I'm gonna call the meeting to order. 10:03 a.m. Do a roll call. Oh, wait. I have to say these things. Hold on. This meeting is being recorded. If any other persons are doing the same, you must notify the chair person at this time. Uh, that's all. So, do roll
call. Myself here. Christie, I don't know. Not here right now. Um, Larry Thomas. And if you want to also say your what for the public like the wildfire allowance outreach
that like you identify that too for everyone. Yes. I'm the out I'm an outreach advocate for the town of Greenfield. Thank you. Reese McGovern here. Oh um I'm I don't know. I'm part
of the committee. You're appointee of your council president. Yes. Um Green. Hi, I'm an EMT at American Medical Response. Thanks for having me.
Pamela Goodwin, present. I'm appointed by the mayor to be on the ad hoc for the unhoused. Officer Smith. Hi. With the Greenfield Police Department. We couldn't tell. Little overdressed.
Yeah. And then we have two well we have multiple guests who but um two official guests and if you'd like to introduce yourselves as well and feel free to come on up. Um I'm Pamela McBride and I'm with the Greenfield Public Library.
And I'm Amy Clark and I'm with the Interfaith Council Housing Assistance Committee. Thank for being um well actually I think the approval of minutes from last time um none says on this
agenda confusing minutes but anyway um and then next is public comment and if Lexi if you don't mind if did you have public comment or you want to share? What I um I'm not sure
Lexi came in explicitly not wanting public comment and about five people have been it's not sure um I just wased very interested I'm
here with housing green field and so I'm not sure what my problem well thank you for being Greenfield and if you want to chime in later it doesn't have to be like just it starts you can just raise your hand too. Okay. Thank you. And thank you also
councelor Perry being here. Feel free to chime in if you have anything for public comment. Otherwise, we appreciate just that you're here. Okay. So, our first topic is just guest speakers. So, feel free to
Here I am. Yeah. Feel free to share. Thank you so much. I I don't know that I have anything to say at this point. Um, I was invited here and I'm glad to be part of this this and basically to see how the Greenfield Public Library can
help. It is. Thank you. Yeah. And I wanted to speak Pamela had asked me and Larry and I work together a lot through the interfaith council housing assistance committee. Um, Larry is the person on the ground who has outreach with lots of people, but I've been on
the committee for probably 25 years. And for most of those years, what we did was um provide funding so that people would not be evicted in the first place or we provide funding when they're trying to get into housing for um startup funding.
But a few years back, uh, MJ Adams here at the city asked if the interfaith council might take on some expenses for motel nights when other funding had run out. It was going to be a two-month thing. We said yes, we would do that for two months. So now it's been, you know,
five years and now it's half of what we spend is on emergency uh shelter, housing, things that Larry needs, tents, tarps, sleeping bags, rope, um boots, sneakers, um and and respit motel
nights, too. So we we have been managing a lot of that with Larry. So concerns um are we are we were delighted last winter with the um effort for the warming center and I know it will be improved upon for this winter which will be a
great thing. Um but um there are still a lot of people camping out. Um we're happy that there are places that people are being allowed to camp out, but I know Larry knows that they flood. And so I know this group is hoping to look at a place that doesn't flood. And that would
be, I think, a terrific thing. Um, a couple conversations are going on. You may be aware of, um, the opioid task force working with Deb Mclofflin, um, having conversations with the sheriff's department about what can we do when sites are abandoned. Um, my husband is
on Green River Cemetery and they had tried last year to allow some campers in the woods and, um, one of the campsites was abandoned. the interfaith council became involved because we were trying to protect the other teny. We thought if we could clean up the abandoned one, the
cemetery might agree to let the other person stay. Well, it didn't work that way. And Larry got good friends to um do the mammoth job last summer in the hottest time of trying to bag up what
was left. We bought the bags, gloves, everything. Um brought everything. My husband and I loaded 50 bags, contractor bags, and brought them all to the dump. And that was maybe half of that site, Larry, was cleaned up that way. The other half still remained. So, the cemetery ended up saying, "We're not
going to allow camping." So, the other person left um the Green River cleanup people actually came and and finished up that cleanup. A person camped there again over the winter this year. It's abandoned. They had to leave and now it's there to do again. So, it's an
ongoing problem. Um, I see that as a need and and conversations are going on with the sheriff's department. Might they have a crew that would come in in this situation with a pickup truck um and and do some cleanup either um when the city has makes people leave, which
happens and and tents are abandoned, so forth, everything's abandoned, or on properties like this when people um have been tenting there and there's a need to clean up. So, that's one thing that is ongoing. And I did hear after that that the uh Department of Mental Health might
have storage. If they can um take pickup tents instead of throwing them in a dumpster, which is what happens, if they can reuse them, that would be a wonderful thing. They might have some storage. So, that's kind of all ongoing right now to see. So, that's for an abandoned one. But my concern is also
for people who are trying to camp outside and are trying to keep up a good campsite. And how are they ever going to do that with no money and no transportation and uh no support and trying to not be found in some I mean there's all kinds of issues. So it's has always seemed to me as though some
agency with a pickup truck um could go around weekly and drop off trash bags and then go around weekly and or the or figure a way for the city to pick up trash. Um, that would be a very helpful thing to try to keep these sites cleaned
up. If and if you had a weekly check-in, you could let Larry know, you could let us know this person needs this this to in order to keep it up. You know, we buy plastic storage bins. Yeah. I mean, what do they need to try to keep a place manageable? Um, so I
think that's really an ongoing need for people. Um, an agency to do that would be a terrific thing. Um, another thing I think the city could do is when people are trying to clean up, if you could forego the $3 a bag at the dump, um,
charge if someone is cleaning up a site, you know, that would that would be a a positive thing. Or the $50 a mattress pickup. Um, those are charges. If if people are trying to to uh keep things cleaned up, I think that would be
better. Um I am really in favor of finding one dry site that people can camp in. I think one site is not a bad idea. Um you can provide oversight. You can have services if people in the town wanted to bring coffee and donuts in the
morning. There would be one site where we could arrange folks to to drop it off. And um I mean I I think I I hope something like that comes of your group. So any that's what I wanted to say and Larry will have much more to to build on that with I think because he is the
expert. If I could just add um right now there's a lot of abandoned sites um in Greenfield um and folks are afraid like a friend somebody I know has put a lot of stuff in bags but it is so far away
from the street. is so far away from the street that he they have no way of getting all those bag to nowhere, right? So, they're just piled up at the edge of the where they're camping at and they have good intentions, but they have no
way of, you know, they can't bring it out on their bicycle or on their back. And if they did on their bicycle because some of them have wagons, um there's nowhere really to bring it, right? That they won't get in trouble, right? I pass with that. Amy, thank you for see
all the stuff you shared. Okay. Thank you, Larry. Does anyone have any questions? And then we'll do some comments and whatnot. And we can also go back to library needs too if you don't have a hard I was just with the bags. Um, I know that part of the problem is
is uh where they put them, but does this, you know, the city provides the blue bags for people who want to clean up trash. Do they do this? Is that available also to these people? We that would be great. Um, when you actually
come to a cleanup, you're looking for contractor bags. Those really big heavy duty ones that you have for individual trash for to hand out for people at the sites. Yeah, that that could be great. Okay, have a question or just Yeah, I
just um thank you Amy. That was super helpful. Um I do know um a few of us had a meeting with the mayor recently. Um there was an emergency meeting and the chief of staff was there and the concern
um is sometimes um people picking up needles. Mhm. So, um, we're we're going to have to figure that part out because I whether it's the sheriff's department or the DPW, it's, you know, being very careful
and wearing I don't know how thick I mean, I used to wear the gloves as a CNA, but you need to protect yourself, right? cuz God knows what's in what's in the bag or you know chicken bones can you know like I think that the fact that they're doing the best they can in
certain cases only would invite a wild animal you know to rip open a bag and just then your trash is no longer bagged. So, um, one question that I had, Amy, when you said the Department of of Health, mental health, I think, DMH,
right? Um, they may have storage so that if we find a tent in PE, then we don't have to, you know, nobody's storing a dumpster. Do you have a name for that? Do you have anybody that Dan? His name is Dan. He's on our uh board. I'm like sure that's where he is, but I'll get it
for you. Okay. Yeah. I thought that was super helpful because sometimes it's not trash. it just needs to have a place until somebody needs it. I really am big into repurposing. Um, so those are the two concerns and I think finding out how to get to wave the payment for
mattresses and bags is critical, too. Those are all great ideas. Thank you. Um, also seen we have some new members of the public, Nate and Jess. Thanks for being here. And councelor Perry, you raised your hand.
