So this this open meeting of the select board is being conducted remotely. Uh the meeting is being recorded accordingly. Please be aware that others may be able to see you and take care not to screen share your computer. Anything that you broadcast may be captured by the recording. All supporting materials
that have been provided to members of this body are available on the town's website via the web meeting calendar unless otherwise noted. And each vote taken in this meeting will be conducted by roll call vote. So, um, you know, for all of those out there, you know, this is I think it's the first time in a
while we've had a fully virtual select board meeting. Uh, certainly the first time, you know, I I've been a part of this. So, you know, bear with us as we work through, you know, that nuance. Uh, but we're going to jump in and get the meeting started. So,
are we still doing pledge of allegiance virtually? Believe we're going to start with that. So, did we just lose Joe? >> Can you I can hear Joe. >> Can you guys hear me? Okay,
>> I can hear. Okay, >> everyone. >> I'm still getting an awful echo. I'm gonna I'm gonna leave and rejoin. >> Okay. Um, have we done the Pledge of Allegiance virtually in the past? >> We have. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, I will get it started.
Um, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Um, we'll move on to public forum. So, this evening, each person will have up to two minutes to speak at public forum. Please start by stating your name and address. Um, and for this we're going to need people to raise their hands in the Zoom link so that Ben can provide
access. So, at this time, is there anyone present in the room that in the meeting room that would like to speak at public forum? I'm not seeing any hands raised at this time. I'll give it another second just to I know this is a little bit different
for everyone virtually, but um just checking one more time. Okay, very good. We will move on. And looks like Amy's back with us. Hope Amy, can you hear us okay now that you're back?
>> Yeah. Or I could hear you. I was just twice. I think that the the HDM audio was playing for me at the same time as this look as the Zoom audio. So anyway, resolve that. >> Okay. Um I did kind of left it open for
almost a minute for public forum. So we're going to be moving on now that you're back. Uh next we have the consent agenda. Go back. So bear with me folks and jumping around on my two screens. So, uh, tonight the select board will
consider the following consent agenda. Uh, it will consider approving the minutes of the January 6, 2026 and January 20th, 2026 meetings. The select board will consider accepting donations of $80 from Joah Costa, $200 from
Marilyn and John Palmer, $25 from John and Susan Stewart, $100 from Diane Skagnelli, $100 from Elizabeth Mezit, $100 from James and Doris Murphy, $50 from Aubrey and Julie Doyle, $50 from
Ann Marie Skagnelli Lucich, $50 from Robert Kalala, revocable trust, $250 from Robert and Karen Vney, $75 from Mary uh Zehy Zeha, um $100 from Barbara
and Robert Champney, $50 from David and Tammy Talvie in memory of uh Henry Arty Pine to the fire department. And then lastly, the select board will consider accepting the resignation of Jeff Goldberg from the Council of Aging and Holly Moran from the Commission of
Disabilities. Uh so I will start uh with the board. Is there anything we want to break out um or any comments from the board on the consent agenda? >> Just want to thank um the volunteers who
had uh served and now resigning. Thank you for your service. >> I agree. >> Real real quick, Joe. Uh a question through you too, Amy. I the council of
disability resignation is catching me. I want to make sure are we at an adequate number of actual board members there. I know we've had some conversations about some of these boards struggling to make quota and quorum. I want to make sure that we actually still have the people we need and if not that we're putting
out the call there. I'm wondering if you know more or if I'm potentially misremembering. >> Um yeah, so um we had a problem with members not being able to attend. So, the two members that have not been able to attend for the last four meetings, I believe they're both planning to resign and this is one of them. And then that
will let us open it up to get new people and there have been new people coming to the meetings but are not board members. So, we're hoping some of the people that have been attending will apply. >> Okay. This is a desirable thing. I'm glad I'm glad I asked and I'm glad I remembered. Thank you for that, Amy. >> Right. Perfect. Um, thanks Matt. Uh,
Brian, Amy, any comments from you two? I think just thank you for all the donations um in honor of um Mr. Pine. >> Yeah, that was a really nice tribute to RD Pine. Thanks, Joe. >> Perfect. Uh so with that, I will look
for a motion on the consent agenda. >> Mr. Chair, I moved the motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Second. >> Perfect. We have a motion and a second. Um unless there's any other discussion, we will go roll call on this. Um Amy
>> Amy Ro. Yes. >> Matt >> Matt Kisner. Yes. >> Brian >> Brian her. Yes. >> Shul Man. Yes. >> And Joe Clark. Yes. So that is unanimous. And I echo that. Thank you for all the generous donations on behalf
of RD. Next. Um we're a little early. We've got a public ser public hearing set for 625. So we will come back to that. Um, so we will continue on. The board will consider granting extensions and or issuing annual licenses for the
following businesses for which certain items have been outstanding. Um, I believe we have extensions for both the Aramark locations at Dell at 176 Street and 228 Cell Street. And Elaine, I believe we are now up to date with
Starbucks and we are good to move with that license approval at 85 West Main Street. Correct, Elaine? >> That's correct. So, Starbucks has uh passed the all the inspections and it's ready for approval. >> Okay.
>> The others are still pending. >> Perfect. So, this is obviously a continued u part of our meeting the last couple weeks. You know, I think there was some changes this year that has extended the amount of time to get some of these inspections done. We are
getting down to the last couple. Um so, it's uh up to the board. So I'll open it up to the board for any you know comments andor motions. >> So to the chair it's just delark that needs to be extended and and what is the
reasoning? Um what's the what are they held held up on? >> It's still the the 90minute test and the replacement of the exit lights. >> Okay. So they're having to do replacement which is what's taking longer and then they can redo the test.
Okay. Any other comments, thoughts from the board? >> No, but just to put it in plain language, which I know I'm always awful about, we're ultimately likely to support an extension because it's allowing them to fix exactly the thing they need so we can end this. I just
want to be clear. >> Yep. I would agree with that, Matt. Thank you. Um, >> just to be clear, these are the last two, right? Uh, and everyone else is done. >> Thank you. >> I believe so. Uh, correct? We've got one that's ready and then the two for
extension are the last two. >> That's correct. >> Yep. >> All right. So, um, any other thoughts or we would need kind of, you know, two separate motions to approve the one that's ready at Starbucks and then to extend the two Aramark locations at
Dell. Just a quick thought before we leave the topic. Elaine, I would love at some point when it's not busy, but while it's still fresh, maybe to just have a debrief on the updates to the process, just sort of our lessons learned and anything we want to do a little different, any changes we want to make
for next year. I'm not suggesting the process hasn't been successful, but we implemented something new. It's clear it had some bumps. I want to make sure we at least have a conversation and think about next year given how long this took. I know it's been a burden to the town. So, thank you for that as well. Uh if I may, yes, definitely. And we're
working on uh that draft uh uh policy for the board to adopt as well. So that'll be part of the same discussion. >> Okay. So I would make a motion to renew the common victral and entertainment license for Starbucks at 85 West Main Street.
