. It's going to hurt a lot of residents. We've done a great job
over the years reducing the levy and doing everything we can to reduce to reduce taxes. And here we are talking about numbers that we can't afford. That's just honestly >> See, we're we're not at we're not at 2.5% levy, but we're close closer than that. Carlos, I think the number you're
thinking of is the split between >> commercial and residential. Our levy is pretty close to 2.5. We're not 100% there. I can get that number for you, but we're close. >> Yeah, I think tax shift. >> I think the shift that we just did. Yeah, that's what I was thinking of. But
even then it's 51% over all those years and we've we haven't >> we can't we can't go >> what's our population right now for our senior citizens the boomer population is >> so um part of that grant I was writing I have those numbers so we have about 20
uh 900 seniors in town with a total of um uh 92 our population is 9200 so it's about a third yeah >> and it's pretty consistently there >> and I and I don't mean to cut you off I keep bringing ing up all the time is 160
families a week from in town going to our food pantry. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> Yep. That that tells you everything you need to know. >> Yeah. >> Right there. That one number. And how many more are there that are proud that don't want to show up, >> right? >> We all know them. Every single one of us
sitting at this table know people who who >> could should go there but won't. And so >> so for us to continue to push on that even more and then you know it's just not it's not sustainable. So I'm dragging it on but it's just
>> scary you know we just went through a major storm. The likelihood of us having another storm like that over the next 20 years probably low right let's face it right 78 2026 but you never know it could happen every year. >> Yeah. So, first, you know, if we don't have those bodies, right, what's going to happen is
at some point layoffs are coming, whether it's at the school level or the town level, they have to come somewhere. We can't keep pushing on on to the residents because we'd be maxed out, right? So, where's that money coming from? >> I I just don't see it. The discussion needs to be had now like we like we're
doing this Thursday um with everybody in the room. honest talk. You know, it's it's and it's scary for some some parents or whatever. Oh, I'm gonna lose a teacher, but what I tell them is your teachers are there for that one year, maybe two, and then you move
on. Then someone else takes over those teachers. And I love teachers, love everybody, but same time, we have 9,200 residents that count on us to do the right thing. >> So, it's going to be fun. >> Yeah. >> You should want three more years, Trevor.
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> All right. So, with that, um, okay, I think I'll kick it over to suckling. >> Oh, all right. My turns. >> All right. Got some tongue twisters coming up. >> All right. Acknowledge the resignation
of A and B, Connor Bailey as signal operator, effective 22 26 2026. Thank you, Connor. Uh, and B, Jacqueline Francisco from the Free Tongue Cultural Council, effective 2126. Thank you, Jacqueline. And number 17,
discussion to vote whe to approve the following appointments. A Craig Cabbral Conservation Commission alternate effective 33 2026 through 6:30 2026 in Nia Kanam Koulathi. >> Nice job. >> Good job. All right. Uh to cultural
council effective 33 2022 through 39 2029. >> Any concerns with Craig O'Neia joining our our ranks? >> Absolutely not. >> All right. Uh that said, entertain a motion to appoint Craig and Nia uh items A and B on this agenda item uh to their
commissions effective on their dates. >> I'll make that motion. >> I will second it. >> All in favor? >> I I >> Okay, then time administrator report. Anything else we want to talk about? >> No, I think I told you I wrote the grants. You know, my whole week was
storm related. Um just trying to hoop up and do whatever supports services I could do. Um and just the grants which were big given the time constraints and you know reality that we were the only
ones really in this hub hit with the storm. So >> other departments are like you know other places are calling me from Boston like do you have that? I'm like we're not even operational you know like like we're we're shut down here. So just all of that I think I think that's
where working out the budget. I'll be on that uh diligently and that's really all I've got going on right now is getting the budget and I am on vacation March 14th to the 21st. So >> good to know.
>> Yeah. So we'll be doing the warmth with you. >> I am going to Florida. >> Okay. So, I think next we're going to go to executive session and we will not be coming back into open session. Oh, let me sign first. Good idea.
>> Great. Subscribe. looking down. >> I saw I saw something that caught my eye. I was like, "Wait a minute. What am I? >> That's hilarious." So, I was like sliding it over like
Okay. >> So, uh, so next we'll be going into executive session. We will not be coming to open session. We'll be going into executive session for the following reasons. uh master law chapter 3A section 21 A2 to conduct strategy
sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with non-union personnel s administrator and executive assistant and then next mass general law chapter uh 38 section 21A7 to comply
with or act under the authority of any general or special law or federal grand aid requirements specifically general law chapter 38 section 22 for the purpose of reviewing executive session minutes for approval and determining whether such minutes shall be released in the um in the matter of approval of
executive session minutes from 117 2025 and 29 2026. So without entertain a motion to enter executive session and then adjourn following executive session. >> Motion made second. >> All in favor? >> I Iman Lesman Zagar. >> Yes. Sleman Matthews.
>> Yes.