So, and you work for DMH, so please try. Yeah, I had no choice but to say something and Larry can probably work with us on this. DMH at 13 Prospect Street. Uh we share that we the state owns the building. Service net is the
provider agency in the first two floors. There is some limited storage space uh in the basement and we could depending on the volume we could probably make room in another room or two. It'd still be fairly limited, but uh Larry could
probably interface with Dan. He knows who I'm talking about to set that up and see what we could do. We do this now for clients who have no place to be. So, we do store client stuff in the building and we could probably extend that out a
little bit. It would need to be labeled so we know whose stuff it is when they come to get it and that sort of stuff. But we could certainly work on that with my site supervisor Dan Santag. Dan Santag. Thank you so much. Um
and is it okay to go back into public comment unless someone else has something? So if Nate you want to chime in? Uh thanks only just because uh my name was mentioned. I'm here. I'm fairly new to Greenfield. Um I'm in precinct 4. Um
just generally concerned with uh the unhoused and how they're um fitting into the community. Uh so here to learn about um what's going on with that and find out how I can be of better help.
Thanks for um I have a question for Amy. Uh if someone wants to volunteer with the interfaith council or wants to donate money or supplies, how could they get in contact with? They could um they can uh
I'll give you my number, but you call me at home. Okay. I I'm a volunteer with them, so you call me at home. Yeah. Okay. Cool. All right. Cool. Yeah. I was I guess I was asking for the general public, but that makes sense. That is what happens with the general public. Understood.
Understood. So I'll give it to you. Is there um followup to that? Is there a way that the interfaith council is collecting donation like monetary donations that that is a little bit more easily accessible? Maybe a we have a website. We do have a website with a and
you can donate on the website um specifically for housing. The faith council does many other things but I'm only involved with housing and you can donate specifically for housing there. Great. Um we do get grant assistance from the opioid task force um because they needed a group to do the purchasing
with the funds that they get. So we agreed to be that group. Um so that's and that Larry and I have worked together. We also raised money um just from friends of the interfaith council and a couple of years ago we put a letter out just saying that what the
need was in the in the community for the unhoused and I think we raised $30,000 just from people sending checks. So, um, it can be done when there's a a real need. Um, there's a lot of support in the community, I think, for this. So, people will be wanting to hear the
results of your efforts and how they can help. Do you know your the Interfaith Council's website off the top of your head? Uh, Interfaith Council of Franklin County.org probably. Okay. Yes. Great. Thank you. Thank you. My question is, is the interfaith
council are those taxdeductible donations? Wonderful. And also are the donations restricted to the things you mentioned or they are restricted to anything that helps people stay housed or live unhoused or maintain tenencies.
And so we have expanded that hugely over um the years to include help with utilities. Um I mean we help with a bunch of things. The advantage of the interfaith council is that u most of our funds are just privately given so there are no restrictions. Um, and we can
respond quickly. Um, so that if Larry calls me, you know, today that he needs a tent tomorrow, often we can get him a tent tomorrow. So, um, we can respond quickly and, um, even on rental things, you know, I can drive and deliver a check if someone is endangered to that
point. So, we can we can be quick. Thank you. Um also me or another question is just like for thinking about a sanctioned encampment there would be startup costs for utilities and um would it make sense
to ever do a fundraising campaign type possibility or to partner with the city on something like that is is certainly a possibility. Yep. Yes. And what um if in if someone's taking notes let me give you my email not my home phone for contact information. Yes. A lot of
people have the home form, but it's d lark c l a r ke 333 at comcast.net. So if anyone has concerns or questions, feel free to let me know. Thank you. Thank you. I do have one question. Could
you clarify uh because I have no I just know they're renovating or improving days in and I'm assuming that they will put up their sign again. So I know I was working with you on hotel vouchers and other people do too. Do you have any idea whether that's going to be
available? Because for instance, I don't know. I'm assuming we're not welcome at the Hampton. Is that what's behind 99? That's pretty much true. And we can't afford it. Right. Exactly. There's no deal there. So, I'm just wondering because once winter hits, there is a
need to see if we can I hope so. And I don't know anything about it. We have since the days in uh was unavailable. We have put people at the red roof and then we are all of Franklin County. So over in Orange and Athel, we used the travel in over there. Um a small place, but they have um allowed people to be there,
too. So those are the two places. This past winter we were able to. And how do they get there from Deerfield and Yeah, that's the question. They have to have transportation. Yep. And um we work with the Salvation Army in Athel and Orange.