>> Second. >> Okay. We've got a motion and a second. There's any additional thoughts there? Then we will go roll call. Uh Shidel Man. Yes. >> Brian. >> Brian her. Yes.
>> Matt. >> Matt Kisner. Yes. >> Amy. >> Amy Ritter Bush. Yes. >> And Joe Clark. Yes. So that is unanimous. And then that would leave us if someone wants to make the motion for extending granting the extension of the two era
mark. >> Sure. So I would move to grant an extension to the following licenses till until March 4th, 2026 so as to ensure completion of all inspections. Aramat market dell 176 South Street common Victoria license and our market dell 228
South Street common Victoria license. >> Second. >> Okay, perfect. We've got a motion in a second. Any final thoughts? Then we will go roll call. Matt >> Matt Kizner. Yes. >> Amy. Amy Rabbush. Yes.
>> Shyelman. Yes. >> Brian. >> Brian her. Yes. >> And Joe Clark. Yes. >> All right. So, that covers us for licenses tonight. Uh, and we still got plenty of time. So,
we're going to move into the, uh, department budget presentations. This evening, the board will review the proposed FY27 operating capital budgets of the following departments. accounting, finance, town manager, senior services, and CPC.
Um, so we're going to try and stick with like what we've been doing. Um, I will invite those groups in in just a second here. Um, if you know, if you're one of the groups that's presenting tonight, I know you all have a slide or two prepared. Um, you know, please try and
keep that to, you know, a couple of minutes so that, you know, the board can have a chance to ask questions and and we can move through these. So, with that, um I know we're a little ahead of the schedule. Is accounting here with us? >> Yes, I'm here.
>> Is that I'm trying to see. Sorry, I'm struggling. Is that Cindy? >> Yes. >> Looking across the uh screens. Hi, Cindy. And is uh Kyla, are you out there? Are you joining us tonight? >> I'm here, Joe. >> Perfect. Thank you both for, you know,
working through this virtual uh meeting. Um, so if uh do you guys have a slide to share? Um, I think Ben might have it or if we can get that up on the screen. >> Thank you, Ben. Um so as you can see
um the town manager recommended FY27 budget is slightly higher than I requested and that was based on two factors. Um my
original request was lowered because we had a new procurement and grants manager that started at a lower salary than the exiting one. However, um the town manager increased it because my assistant town accountant
um received a merit raise on her anniversary. As far as expenses, um our new grants and procure procurement um manager, Retika Patel,
um was able to get a free subscription for Amazon Prime, which saved us $1,000 and will for the next three years. So, I was able to lower um that budget.
>> Awesome. Um, thank you Cindy. Uh, I will open up to the board for questions or comments. And Cindy, uh, you didn't have a capital section this year. >> No, no capital. >> Yep. Just wanted to make sure. Thank you. Um, I will look to the board. Uh,
thoughts, questions. >> I think this one's straightforward. I don't have any questions. >> Thanks. >> Well, we appreciate the diligence. >> Seems straightforward. Thank you for all the work and it's pretty I think tight
budgets are good good work. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Um I certainly echo those thoughts. So appreciate you coming in tonight and sharing this. >> Thank you. >> Nice work, Cindy.
All right, we still got about nine minutes till our public hearing. Uh should we do finance? >> Sure. So this is very straightforward just like accounting was. Um our operating budget increase is in line with a
recommendation of 2%. Our salaries increase with the st standard merit and cola increase of about 3.5%. And given that increase of roughly $27,000 we recognized the need to come down on the
expense side. So, we came down on the expense side about $7,000 and that was primarily in the appraisal services line item. We were able to look back historically and realize that we did not necessarily need um $155,000
in appraisal services. So, we came down on that. Um, and then on the second line item, the tax title. That tax title has been historically in the sources and uses document. I'm not quite sure why it
was called out there, but it is an operating budget line item that is in the finance department. So, I took it out of the sources and uses and it um it is now part of the operating budget. And just for your knowledge, tax title is
that expense line item is used for um attorney fees, auction and taking and um additional research associated with tax title. >> And no capital and no onetime expenditures.
>> Perfect. That was my first question. Uh thank you. Thank you, Kyla. uh to the board. Questions, thoughts? >> I do I do have one quick one. Hi, Kyla. >> For tax for tax title, are we seeing that reflected in either the personal
service expenses number up there or is that just separate from what you're showing up there as the total? >> It's total separate. >> Okay. I just wanted to see and understand whether the percentage I was seeing there was relative to the supplemental increase here as well. Okay. I don't have any other questions.
>> Thanks. Thanks Matt. Um >> just a quick clarification Kyla. Um it it looks good and of course you could type as well. I see there is little bit
bump every even year and it lowers the personal services every uh sorry every even years and bump on the odd years. I'm sure it's coincidence, but can you help me understand that like in 24 uh 23
was uh 633, 24 went down, 25 went up, 26 went down, and this year again >> it's due to due to turnover within the finance department schedule. >> Okay. Are you fully staffed now? You feel comfortable? >> Yes, we're fully staffed finally.
>> Okay, great. Thank you. Thanks Shadow. Brian, Amy, any questions? >> I was gonna ask about I think we talked about you'll be switching from Munis to something else for payroll. Is that included here in the expenses or was that capital because it's a initial purchase?
>> Well, well, we did switch over that was um I found a grant for us to use for our first year. We and we implemented and went live with Harper's on January 1st. And that's actually part of the IT budget, not finance budget. Okay, thank
you. I don't have any other questions. >> I'm all set, Joe. Thank you. >> All right, perfect. Um, Kyla, thank you. Any other comments or thoughts from you? >> Not with mine. Thank you. >> Awesome. All right, we've got five
minutes left. Um, what can we do? Elaine, do you think you know we can do the town manager one in five minutes or should we hold off or we have senior services as well if they're on the call? >> Perhaps senior services would make sense
then Amy won't have to stay. >> Okay, perfect. C can we can we give them access to join us? >> Hi Amy, how you doing tonight? >> Fine, thank you. Um, I just wanted to thank you guys for
allowing me to present um, our proposed budget for senior services. I do want to give a little bit of background because I know not everyone gets down to see us, but we provide activities and services that encourage seniors to maintain their independence, um, healthy living and a
continued sense of purpose and participation in the community. So, as such, we provide over 7,500 meals a year, 5,000 rides, and a host about 3,400 programs. Um, as with many departments you've spoken with, senior
services has an incredibly dedicated team committed to providing the best service possible for Hopkins seniors, often coordinating complex solutions in partnership with various community departments and organizations to meet the evolving needs of the senior
population. In short, our motto is we want to see seniors thrive, not just survive. Um, as in past years, this budget was built from the bottom up and works within the 2% increase guidelines that we were given. If you look at our personal services, the line reflects u
merit and cola increases. There is no increase to staff this year. um our expense line um has increased slightly which is as a result of the overall increases that we have all seen to goods and services. Um but as always
we continue to do a lot with a little. Um as we look at the budget going forward I think it is important to remind everyone that even if you aren't a senior already you are a senior in training and how we approach aging now will benefit everyone in the future. Um
so I don't know if you have any other questions. I do have a couple capital requests. >> Okay. Um, thanks Amy and thanks for the overview. I completely agree. You guys provide a lot of services for, you know, a large population of our town and it can't go unrecognized. So before we jump
into the capital, you know, to the board, do we have any questions around the OPEX budget? >> Uh, I have a quick question, Amy. Thank you for u again all the service and I see you have maintained a pretty tight budget um last year and uh when I spoke
to the some of the leadership among the senior citizens uh it was projected that we are going to grow our senior citizen population I forgot the exact number pardon me 30 to 40%. was pretty astonishing number over the next 5 years or so.
