Okay, the time now is 6:01. I would like to open the Halifax board of selectment meeting for Tuesday, April 14th, 2026. We are in the selectman's meeting room. Uh an announcement for this meeting. This meeting has been posted in accordance with the provisions of Mass General Law Chapter 38 section 20B
pursuant to chapter 38 section 20F. Notice is being made that this meeting is being recorded and will be posted on area 58 community access channel. The board chair which is myself reasonably anticipates the following matters will be discussed and or voted on at this meeting and agenda items may be taken
out of order for time management considerations. And if you guys will all join me, if you can stand, do the pledge of allegiance, please. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Uh relatively brief meeting tonight, guys. Uh just a few things on the agenda. Uh and actually the first announcement is we will not need to do the first part of our agenda. So, we
were getting ready to enter into executive session. Uh, but it turns out we will not need that proceeding this evening. So, we will just be doing our open session part of the meeting here. Uh, and that being the case, I will throw it over to Bill. We do have one vendor warrant to take care of.
>> I move to approve the following warrant vendor warrant number 96 for 251,876 53. >> Second. All those in favor? I. passes unanimous. Good. All right, down to new business. Um, let's go out of order a
little bit just to get uh Kim out of here because I think that'll be the quicker of the two. Um, Kim, you are here. If you want to come down, you want to come down to the hot seat, please. Yeah, you're still >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, I have uh Pam gave me your live
entertainment permit for um your farm at Raven Brook. Um Selectman, have we had a chance to look at it? Um, I know you've done this in years past, but this is consider yourself free advertising here. Plug yourself away. What What do you guys plan on doing? >> This will be our authority annual fall
on the farm. We have a brewery, a food truck, and live music. >> Excellent. All right. And um considerable amount of dates. >> Yep. Fridays and Saturdays, the midepptember through um I think it's like October 24th, the weekend before Thanks. I mean, Halloween.
>> Okay. And ample parking on site. >> No issues. Good. Uh I see here that police chief, fire chief, board of health have all given the seal of approval. Uh anything else from the board we >> No, no rain dates. Just those are the those are the days.
>> Awesome. Okay. Uh that being said, I will entertain a motion to approve the live entertainment permits for the Raven Book Pro Farm. Say that three times fast. Four. 91826 9/11 1926 92526
926 26 10 22 26 10 326 10 926 10 102 26 10 1126 101626 101 1726 10 23-26 and 10 2426. >> So moved. >> Second.
>> All those in favor? >> I opposed. Passes unanimous. You are all set. Thank you very much for coming in. Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next up is a we're going a little out of order as I said. Disclosure of public employee for
uncompensated position. Uh and that is from Michael Broen. Um Stephen, you want to walk us through this a little bit what this process is we're looking at? >> Yep. So Mike is here. Uh Mike is currently the building commissioner. This started originally, I believe what two weeks ago was on the first on the
agenda or maybe four weeks ago. Mhm. >> Um so Mike had um basically brought to my attention that in order to make his role as a zoning official and building commissioner a little bit easier to uh carry out that a uncompensated role in a
planning position would help that and uh would help streamline things. It would help keep the planning board insulated from litigation and potential issues. It would also help bring uh potential other developments and businesses to town to fill some vacancies because effectively that's what your planner is. Your
planner is your external um your external real estate agent essentially for the town. So in that capacity, what happens is when you're uncompensated, there is a law that says you cannot uh unless you disclose to the ethics commission, you cannot perform the
duties of two positions at the same time uh within the same government. So being the building commissioner, he had to disclose that he was willing to take an uncompensated planning role u which will be defined by very strict hours and also um an overall hour total that's very low
but just to help adhere to the planning board's process and offering the planning board suggestions to keep them within the legal parameters that they need to maintain themselves within. So essentially setting up the guardrails and giving them enough information to
help them sort of progress forward because the town is entering into a time period now where we've seen the development downtown. That board needs to be on task and has to be uh efficient when they when they when they deal with permits. A lot of the litigation that I've experienced upon entering town. Not