Uh Steve Raymond over there is the contact and he's with the Athl Orange Baptist Church and he is the contact to get people in to travel in and then I believe his church still puts together little bags so he tries to meet people there give them a bag of things they might need to you know get through a few
days um personal health items and so forth. So um we work through him in that part of the county and then people Larry or whoever call me for um this part transportation is an issue if agencies
call sometimes someone in their agency can drive them. Larry always tried to check on people when they were at the days in and it's so much harder because you can't get to the red roof. It's it's not ideal at all. Yeah. Yeah. And do you happen to have a contact for the days
in? Do you I don't know. I used to. Yeah. You used to I don't know. Would you be willing to share your old contact and see if maybe they know somebody? The old contact was a front desk person. Oh, okay. Right. No. Yeah. So, not the owner. So, that might be a followup by
going. Yeah. Yeah. I think so. Thank you. I wish I hope you get good news on that. Yeah. We shall see. Um, do you also know the update? I feel like I I'm sorry I I don't know this, but the more healing on shelters and Okay, I need to
just read these emails in But I know it's not good. No, it's not good. It's not good. You have a deadline. You have to leave and you don't have a place to go. Right. She's standing firm on that. And uh it is Larry will say it's well Larry wants
to say it's not getting easier out there. So, in um this winter because we had the warming shelter here in Greenfield, um there's not many folks around here that we put up. I don't know if how many
people Amy may have put up, but most of the folks that I support, they all went to the warming shelter or they just stayed outside over the winter. Um, in the past we used the days in and and you know I used to go down there another person's Elliot services
whenever we put people in the motel when we would go down there and check on them on the weekends you know and make sure they had like food cards um you know their basic necessities because again folks are outside so they get a a motel room you know sometime they may not know
how to act or whatever and just checking in with them throughout the time they're here was was was a key thing we did in the past. Um I think I'm going to pass with that. Thank you. Also, welcome Darcy. Thanks
for joining. If you'd like to um come give public comment at any point, you can raise your hand and come off mute. Um and yeah, anything else or any
questions and comments? Actually, if I can. Um I just um I had one question. Um uh I know like so at the library we have the stick boxes in um the needle boxes
in all of our restrooms. Is and we get those through tapestry. Are there individual size like boxes that people could put out? Is I'm I'm I'm showing my ignorance, I know, but that that that can be handed out if people are interested. That might help with the
needle. Good idea. Yeah. Um I I can speak to that. They're they're called sharps boxes. Um and they generally are about the size of like a large mason jar. Um, and they typically are
something that people buy. Um, I don't see any reason why they might not be able to be made available through tapestry. The problem then is collection. Um, because they are technically biohazard waste. Okay. And so that's why needle boxes typically
have a a fixed location so that they can come and be emptied. When you give them out to somebody, that person then has to bring them back somewhere. Otherwise, you have a box of biohazard waste that is just sort of sitting around. Um, I think that if we were in a situation where there were
consistent mobile services going to people rather than making them come to services, that would be a a really nice solution. Um, we're not there yet, but if we were to reach the point of a sanctioned encampment, that would be
actually a really nice solution because then service workers could go and and make a collection round. Okay. And the opioid task force, I think, is working on mobile services too. So, that could actually happen. Yeah. Yeah. And then the other thing is we have received quite um personal care items and uh I
think 25 backpacks that we will be putting together in the next month. So that we will be making those available to people who need them. They'll just they won't need a library card. They don't need they just need to come in and ask for it. And also I just want to let
people know we also received a supply of electronic chargers. Um so if you know someone who needs um a charger for their phone, they should come find me. I have a box. Are those portable ones? Those I
have portable one. Uh portable chargers. Um, uh, no, you have to plug them in. I I'll be honest. Not power banks. Not power banks that we couldn't get. But if someone, but what they can do is they can take them and they can charge it at the library. They can charge it at other
places. And we are working uh we do have some outside outlets at the library and we're having a conversation about how we can keep them open without it becoming a a problem so that people
can stop by on the weekend when we're closed. Um so we're working on a solution to that because unfortunately we've had some issues. Um, but we we know that like like this weekend we're closed for 4
days. So, um, if we can keep even if it's just one outside outlet out near the front, then people can charge their equipment. So, we're working on that. Just of note, there are outlets available in Energy Park. They are not under shelter. So, in inclement weather
or things like that, it's not a great, but if somebody needs access to electricity, there are for our boat somewhere. Yeah, I also know that we used to have um a what was it like a solar charger
over where the benches were removed and Carol Collins from the energy sustainability department she said that um that there was going to be another solar charger installed in the spring or something but would be probably good to check in and there are outlets on the
center of the common I believe that crash plugs in somewhere over there I'm not sure if they're not on regularly. No, but I think they're right there on the walkway of the common. That's They're on. They're on. Yeah, right
there in the com. Okay. Well, this is so helpful. I the main points I have are abandoned sites, cleanups, weekly check-ins, um coalition building with multiple um volunteers and
agencies and groups and people um trash. Oh, sorry. Actually, one thing I want to mention on that in editorial is that Pedal People in Northampton, they have a partnership with a campsite where they do weekly hauling of their waste and they're just volunteered to do that.
So it's cool. It could be done be done here. Um and then storage issues. Um and uh I forgot the name. Dan, what was it? Dana Sante. Sante. Um was there any
specific followup that someone wanted to like assign their name to or I think it will probably come up in the opioid task force conversations as those go forward. He's part of that group. So I think that will happen if if the whole project happens. Thank you. Cool. And then just
fundraising, willingness to partner with the if there was a sanctioned encampment with fundraising and um or startup costs um and then shark boxes and electronic chargers. Um, anything else on these
topics or more specifically library needs around? I would I would love if you could just sort of talk about like what you see as needs and what shows up in the library. Because that's something that I I think we could. Okay. Thank you so much. Um,
well, you know, we're we're open to everyone. Um, and we do see, you know, there are people who come for the day and that's great. So, we do have we obviously have our restrooms. We have charging stations. We have our public
computers are available. We don't need a library card to use our public computers. Um we also um like I said, we have the the charging units that we also uh like people will come in. We also have a a stash of
in-house um charging cords. so that people can they come in with their phone and they don't have a charger, we can help them out. Um, so we h are trying to figure out a way cuz we
are a warming and cooling center when we are open and during the summer like last summer, you know, when we have those heat waves, uh, especially on the weekends, there aren't a lot of places for people downtown to go. So, we are
working to find to see if there's a way that we can during the middle of a heat wave. It wouldn't be every weekend, but it would be during a heat wave that we could find a way of having our lobby open on for a few hours on a Saturday afternoon or a Sunday afternoon. Um,
just to give people, you know, a chance to come in. There's a lot of of issues around it and we're just we're we're working on it. We're um talking with the medical reserve corps. Did I say that right? Um to because we because there
isn't really a pool. We need volunteers. We can close off the front the library. We have a gate so that it would just be the meeting rooms, the bathrooms, and the lounge that would be available, but we have to have staffing and volunteers. Um so we're we're working on that.
Hopefully um next month I'll have some more answers. Um so that is something we're doing. Um like I said the backpacks and um and then our information um sessions
that's also been helpful. We have a lot of people you know they need the social services. So we have various organizations that come in every month um to just sit and they're just there so people can talk like Lifepath is one of our big sponsors. We have others that
come in uh some more occasional nail quit comes in. Um so the day they do tableabling um and you know we're a resource center so if you have information for us you know we're happy to present it. Am I answering the questions that
you want me to answer? Oh good. Um and we're open to suggestions. Um, I mean, we do have limits, but we're open to suggestions because we, you know, we know that, you know, that's part of our role as a community, um, organization, as a public library, is for everybody to
be able to have to come in. And, you know, like, as I say, 99.99% of the people who walk through that door are just it's part of our community. You know, very few issues.
They happen occasionally, but um and you know we have people who come in for the you know they'll spend the day there and I know in the past we were very strict about not sleeping about not allowing people to sleep and that's really um we
asked we understand that that's changed because we understand that you know if you're spending the night just trying to be safe you've got to catch some sleep during the day. So, we don't let you bring in your mattress or or but um we have plenty of comfy seating. We have places that are quiet, especially on the
second floor that people can, you know, catch catch a nap, catch up, you know, some of their um and they can bring, you know, their food. They can't eat in certain parts of the library, but they can, you know, bring in food, especially if, you know, on Saturday if they're at
Stone Soup and it's like this, you know, a lot of them will come. A lot of pe people who use stone soup will come over to um eat in the periodical lounge. I have a question of course. Um um the
library was shut down and I attended a cso workshop. So we had librarians and people from the farming center and you know that's right at that. Yes. Oh okay. Um so that was dealing with some behavioral issues and other things. It
was I think four cso officials over a period of a whole whole day pretty much 10 to three or something. Yeah. So um so that I just wanted to say there are occasionally because we certainly see that at the warming center where uh you
know some training was going to yeah to be to to be helpful to people. Yeah. So we do have yeah we did offer that training and it and it was really helpful because you know as librarians we it's not just about books anymore and
some of our job is social services and kind of this you know um unofficial social work. So we um we have been learning taking learning how to meet with all members of our
community how to deal with behavior issues. And I think after our growing pains of moving into the new library we've you know we've really established a good rapport. We have a great crew and we have a really good relationship with members of the community. So you know we
rarely have issues. Um and we've learned Yeah. That's that's what I was going to ask is is I I I want to know like what kind of training the library got on how to connect with a population where you
are not just doing books, right? Yeah. Um and also like do you feel like there's a need for ongoing training or what what would that like what would you want that to look like? What do you see as like primary areas of need? So, most of us have uh I think just I would say
just about everyone on staff has gone through the librarians for homelessness um or the home homeless for librarians uh programs uh which is sp uh put together by Ryan Dow who is a he runs
one of the biggest um homeless shelters in Ohio and I think it's Cleveland but I'm not sure. There's a great book that I would be happy to to if anyone would like to borrow um and it's a wonderful
program on um communication on deescalation, how to handle issues ranging from body odor to social where to find social services.