>> I am um planning to reflect that in your uh growth. I anticipate you know it'll hit you your services and your resource needs if not now soon after. >> Excuse me. Yes. know, I know from our uh most recent needs assessment they that
we did in 2024, um it's estimated that by 2030 the senior population in town is going to be about 27%. Um so I think you know it's hard to estimate. I mean I think what's
difficult in some of that we know that a lot of seniors who if you look at the span of seniors it's from 60 to over a 100. Um, that's a long large gap that we cover. Um, I know for many people who are in their 60s and even 70s, they're
still working, so their needs are not always hit by us right away. Um, but it's it's kind of hard to guess exactly where we're going. I think, um, we're very fortunate. We get a support from our, uh, friends of seniors. We do
expect um some growth in and and we've seen some increases in what we do. I know that you know annually um we've seen I guess for 259 days open we see 14,000 people over 14,000 people
come through our building um a year. So how to project? That's a good question. I think we're always looking at that. um we're constantly changing what we do and when things work we we we have to switch things up but I don't know if there's any way to fully understand um exactly
what's happening. I will say we're in the process of doing a strategic plan that is kind of looking at the long range as well about 5 years out and so hopefully our programming and what we u plan for the needs coming down the pike
you know with all the grants I know that you've heard from other departments disappearing that can change things too for how we operate I don't know if that answers your question it kind of rambled >> no it does thank you that's very insightful and that's exactly where I was going I won't take too much time.
I'll connect with you offline. I have some ideas about the KPIs and measurements that you can monitor and help us understand. Of course, we don't want to go over budget, but we also want to make sure that we are we keep up the you know services and the wonderful work that you are doing and suddenly it
doesn't get overcrowded or suddenly they feel the pinch of the services. So, I'll I'll work with you on that. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. >> Yep. >> All right. Um Elaine, hold on one sec, Matt. I'll come right back to you. Um, Elaine, we got 6:25. Can I open the
public hearing and then continue that for a few minutes so we can wrap up? Senior senator. >> Yes, you can do that. >> All right. So, bear with me one sec, Amy and the rest of the board. We'll come right back to this. All right. So, I I call the public hearing to order um in regards to the application to transfer
for under Mass General Law Chapter 138 section 12 all alcohol license for Arali, Inc. at 22 to 24 Main Street. Uh, and now we will, if you guys are out there, bear with us, you know, while we wrap up this other section, and we'll be back in a minute or two. >> Yep. I see your hands raised. We'll come
back to you. Thank you. Um, all right. I think we left off. Matt, you had a question as we were w as we were wrapping up with Shidle. >> This is good, too, because my kids are coming, one of my kids is coming down for bedtime, so it's going to be especially exciting. So, one, Amy, we're connoisseurs of people going off on rants in this meeting. No apology
>> necessary. Second, I think we have a little bit of an obligation here as well to think about how what you were doing fits into the bigger town strategic picture. You noted some of your expenses like transport as an example. If we had richer and more medical spec specialized
services in town, you might not have to go so far. Gasoline, transport, vans, there's things we can be doing to be part of the solution and be part of the partnership here that don't involve necessarily immediately putting money into your operating budget. we can still be enhancing senior services in the
community as part of our broader remitt and vision. And I think that's something the community has signaled to us they want us thinking about. So not as a challenge here but more just as an opportunity for all of us to think about how we can be interconnected. It isn't just the line item here. There's more to how we support seniors than the senior
center. It is a part of it. It is a critical part of it. But there are things we can be doing as a board to help you besides the dollars and cents here. So to Mr. point. We can connect offline, but I want to be thinking about all the different ways we can uplift you and the seniors in the community. It shouldn't just be on this line item.
That's too much. >> I I would want to add that we do have a great partnership with the MWRTA and they do offer uh a lot of programs for us in town through dialeride the ride. And I know that they have um I'm drawing a blank on the name, but they do a large
service connect where they actually go north, south, and east and west for us now. So that that those things are there. I think um getting the community, getting seniors to utilize it more will be a great thing. >> Exactly.
>> Thank you. >> Perfect. Um Amy Brian, thoughts on the operating budget before Amy walks through the capital? >> I don't think I have any questions on the operating ready for the capital. Amy, do you see this budget as submitted
as a level services budget? Will you be able to take care of our seniors with this budget? >> We make it work. Um, yes. I I think, you know, we do make it work. Um, if you want to throw more money at us, I'll always take it. But, um, we we do work
very hard to to get things to work um for our seniors. I think um there's always ways to improve it, but I I think um for now I think this year we're good going forward. >> Thank you.
>> But I would say I know you all want to come and and I invite you to come down to the senior center. We'd love to have you have you come for lunch, have you meet the seniors. Um anytime you want to come, let me know. We'll make sure it it it happens.
>> Awesome. Thanks, Amy. Um Amy, you said you had some capital requests you wanted to walk us through. >> Sure. Yeah. Um we have two capital project requests this year. I've not done this in the past, so this is all new to me, so hopefully I can cover this well for you. Um we're asking to replace
the carpet at the senior center. Our building is um was built in 2006. It's about 20 years old. Um, we did have our original lobby carpet replaced in about 2018, um, when the glues underneath the carpet started to break down, causing
bunching and creating a tripping hazard. Um, this carpet has not held up well. Um, and we are starting to see the unraveling at the seams causing loosening threads and a concern then again is for um, tripping. Um, we have
had several incidents also where the carpet has been soiled and has needed cleaning and unfortunately they're not ever to be fully cleaned um because of what we've had happen. Um, our staff hallway was not replaced at the time that we did our lobby hallway or our
lobby, excuse me. Um, and it is in need of replacement at this point. We're starting to have the same issues that we had in the lobby um where the glues are are breaking down underneath holding the carpet in which case there's bunching and again we're worried about tripping whether it's participants coming down
the hallway to meet with staff or just even staff themselves. So we are asking to replace the carpet at the senior center this year. Okay, >> that makes sense to me. Thank you Amy. um to the board. Thoughts, questions?