going to say it's a direct result of people on the planning board or the planning board or any elected officials. I'm just going to say that because of the fact it hasn't had a a planner watching over litigative measures and potential issues that could arise, those
situations have happened. They happen in other towns without town planners as well. It happens all the time. So, I think it's a benefit to the town to have a very limited capacity planner just to make sure that those operations go forward more efficiently and lowers the
potential liability to the town. Um, I think that's the biggest bonus the town gets. Um, and I do think I agree with Mike wholeheartedly. I think the biggest thing is it does is it makes his job as building commissioner and zoning enforcement officer a little bit more efficiency efficient because you see all
three facets of the process. >> How did he do Mike? Was that pretty much hit the nail on the head? >> Yeah. Anything to add to it? I think a bigger thing is you have a board that is a volunteer board and you have builders and developers that want to you know
have meetings and do site visits that needs to be done during the day during the week. your volunteers are not coming in as you don't, right? I mean, so the person is really a communications training board. Like I said to Steve,
I'm not looking to do a a town plan. That's not my intention. My intention is to um as the town I live in, we did a planner to bring people through the process quicker to get through the different departments and know where
they need to go to get to that end point right now that there's nobody to do that like uh just to sum it up really. I mean, and honestly, I can't and I won't do it as a building official because
that's not in my >> All right. I I am I am the zoning enforcement officer. I'm the fence. I'm a lot of things in this town. >> But when I continuously get asked questions regarding planning and I have
to make that, I feel very uncomfortable. So that's why this board needs to make a decision one way or the other. We have very big decisions to make uh in two days. So uh regarding
that project. So >> which project like >> uh Starbucks and AutoZone and the storage like we need to get this summed up and get these people in there. All right. >> What's the two what's the two-day deadline? What's that? Are we I have to
have I have to meet with the zone with the planning board Thursday night. I need to be able to speak to them as the planner and not as a building official. All right, that's that's my that's my
biggest concern is I I I don't have any say over that. So nor should I have an opinion towards it. That's a planning op opinion. That's a different area that I'm willing to go into and and develop that. But that's not the building
inspector's position. The building inspector is to deal with the building. The zoning inspector is to deal with the zone the building's in. The planning is to deal with the whole package to comes together, right? Um so I I shouldn't be
literally down there doing saying you need to move this telephone pole. You need to do this to the road. You need to That's not I I I shouldn't be out back in the retention clause, but I am and I'm willing to do that. But I can't do that as a golden
official. That's what I I'm trying to, you know, that's what I'm trying to say is I I I would in order to keep voicing that, someone's going to challenge it. >> True. >> Yeah. >> They're going to say, >> they're going to say you don't have the jurisdiction as the building
commissioner to do that. >> So that's it. >> Does a planner need any education or licensing? >> No. >> No, they do not. >> Okay. discontinuing end and there would be some things that I would be obviously trying look at I'm not a planner but I
think that the best thing you get to make it happen like to get it to to try and pull you need some glue to put this together and and and you don't you don't have that substance and you know in three or four years this town takes off
and develops believe me I'm glad to give that position away it's not it's a non-compensated position I I have no issue if you want to hire a planner, but like Steve says, the planner is the real estate developer for the town, right? Like the the the planner should be
reaching out to the Cumberland Farms owners, to the Stop and Shop owners, to any venue that's empty in town and saying like right now, you should be asking Stop and Shop, what do you what will you allow in there? Because we know you're not going to allow another grocery store. That's very obvious. What
will you allow? And then you need to take that and go to the next um you know whether it's a dollar store, whether it's a northern tool, there's plenty of stuff that would go in there that would be a big box that's non-competitive to
their surrounding supermarkets. That's, you know, that's what you need to do. And that's what I believe just happened to come farms. There was a specific list of things that you could and couldn't do there. And the couldn't do list was much longer than the could do. Correct.
>> So that's why that has sat for so long. And just being honest, that's that's the issue. It's come down holds the purse on it, right? It's not the town. >> Same with Stop and Shop. Biggest building in town and it's unoccupied.