Um yeah and basically all coming from you know everyone deserves to be treated with the same level of respect. Um so and it's an ongoing it's an ongoing educational process you know um every
day you learn something new and um we try as much as possible to do in-house trainings. Unfortunately, because we are a public library, it is very difficult for us to take the time to um to take
these classes as a group. Um so, but yes, it's and it's also part of the the Massachusetts Library Association and the American Library Association. I have a probably two or three webinars in the
next six weeks that deal with different aspects of these issues. So, we take it seriously and it just makes our lives, our jobs better and easier. So, yeah. Thank you. And I'm happy to share any of
this information if you're interested in learning some of the techniques or some of the courses we've gone through. I'm happy to share the information. So yeah, I work with Chris um Christy Lenoy who's
last time I checked, you know, on the medical reserve corps um both Franklin and Ber County. Do you have another contact train that you um I do, but it's on my laptop. So um yes, external brain. Yes.
Yeah. My question was like um I know when the director um was thinking to ways and means meeting before she was mentioning some issues around people not being allowed to bring their pets in that that have been yeah
that that's that's hard. Um we allow service animals um but we have to be careful because um because we are a public space and because everyone is there for the community it's really a a question of
safety um we have a lot of children running around and you know a a small child can may see a dog and be like I'm going to go pet that dog and it's not if the dog is if the animal has not been properly trained And so we're we're
very careful about uh about what we allow in and um is that kind of Yeah. My Yeah. I guess the question was just like what are there specific triggers that might lead to Well, they have to be on a leash at all times. Like we had someone
who brought uh at one point brought a dog in a bag and it was like that's not really okay cuz then put the bag down and you know um policy in New York City dogs in a bag and then you see like wearing a
or like they cut the dog like holes in the bag. I've actually working in a restaurant. I had a I had a we had a patron a in a restaurant who they would bring their cat and then you know let the cat out. No, that's really um so um
but so it really depends upon the situation. It's it's not something it's I wish it could be like you know you have to it's only this works but and we have some dog people who you know they'll come in and it's just they don't want to leave their dog in the car and so they just like oh yeah my dog's a
service dog and so um do you do you guys know like did you get training on what questions you can ask to Yes. Oh yes that that one is a very common uh gap. Yes. No.
Thank you. Yep. Um, anybody else have some questions, comments? We're so lucky to have our wonderful guests here this morning. It's like very cool, isn't it? Yeah. Libraries are so
cool. So, you want Yeah. Um, I wanted to know So, I just did a very basic um Google search to see if this was a thing and I couldn't find anything. So, I'm wondering if there's a sponsorship
program with any um organization with, you know, trained individuals who could um mentor with folks who are wanting to get out of homeless uh houselessness. um that feels like there have been uh
some points where I've been on the verge of uh being houseless and I was a very lonely time and so having and what has kept me from being unhoused were um some
friends who uh who've helped me bridge the gap. So, I'm wondering if that's a thing that has been discussed at all is um how how something like that could work, if that's of interest. Um I think that
that that could be a really powerful thing potentially. I I want to speak to that because it ties into the survey that's on our agenda today, is it not? So, um, we have a survey that we're
planning to, um, get to people that are unhoused. And one of the questions that I came I did it this morning because I you have to take it, you know, like thought I'll just click on it and look. I said, "Oh, no. I'm going to pretend." So, I filled the whole thing out. And one of the things was um, you know, what
else can can the city do for you or how else can we be helpful? And it ties into what you're talking about, Nate. socializing a place where you truly socialize being accepted. Mentoring would be part of that that it might
start slow where you just feel welcome. Sit down, socialize in a spot that's safe for everybody where everybody's welcome. Um I think it's the Green River House has that kind of a situation, but you
have to like sort of qualify and be there. So I wrote on there' be great to just spend time with people, all people, all kinds of people getting to know children in the neighborhood. You know,
there isn't a spot where they can go. And Larry can talk about what they were able to do over at Wildfire Allowance, but I just think we've got to turn around an attitude in some cases in the city. Um, and hanging out. Where can
they hang out other than they hang out with each other at the warming center only at 7 p.m. And that's different. You're trying to rest, plug your phone in and sleep and take a shower. So, um I think that's a great idea. I mean, mentoring, there's nothing more
powerful. Um, I think to sort of directly answer your question about crisis counseling or just places where people in crisis can talk to people in Greenfield, I think the two biggest that people usually point to around here are the Wildflower
Alliance, which has open hours, and the Recovery Center, which I believe they have open hours, but they have all sorts of group events, too. um and they are always looking for more people who are trying to get involved in peer support and crisis support and
things like that. So those are the two institutions in our area that I would point you to. Yeah, I want to add to that as well because I think it's a really good question and
it the what I what I hear you saying Nate is really a question about support that doesn't um come out of like a case management model. Um and that I think is I I think that there are
people doing that work. Larry is a good example um where Larry is not showing up for people as a social worker or as a housing coordinator. Larry is showing up as somebody who gets it, who can be there as a friend, and who also can say like, "Hey, have you heard about this?
Have you heard about this? These are things that might help." Um, and I think that we do have a few people doing that, but I think that that's a gap. And I think that that gap is primarily from this idea that
housing is a problem that can be solved by just throwing a bunch of resources at somebody. And I think that what you bring up about like loneliness is a really good example of why that's not true.