>> Well, it really does seem like we need to replace the carpet, but um I guess I'm wondering maybe I know we probably don't have money in the budget. Is there a better quality carpet or system we could install that wouldn't have to be replaced so frequently? >> So, >> this last one didn't last very long. >> Yeah, the the Well, the original one
lasted in the hallway pretty well, but in the lobby it did not. Um I would say that they're looking at doing um carpet squares. so that if something gets damaged or whatever, it's easier to replace as you go along as opposed to uh laying a full carpet. Um I'm not a
carpet expert, but that's what I'm being told. >> I think >> sorry through the chair. Uh it looks reasonable. I was just wondering Amy uh is this for the entire facility or big part of it? Which part? I missed
that. Sorry. >> Yeah, sorry. It is for our lobby area. So through the front door um and then down the hallway for staff hall into the staff offices. We don't go down our main hallway with the classrooms but in the
lobby it is right there. >> Thank you. Now would you need that remainder uh part sometime soon or you think that is okay for some time? >> The I'm sorry I missed the question. uh the remaining uh carpet for the
facility. When do you see that might be >> We don't I don't know that we want to put it in the hallway that goes down to our classrooms where there are art rooms and stuff like that and having carpeting in there doesn't make sense. >> Oh, no. No. If you don't have it now, that's that's >> We're just looking to do the the lobby
and then down the staff hallway. >> Got it. Thank you, >> Matt. Brian, any thoughts, questions? >> I'm fine, thank you. >> No, I I'll defy expectations and stay out of the weeds here. I trust that you've got what you need here.
>> Awesome. >> And >> Okay, Amy, I think that covers it. I I don't >> Well, we we do have another request as well. Sorry. >> Sorry, I missed that. >> No, that's okay. Um we are looking to create a dining room exit door um off
our dining room into our back um patio area. Um we are asking for this mainly for the safety purposes. Um currently the only exit out of our dining facility or our
dining room is right by the kitchen. Um and if there were in the case of a fire the concern would be that's the only exit that we have. Um, so I think from a safety standpoint, having gone through some, uh, first responder training, um,
we're concerned that it could become clogged. And then when you have people who have walkers or wheelchairs, that sometimes could become even more of a a hazard. So having a second exit, one out the back door that would take people out to our back patio, um, would provide
that alternate exit route in case of an emergency. It would also provide a non-emergency exit out to our backyard, but really we're looking at the the safety um aspect of this. >> Okay. Thank you, Amy. Um did the fire
department weigh in on this? >> Uh we've not had them weigh in. It came out of active shooter training where they discussed um the nightclub fires and the access and exits for the buildings. And it became very clear to me that at that point we really don't ha
offer that to our seniors as a safety precaution. >> Gotcha. Just curious. Okay. Thank you. Uh to the rest of the board's questions on on this. >> So I'd echo Joe that I would like to
hear from fire, but out loud it feels like a good idea. I like that we are thinking about the safety of anybody in town, never mind our seniors. And I like that it has a fringe benefit here of expanding access and utility of existing space. That all sounds like a reasonable
investment. I I hope you hear this less as we don't believe you. Please hear this the other way, which is is this enough? Are we doing the correct thing? I agree with my colleagues and um along the same lines I think this is reasonable uh and it would be good to
have you know kind of expert eyes with you just to see what the location and all these things and I I trust you and the designer must have done uh due diligence wouldn't hurt doing that that's all but definitely a good step. Um
>> I think this makes sense. It looks like it can be funded with free cash. So, um, I have no questions. >> Perfect. Brian, >> and Kyla has this in the free cash projections. >> Yes, sir. >> I'm good. Thank you.
>> Awesome. All right. Amy, anything else for us? >> No. Again, I we we would love to have you come down. We'd love to show you our facility and have you get an idea of what we're looking at and what we have going on. >> Perfect. I I think we'll try and take you up on that one as soon as possible.
>> So, thank you for joining us tonight, Amy. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, now we are going to, you know, pause on the uh budgets and we're going to jump back over to the public hearing for the alcohol license
transfer. So, is the group from Moral on? I think you raised a hand before, but you Ben, if you don't mind letting them in when they raise their hand. Perfect. I see Arnaldo and Elizabeth. Can Can you folks hear me?
Looks like Elizabeth is in now. I think we got one more. Ben, I'm sure you're working on it, but just There we go. Hi, Elizabeth and Arnaldo. Welcome. Can you guys hear me? You are both on mute if you're talking.
Hi. Can you hear us? Looks like you're off mute now. >> Hi, I hear you there. >> Perfect. Welcome. Um I still haven't heard from Elizabeth that joined us either. Um she's on mute, but just wanted to make sure you guys
could hear us. Okay. So, um, for this Elaine, do you want to introduce this? You know, we've had a rally talk about this license transfer. Um, I think there were some changes to the LLC name uh that required it to go back to the ABC and which which is why we're reviewing
this again. So, um, Elaine, do you want to introduce it and then we'll hand it over to you guys to kind of, you know, talk us through, you know, why you're here tonight and go from there. >> So, thank you. as as described on the agenda. So, uh the previous uh process um the license transfer the uh
applicants uh tried to transfer it within the same business entity um and so it involved multiple steps. The ABCC then um asked them to um do it a different way and create a new entity for the new owner rather than try to
transfer it into uh among the same same business entity. So the ABCC determined that the proposed change was a multi-step amendment rather than a license transfer. And so to pursue that, they required that that transaction be between two distinct entities rather than within the same entity. And so
they've abandoned their previous uh process um and uh will will do the transfer through this one-step application from one business entity to a second business entity. Awesome.
Thank you, Elaine. So, I I guys, if you want to introduce yourselves, I think we've got Victor and was it Stani. Do you guys mind introducing yourselves? >> My name is Victor. >> Uh, as I say, Paul,
give me the opportunity. Thank you. Yep. Hey guys, honey from Mexican restaurant. So the new manager. So taking advantage
to say thank you be grateful with these guys on board. So same time you guys are fighting our restaurant anytime. Thank you. >> Perfect. Um so now like they've they've
kind of talked. We've we've seen them before. We understand the business. You know, we we approved the transfer before. Um but the way we're going to go through this as a process is, you know, um you know, we've we've we've gotten the comments from their staff. You know, now I'm going to open up to the board to
for any questions that they may have. Um and then we will after the board all has a chance to speak, we will move to a public comment section where folks will have two minutes a piece. And then you know after that we would the board would vote to close the public hearing and then vote to on the license transfer.
