Good evening and welcome to the February 3rd, 2026 meeting of the Hamlin Select Board and Board of Health being held to Hamlin Town Hall 85 Warham Road. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> 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. >> Pictures are much better now than those. Yeah. All right. So, we are broadcasting this meeting over Zoom. We are also recording it. Is there anyone else recording the
meeting? Kristen, welcome. Okay. The Himlin Times is recording. So, the first thing on the agenda are minutes and we have no minutes. All right. Next thing is the water district discussion and we are blessed
to have the water district commissioners here. We welcome you to our meeting. We offer you a cookie. Thank you, sir. Thank you. It's our pleasure to be here. >> Thank you. So, Paul, John, Dale, um the
reason we talked just a quick discussion and John I talked to you about this before. So, a little history is that back in maybe 2012, 2013, we were notified by D
of the concern with groundwater contamination from the salt pile up at the highway department. It had gone through the cracks in the pavement and le leeched into the groundwater many many years ago
and finally got to where it was causing a problem with neighborhood wells. Uh the problem had been remediated new surfacing the salt shed the whole thing. So it wasn't going to and they actually had us put in a drain pipe. So put in a sewer
pipe that would collect it up there and pipe it all the way to the river. So it would go directly into the river instead of the people's groundwater. They're like that was your solution but okay. So and we had to think how we're
going to take care of those neighbors. So we went through we drilled a couple of wells. One up near the highway department to take care of the highway building town hall up there. Um, and then one on the other side of the
street, south side, next to Academy Hall that would supply the church, the parsonage, uh, the old Howlet home on Riverside, and then one other house as well. That the one up next to the highway
department being too close close to the source of the problem didn't solve that. That led to the expansion of the district to take care of the town hall fire station and the homes that were affected on the north side of Main Street. The south side was performing
well with this new well next to Academy Hall. So, it wasn't considered brings us up to date. We still have that well. It still works fine, but there's an expense associated with it. You know, we pay to run it. We pay extra heating
at Academy Hall because it goes in there for the storage tank and then sent back out again. So in the winter months when Academy Hall is not heated, we have a special heat system set up in that bottom room. As we're coming into a
challenge this year, and Brian's done a good job of identifying and keeps identifying other places where maybe we can save money. I was thinking, is there an opportunity there for the town to say, you know what, we could probably connect those three places.
The line goes right across the street from them. The well connection is where it starts there on the side of Academy Hall. This would be no different than what you just did for a couple of houses and just stubbing off the main line and pick up that pipe right in the back
there and go on. And now we've connected to the major source. The well is not needed. The heating isn't needed. One more source of potential maintenance and upgrade down the road isn't needed. But thinking that way, obviously it's your
your call. It's your district. Um you'd have to consider look we can't keep taking another bite and another bite. At some point there is a capacity issue with your district. You know, one house is never a problem, but after two
years and every month or something, 10 houses is a problem. So, I'm throwing it out to you. Basically, is that something that we should explore? >> I think we can. Um, from what I understand, I I was
trying to get some information. From what I understand there's no meters so we have no idea what the capacity or excuse me what the volume has been called journey but we feel with the we can supply that
the uh new pumping station when it gets online is going to have ample amount of storage. >> Mhm. So that helps the situation and and the pump should still be able to uh to keep up with it probably at some point
we decide to go further down main street or something like that. We may have to look at other well >> right I mean the now just a bit history again again this was action the town took back in 2014. Yes, >> special in an in 2016 for the well
system. Um, we were told by our consultant time bond that this is a problem that's going away. We had the salt going into the groundwater up at the highway department. It was being drawn to the
scanic because that's how hydrarology works. But at some point, it's going to pass its way through. When we were testing the wells, we noticed those numbers were dropping and they will continue to drop till some point it's gone away. Case in point, Crumbland
Farms, it's been released by D because the contamination has gone away because it leeched away because you didn't put any more into it. It had to go at some point. So, at some point, we don't anticipate the need for other adjacent
places to go on. if they weren't so to speak at a number to go on 10 years ago, they're not going to get to that number because they were far away from the source and it's only gotten better. >> Well, PES
is one of those fugitive uh items that show up >> and we right we never tested I mean that was done what three years ago was the first time we really tested it. >> Yeah. So >> pop up just >> some home that's been out in the water for 20 years.