It's not just okay, we'll just like, you know, give you a case worker and that solves the problem. like you actually have to support people in being part of a community and being connected to other human beings in a social way rather than a services way. So, I appreciate you
bringing that up. Go ahead, Nate. Um, thanks. Um, I I really appreciate hearing all of this and uh Larry, I'm gonna I'll reach out to um to you if that's all right. um or to the Wildflower Alliance uh just to get more
information, find out what you're doing. Um the Yeah. So, I guess to me the big part would be normalizing um the um the oh, I don't know what word to use.
um just normalizing being unhoused, that it exists and that a lot of these people are just you they're your neighbors who just happen to not have a house um right now. And the more that that that socializing can happen out in public
view with people um who others from the community recognize as being not unhoused could go a long way, I think. And um I you know I don't know if it's the kind of thing like the Chamber of Commerce could have a regular engagement
or like folks from from that group paired up with from unhoused individuals who are you know volunteering to be a part of something like this but um members of the community who have uh who come from a place of some power
uh being business owners um and uh and being just with businesses that in general have to generate revenue. They're dealing with uh the money which is a big part of this, you know, at least for me in my experience, it was not having the funds to be housed that
was a big uh player in this. So engaging um in in that sort of way, I don't I don't know. I guess at this part point I'm spitballing and I'm going to put a pin in it because I don't want to ramble too much. But thank you. Yeah, we can definitely add this on our agenda for
next time too. Thanks for the Rex. Just like community building. I like community building. Community building. Good. Thank you for bringing that up. Darcy, I saw that you turned your camera
on. Did you want to add a public comment? I do. Can you just Can you just say your name and um where you live? RC Rosner. Um, I live in Greenfield. I have a husband who is a veteran. I don't really
want to get into my story personally right now, but I do want to make sort of the suggestion that there's a large community of veterans who are
homeless and that there is outreach that happens, but we don't have a specific solution for veterans who live in Greenfield. Um, I'm very involved with a
organization called Soldier On. Um, I think they have several housing situations in Pittsfield. Um, one of their housing situations is actually on the campus of
the VA in Leeds. I know there's one sort of more south on 91 somewhere with Long Meadow. I don't know where. um and that they've been spreading out east um more towards Boston. Um I was recently in a
car with a a driver who was driving me and my husband back from a Boston hospital who actually does outreach and um and I have his card and I want to talk to him first before suggestion suggesting to him that he too join this
meeting. maybe um he actually goes out in the field to find veterans to bring them back to Soldier on and um and I'm also very close to um the director and I feel like um it's a it
you know if we could figure out a way to involve Soldier on and make a a building actually in Greenfield for veterans it might actually solve a lot and they're obviously already set up. Um, their VA
location, they're not part of the VA, and that's the important part of the lead's location. They rent a building on the campus. Um, but out in Pittsfield, they took over an old nursing home.
Um, I I just really think I've talked to Reese about this. I met with him. I sort of met him um by chance and it seemed almost like magic that I had someone to talk to about my passion here um with the
veterans. Um, and they range from people who were in Afghanistan in um, Iraq, but also in my husband's group, which would be Vietnam war veterans who are getting older and really struggle with the
homelessness and their needs that are um, maybe different than the rest of the population, you know, mental health needs and things like that. I don't know if this is a helpful suggestion. I just want to I want to do something about it
and it's my passion and so I would like to thank Reese for bringing me here today. Um so I could say it and thank you for also making me feel brave because I'm a little nervous. Thank you so much. Thank you so much
Darcy. You're welcome. I Thank you, Darcy. I think that's wonderful. I think we should certainly have a representative from Soldier on. I know you know that I know they're a separate organization also the VA as well and and I actually attended a training recently um with one of their representatives and
I just want to they should speak for themselves but I want to echo something that really struck me which is a lot of the barriers of care that they see are people who qualify who are veterans who served in the military but believe that they don't qualify because you know they
were never in combat, they didn't get a Purple Heart. there's all these other things. And so the the terminology that they used in in my training was have you ever served in the US military? Um and then from there having the conversation about what services are available and and uh the way that they can help. So
thank you for bringing this up, Darcy. I think it's great. Yeah, my pleasure. I hope I can become more involved as time goes on. Well, I don't want to keep you here if you But you're good. I'm good. I'm good.
I block this time out. So, I'm You're welcome. Um, and yeah, I appreciate every um our official agenda we which we can take out of topic and sorry, it already has been pretty random, but hey, we're in
brainstorm mode. Um, so the next topics on the agenda officially are the distribution of the survey that you worked on. I could pull it up even in screen share if we want or and then the next and then also sanctioned encampments and thinking about and we
can move topics out of order. Um, and then Greenfield legislation. That's our other topic and other examples of legislation other municipalities around camping. Um, I was I was just going to say I really want to hear more about your meeting with the mayor. It was it was juicy. So,
yeah, I think we should report that. Yeah. Great. So, would we like to do a survey at the end or just a brief Can we do the survey quickly because I think that this is going to be a quick a quick one. Thanks, Ree. Yeah. Uh, so I had sent out
the survey to folks. Um, and yes, the one unfortunate thing about using this platform is it's hard to see the survey without taking the survey. So, if you took it and submitted, thank you. If you took took it and didn't submit, that's
great, too. Um, it didn't change very much from the feedback that I got from folks. I did make a couple of updates. Um, and basically it is what I sort of talked through and showed at our last
meeting. Um, and Sarah's gonna up Sarah's gonna Oh, wait. I don't want to join audio. Share the Sarah's going to share the thing on Zoom so that folks who maybe weren't here last time or are on Zoom and um
can't be in the room with us, you can at least see what we're talking about. Hold on a second. Too many tabs. It's crazy in here. And while we're waiting, um, we we did discuss that we would try to use the library, right, Sarah? As a location.
Yeah. Yeah. Talk about that. Um, yeah. Do we want to think about Okay, great. And co-host. So, here we go. There we go. Survey. It's here. Okay. So, yeah, ju just talk about it a little bit. This is the intro page. It is it tells what
our committee is, what we're trying to do, and then um why we're sort of asking for people to fill out this survey. Um it says at the end of the survey, you can share your name and contact information. If you want us to get in touch with you, if you don't want to share your name and contact information,
your answers will be anonymous. So, that's not a required question. People can just skip it. Um it asks for age. It asks for current housing situation and um how long someone has been unhoused
and then how did you become unhoused and if they want to share anything specific like on and off sleeping on people's couches that isn't it's not easy to capture that in the answers and so there's a chance for them to sort of tell us more. Um, and you'll notice most
of these are open answer questions because I want to give people sort of as much flexibility in how they answer as we can while still getting the kind of information that we want. Um, so what services have you access that have been helpful? How did they help you? And what
services can you not get to and why can't you get to them? Um, and then just a likerage scale of how well do you think Greenfield is supporting Sunhoused residents? one is bad, seven is good, and what do you think we should do to
better support our unhoused residents? And is there anything else you want us to know? And then the last page is if you want us to get in touch with you, give us your contact information, but they can skip this and submit the form. Um, so that's what the survey looks
like. It's short. The point of it is to get information about um maybe maybe get some information about like the population, right? That's why there's demographics, but more to get personal accounts of what is easy
and hard to access in Greenfield and what they feel like they're missing. Um because that's really like the point of the survey is to get get an idea of like what kinds of services could we be providing that are either not provided or not accessible right now and how
would people tell us they want us to do that. Um I also added the question about how well do you think Greenfield is doing because I think it's important for people to be able to say I feel like this is going well or I feel like this is not going well. That's information
that right now I don't see a way for people to get that information to us other than like showing up the mayor's office and most people that feels like an inaccessible thing. So my vision for the survey would be that we distribute it um electronically like we can give a
link to Larry, we can post it with a QR code at Wildflower Alliance or other places around town that people might be accessing services so that they can do it on their phone. We can also do this by showing up at the library with these
questions on a piece of paper or with a QR code as an option and just hang out there at a day when it's raining and stone soup happens and just sort of talk to people as they come in the door. Um, we could also find a couple of other
places to do that kind of persontoperson contact like Tapestry or um down by the energy park. And I figure this is something that we could keep open for even the duration of our work as a committee if we wanted or
we could choose to close the survey after a certain point. Um but because we're not trying to do something specific with this data in like a timebound way. This is more like gathering information that can be rolling in as we work. I don't see a
need to have a set date for the survey to close right now. Um, but we can revisit that later. So, yeah, that's that's what I'm thinking about the survey. Anybody please comments, thoughts. Um, so as far as the library, definitely tableabling,
we can do that. Um, also, uh, uh, you know, I was thinking we could put fly, if you make a flyer with the QR code, we could put those in every single one of our restrooms, which of course is, you know, everybody goes goes there. Yeah. Um, and then I would assume that you
would put make have that flyer and then just distribute it through FCRN or other social service organizations. Franklin County Resource Network. Sorry. Sorry. I live in the world of acronyms
sometimes. Um, and when you are uh tableabling, we could if you have a tableabling session, we could also provide a laptop if people wanted to just and it could be a dedicated laptop for a certain amount of time. So, we could do that also.