Believe me, we still get taxes on it, but it doesn't doesn't help the town's people that you know. >> Yeah. >> Just my opinion. And I think Mike in discussion with this you were you were estimating around three hours a week. What was your
>> Yeah, I have to be specific. So it'll be the ride in the ride home and 1 hour in the middle of the day. So it'll be in the in the morning for an hour cuz I can handle it on the phone and deal with it. It's not like I have to sit and look at a set of building plans like it's it's
dealing with it. Um, yeah. Can't you can't come in off the street and say, "I need to meet with you at 1:00." No, we need to have pre-arranged meeting to specific times to go to it. >> It's not a tremendous amount of time. The issue I have with it is the
authority. That's my that look at we we don't ask the police chief to go run the fire department. Don't ask the golden inspector to run the planning department. That's the my opinion. All right. Um I'm willing to learn on my
gun. It's on my gun. So if the town wants to have someone in that role, um yeah. >> So for the uneducated me, um this appointment or this decision is appropriate from the board of selectman
and not the planning board. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> It has to be done by the board of select. >> Yeah. any unpaid >> position position. >> If it was paid, how would it be? Uh >> probably it probably well it would depend on the how it's written into the
wage and personnel bylaw. >> If it was paid, would you have to put out you know resumes and if it was paid position interview through Steve typically and then >> prepare candidates that would appear in front of this board for correct appointment >> but where it's unpaid that process
doesn't have to happen. >> No. No. Okay. I the only concern I have the only remaining concern I have and this is not specific to Mike. This is this would be specific to any you know we have we have a chief and a deputy chief in the police department. What if
we wanted a a third deputy or second deputy chief? We're creating a position. So what happens next week, next year in 5 years when Mike is no longer with Halifax, hopefully he retires here, but if what happens when he's done working
>> Mhm. and we've made no changes. And for the last six years, as an example, we've had Mike doing the building commissioner, the zoning uh you know, the enforce enforcement officer, and now this. >> Mhm. >> And then it's just not in the budget for
whatever reason uh to hire a planner. >> Then we don't. >> Okay. and the building commissioner that's hired to replace Mike um is not suitable to be a planner or we're not that board at the time says no we'll
just have you stick with this for now >> do we open up the town to anything where we've operated under a certain practice starting tonight for 6 years and had somebody doing this and now we don't >> no we would just hire a town planner >> well I'm saying what if we can't hire a town planner cuz
>> then we would just hire a building commissioner >> who doesn't double as a planner Correct. >> And now we're working backwards. >> Well, >> we would have to figure out the planning option because eventually the planning option is going to have to be solved. Once there's enough development in town, >> there's got to be a planner. >> Once you get to that number and you
know, we were around 8,500 to 9,000. >> We're getting close. >> That's when you >> Yeah. I mean, that's that's we're at 11,000 now. And that's, you know, we have fulltime office. Um, you know, just like any position, right?
I I I used to have a secretary and that's not funded. I no longer have a secretary. >> Right. >> So, if you no longer have a plan because it's not funded, you no longer have a planner. >> Mhm. >> So, that's
Look, I I'm here. You're the board. You decide what you want. I just can say that literally I can't do it as a building official. >> Yeah, >> that's all I'm saying. Sure. All right. Because >> it's going to get challenged.
I'm surprised it hasn't. >> We have Chris, you might have to come down just so people can hear you. Come on down to the seat here. >> We have uh Chris Winnowitz. I'll him. Chris, what do you got? >> Chris Witz, 129 Circuit Street.
Just kind of want some clarification. One reason I've been starting for years now starting to come to all the meetings because I've seen some of these problems in the past various questions projects go through then issues. Previously I've been told at meetings and everything like I think I understood
now like Starbucks as an example uh if the retention pawn isn't done on the telephone pole that's not the building inspectors. No, no, >> absolutely not. >> Because for years now in meetings and talking to people, it's always been said
that's the building inspectors not >> but and previously not you other like they're not going to get an occupancy permit till they do everything to the site plan and checking it. But so that's never been >> it's not the building commissioner goal. It's it's it's not allowed to be honest.
That's why you have issues at Starbucks because the building commissioner wrote narratives to change the sidewalks from concrete to asphalt. Why would you allow them $40,000 less in expense on their own site?