Does that sound good to everyone? >> Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. >> Yep. Uh do you guys have any other comments before I hand it over to the board for questions or comments? >> Okay. Um to the board. Anyone have anything they'd like to ask
this evening? Um, I just wanted to note the fire chief made comments about um, safety in the amplified music and he just wanted to make sure the conditions that were in place before would still be in place. Uh, condition seven, it looks like never any
amplified music. Uh, >> so we don't have amplified music. >> You won't have amplified music that you said >> we don't. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. And I guess to the town manager on all
the if there we wouldn't do quies and stories on these correct because it would go through the state instead of us. >> No, we did do the checks. >> We did these checks and everything came through. Okay. >> Yes. >> You you good, Amy?
>> All right. Uh Matt Shel Brian >> uh just in general I think um sounds good. I had the same question that Amy had and uh Elaine just going through our process and checklist you find everything satisfactory or is there
anything exception or outstanding that we should hear? >> Everything is satisfactory. Um I do recommend including the list of conditions that the fire chief attached as we have done um for this license since 2023.
>> Okay. And um O'Reilly party is okay with that and agreed to that. >> Yes, of course. >> Thank you. Brian. >> Oh, I'm all set. We've talked to them. We've asked the questions previously.
>> Yep. >> Yeah, I'm all set. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, I mean, I I think my my final comment, you know, before we open this up to public hearing is, you know, we always want to reiterate with the liquor licenses how important it is as the
owner of that establishment and the license holder um to to keep our residents safe and the responsibility that comes with that. I know all your paperwork's in place, but we always want to give that reminder, you know, that that's the utmost important thing here in town to our license holders.
So with that um I will move to public comment. If someone has public comment for this you know please raise your hand and we we'll get you access to the to the meeting. Okay I'm not seeing any hands raised. I'll go just due to the virtual meeting.
Any last last opportunity? Okay. Uh with that, I'll look for the board um to vote to clo We'll make a motion to close the public hearing. >> Move the motion to close the public hearing. >> Second.
>> All right. There's a motion and a second. Uh we will go roll call. Matt >> Ker. Yes. >> Brian. >> Brian her. Yes. Amy >> Amy Rbush. Yes. >> Shadwell man. Yes.
>> And Joe Clark. Yes. So all right. So now that the uh public hearing is closed, you know, thank you everyone for attending that. Uh now we just need any final thoughts or a motion on transferring the license. >> Mr. Chair, I move to approve the transfer of the section 12 all alcohol
license from Orali Inc. Mauricio Bremerman to Oralei Mexican Restaurant, Inc. Victor Roman for the restaurant located at 22-24 Main Street. >> And do we can we add the condition as
Elaine suggested? >> Thank you, Amy. >> I I make the correction to include all the um what was what was it? I guess you would say from the the same conditions for the original approval from April
10th, 2023, >> right? >> The list of conditions, the list of the 10 conditions. >> Um, so I amen to include the conditions u from 2023. >> Second.
>> Okay, we've got a motion. Uh, it was slightly tweaked to include the original conditions and then a second. Um, any final thoughts and then we will go to roll call. >> Shidelon. Yes. >> Amy.
>> Amy Rabbush. Yes. >> Matt. >> Mattis. Yes. >> Brian. >> Brian her. Yes. >> And Joe Clark. Yes. Uh, congratulations guys. That's done. Uh, thank you for attending tonight and appreciate you signing on. So, have a good evening. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. Thank you so much for everybody. >> Thank you. >> Have a good evening. All right. So, moving on. >> Did you do number three, the public forum statement or there's nothing to this time? >> There was nothing for for this one. Yep.
>> Thanks. >> Um, so we are going back to the budgets and I think we left off with either what was it Elaine, town managers or CPC. Who would like to go first? Well, since I have to stay for the whole
meeting, Ken can go first. >> Perfect. Mr. W, can we get Mr. Wise Mantle access, please? >> Great. Does somebody have my presentation? >> Hold on, Ken. I'm getting an echo. Can you say something again?
Does somebody have my presentation? >> Um, we will check that. Am I the only one getting the echo with Ken? >> I'm I'm getting it, too. >> Ken, do you got two speakers going or something? Or a phone. >> I suppose I could share a screen.
>> Yeah, you got you got rid you got rid of the echo. So, uh, you >> I think Ben can pull it up. It's in our packet. Um, >> yeah. Okay. >> It's coming up, Ken. >> Page 25. >> So, so Ken, can we try and keep this to like five minutes? I know you guys usually have a lot to cover, but
>> we'll we'll make it in four. >> Even better. >> Okay. Next slide, please. >> This is kind of an overview for CPC. As I think the select board knows, we uh handle open space, historic
preservation, community housing, and recreation. Basically, our revenue is about a million7 this year, and there'll be a state match of about 18% and we collect 2% search charge on our
real estate tax. Next slide. Basically, CPC comes with a list of recommended projects. We come with a source of funds to pay for our projects. We made some very tough budget decisions
and not all requests were funded. CBC is proposing to continue a significant multi-year project in the rehab rehabilitation of the former center school. And CPC is working with parks and wreck to better design the
picket cricket pitch and baseball field at Fruit Street. Next slide. >> This is a list of our projects. Uh we have 20 grand for Headstone restoration,
$2 million on center school, some benches and picnic tables for the town common sandy beach and EMC skate park. 25,000 lighting for Fruit Street pickle ball courts, 250,000.
Uh a new floor uh in the Ellsworth conference room at the library for 25 grand. We're doing some design work for the crumbling limestone in the entrance of town hall. And we also asked not for
money but but to revote to expand on the FY24 approved project scope to consider alternate locations or layouts of the picket walk court and the cricket field. Next slide, please.