Okay. Yeah. Thank you so much. And I guess I just want the public to know in case they didn't watch last was it just a week ago we had a meeting but there were a lot of complaints by the unhoused about a particular agency and I think um you
know that's what this was born out of was like oh god I don't want to use them or I can't and I don't want to lay blame anywhere but if they are still trying to get after maybe maybe months trying to find a social worker or are not on SNAP and they would love to be able to have
help with those applications. That's kind of where this survey idea, I think, was started and was what many of us had heard from them. They were just not too happy. Uh, and plugging them in is critical. Thank you. Yeah, that's definitely was a driving force for this.
Also, just generally like Christiey's not able to join us today, but we we are a group primarily of people who are housed and have stable housing and we we need to be really attentive to whose voice is not present in this
conversation. And this is really for me a way to like get some of that those voices into our work in a way that is sustainable and that we can return to them again and again and potentially continue conversations with people after they fill out the survey.
I would also suggest as a suggestion if you do want to set up tableabling is that you uh we can partner you with perhaps Wildflower Allowance or another organization that might be able to answer some of those benefit and resource questions also. So it doesn't
have to be just this group. it can be um another group or two that we can we can do at the same time so that come you know one-stop shopping and maybe we could buddy up with people who are coming in from Tapestry and doing that
consistent tableling so that we can be like sitting there too it's like hey would you like to we could do that yes that is wonderful ideas um I'm wondering if we can just motion to approve the survey as
is. And I like all these distribution ideas and partnerships and tingling. And I'm thinking like maybe if you tell Tammy and I'll be here at this time and then some other folks of us like it would be nice if it would like paired up. Um so then other folks could find
time to buddy up with me. Okay. Or if you can't be there then other people can just So I I would move that we you uh take a survey and start using it. second and then I think Oh, Mary, did you have anything to add? I see. Oh, you were
saying funding. Thank you. Great. All in favor? I was supposed to do a roll call, but this is it appears unanimous. Thank you so much. Awesome. Thank you. Great. Now, the moment that we've been
waiting for. The mayor go. Larry, would you like to start because you're you're quite diplomatic. Um, I can share this from my from what I got from what she was talking about. The mayor, this is not going to be an easy
move. What we want to do, it's not going to be as simple as we find another space and okay, we just move from the dog park and from behind Greenfield Markets to the new space. you know, she they kept talking about the liability thing.
Um, and then I asked who was the what was the liability down at the dog park? Whose liability is it there? And never really got a I mean I got type of a answer from the chief of staff, but um it's going to be a long process. I
think I guess I can pass. I'm sure P has a few things he would like to add. Yes. Um, I thought it was a good meeting. We had, just so people know, we had a whole lot of town property that we
were hoping that was on higher ground. We just heard Amy talk about an appropriate campsite. Um, and we knew it was going to be a liability issue. And um that's you know like the problem with
some of the properties too is that they're not appropriate because they have to be close to the um the FRTA. They have to be able people have to unhouse need to show up at the various churches that are feeding them. So it
was not it was it was not like okay let's do this for sure. I think that it gave people time to be thinking about things. I don't know what the next process pro prospect is except we were
told I suggested that we need to go after private people, people who have their own property, people who are willing to look into the liability. Um, and a name was given. I'm not going to say that out, but I am I am going to
pursue people, you know, realators and empty buildings and if they would be willing, it's going to be a liability issue. I don't care where we go. I mean, like Larry said, it's right now we have to be able to get um an ambulance into
these places to pay to to get in there. And I think um Officer Zoe can also talk about um you know and when we get to like the encampments technically they're just not allowed you know and that's part of this
meeting today if we get to that on the agenda. So it's not that the mayor said I don't care about the unhoused. She was clear was a bell on that. And I do think it is a process. It's not going to be a fast process. And if we can find someone
that's not town liability, a lot of money is spent with our attorney dealing with all kinds of of liability issues. And so I'm not all that discouraged. I did not think in one hour's time we were going to leave there with bells,
whistles, and everything we needed. I I think we just need to keep thinking and pursuing. Um, and I knew we weren't going to leave there with like, hey, this is the best place. Um, but it was, you know, it was hard to leave and and
be thinking like, okay, well, what's plan B? What's plan C? And, um, I think we need to pursue and keep thinking of other ideas and not give up. That's my That's my opinion. I'm not giving up on this. This is ridiculous. If if Austin, Texas and
Portland, Oregon, and if Pittsfield can have a place for their veterans, then why can't we? So, this probably except for Sarah giving her two cents about that meeting. Um, you know, we're going to look at the legisl we want to
decriminalize being on house. How how are we doing that? How's that going to work? We need zoning changes, ordinance, bylaws. I don't know what it takes, but we have a sense of a community that really wants to move forward on this that's safe and
humane. I pass. Well said. Plus one. Yeah. Um on the more optimistic parts of the meeting, um they already have portaotties that are open for the season. I think that there had
previously been locked up. Wasn't access been locked up, but now that's Um there's one down at the Green River Park. So that's great. Um and um there was openness to having um assistance with trash pickup um from
DVDW, but of course being mindful of people's capacity and also maybe it's better through the sheriff's department or but just openness with like I think with waiting fees or figuring out some of that. Um and then um lockers. Yes. Lockers were real
positive. Yes, that there was a grant um in the works with the community economic development opioid task force. Larry, I think you probably know the lockers were going to be in the garage.