>> Right now all the snow ends up in the retention line because they go Cape Cod. official can't can definitely not write a narrative to give a planning board to enforce
just look I've been a building official for I don't know long enough been probably 25 communities cuz you know I was a temporary and I floated around a lot and I seen a lot and um I'm not I
I'm honestly not going to jeopardize my license as a building official making planning decisions. Nor would the police chief do the fire, nor would the >> true >> that license cost me a lot. And um
>> there's a lot of laws around it. And >> so to answer your question, the only thing I'm allowed to do is go in that building and make sure that the inside is 100% done at Starbucks, which it has been for months. All right. Literally,
the potato chips are on it, right? But it's the planning that isn't finished. So, they're down there paving the road yesterday. They're down there fixing the handicap block the all weekend long. Actually, making a black brick. They uh they put the snow fence up around the
retention box. I literally gave them like 12 items to get done and they did. >> They could challenge me. Who am I to say right you need >> I'm trying to you know and and the chair
of the planning board is the only one that I should be communicating with. I don't want I don't want all the board communicating with me nor you know nor do I I expect that if they have a concern they go to the chair. The chair comes in and sits in my office at least three days a week and and we have
discussions on things. I honestly have dragged him down there twice because I won't go alone down to a meeting and make sure that the chair has time that he's represented down there because >> it's not your purview. >> Not your purview.
>> Let me back up for a second. So, the stuff that was done, just as an example, since we're on Starbucks, >> Yeah. >> Are you saying that the permits that were approved by the planning board weren't followed and the building inspector on a whim change made changes? >> No. So I
you submit a set of plans, right? The building official said the sidewalk the uh the granite curve on the street needs to be granted. They had it as cement. He chimed in on that. Then he also chimed in that you have cement on the inner all
of the inner area and our typical in town is asphalt cake. Why would would we why would you care about a private you know it's not a residence but a what do you care right
why would you want to lessen the cost to them that's not the the idea is the curb is there to keep vehicles from jumping into the we have we have picket tables out front we have seating out there the curb is to make sure the snow plow can't
push the snow into the uh retention pond. There's a lot of reasons for 8 in concrete curb plows hit it. >> Okay. But did somebody did so did somebody did somebody recommend changes to the to the plans? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And it was a narrative written sign
>> and the permit that is granted by any permit that's granted by the planning board, that's the permit you can sign off on. You as the building inspector or the non-compensated planner cannot make changes to the permit that was granted. So you either approve or deny the permit as issued. >> Right. Right. That and that's unaffected
by the vote tonight. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, you have no if approved, you have there's no um subjectivity in your role. You're a planner. As a planner, >> I'm an in between. That's all I want to
do. I want to You have You have a board that needs to submit that information. If you can't feed that board that information, it takes months and months and months of asking for this, then come back to the next meeting, right? Rather than >> Yeah. No, I understand. But but neither neither now nor then would you have the
ability to change a permit as a building inspector and or >> I can't I can't make a modification to a site plan. No. >> Okay. >> No, no, nor would I want to clarify >> in this town without town councils. like town council would have to chime in
to even the planning board making that >> um so so I see it I see it as a streamlining Mike that you're trying to and and I have heard in this community that it's very hard for businesses to come in and establish themselves because
of the problem you're saying that um I'm not going to say businesses are getting the runaround but it's just not it's not a a streamlined process that they're waiting months and months and months to get answers There's no >> and there's no one to be the cruise
director essentially on these projects which is what you're looking to do >> on the different departments. Somebody can't put the puzzle pieces together and it's just going to take further and further for the pieces to get woven together by themselves, right? It's going to happen. I mean, you've asked me
three or four times, we never had anyone. Why do we need somebody now? >> Yeah. >> All I'm saying is you want to streamline it. you want to bring business into town because I think the commercial market is is definitely, you know, needed downtown.