>> All of a sudden it popped up and we had to take care of at the end of the year. So you never know when something will show up. >> Now there's a good chance that it won't show up down there on Main Street because it's gone far away from the landfill. But we don't there's no guarantee.
>> There's no guarant you don't know what happened. And Dale Dale would say this. You don't know what happened on Main Street aundred years ago. For all we know, Kanti could have put all his stuff back there from the store and you know that's leeching PAS from way back when.
>> They're actually finding signs of POS other places in town. >> Mhm. >> Very different. >> It's a mess all over the country. >> Right. >> So, prior to us saying, "Oh, we're going to test for and then finding we got a problem." We know we have a PASF free
source right now. Is that something we should explore? I would not. The one issue we would have is that we'd have to obviously expand the map to cover those homes and that would be pretty much it.
>> As long as the district map >> was that part of the uh what we voted on? >> No, I looked back through the I didn't see where we voted. It was just it was kept under the number to it did not constitute a public water supply based on the number of bedrooms, etc.
So we didn't need to register per se. It was just a shared well between three homes. >> So we don't need to expand the existing map to include that. >> You probably need to expand the map. I
mean it's got to be the map has to show every potential place served by your well. >> So we'd have to draw that. But in terms of overload, you know, we know the house on the corner, Howlet's old house where Billy is now. The parsonage typically
is two to four people, whoever the, you know, the church gets in there. Uh the house, the old school house is the next one down and that's a couple there. And then um the church doesn't really have a lot of big I mean,
they have a kitchen. But they don't have a lot of events or something like that there. So, so I don't think overload would be a question on it. We just it all comes to you. >> I think we have enough capacity with our annual usage. What theoretically
couple more houses >> I see it as a potential. Yes, there's an outlay 10 to$15,000 to hook it up, especially since we got to go across Main Street, maybe mold to drill it. I think it's going to be significantly more than that. >> I thought we hooked up like that time
for 10,000 that, >> right? But I mean to >> we're just hooking to the pipe that already goes out to the homes. >> So you don't want you're not looking at putting an individual curb stop per address like everything else. >> I think this is easy, but again I think >> easy way to go.
>> It is but one's down on we just paved it river river side. So >> I do agree that we should probably put an individual water meter at every place because they do come to a place and they fork out from that one place. >> Maybe they put curb stops there. We we have no knowledge of that.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I don't maybe >> I can go back to the records and find out who did the actual excavation etc. Again, this was just a feeling out type of thing.
There's nothing that the town highway department would take on as far as digging, you know, doing the trench work. >> I can't remember if they did. >> Well, it's been working fine for 10 years. So,
>> across the street, >> oh, that >> Yeah, we'd have we'd have to rent it anyhow. And I mean, you get back into that directional drilling that they're doing everywhere. Is that a better way to do it? right there is perfect for that.
>> And so easy to set up. You right set up right nice clear space and just >> other utilities couple of drainage and gas pipe where the >> septic system. >> Yeah. On the academy septics on the left on the right.
>> Mhm. >> I mean that's one end. Nothing says it's just free forming here. It ends at that hydrant across from the church. Nothing says you might not want to come off of there and hit the other end of it.
>> Sure. >> And that way you're not teeing in, but I mean much easier because you have your your piping setup right there. So Dale, you were going to say something. >> Um I was just curious, how's the academy staying relatively warm in the winter?
>> So if you're I know you're familiar with going down there as a kid. So the seller part >> y >> the back right corner has a little separate room. >> Okay. They built >> so they're a little heat lamp inside there >> and keep that part going. But again
>> we've noticed gosh, you know, in the past couple of years that winter electric bill has been down. We've seen a thousand a month or something like that. >> Yeah. So, >> and like I said, Brian said, we're
exploring every way we can to look drill down through the budget and what can we save. >> We're not even going to get into your clerical expenses yet. >> I I'm also curious about if we can find where the pipes intersect,
>> we rather than dig up all the highways and across Main Street twice to hit the churches and the the rectory If it's possible, split beater pits in wherever the pipes tee off. >> You know, those will be in the ground.