We have two uh land purchases at this point that we're willing to recommend. The first is a very small part parcel off of uh Winter Street uh for 35,000. It is budding several other U
town open space part parcels. And the second is we want to buy the swamp in the open space in the back of the uh Carbon property. I'm sure you're aware of of that as the uh board is
looking to purchase the front part. We're still in negotiations on McBride land purchase. I'm not sure we're going to get there, but they're still on our list. Next slide, please. CPC requests that the select board
support our recommendation at the FY uh 27 grant wrist at the annual town meeting. Thank you. And any questions? >> Perfect. Ken, thank you for walking us through that quickly. Um, I'll just jump
right to the board for who's got questions for Ken. >> I have two quick questions. uh one is and on the u total current um fund what is the size and what is our yearly
average utilization >> I'm sorry I didn't understand the question >> um so we collect about 1.7 million a year right per CPC 2% of our real estate tax what is our average spend per year
and what is the total fund size today. >> It every year varies depending on what projects are before us. >> Uh we're like >> we're low this year. >> Uh but
center school will have a big number next year. Uh we are allowed to I'll say put it into our savings account so that we can fund big projects in the future. And I believe we're somewhere around
seven eight million dollars in our collective bank. You know, some of it is in housing, some of it's in undesated u and and very little uh maybe a million dollars in open space, but historic is
down to almost nothing. And >> yeah, housing meaning affordable housing or just in general it is affordable housing category I believe. Right. the 78 million >> it if if I understood the question the
housing group you know those projects are usually few and far between but when they are the really big ones so u >> yeah no understood what I was going is that kind of measuring where what our
utilization is u collection versus overall fund level And uh if not today I know um we are a little tight on time. I'd like to understand for future what
is kind of u the strategic plan for the entire fund in terms of our overall CPC goals. Um cuz you know it's good to have the money but the purpose is for certain areas for um you know utilization
uh specific benefit and outcome for the town and CPC and the committee and everyone is doing a wonderful job in supporting this. But I wanted to kind of compare and understand compared to other towns are we doing enough? Are we
compile compiling too much fund certain measures I don't know and maybe we are doing over even you know you may say come back and say hey with all the requests we see we actually project um uh deficit in the coming years all are good answers I just want to understand
the state I mean I don't know if all are good answers but all answers are you know uh whatever the realistic answer is but to understand where we are and how best we and strategically positioned for that. The other kind of hidden or untold part of it is that as you see our um
capital budget is getting um more and more difficult with our budget and everything. So I'm not saying CPC has to you know take burden of it but when we do the strategically forwardlooking plan it would be good to kind of weigh in
what and what not we can share uh for the burden of the town as well. uh but some of those numbers and understanding would help down the line. >> We we we like to contribute to the town in capital budget areas. We are very
limited in the four areas that we can spend money in uh but if it falls into those four corners uh and it's a appropriate project we've we've gone forward with it. >> Okay. Thank you. example is center
school. Uh the cricket field will probably be a $2 million ask next year once we figure out where it should really be. Uh you know, so I mean we we have plenty of ways to spend as much money and we really count on all the
boards and committees that propose these projects. We're not as CPC MA members are not doing the projects but the basically the proponents of the projects are. >> Appreciate that and appreciate all the
work you do. Just top of the head um little bit of comment is when we have 78 million in the funding it's a healthy um healthy I think balance but CPC is not a like a stabilization fund right so we want to also measure the utilization so
8 million is almost four or five years of contribution is that the normal trend with other towns or are we going slower than what we are collecting that is the question and I don't know the answer I I would like to some information and data just to
comprehend that better. >> I know we slowed down during CO because the committees that were doing the work slowed down. Uh but we have of the seven or eight million, you know, we're
looking at $4 million for the rest of center school in a in a future year and maybe $2 million coming up for this cricket field. uh that spends a good good amount of our background in that area.
>> So So Ken, I'm I'm going to jump in quick. I thought when we agreed to move forward on center school, I thought we were borrowing against future years CPC so that it wasn't hitting in large chunks and it was never taking up more
than like 30% of a year's CPC. We're we have that choice. At this point, I don't want to borrow money if we have it in our bank account, you know, but but we could do that.
>> Okay. Let's we we don't need to go into that tonight. Um I think we should have another discussion around that because like as a town, we all need to be on the same page with that. But um I'll carry on. Next questions. Matt, I see you got your hand raised. >> Yeah, I'll be quick. I I want to echo some of what Abdul was saying, but maybe
from a different perspective here. And Ken, only some of this is for you, but broadly speaking, it isn't always clear what the bigger picture plan is with some of the money that we're putting aside here. I find this as a frustration a lot in like open space where we're buying land and we're buying land and
green is good, but what are we doing with it besides having green in town? There's lots of trees in town. I can see them everywhere, but how is it helping me? I wish I better understood what the vision and strategy was for how we intend to spend the money. So I think I think Mr. Man's asking fair questions
about are we getting our value and how do we compare to other towns. I want to come at it from the other side here which is what's the plan because sitting here and having been involved for almost a decade now and again I don't mean this as a criticism it's truly an observation. You just said it yourself actually. The projects come to you and I
can appreciate that. But I wish I had a better idea of what we wanted as a strategic vision over the next 5, 10, 25 years. How do we want to be spending this money? What are the big projects we want to spend it on so that I think to Joe's point, we could have a better feel
in our stomachs where it's ah this is the year it's going to do this, but we know why. I feel like we don't get the benefit of that because we're always talking to you yeartoear case to case and for some of these bigger picture spend items it helps us a lot when we get to see them coming. So just to offer
it as strategic feedback for the fund maybe as part of this bigger picture conversation. Let's have a bigger conversation with you from a how do you want to spend it? What are we truly hoping to accomplish here? And how can we get aligned about that goal? Let's make it a little less mysterious.