>> Um there's a lot of empty storefronts. So, pull pull somebody in. Just have someone that they can reach out to >> and not answer the phone the building commissioner and you're calling about stop and shop. um that that's a
different issue that we just take at a different time the other day and I I address that with them or with anyone. I mean we have people come up to um people's office all the time and ask questions about you know can this
business do this? Can it Yeah. Yeah. Those are building those are building and zoning questions. And can can a store go in next to Dunkin Donuts and the Sagasha? Yeah, that's very specific. It's zoning. We look at the table, it's
approved, right? That's not a planning. It's not planning. I make that decision. I I you know, that's not the issue. Um some of the, you know, I I'll just mention one, and I hate to mention it, but you have one case in town. It's 20
years old, and I'm I'm pretty sure we're going to resolve it pretty quick in three months with some action. Um, you know, Amanda Estates is going on 20 years. It was a five floor is a 48 unit 40B and
you know there's a lot of litigation. This town has a lot of cost into that and and the on their third developer. You need to finish it. Need the damage is done. Roads there. It's done. Right. Three buildings are built. We got to
build three more buildings. We we get that's got to go right back through planning and through zoning for some modifications, but it's got to get finished. I mean, can't leave it >> un it's a condom association. >> They're responsible for all the yard, all the grass, all the way down to the
road. Somebody needs to stop maintaining this stuff and the two houses in there aren't. You need all 12 units to be filled. So that that's just you know those are you know there's two cases that are in front of my desk that have been and
they're file boxes. That's one and then there's another one here in town. Um the Lindell case it's a huge issue that planning it wasn't done correct over there at 285. it was not, you know. So,
um those are two major uh cases that honestly are probably more plan driven than building inspector driven. >> So, I know you're not uh you know, you don't have a crystal ball, Mike, but say we had a setup similar to the one you're
looking at and we were 20 years ago or earlier and those cases came in front of the town. Probably a different scenario >> and a different situation. Yeah. more eyes. >> You know, I've been here only I've been here three months. I I took the files
and I started work on them. But honestly, probably in the last two weeks, I've put in a tremendous amount of time with um Amanda's way and I know that in and out now. >> You can ask me just about I I've spoken
to many lawyers. They've given me the green light to go ahead and issue it. I have I have one more concern that I'm meeting with Joe Webbby and the developer tomorrow and I'm hoping to have this worked out and get back in front of the two boards and get this get this thing finished. I mean there
there's nothing worse than having unfinished subdivisions on the top. you want to talk about going into your insurance you how many roads do you have that are un so that that's the issue is >> um and the same thing happens with
there's another one uh uh um pasture lane okay if he had a town planner he wouldn't have taken the last lot to hold the road he would I I honestly would have made him put a cash bond up I never would take a piece of
land and that would be things that I think you would look at me to ask and say what's your opinion take the best lot at the end of the culde-sac or cash bond right don't take the junky lot >> it's never going to sell yeah
>> right it's never going to sell right >> so I think that person has um a lot of the town's value in mind as well um when you're doing >> subdivision you know we have a 40B coming into town. I know that doesn't go
through the planning board. I know it goes through the ZBA, but uh it would help you immensely if you had somebody with some planning background on those meetings. >> I want it. >> Um so that's all. Chris, you had a quick followup.
>> I just had a question. So without a plan of going forward >> y >> cuz seen it multiple times when the businesses don't follow the site plans there would be no one to say like this is wrong that's wrong >> you'd have to I would assume you'd have to wait until the next planning meeting or somebody from the planning board to
drive by and >> or you would have to hire the town engineers what >> no one catches it the building opens up and things were done wrong >> it's done it's done we've missed our windows >> so like all the problems Starbucks. The one next to Dunkin Donuts. They built
the foundation backwards. >> Mhm. >> If no one had caught that >> next to Dun. Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. They already gone through someone else. >> I caught that. >> Well, too,
I was like, >> "Oh, yeah. The garage doors don't face the street." No, >> but any anybody would suspect that. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Um, and then I was go bringing up the claim board like the new business next to post office. There's a bunch of things that
aren't to the site plan. >> Yeah. >> And they're in the wetlands and that's another So right now you would need a planning person to catch that stuff. >> I would think that the uh chances of catching it would increase tremendously >> because it doesn't match the site plan
at all type of thing. The fence there. >> Well, can I ask a question on that? >> Yeah. If the if if in the capacity of the planner, Mike is spending an hour in and an hour out and an hour for appointments, how's he going to catch that if he's not doing a site plan? He's not doing a site visit. >> Well, isn't it the hour in the middle of
the day, Mike? Is that you know, he's in town in the middle of the day? >> You're going to drive around, >> drive around, check. So, my eyes are always open, right? Whether I'm looking at a building offense or whether I'm looking at a zoning offense or whether I'm looking at a plan offense, right? My eyes are always open, right? Do I have
to address it? out. What I do is I write it down in my book I have on the truck. I write a note and I address it when I either get back at night or not. And I can address down the street at the landscape. I went today and saw the
gentleman and said he has till tomorrow to get the retention pond loomed and seated. It has to be excuse me Thursday. And if it's not by done by the end of the day, Thursday, then he won't be open on the weekend. All right. I definitely
don't have that right, but I know that that part is not done. Yeah. >> And you're right that he's open, but there's nobody >> who catches that. He has a building permit. He built the shed. >> Well, even you're you're telling us,
Mike, that even if you do catch it, technically, you're not allowed to in your current position as commissioner >> to really bring it to Tom. I would bring it to the chair and say, "Tom, >> Tom, different Tom, not this time." >> Notice Tom
>> Y >> and say, "Hey, we need to send a notice." And and and Danielle would do it. She'd put together a notice. We'd send it down to him. We'd say, "Come in front of the planning board in the next meeting, which is in two weeks." We bring him in. We drag him in here.