So, you're limited digging that just one area where the pipes intersect and the meter's there. And then we got controlled every which way. >> It could be, but I mean you need power at that place too, right? For the meters or there. >> No, >> no. meter runs on its own and even
electricity through the reader. >> Good. >> I think we'd only have to go across the street once >> if we did that. Yes. >> Yeah. Right to where the main is, break that off, and you've got your distribution. >> Well, again, same thing. We're not going to go explore it today, not for another
couple months. But, uh, yeah, meters will be the home. You have >> Well, I know there is one hole. You know, the corner where it turns at how it's going up to the church. We put a hole there. Sorry, a manhole there. And
because I remember we had to pump it out. So that might be a connection spot for two or three places right there because the church and the parsonage were separate feeds. And then I think we come out there with the other feed that went behind the parsonage to the house
next door. So maybe this goes back to your point. If there's one common place we can get to that allows you to do the the sensing at that point and the record keeping when they do uh get water meter kits, it's complete with everything but meter.
So there's backflow pretor inside of that >> to protect our water system. >> Yeah. Great. So, that was our thought. >> The most economical. >> Well, that's always the best. So, how's the uh the expansion going?
>> Slow. Slow. >> I mean, >> the road work is pretty much all done at this point, right? Mostly, >> but uh the pump station looks good. Um we got the pumps finally arrived a couple weeks back. >> They've been put in. Uh we've got the uh
design plans sent to Tybon from Baltazar and plumbers. They're reviewing the details on the internal connections. >> Mhm. >> So at this point it's the making the final plumbing connections. Then we'll get you know water put in there, test everything, make sure everything's 100%
and uh flush it out and go from there. So I think we're pretty much on target for >> April >> spring. Leave it. Let's leave it at spring. >> So, okay. >> April, May, June. All right. >> It's amazing how much a little delay can
turn into big time. >> Sure. So, the crossover time would be people would be out for I mean, would there be a flushing event? Would there be a chlorination event? Is there >> They're going to have to uh sterilize everything. That'll have to be flushed.
They're working on the details on that because that can't be dumped. That has to be taken away. Oh wow. >> Yeah, the chlorinated water is >> or neutralized. >> Yeah, >> really. They had no problem putting the salt. D people love putting the salt directly into the river. >> Well, I guess they changed their
attitude. But you can't just dump it, >> right? >> Incredible. >> Nothing's as simple as it. >> So, how long will a person, you know, somebody on the district be without water? >> They shouldn't be without water at all. Okay. So, the crossover is going to be immediate
>> done while it's offline. >> And then be flushed and then recharged, we'll cut it over. >> Okay. >> They're going to have to flush the additional legs separately >> and then after all of that's done the
houses. >> Okay. So the old equipment does that are they Baltazar taking that away or >> we're going to lock the door and then have to probably send that out for bid for next year. Just close it down. It's going to have to come down in the
future. >> Okay. >> But we we've been talking about security procedures here and like overlooking some of our you know our buildings. You have an alarm there, right? That's just Is that an alarm for security or an
alarm for like just the wells and the uh VFD drive and stuff like that? >> Just for Yeah. >> operational only. Okay. >> But yeah, it's probably not a bad idea to put in some kind of security cameras or something. >> Mhm. In terms of connection there
though, that gets into a how far you're off the street. If we put a camera there and it's not going to be wireless, are we wiring to it? You have a phone to it or what do you obviously you have power to the place but >> if you have a phone but >> not cable
maybe radio >> maybe a way of going >> yeah obviously >> figured into the the quote for the project and but it's not being it hasn't been finalized but it's on top of it because we have discussions a couple of times about trying who we're going to notify
>> such well I think they call you first and Brian would be Happy to drive in and see if there's a problem. >> We got out of water by then. >> Great. Anything for us, guys? Any questions? >> Oh, good.
>> So, your show checkbook is empty. >> Brian's is I'm not sure about Don. >> Oh, you still have cookies, so that's good. >> Yeah, right. I'm not saying they're they were here the last time you were here, Paul. So, you know,
>> yeah. Okay, great. We're good. Thank you all for coming out. >> Okay. The other thing um just we did talk about uh reviewing budgets. So, at some point, we're going to ask you all to come back in because you know your
budget comes to us and then we bring it to advisory. That's a tough one because we're have a whole new system here. So, we're going to have more increased cost of propane. >> The whole building, but the building is very well built. So, it's not like it's
going to go up through the walls and electric is probably going to go up a little bit. So, >> you know, >> we're not asking that. Just a 10% cut. That's all we need. So, just bring that back and we're good. took a bunch of water off so many hours a day
>> like customer. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much for your time. >> Thank you guys. Enjoy your evening. >> Yeah. One one for a road deal. >> No, thank you. Stop and grab a couple slices of pizza for dinner. >> Nice.