I would suggest that the select board have the conversation with say the open space committee that you appoint most of the members uh what what their strategic plan is. Uh they're the ones that are
proposing the projects. I know they try to find somebody that's willing to sell their land. We don't buy all the land that is proposed. Uh some of it you know, just doesn't fit into the
close to trails or protecting a certain resource, etc. You could also have the conversation with parks and wreck. You know, what facilities do we want to see in town? You know, cricket field, uh,
the water park, uh, things like that. >> I'm with you. We can always summon people here. So maybe Ken, it's a bit of a two-way street because I'm going to push it to you from the other side, which is you chair the committee that oversees the fund. I I want you to have more of an opinion than just is this a valid project. I'm expecting that you
have thoughts and that the team involved has thoughts as well about strategic direction. We're going to be involved, too, cuz we have to say yes or no at the end of things, but your opinion is valid, too. So yes, to the general board, I think we really do need to have more of a conversation here about where this is going. As money gets tighter in
town and the budgets get tighter, we don't always want to be just saying yes. I'm not saying these aren't valid projects. They are good. They have purpose. Let's show the people we're doing the diligence here. And to Mr. Manan's point, that the money spent is well spent. >> Thanks, Matt. Uh Amy Brian,
>> just gonna say um I'm the lead on the CBC. I've attended a few of their meetings. So, I don't really have too many questions, but I do want to add that I'm very excited to see the center school project starting to come together. We had a really nice presentation at historic district commission recently about the the design, and I think that's really going to be a community asset in years to
come. >> I agree. Thanks, Amy. Uh, Brian, >> hi, Ken. I saw you had about 250K, I think it was, for some lighting for the pickle ball courts on Fruit Street. Um, have you guys is that all set with
the planning board and everyone else? >> Excuse me. >> It has not been approved by the planning board at this point. Uh, it it is a parks and wreck project. They've met with some lighting experts and supposedly there's enough power on
Fruit Street to do it. >> Okay. All right. That's been a conversation in the past, so I'm curious to see how that plays out. Thank you. It's it's of all the places where we could have a lighted pickle ball, this is significantly far from most of the
neighbors. >> Yeah. Okay. Thanks. >> Perfect. Um Ken, I don't have any additional questions. I think there's, you know, as I alluded to, there's probably some things that we can um regroup on at a future meeting, but this was very helpful tonight. So, thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Um, so I think Elaine, that leaves us with just uh just your budget for this evening. >> Okay. >> Uh, well, Ben is putting that up. Um,
there's a number of different line items that fall under the tell manager umbrella and I'll go through those. Um starting with uh the operating budget for the department. And so um like other departments before
me, uh what's shown there in the top um the top band of of numbers is the operating budget for the town manager's office showing um current year salaries. Um as you remember, we don't uh budget for raises. uh that comes later in the year after their merit increases. Um and
the um expenses are reduced slightly reflecting anticipated costs. So no change essentially to the the work that's done in the town manager's office in this budget. >> Okay. >> And you and you are comfortable with the
town manager's recommendation? >> Yes, I am. >> Okay. Good. Just just just making sure. >> That was a good one, Joe. >> Process is process. I love it. >> Try try to bring a little levity to this virtual meeting. Um,
>> and just as a reminder, it it uh funds four full-time uh people and one part-time person. U moving to animal control if there are no questions there. Uh animal control uh this year um is the
same except that we are um we are um increasing the number of hours for the animal control officer from 20 to 25. Given the volume of calls and activity that's gone up over the last few years, uh it's time to recognize that this is a
constant thing and not an aberration. Uh we're a larger community. Uh we have a lot of animals and they're not always behaving. >> Perfect. Um Elaine, if you want, do you want to just go through all of the operating budgets and then I'll open up
to the board for specific questions? >> Okay, sure. Sounds good. >> Uh next then for legal uh reflect a slight increase in um cost for town council service based on estimates of our usage and our continued transition. We still have a couple of litigation uh
uh items with Harrington Heap. So, uh a little bit of an increase there for for next year as that uh finishes up. For weights and measures, um there's an agenda item later this evening to talk about how we move forward for this next year for weights and rather measures. As
you recall, our sealer of weights and measures passed away. Um and when looking at uh the options for this next year, we realize we need to learn more about uh what the sealer of weights and measure does and the cost to the town. The state is able to contract with uh
communities whose population is under 20,000 which we still are there. So they will contract with us um and we'll discuss that later. Um so we may need to increase this item as shown here by about $1,000 to cover that contract and that's for the calendar year for this
year. So we'll be talking about that later as well. Uh for economic development, this is a new line item and this is the uh funding that is in the new uh meals tax um revenue account once that account is
created. Uh this um budget would fund a full-time economic development position with a mid-year hire. So half the salary is shown here uh for this next fiscal year. um as well as some money for expenses and for sponsorship for a
couple of uh town items such as the holiday stroll and restaurant week which we had budgeted for in the past in the town managers budget but we'd move it here. Uh we didn't budget for it last year. We skipped last year. Uh the next line is
the select board. There's no uh budget there. Uh, in the past there was a $2,000 a month that was carried and it was never spent and last year we zeroed that out and we we'd keep that. Uh, for the other general government items, um, we have hydrant charges that goes to the
enterprise fund to cover uh, the town use of hydrants. Um, we have funding for our annual audit, uh, funding for the printing of the annual town report, uh, for our public relations firm and for electronic voting. Um, I know that elsewhere in the budget we have the line
item to purchase the electronic voting. If that goes forward, uh, we can eliminate this item here. Um, and for the next item is town hall. Uh, these are expenses related to town hall itself. Uh, furniture, equipment, repairs, maintenance, landscaping,
whatever is needed during the year. Um, and then veteran services. Uh, this is the Metro West Veteran Services District. Uh, we're in a district with Hollist, Hopkin, Medway, and Ashland. and we split the costs for personnel and expenses and each town funds additional
uh benefits that are paid directly to benefits in each town. Um and that cost is estimated and the actual cost depends on the number of applications that are received and approved each year. Uh we also have the celebrations line
and in there is the $30,000 for the fireworks for family day uh and some expenses for Memorial Day and any other small items that come up for family day as well. And then finally we have employee benefits and insurance. Um at this time we're projecting an overall
8.6% increase for these items which includes our health insurance, uh general insurance, um unemployment insurance, and so forth. So, we're still gathering some information on these, but right now our projection is just under 9%. So, that's what we have for the
operating budgets. And then if we scroll down further, we have some one-time expenses. Uh, one is replacement of a fence at this along the center trail. Um the second is a
consultant for an urg emergency response which we'll be talking about later and also a consultant for strategic planning. Those last two are just estimated expenses and over the next week week and a half I'll get more firm numbers on those uh those projects. The
strategic planning effort is a component of a strategic plan likely to be community engagement part portion of that by a consultant. >> Okay, perfect. Um, I'll open up to the board for any questions or comments around both the operating and the uh
one-time expense segments. Can we go back to the operating budget, please? Thank you so much. Elaine, I have to ask I have to ask Elaine. I'd like to ask about celebrations.
So celebrations and economic development both caught my eye because as you were talking I was thinking this is where the lights could be paid for and then you got to celebrations. So being less koi can you help me understand what essentially allows something to make the
criteria of inclusion here for a celebration. So family day fireworks yes lighting up town common no. How do you distinguish and decide between the two? Is this where we should be asking to see that money be spent in
the future? >> Yes. So, the holiday lights could be anywhere in the budget. Uh, in the past, parks and wreck has really um felt that it should be in their budget because they um maintain and manage the common. It's under their jurisdiction and so that's that's been their preferred
location, but it can be funded anywhere. >> Okay. I just and I'm generically asking here because I see celebrations and I think about putting up lights and to me they feel thematically similar. Just quickly and again I'm going to try and stay out of Louise. I'm trying to be good tonight. Economic development. Can
you give me a brief high level on what you're envisioning that money being utilized for because I know this is our first year. >> Yes. So, u u $60,000 of what's listed here would be for a half a year salary for the full-time individual and then
the remaining uh funds would be for uh about $1,000 between the two community events and then the remaining for econom economic development programs or um expenses that occur once we have someone on board uh who may have some ideas of
some programs we can we can undertake. >> Okay. So respecting that there is a board that has oversight and is working on seeing that I would like to get a better idea of what sort of to use Mr. Man's term what are the measurables going to be coming out of this this is a new position and it has significant
potential let's say benefits let's be positive here it has a lot of potential benefits to things that we want to do in other departments I want to just be tied into this and get an idea of how things are going there during the year and what we're percolating up from there otherwise looks good to me and I
appreciate the diligence. Thank you very much, Elen. >> Thank you, Matt. Amy, Shidle, Brian, thoughts. >> Don't think I have any questions on this one. >> I'm all set. Thank you.