>> I think it's better if I just go down and tell them to get it done. >> Yeah. >> And make sure it's done >> right properly. I I mean uh that that's my opinion. Um >> Sure. >> Does the fence um have to be on a site plan?
>> No, it doesn't. Well, I just remember from going to the >> planning board, he has like an 8ft fence which bylaws. >> Yeah. >> He has a motor home that wasn't on the site plan was part of the business that's within the 50 towards the 50ft wetlands. He has the ported toilet was
supposed to be outside the 100 foot, but that's now on the other side of in the 100 towards the 50 foot. The building's not even where it was on the site plan. >> Uh I will step back there. >> That is an as built for that is in the exact spot that was approved on because
that's the only thing I have jurisdiction. That is and to be honest, you approve or the board approved 19 by19 which I don't know how you come up with that number. It's 18 by 18 and it is in the exact spot of the site plan.
And I've been there for footing inspection. I've been there for frame inspection. I've been there for the electrical. I've been there for the insulation. I was just there for the final on the building. That's all I have responsible. And obviously when I do that, I can see the retention fund's not
done by but but by chance I happen to go that way twice every day in and out anyway. Right. >> Like the planning board made a big deal that he has no lighting plan. If he wants to do any lights, he has to come back for a site plan. >> And then they finally said you can have one spotlight, but he's got lights all
the way around. Then he put all the concrete around the perimeter lighting. It just goes against everything that was in the planning board. >> Sure. >> There's a whole bunch of things that didn't match. And they had a big thing since that's a tight lot. They said absolutely no 18 wheelers will go in there. The biggest you can have is a 10
wheeler. that he agreed to that that he has 18 wheelers going in there. >> Now, personally, I don't know if that's a big deal. It just goes when you go to planning board meetings and like all the stuff was discussed and then these businesses come in and come in. >> Who's the sheriff, >> right? >> Okay. You go to the plan board, they
make this >> who's making sure it happens. >> And I don't you can ask the the plan board if they want to be able to send a representative to go check it. before we would have to create another step in the permitting process. we would have to
create that they're signed off through planning and then but I mean honestly yeah I have some hold on Starbucks do I have >> I don't >> you don't what
>> I I don't have the availability I I have to not let it open it's going to open it's going to open next week because that the the they're done with the building right they they've come up with all the stuff. I'm going to have the town engineer go out here sign off on
everything that was changed. I mean, they changed the sidewalks, they changed the pads, they change they changed everything. >> What What was with that island? They wanted they wanted it. They didn't want it. >> Right. And I'll be honest, if I was in contact, I'd be saying, "No, wait. You
guys have made me do this three times. You change your mind, right? Whoa." like you know but he would they would I guess we probably had enough strong on them to say could you do this and they agreed to it right the issue was that home doesn't
mean ADA compliance how do you get a wheelchair across I mean >> okay >> that's the issue you can't have that has to be what less than 1% pitch cross grain across that because that's the wheelchair access across so there's 7%
pitch at the road and and then it comes across flat and then it goes back up the hill. So, the original uh site plan um from the town engineer showed that as just a straight slope and we were like, "No, you can't get a wheelchair down the
sidewalk. You know, you're not going to go down like this, right?" That that was what that whole thing about the sidewalks is. And they just put the mats on top of the concrete. So I literally made them cut the concrete out, smash it out, pour wet concrete, put the handicap
mats in wet concrete so that our snow blower doesn't work, >> right? >> So um >> yeah. >> All right. Well, I'm just concerned going forward because you know some things are little things, but as we get more and more businesses over sight,
>> all these little things start slipping by and you know, streets getting filled up, you know, sometimes there's going to be a big problem. things out bald and >> sure I I Mike I think and I'm going to give you your your flowers as the kids say. Um I think in the short time you've been here, you've done a fantastic job
of checking all of our sites, making sure that things are being done how they're supposed to be done. Um and to your point, you know, there's a new sheriff in town and I and I love the fact that you're you have the eyes of Halifax on all this building to make sure things are going the way they
should be going. Um, and I think this board hired you trusting in your knowledge. You have an extensive history in what you do. You've seen a lot of communities. Um, and if this position will help, as Chris or, you know, Chris
says, eliminate or at least limit the chance that we have these issues and these errors happening. Um, to me it makes sense. >> No guaranteeing that it's going to make >> No, no, no. I hear you. But it's a better chance. >> I I'm willing to to put some effort into
this and and I'll get knowledge building forward with it. Um you know, I I know all the I don't but I know pretty much all there is to know about building code and zoning code. So I'm spending some time researching and develop you know.