>> Yep. >> Okay. So, next on the agenda is discussion of our budget and the board of health budget. So, Brian, this is a right. So, the green and it may not be green. I'm just making an assumption
here. This column of a different color than white um represents the true expenditures or just dividing in half. That's halfway point at 2026. >> That's expended accurately. Okay.
>> I'm going to get the 2025 actual and I'll fill those in as well. But I just wanted to get this in front of everybody. >> Mhm. >> This is this large spreadsheet represents the the four sheets that did them.
>> Yep. >> Mhm. >> With some additional data. Um, so we're going to have to put in 2027 requests. Um, we're just running down. I mean, a number of these are well up above are
our galleries, but a lot of these are are smaller line items that have really stayed the same over the for a number of years. Um, one thing that I've noticed this year is that volume claimed is low. So, that's a positive.
I think that's a credit to you. You know, basically you have a law degree. You're able to assess some things before we need to send them off to council >> and they get done faster. >> You didn't need to say that. I'm just saying, you know, >> they're very busy there. >> I'm sure they are.
And they barely build barely slightly higher than you, but I'm not. >> Yeah. >> We have you on retainer. Um, so that'll be an eye towards something. I mean the other one I mean to me is done that transfer station monitoring and testing is >> huge
>> you know and but I don't think that changes cuz that's nothing to do with the testing i.e. the water system. That's the one or no >> that is >> that's still that still test the houses nearby. Right. >> So we were hoping we could be dropping
that down to >> I want to say 40 to 50. >> Yeah. >> We dropped it from one from 120 to,000. >> Mhm. >> But that's what I was trying to get a sense from the guys is when do they think they're online? So looks like
we'll still at least get the third quarter testing having to pay for. Well, that's something we can probably do. Look at that. >> Well, we can definitely do for it next year. I'm just still surprised that >> Okay, that was zero. That's fine.
That's This might be a year down. We don't do the 10 at the bottom >> again. We didn't do it last year either. No, I'm just saying, >> you know, on the on the um office office equipments of office
supplies. >> Yeah, >> we we had a little bit of a discussion about everybody directly buying them. >> We're trying to get especially supplies. Yeah, that's part of your discussion at the staff meeting tomorrow, right?
>> Yeah. And I I I I did set up uh meetings between myself, Herb, and the department heads that are responsible for buildings. >> Mhm. >> And that's one of the one of the things we're talking about is where can we both purchase >> to save money. >> And then you also said the it uh you
mentioned to lease that was a coding problem. That's not really over or >> Yeah, you see office equipment acquisitions is >> well under. >> No, there's no expenditures there. some of the some of the expenditures in information technology should have gone to ops equipment acquisition. So that's
>> that should balance out. >> All right. >> Obviously there was quite a bit with the Windows 11. A lot of systems need to be flipped around. Yep. Yep. >> Traffic control. We won't know till the spring because there may be things hitting that, you know. So >> shared services. So we're not going to
have a payment. >> Mhm. >> What is traffic control? >> 27th. That's when we're doing project. We have to pay around. >> Okay. Detail guys. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> So, shared services for 27. We're not
expecting an assessment. >> That's good. >> That's the same as this past year, but we dropped it from 40,000 to 15,000. >> Y >> from from 25 to 26. Um because I think there's just the concern that
those expenses may there may be some expenses associated with that, >> right? >> Um >> I was worried about street lighting, but again that gets back into the seasonal thing right there. The bills are always higher in the winter and drop down as we get more light. So we may be okay with that 30, but as the numbers from the
state look worse and worse, it's just going to go up. And that gets back to I think Brian mentioned before about townhouse utilities etc that we are going to be in sad trouble there. I know I know it was only a partial but now we're
paying albeit that it's small we're still paying for two buildings and that account's going to be short even looking at those gas and electric bills. We're going to hit we're going to hit that in April at the latest. Yeah.