Yeah, Maria knew a little bit about it because I talked to Maria. So, there's a plan to have lockers that are able to be locked up for people to use in the parking garage. It does take some funding, but I think the mayor thought she knew where the money would be coming from. We don't have a time frame, and
that's a huge thing for them to be able to get. The mayor was concerned about how they have to carry all their belongings on their back, just not even possible. And we also mentioned some specific sites, but Green River School, there's a
path back there besides just the school area um next to the Green River Cemetery. Um, and there's going to be an RFP for the schools and there's a new children. Not really the vibe. Then there's this Lumis Road, Turner Falls
location. I can actually even screen share this, but it also doesn't matter because but it also doesn't matter because we can't do it. I can I share something? I I feel really strongly that we should not take the mayor's recalcitrance as a reason to stop
considering public land as an option for our recommendations. I think that I think that to to allow her to move so far this but she she has previously offered a lot of support for
projects that are extremely similar to what we are talking about. So, it feels very silly to me to say, well, there's been such a change in her personal opinion after becoming mayor
that we should abandon this as an option. Um, I don't think that especially because we especially because we are making recommendations. uh we can make a recommendation that
unfortunately she may not love but if it is best for the city and best for the community that we are trying to serve it would be a really big mistake I think to abandon a potential recommendation that
is the best choice because it is not her first choice. This goes into the next topic about the actual legislation because it is within Oh, do you want to share please? I know when I first started talking I sound
like you know it was I'm never I'm not going to abandon it at all. Yeah. I'm not looking to abandon anything at all because our neighbors are sleeping down in flood zones and that's just not okay for me. Yeah. And
that that that for me is is the piece is like I understand the concern about liability and I understand the the appearance of liability as a bigger issue with a new site. But the reality is that right now the liability
of the current site is higher than if we were to move to a new site that is not in a flood zone because we are currently accepting liability of a geographic location that puts people in mortal
danger on a regular basis. That to me feels ridiculous. um when the the offer of a potential difference site that does not by its default geographic capacity put people in
consistent danger. It it it just it feels like kind of a no-brainer. Um so, um my understanding is that sorry I'm going to be a Debbie Downer here. My understanding is that that's not the case because technically we're not
allowing like legally speaking we're not allowing people to stay at the dog park. They are and we happen to not be prosecuting them. So when people get washed down the Deerfield River, the city will be able to just say, "Well, they were there illegally anyway, so it's not our fault." And that's we're
kind of in like a cover your ass mode of homelessness policy right now. And I think that's the more fundamental issue. Yeah. I do want to say that in two Sarah, you have all the records from 2018 that they had tried and tried and tried. You got
all of that from Mary Mcccleen. Yes. So this is nothing new. We are just you know doing the best we can and I I'm like Larry I just because we got initially told that I'm not ready to throw in the towel either. I said it was a process. It takes some time and the
legislation that you have given us to read is kind of important stuff. Yeah, I want to share the legislation but we have 15 minutes left so I think I'll still be able to do that but just if you want to chime in quickly so we can Yeah, I'll keep it I'll keep it very
short. Uh it's just my feeling that and I don't know how much how how well this stands legally but if the city chooses makes a choice not to enforce um those laws on the river side or or wherever then that is essentially
permitting and the choice is not you know okay now we're just going to you know come down heavy-handed on on everything but that's I don't I don't that that might be Um, I don't know. That's That's my point on that. That gets me fired up. It's a
thin legal argument. Um, great way to say it. Extremely thin ice legally. Yeah. I mean, also, council, I I think we can I think for me the follow-up steps from this are doing
more research, shockingly. Um, so yes, there are municipalities that have sanctioned encampments. um what does their legal counsel say? We also the city council budget we do have $4,000 for legal counsel. I would like
us to like DIY research as much as possible so we don't have to use those funds, but we could get to a point where we do get legal counsel. Um and yeah, liability is an inevitable issue that um supersedes human rights
sometimes. Uh we didn't talk about individual waiver forms, right? You know, that's a good point. We did talk about you sign off and you say, "I'm not holding anybody." Yeah. So, yeah, I think there's it's
um I think if we come up with a solid plan, it's still we can figure it out. And also, why not also talk to private land owners? And that seems like also there could be an amazing spot that somebody could
Um, I'm going to screen share this legislation stuff because it's relevant for us. Okay, so the too long didn't read.
This is um being on public land between 1000 p.m. and 6 a.m. is trespassing except as authorized by quote a permit. Um subject to arrest without a warrant and $200 for each offense such as littering or
destruction of land. Permit is in quotes because who gives the permit? There's nothing about a permitting process. So, and that has never that's hasn't been used. Also, there's no legal definition in our current legislation that defines
defines this permit process. Um, and of course, this is not enforced in the two sites that are flood zones that we recommend that we have been referencing. Um, as well as a scattered handful of other sites, and Officer
Smith is our our expert here, law enforcement. Is this in our charter? Is that what you're looking from? In ordinances. This is ordinances for the city of Greenfield. Yes. Chapter 346 public
land. This document is in the agenda. Um and it's also in E code is really a great set. Um and the next part camping on conservation land requires permission of the conservation committee or designate notification police permission of the
fire department for open fires. conservation land is forget how many sites there are but I put a map also in this document um that you can see here if you pull it up if you go to conservation commission specifically
defined separately from like just regular town-owned property specifically conservation do you know Sarah if either of the sanctioned spots basically right now that people are allowed to camp is conservation land that's an interesting thing Because Burkov put out a map that
their top five like high priority conservation value ecologically sensitive along the Green River. It's not conservation land. So that doesn't those are not the same thing. High conservation value conservation land different things. Conservation land. I
talked to the conservation agent Jessica Seagull I think. um who was who's also from Portland and experienced some of these sanctioned encampments and like driving by them and and anyway it was interesting talking to him but yeah there it's like someone has a
conservation easement protecting it and the city is holding that and somebody donating their land for that that's what it means. Okay. You cannot live in a mobile home, trailer or camper. Exceptions are for up to two weeks in a calendar year with a
permit from the building inspector or within a licensed campground or for up to a year if your house burns down. Um, mobile home is some we've gotten a memo from Furcog that this term is completely outdated. Anything after
1970 whatever there was a HUD guideline. Now these are all called manufactured homes. Um, so this is arguably meaningless that you can't live in a mobile home. Um, because that's there's a new regulation. So that needs to be
updated for COG like emailed everyone all the member towns saying update this and their recommendation was to completely strike it from the code um and just have manufactured homes be regulated as a normal single family home. So that's something that that's a
game changer. That's Yeah, that and manufactured homes the price per square foot is like ridiculously cheaper. It's like half. Yeah. So that is something that we should not be criminalizing property but there is a mobile home park somewhere in the city that's
grandfathered in Adam's park right like and they have them in Bernard and they have them a lot of places you know so that's if it needs to be re looked at is yeah so that's grandfathered in but you can't have a new manufactured home park or a new manufactured home technically
supposed we could work on that because it is affordable housing much much more affordable housing. Exactly. So, we should work on that. That one seems like an obvious win. Some of these are more complicated, but that one's like, hey, obviously Box saying it. Um, give me a
thumbs up. Okay. Commercial campground on a seasonal basis. So, you can't be a permanent resident at a commercial camp, but that requires a minimum of 10 acres in rural residential areas. Um, zoning map I can refer to on the
outskirts more. and a special permit from the zoning board of appeals. Common sanitary facilities are required if each plot is not serviced with water and sewer. Um so this is maybe relevant but also not
necessarily because we could come up with a zoning that's tailored to um year round residency. But a commercial campground suggests to me that it is a public campsite that people pay to camp at. Yes, that is the definition of
commercial campground is that it is where a fee is charged. So if there was a site that was for camping where a fee is not charged, it would not qualify as a commercial campground. Could charge a dollar $1 a year paid through grant funding or
something. Yes. Exactly right. But but if there was a campground that didn't require a fee, it it wouldn't fall under this, right? It's not commercial, I guess. Um so that's those are technically the things. Um I also added in another one from other municipalities
just for fun. So these are definition in Great Bington of a movable tiny house. So you're not allowed to live right now a tiny house as Greenfield Code that counts as just a trailer or a camper because it's on a trailer foundation. Um, and so this
is um it's recognized in the green field in the state building code as a living structure. So if we also added this in as one of our definitions like great bington um then you could have that and it does it it's okay that it's not on
like a stick foundation or a cement or concrete foundation like so right now you just can't be on wheels. So this is great parenting. They added movable tiny house or tiny house on wheels. And then they added a movable tiny house connected to electricity water sewer or
septic that has its chassis chassis. Yeah, it's undistract and concealed shall be considered an ad. So that's another thing that we could do considering tiny house in AD. I don't
know. Um, and they also have a little bit more of a friendly trailer mobile home for longer, but so they're basically saying if you make your movable tiny house a semi-permanent structure, then we will consider it an ADU by the definition. But
yeah, you have to conceal it because God forbid we see Yes, I Oh my god. No, you need a skirt. Yes, exactly. Yeah, modesty. Yeah. In the mobile home one, it it has it talks about the building inspector. Yes. So, every time
I looked through this and I was saying, oh, well, some of it requires a building inspector, some of it might you have to go to the zoning board of appeals and you have to, you know, it it you can stay longer than 60 days if you go and get permission. So, that's what I think
is interesting because if Great Bington can do it, then why can't Greenfield, right? and they're arguably sorry I maybe should not say this but like I'm surprised no I think that's why it's important to see what other people do in the area in
the state of Massachusetts like that's a leg work but that's you know figure out what works in those places right there are six cities or six municipalities in Massachusetts that have made ADUs I mean made tiny houses regulated as an ADU um
and there's six states in the country that have done this And there's a state bill currently in the mass legislature to just do this everywhere automatically. So we might even if we don't like hurry up then that might just supersede us and will happen anyway.