>> True. >> It definitely is going to go handtoand in the very near future in every community in my opinion. I already see it that towns are advertising for uh economic development, right? They want the guy to be the planner to be in
charge of the whole department. Um there's a big thing with that with the state building commissioners are only allowed to report to the town administrator. They are not to report to anybody above. But towns are doing that. When I was in Mthuan, oh my gosh. Yo,
building department didn't report to administrator. report to the town um economic director. He ran the whole town. It was about getting businesses in all those old factories and like his whole motivation was to get people in
there. Um so that that's just my >> any other questions or comments from the board. >> Oh, I'll just weigh in real quick. 30 seconds. You know, I kind of said everything I had to say the last time. I did meet with Mike privately, which I appreciated his time, and I I echo Jonathan's sentiments that, you know, the vast vast majority of things that I
hear in the last 75 days are overwhelmingly positive. Um, I think he's got the right attitude. I'm just I just circle back to being concerned about a precedent that it sets. um if Mike was to no longer want to be employed here. um we make the next six
businesses jump through these sets of hoops and the next round of interviews don't go as well and we have nobody who's qualified or willing to do it and we've set a precedent and the next five or six businesses come through and sail through with a different set of rules and a different set of requirements and
it's not done correctly or has how Mike would have done it or a qualified planner would have done it and we don't have the capability to do in 6 years or 9 months or 25 years what we've And I'm just concerned that that sets us up. We're essentially creating a
position. I know it's unpaid, but we're we're expanding the role of the building commissioner and the zoning enforcement officer to include something else for this candidate, for this employee who sounds very qualified um with the right attitude. I'm just concerned that it sets a precedent that the next one won't
be as qualified and then we have a hole and then we have to hire a six-digit planner um or something like that. We, you know, I I hear your I hear that, Tom. I hear that. Um my my u counter to that would be um every situation is different. You know, every every
situation is different. We have a unique situation here with Mike. Um and I think it's to the town's best interest and you have somebody that has talent and abilities to and again, someone that's willing to kind of do it pro bono. I think we'd be crazy not to um I guess we
kind of owe it to the community to to try. I don't want to say squeeze him for everything we can, but I mean, if he's willing to do it, that's great. But again, roles change. I mean, look at Pam. You know, we've we've brought Pam in doing more HR, expanding her role.
So, roles are kind of fluid. So, I don't having him take this on doesn't scare me as a precedent because I think every situation is different. That's just my >> I think we're better off. probably better off than we are now because if these businesses come in and no one's
watching them, >> what are we doing? We got to do something. >> Sure. >> So, let's try to get a handle on it and do the right thing. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um what are next steps? Are you guys ready to uh make a motion on um I
mean, do we have to >> make a motion on the disclosure? >> Yeah, just on the disclosure y >> that we've accepted it >> that you accepted. >> That we accept it. Yeah. >> Okay. Um so I will entertain a motion to uh for the board to accept the disclosure um of election or appointment
to an uncompensated position as required by 9:30 CMR 6.023 for Michael Broen um to assume um duties of uh planner. >> So moved.