Yeah. There's some there is something going and John, we talked about we need to get into the back into the Lucy renewables things. >> Renewable things because there there is a there is a national grid account. We're trying to figure this out. Um there's a national there's a new
national grid account with about $7,000 credit. >> Mhm. >> Which I think is supposed to go against townhouse utilities, but um national grid is has not been very responsive. No, >> in terms of the filling out, >> right? >> Number of different billing issues with
National Grid right now, >> but there is that credit of about 7,000 sitting out there >> by to the townhouse utilities. >> Now, the maintenance and repair line, is that because most of the work's been done against the warrant articles, would you say? >> Yes. >> Okay. So you got that as a fall back as
you get down to the end of the R. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Custodial little scary. I mean, again, we've only been doing, but I mean, you've got a number with her, but I think we're going to be seeing that change as
you get more and more use and as you perhaps have that discussion with different departments who may have issues with how we're allocating funds for custodial that may need an adjustment for next year. So, >> yeah.
>> And that'll be coming up. Veteran Services. Did you get a chance to reach out to Jason or Ken about coming in? >> Not yet. >> Okay. Maybe. Actually, Wednesday is Jason's day, right? >> Yeah. Wednesday.
>> They might see him tomorrow. >> Yep. >> Okay. That'd be an easy one to bring in. If Ken's able to come, that's good, too. >> Yeah. That was good about town report. We got to finish those up. How's yours done? L's done. Okay.
>> What font did you use? >> I use I use Collaborate. >> Hopefully 14. >> Hopefully not that comic sands. Okay, great. Thanks. >> Good. >> Where's yours? >> I'm sure. Well, Eric and I are still
working on the fiber one together. >> It's dark dark fiber. All right. Anything else you want to highlight on that? Um, no. So, just wanted to start the conversation. >> Privacy fourth one down from the top.
That's going to be a big conversation. >> That help. >> What? >> Oh, I was looking at general expenses. Huge conversation. >> All right. Did we mention the cookies? But honestly, uh, when we want to start
that talk, guys, Brian, when are you comfortable with just having that talk? >> Um, I can get your proposal in the next two weeks, probably. >> Okay. >> Like to cross it off before, you know, I don't want to get down to the end and just >> Yeah. >> before the money goes away.
>> Yeah. Actually, yes. Want to get in before cash that check quick? No, just just the um employee benefits. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. That insurance that insurance
number is 11%. Is that >> Yeah. Black and stone? Um yeah, we're going to I'll I'll run the health insurance analysis with the number of enroles and the and the um monthly cost per but we'll
run those numbers with our current uh number of >> I'll make >> we'll add that to the other >> I made this point to Brian before. I'll make it again. I go through this every year with our business, you know, and we've had to flip things and just just to keep the increase and we pay the ACA
which the town doesn't. >> Yeah. and just keep the increase in the 6% range. I've had to change plans, maybe some deductibles change. It's the way it is. And I really question whether Scanic Valley does that at all
>> or they just pass it on and >> you know, you pay the increase. I mean, this kind of number here for a nonaca jump and Brian and I looked at the thing in there at 2500 for family >> last year. I don't I don't come anywhere
near that for my family coverage and I don't think I'm Harvard right now, which is not a cheap plan. >> So, I know you said it might require some bargaining thing because it's CBA thing,
but honestly, it is the fact of life right now that sometimes you have to adjust your plan to keep the increase down. Maybe the c-ay goes up from 10 to 20. Maybe the out of network deductible is now and you I'm sure you know all these numbers you
know is now 2,000 instead of 1,000 and that keeps the premium down. I just wonder if the school of the Scanic Valley, you know, trust actually does any of that stuff. >> Yeah. >> Or are they constrained because the
biggest participant would require negotiation before they can do it. >> Right. We can ask our rep >> and the retirees would they require they just take what's given. >> What do we do?
>> Take what's given. That's how it is. We have Medicare. >> Oh, you're all set then right up there with social security. Is that still good? >> You don't know. >> Your check clear. >> All right. Check that clears every
month. Last last Wednesday of the month. got minus two. >> All right. Uh facility discussion. >> No. What was that? >> Let's track where we are. >> Facilities. >> School. >> No, the schools.
>> Yeah. Who >> got an opinion on that? >> Do I have an opinion on it? I do have an opinion on it. >> All right. Are you Hang on a second. Are you aware of what this this is about? >> You may you may have been away. >> I don't think so. >> Okay. Don, you want to give us the Yeah,
I recall stuff. >> We received a letter from the the town administrator of Wilberham saying that the finance committee in Wilberham was wondering if we'd be interested in discussing
um facilities management of the schools that they would take over the facilities management of the schools. They would do their part and we would do our school here. It's very nebulous. They think it'll create some kind of efficiencies.