Um that was you said something about a state law that and I'm wondering if that supersedes a city ordinance. It would if it if the state bill is passed, but that will be like another year and it depends what that state law
says. You know, it might be like an opt-in, right, where the city has to adopt it or might Yeah, it was something that you said already about um I think about the FRCOG recommendation about the Furcog. It's not it's fine.
So, yeah, these are some things that we can consider. Um, and then just on this note, it's 11:27, but another thing is that um for Greenfield City Council to change ordinances and zoning, that takes seven votes. This is all in the
council's wheelhouse, not the mayor's. However, the mayor can veto. If the mayor vetos, council would override with um would have to override with a super majority, twothirds. And I'm not saying we should do that because obviously we should have a collaborative approach,
but it is but just that's how um executive, legislative, and judicial branches work. But those are the way. Yeah. So um Nate added a really cool article here about private land owners providing
housing um in the chat. So if you're in the meeting, if you want to look at that, go ahead. Sure. It might be the video to do I suspect I suspect it is. I just wanted to mention it cuz I saw it pop
up. I um It's all good. We're good. Don't worry about it. But can you get somewhere or I would love to. Sure. Oh, well I just I won't close the meeting until copy. Um Oh, you're screen
sharing. Oh, yeah. I think I stopped it. Okay, great. Um, these are good examples. Thank you. Great. So, um, we're basically out of time, but let's think about some like things we can do.
I personally feel excited about a private land owner that I know right near downtown who specifically wants to do housing for veterans and is concerned about homelessness and affordability and reach out to me previously about being interesting cooperatives. Um great and I
think I can get in touch with him and I think that would be a really good site and he's yeah already interested. Great. Yeah. and I'll move forward with the survey and send out feelers about times
that we can get that rolling. Um, there's something that can somebody follow up with the interfaith council or does anyone No. Does anyone want to follow up with me on days in
follow up? Specifically, how? Go there and talk to someone. Yeah. Find a contract. Yeah. Go stand in front of their front desk until someone has a conversation with them. Right. Perfect. Yes. Yeah, we can do that. Okay,
cool. Our little drive by team. Anyone else feel like they have something you feel inclined to um either think about for next time? Like a topic you want to get to or an in between time? Also, I'm assuming we're
meeting two weeks from now, but just we should also the next part of the bill. Does anybody have a contact to follow up on trash payment and or waving of fees? That feels like
a manageably sized question to at least start asking somebody about. I guess who sets the fees would be my first question. Well, and there are already some exceptions with like the blue bag. So, is there a way to I'll look I'll look into that. I feel
like um yeah the chief of staff and Lindsay at the DPW is a recycling office that person that would be great. Can I read aloud for people if they
didn't write it down? Um D Clark C l a r k33 at comcast.net net is how you make donations for the interfaith council for all of the various things that Amy talked about. Donations or volunteering inquiries,
things like that. Yeah, I'm anxious to get on that website also that she quoted. Um I have an appointment with Officer Llewellyn. He and I are going to do walking into the two areas or three, however many he knows. and I will be
asking him some questions about the three or four pages there. I think you interviewed him at one point in 2024. So I've circled a few things. Um and I want to ask them about is that you know did something happen a couple questions on
that. So I'll follow up on that. So that could be a good report back for next meeting. I also completely forgot to bring this up, but um the Department of Health actually has a survey out right now that unclear on how much it's being distributed and or where. The library
alerted me to it. Thank you, Pamela. Um but it's one page. I have it here and um I want to follow up with the department of health on what their purposes are like why they're doing this and how they're distributing so that we can at least like be aware of each other's
efforts. This is city level. Yes. When you say at board of health, right? Or health. No, public health department. The Greenfield Health Department, right? That's okay. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Not not board of health, but the
health department. the director. You're speaking with the director. That's what I'm I'm going to talk to somebody. Okay. I don't know who I'm talking to yet, but Okay. I'm going to follow up with the board of health about the health departments, right? I just not to be confused with the department of mental health. That's what I was trying to figure out. Right. Okay.
Thanks. I mean, it just says health department. I had a quick question on you. Don't mind coming up because then you could mic. Okay. Um I just was wondering on the survey how to
ensure unique responses because you'll be distributing lots of different places and people could be receiving it in lots of different places and maybe not know they've already filled it out or it's the same survey. Anyway, so that was just a question. I think it's
fine. Yeah, right now we don't have a way to prevent people from filling it out more than once. It is not a Google form and it looks specific on purpose so that if somebody sees it on a screen, it will look different than other things that
they might have seen. Okay, that's Thank you. totally. Yeah. No, that's a good question because we talked about what kind of data we were collecting. You remember what term we used last time? Quantifiable versus Yeah, qualitative versus quantitative. Qualitative. Yeah. More focused on the qualitative data
than quantitative. So, yeah. Very good. But thank you for bringing it up. Cool. Can we meet in two weeks? I would love that. Can folks do that? I can meet in two weeks. Two weeks. First off, congregation. Also, is anyone interested in liability
research and zoning? Yes. Yeah. No, sorry. I mean, question because I'm happy to do that, of course, but if anyone wants to like think about stuff. Yeah, let's talk about it. Okay.
Okay. two weeks. Are you talking about being there? Yeah. Oh, wait. I'm actually Sorry. I I made everyone say that they could do that, but I'm actually doing a housing thing, which is the Mass Housing Partnership Housing Institute.
So, can we do two weeks? Thursday the 12th. I can't. Okay. We can also try another day. Like, could we do Friday the 6th? Um, I could do Friday the 6th. Is that
okay? I can do after 11. I can do before 1. So if we did 11 to 1 or like 11 to 12:30. Yeah, I know they want to use this room for their lunch at 12:00, but we can do 11 to 12 on Friday.
Okay. You have to constrain ourselves to an hour. Probably 11 to 12 on Friday the 6. Okay. And if that doesn't work, that is a short meeting for us because we I never really had done the 1 hour, right? I know. But also maybe we'll be leaning
off fast. Speed it up. 1.5 speed. We can also pay more attention to the agenda. Yeah. Sorry. No, not that. It's just like we can we can move move through it a little more. And we got exciting guest speakers. All right. Motion to adjurnn.
Second. Second. Third. Discussion. All in favor? I Okay. Thank you. [Music]