Do I have a second? I'll second. >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I opposed. >> Abstain. >> Abstain. Okay. Passes two zero. >> Awesome, Mike. I really appreciate it. Thank you very, very much. >> Appreciate it.
>> Thank you. >> Thanks, Mike. >> Appreciate it. >> Appreciate it. >> Thanks, Mike. >> Yep. >> All right. So, I told you tonight was going to be quick. That is all, folks. So, anything else the board wants to discuss? We're not doing any sort of um
town administrator. >> I did not have anything prepared. I did um start working on your um timeline and schedule for the override study or override 101 as it's been sort of tabbed um >> to basically do a set of speaker series
at town hall here starting this Thursday again on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. for any folks that want to come in on the weekend and see a presentation on the override. Uh we've got one scheduled for the COA. We've got one scheduled for Hinrich Hall and we've got one scheduled I'm working with Brian Prena that I saw
this morning for the schools. Um, but basically we want to get the word out there and they have a PowerPoint SL slide uh assessment set up. So it's going to be mainly a Q&A so folks can come get their questions answered. We the harder hitter the harder hitting the questions the better as far as I'm
concerned. Um the PowerPoint is going to be really basic and general so that we can draw out some of those questions. you know, we'll have the calculator on site so people can see their exact tax impact um all those good things so that folks can have um all the information they need. >> I know that the water commissioner
government study um video and uh announcement went up today on the website as well. >> Great. >> Uh and we should have the last set of that series go up by the end of this week as well too. And that's and I will say that's the that's the the final goal for me and this board is regardless of
whether you're for an override, against an override, the the duty of this town is so that people understand what your choices are, what it will look like, so that nobody is voting blind, uh whether it be at town meeting or at the ballot.
So, um I urge people I'm going to stare right at the camera here. I urge people to come and try to get to one of these override um educational seminars just so that you have a true understanding of um what what your vote will mean uh come
May. So if at least you can't make it, please check them out. They will be posted online. Please educate yourself um as to what um the override will look like. So that's my two cents. Anything else, guys, you want to bring up? >> I had two quick things. One on a similar
line, I would encourage all residents to review the postings on the social media pages available to you and the town government website, town Halifax website regarding the five articles placed before you by the board of selectman on behalf of the government study committee to change some things around. All five articles are available for your
consideration online. Um, and just make yourself familiar with them as Jonathan said, get as much information as you can. That way you can make an educated decision for your household. Um, secondly, I don't know if anyone else is going to bring this up, just a reminder that on Thursday, >> we have uh the services at Shepherd for
John Sullivan. >> Yeah. >> Um, and I believe the burial is on Friday. >> Friday morning. >> Uh, I'm not >> right here at Shepherd on Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00, I think. >> 4 to 8. >> 4 to 8. >> I think it's 4 to 8. >> Um, and then Friday. So, just make sure folks are aware of that for >> Shepherd in Kingston.
>> In Kingston, I thought I just read it, but I'm not sure. Don't quote me. >> Okay. We'll try and pull it up. Yeah. >> And I'll send out a notice to um staff in getting hours and whatnot. >> And again, I don't know if folks know, but uh but he will be buried here in the Halifax Cemetery overlooking the water
tower. >> Yep. >> So fitting uh fitting tribute for Saul. >> He was dedicated to the town. >> Absolutely. >> Here he is. >> Absolutely. >> That's what I hear. >> Yep. >> Uh if you want to just hold on. Yeah. 30 seconds. I had >> Sure. We're going to pull up the obit right now. On
>> page three. There he is. >> Yeah. So, uh, services will be held on 216 Main Street, Shepherd's Funeral Home in Kingston from 4 to 8 hours, Thursday the 16th. >> Don't challenge me. >> And burial services will take place here
uh, behind the town hall at 60 Hemlock Lane at 10:00 at Central Cemetery. >> Um, and then just as a last plug in Louis, donations be made to a charity of your choice in John's name. He was a dedicated employee for a long time. So those are interested just want to make sure we do about it. >> Let's give them a proper Halifax
sendoff. I think that would be awesome. >> So >> okay. Now anything else? >> No. Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. All those in favor? I opposed. Meeting is adjourned at 6:47 p.m. Thank
you very much for your time.