Uh it's do we want to probably be part of that discussion? >> Gotcha. >> My that's that being said, >> I I I uh >> You have an opinion?
>> I do. I have an opinion. I want no part of it. Uh it's too it's a it's too nebulous. B. Uh there's lease agreements that that the that the region is responsible for doing mainten the repairs
up to $30,000 on the schools. Uh and uh apparently it's there's been very little maintenance done in any of the schools. So there's so it seemed to me that this is something we don't need to be involved in or I I would I would vote no to be
involved in it. I also would like to point out that unlike Wilberham, we've put in in the past 10 years, we put in we've spent $134,000 on maintenance uh for the schools, which they which the region should have
probably paid for, but we put extra money in 10 thou $15,000 a year and we've been paying for that to maintain our our portion of the building. Um so I think that's where we are. I think they this I think this has all been
generated by the fact of the problems at the middle school. Yeah. >> You know, it would seem to me that I don't I don't know what I don't even know if the region has a maintenance budget, but it would seem to me that if you have these schools the either the custodian or the principal or someone every year would say, "Look at we need
this door fixed, we need this window fixed, we need that fixed." I don't know if that happens over there. >> I know Ed Cindrella used to do that over here at the end of the year. We talked John would talk where someone talked to me. Look at we need to fix this door. We know I think the last 15,000 we spent we
fixed up some flashing on the roof >> with tiling on the bathroom in the kitchen or something like that. You know flashing >> and there was a drain that had >> drain right and you know and uh the we paid for those and really under the agreement they should have
paid 80% of it. >> Yeah. But one of those things where end of the year we can get this fixed now. I can kick in 20 if you can give me five in my book and we get it done. So >> I I I have one I'm not not interested in >> if they want to give us a a real proposal but I have no interest in
spending an hour and a half every couple of weeks to talk about some nebulous thing that >> is going nowhere in the end. >> I I would agree with Don that it's ambiguous right now. I think from a
30,000 foot view, you could make an argument that well, the town should be able to do it cheaper than hiring Hurley and David because they don't need to make a profit. They do it for the cost. I got that. But then the responsibility
and my fear would be like, okay, you're doing all this work for the schools now. You're hiring two more guys because basically it's almost full-time at that point. So I don't think we need to be in the discussion now. If they came back with something a little more concrete and
here's the dollar to you and the dollar to them. We haven't got a big enough department to participate in the first thing anyhow. I'm still feeling his way through. So >> if they want to draft something up and throw it in an email or >> we read everything we don't need to be there but we can read >> at this point I don't think but they can
throw an email you know draft something up and we can take a look at it and if seems like something we want to further discuss we can at that point but I agree I think >> nice concept what else you got right >> yeah but we're not saying no >> saying no >> because we don't know enough about it correct
>> right yeah you agree with that then >> okay we'll hear Yeah. All right. >> Schedule for another session. Basically, we're going to continue the trial till next time. Come back with more evidence. >> Well, >> yeah, >> we we have enough things that we we deal
with and don't need to spend another hour and a half talking about nothing. >> Yeah. I'm worried about overloading her because we don't have >> we don't have we if you go back to look and we would have to appropriate based on the what if, >> right? and we could all of a sudden not
be doing any service and we've got more money tax for us. >> And the fact of the matter is we've maintained our schools. >> Yeah. Right. >> Unlike some towns that I know. >> Yeah. Must be referring other ones in maybe Hampshire or something. >> Yeah. Way away from us. >> Way way away. Okay. Thank you.
Other than that, we have Sherry here. >> Yes. >> Hello, Sherry. I did. So, I just wanted to uh come uh before you ahead of time just to let you know about some articles um that will be on the warrant and some that may be on the warrant. Um, so the
ones that will be on the warrant um were documented on North Road uh we uh had a a revised plan approved by the zoning board of appeals um due to an engineering plan that was
approved but was not feasible. So, we had to go back to the drawing board and use the existing driveways, which turned out to be the only way to get in. And in so doing, we had uh we had to go before the zoning board did approve it. Uh and
then we went uh before the planning board. There was a mandatory 20-day wait or something. So, uh at the last planning board meeting, uh they signed the myar. We'll get it recorded at the registering feeds. So, >> and this was going to require because of the shifting of how much
>> Yes. Because >> the description of the land >> because the child is acquiring the land, the land has to be identified. So, our attorney is going to draft a warrant article to >> Steve. >> Yeah. Steve Manning so that it will be
clearly defined. So, so that's going to go back again. No money here. >> That was approved two years ago. >> Okay. And then uh the the followup or article is that the land trust the town donates the conservation restrictions to
land trust because it's CPA money. So there has to be a nonprofit that holds the land holds DCR. So that's going to be on it. Um the other thing which we are still in the process but just uh because I know that the warrant is closing in March so I don't know whether
it's going to be on the warrant or not. Um Harold Green had approached us three years ago. Um he has uh he he says it's over 20 acres. It's listed um at the assessor's map as 18 something acres. Um
and it abuts the mountain conservation land. I did send off um an email. I don't know if anybody saw it uh that shows the parcel. it it attaches to the conservation land and it extends the trail along the uh river. So, um there's
the parcel right there and um >> so the parcel in blue >> it's it's the parcel that's hatched. So, there's the pig. Yeah, there you go. >> Okay. So, the blue is >> the blue blue is the scant. >> It's what? >> Purplish.
>> Purplish. Whatever. Magenta. Yeah. Thank >> magenta. Go magenta. >> Magentary. Sorry. Yeah. >> So the pink one is is Buddies. >> No. >> No. >> So >> the corner cross that >> 49 right here. >> The hatch mark. Okay.
>> He had this map. >> All right. So that's that. >> Yeah. So all of all of the uh lavender is is is town on land. And so this would be >> I know she wore a sweater to match >> so that they can have a trail that now
connects um and and gives more access to the riverfront. So it's it's a really nice piece of land. It is directly opposite u the old come farms on Main Street you look there. Um so um
it's something that checks all the boxes in terms of the kind of land that you want to protect. It it is uh expanding existing conservation land. It's expanding the trail system. It's allowing access riverfront. Blah blah blah.
>> And it has no development value. >> It has no development value >> because it's landlocked. It's not accessible. It's surrounded. I will say, and this is historical, that at one point when the group was together and they were talking about acquiring Cumberland Farms and there was talk of
like getting that land as well and perhaps even a bridging system to it, which sounded like incredible that the Army Corps of Engineers would give you that permit under 10 years, but that's a separate thing. Personally, we've been talking about the
Kland Farms property for >> We're talking about >> No, I'm just saying I'm making a point here. >> That would be something I'm really not in favor of. We have so little commercial business property in town. I have a call every month from somebody saying, "Hey, what's the deal with
Cumberland Farms? How come I call the realtor and he won't entertain any offers for it?" So many people want to buy that property and do something with it. And we don't have a lot of, you know, we need to expand that. People talk about the taxes going up. Well, you balance
that with at least the land that people approved, you can do something with it. >> Well, >> so I only throw that out there is that if this is I'm not saying it's a back door to it, but I'm just saying that >> Yeah. >> and I'm sure Joe is going to say the chances of getting a bridge over there
in my lifetime is probably >> Yeah. >> not that good. I mean, this is really just to expand the trail system, um, to expand access to the riverfront, which is, you know, in our open space plan. Um, so it's a it's a really nice addition. Um, the problem that we've had
is uh we were trying to get a survey and uh Dan O'Brien had to wait till the leaves came down and um then he was sick and then it snowed. So, we haven't got a survey to get an exact acreage to get a a better value of it. uh on the Walnut
Road property. >> Well, it's it's back land landlocked. I mean, is it really worth more than a buck? >> Well, I mean, you know, it we we went through this with Walnut Road because it was assessed at >> much much higher than the appraised value. M
>> and at that time um we got um an opinion from town council that we could go by the we didn't go as high as the assessed value but we did go higher than than the appraised value because the appraised value uh came up very low and we felt
that he taxes based on his land along the road >> was not um under chapter land so he was paying very high taxes for years. >> Okay. So, this is something that Let me This is something a down the road type thing you want to be bringing in
probably for CPA. >> I I'm going to go before CPA, but right now I'm working I just wanted to alert you it may not end up on the warrant if we can't get a number that uh he will agree to. So, you know, I I have uh I'm
working with an appraiser. He may not like that number. I'm working to see if we can do something based on an assessment if that's somehow can be done instead to get a better number for him. So that may or may not be on the warrant. So u just putting that out there to alert you
>> ahead of time. So right now it's you know might be a placeholder. It might not even make it uh as a placeholder. So we have the next month or so figure things out. >> All right. Okay. So I think that's better. >> Thank you. Thank you.
Uh Joe, are you here for that or you are? Okay, great. Ma'am, >> that's my fiance. >> Huh? >> That's my fiance. >> Oh, okay. Sorry. They want to make sure we skipped you on anything or something.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. So, uh before we go into executive session, we're good. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Great. Um >> thank you, Sherry. Thank you, Joe. Uh, any select board member reports? Eric,
>> I have nothing to report. >> You want like quick summary of like, man, the weather was wonderful. >> It was wonderful. >> That's great to hear. How was the snowfall at your house? >> Looked good, right? >> Yeah, looked good. >> All right. Uh,
>> so, Mr. Chairman of the board of health. >> I have a I have a a a request for a permit to operate a residential kitchen establishment. The cookie fairy paid he's paid the appropriate dues.
Therefore, we'll >> I'll enter a motion >> for approval of >> River Park. >> River Park. >> Is that where Gail Fave used to be in the corner there? Cuz George was down like 50 or 60, right? You already had one there though. Maybe this is a
register renewal. >> Second. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Okay. >> So, you didn't sample, huh? >> I will in a minute. >> I shut the Zoom off at home so my wife
can't turn off her YouTube account. She can't look around. >> Yeah. >> All right. The other thing that had the the uh old townhouse committee met for the first time this morning. That was very good. >> Quit meeting. >> No, nobody's quit yet.
>> And we went through we went through a lot of uh u the studies that were done. I gave him copy of the studies and done the open meeting law things like that. We're going to meet again next week. >> Uh give them a tour of the building and we'll go from there. >> That sounds good.
All right, Brian. >> Uh, staff meeting tomorrow at 10. Um, tomorrow I am and whoever wants to join me bringing the Wilberham uh building utilization committee for a tour of this building and a brief
discussion about our process here and and what we did and how we accomplished it. >> Who's on that committee park? >> Oh, I don't even know. >> So, some strangers coming to the door, you're letting them in. Yeah. Same cookies.
>> Yeah, you're easy. I think Todd's on it. No. Or >> No, I think No. >> Um I I have the names in my email, but I just don't know off the >> All right. Fine. Whatever. All right. It's ID. >> Yep. Um
meeting room. We had a delay in the carpet. Um was backorded another month. Um, so we're able to find something that looked similar that they can >> still dark. >> Yeah. That they can put down sooner. Um, so hopefully in the next week or so we can get that done.
>> Um, I did get John and I met with um, uh, a gentleman from from Wasman Audio, an AV company that does a lot of work for the five colleges. um to try to and we asked um proposal for uh the select
meeting room, this meeting room and the cafeterium with the intent that obviously we would prioritize our expenditures in terms of what we needed to do but to try to get an idea of of what would make sense in each room. Uh they did spec out sort of a maybe
John understands it a little better than I do, but a a sort of a a single system that's able to have three different nodes, I guess, as I was call three different nodes or and then have sort of a a single system that we could cuz the the eventual goal here is to broadcast
out through >> through the the peg access channels. So um I do have that proposal. Um so I need to go through that. Um, I also met with Herb and I also met with
um a company to uh uh submit a proposal for the security cameras. We're trying to wait for that uh second proposal so that we can satisfy the the requirements of the state contract. Hopefully, we should get that either this week or early next week. I'll ask CP to follow up on that
and then we can move forward with getting the the camera system installed. So, That's it. >> All right. So, um, briefly touch on the the staffing. Uh, basically, we very
much appreciate, uh, Ruth's service. Uh, Lauren is still doing an excellent job, uh, remote. She's been working obviously on the count report, units, etc., videos and uh as we get emails from we know she's doing what she has to do licenses
wherever and we wish her the best in her recovery. >> Lauren says thanks. >> She's actually watching us. >> Yep. >> Really? >> Wow. Would have definitely said hi. >> Turn your camera on. >> That's way I don't know whatever it says. I can't
read it. >> Hi. >> Hi. All right. I Okay. If nothing else before us, I entertain a motion to go into executive session. >> Mr. Chairman, I move we go into executive session pursuant to Mass
General Laws chapter 3A section 21A3 to discuss collective bargaining with the highway union. We will now return to open session. So move >> second I John Fly.
>> Eric Vander. So we'll look at the members of committee. So Oh, Kevin Roth. Okay.