>> Um, all looks good. Elaine, one quick clarification. The unemployment, it went up pretty high last year and then it went down. Do you know why? Uh I don't know the particulars of that.
>> Okay. It certainly went up by 50k 60k and then it went down this year. >> I do know that we changed um uh the entity that uh manages that for us. So there could have been some cost savings there. >> Oh, that'll be good. Yeah. No other
question. Thank you. Good job. >> Okay. Um Elaine, did you want to move on to capital? Yes. So, the one uh capital item we have is the land purchase at 280 East Cedar Street, which is the Carbonius property. And this would be purchased um for a
couple of reasons. Um one is for a uh pump station for the MWR project should we connect to the MWR. Uh we do need this location based on the the grade and so forth of the road in that um in that area as it makes the pipe would make its
way from South Barrow uh into Hopkinington. the owner uh would like to sell the whole property and not just a small portion of it. Um there are other municipal uses that we've talked to departments about for that property uh which can occur with a pump station or
instead of a pump station if it doesn't come to fruition. And the, as you heard, the CPC is interested in the back portion of the property, which abuts the Hopkin State Park and would allow for a trail system to connect and also some parking for people who want to walk to
the Akens Park, which is down uh toward the MBTA station in Southboro. Also could somebody could park uh here and um go to the the train station as well. So it could serves multiple uses, but the main purpose right now uh that we're
looking at it is for the the pump station. The um the uh amount of funds that are requested um include um uh money for demolition and restoration of the
restaurant area and we would keep the parking lot as it is for now. >> Awesome. the the owner plans to um to cease operating at the end of August this year.
>> Perfect. Thanks, Lane. And and I agree. I think there's, you know, multiple reasons that this is an exciting thing for the town to get involved with. Um and it will ultimately go to town meeting for vote, of course. But, um, you know, thank you for spearheading this. Uh, any comments here from the
board? I would the same. It's a >> yeah um sounds like a good uh opportunity and given some of the needs that we have uh along with the pump station and potentially other and the
strategic location of that um that place or that um property. I think it's a good opportunity. >> Yeah, I agree. And it looks like um CPC is going to be funding some of the portion of it, the portion that would be open space if that
>> So if that um comes to fruition, they're interested in um the portion of the land that extends into Ashland as well. So if that comes to fruition, we would reduce the the amount here by the CPC funded portion. >> And I've heard concerns in the community that um they're worried that this will
be used for the MBTA Communities Act um housing building. But this this area, if I remember correctly, from last year, was not included in the NBT zoning district. So that's not something that that's off the table. Yeah. >> Thanks. >> Perfect. Anyone else have comments for
Elaine? >> I lost that. Thanks. >> All right. Awesome. Elaine, thank you. Run us through that. >> All right. So now moving on. I think that captured all of our budgets for
this evening. Um and we are on schedule from a time standpoint. So now I think um the board will consider discussing and developing the scope of a public safety policy audit study that would include the schools and emergency services. So um
you know first we invited our you know our town leadership team. So, we've got our superintendent, fire chief, police chief, uh you know, additional leadership from both departments, and then um Megan, are you out there, too? I think so. Can we let them all in so that
we can perfect? It looks like almost everyone's in. Uh can you all hear me? Okay. >> Yes, sir. >> Yep. >> Perfect. you know, first off to all all of you, you know, thank you guys all for, you know, all the work that went
into the last, you know, what 48 hours with the storm. I know there was a lot of work ahead of time. Um, a really tough storm, but, you know, I think I got updates from all of you sharing, you know, what was a relatively quiet day from emergency management perspective.
So, we always like hearing that. Um, you know, so a big hats off to all of you. Um, so, you know, before I jump into this, you know, I think this, you know, I think it's important that, you know, we're all on the same page here. Uh, I I
think when we talk about, you know, this whole, you know, public safety, emergency management, schools, uh, you know, review, audit, you know, project. Um I you know I I just and I've talked to most of you guys about this. You know for me this is just really important
because it's regarding you know the safety of our residents and especially our students in the schools and you know I'm just of the personal mindset that you know we can never do enough in regards to something like this. Um and then in regards to you know you know how
this project's going to lay out. you know, we invited you all here to get your input so that we're all doing this collectively as a town and as a as a leadership team. And, you know, I I view this as a very positive thing. I think, you know, I think in any line of work, it's very easy to get, you know, stuck
and very focused on your day-to-day um roles and responsibilities. And sometimes it's hard, you know, I find this in my own job to kind of step back and, you know, take a look objectively at like what I'm doing in my career and, you know, should I be changing something? should I is there something I
can be doing better? I try and always be cognizant of it, but it's it's difficult and I I truly believe it's for every line of work. So, I think this is an opportunity for us to view things like that and really just say, you know, hey, what can we do better? You know, we're
not we're not looking for things that are, you know, going wrong. You know, I I personally think Hogad's a very safe town. Uh but back to my first point, we can always do better. So I want to you know kind of set the expectation with this. This is our first conversation
around this um as a group together. So, you know, place ideas, you know, discuss what you want out of it for your department individually and then we collectively will kind of move forward with this scope so that Elaine can have. Our goal should really be to
help Elaine narrow down what the scope of this engagement should be so that we can get that much closer to hey what is the real one? I'll take silence as as yes or >> yeah I mean I I can jump in chair I feel
like you know we've talked a little bit about safety uh since I took over as superintendent and I feel like I have a great working relationship with the fire and police department uh and we talk about this at the schools all the time like reflection is a sign of strength it's not a weakness right so we should always be reflecting we should always be
um looking at our practices identifying blind spots you know um we want to always continue to refine and strengthen our systems because we all talk about how um you know the safety of our students and staff is our top priority and so you know from a school's perspective I think we do a lot of great
things but I would be more than welcome to have an audit come in and give us some feedback and and point out some areas we can improve upon. I think that's just that's just the way we should be approaching not only academics but finances, operations, safety, all of it. So, I'm I'm in full support of it
>> through the chair. Um, I support I support the uh independent audit too. Um, >> awesome. Thank you. >> I feel like an outside perspective just strengthens our capability and enhances the service that we can provide the community. Um, I did like the way you started it off. This is more of um a way
that we can prove service, not like a criticism towards any of the town departments. Um, so I think this is a step in the right direction. >> Yeah. Through the chair. Um, I think this is fantastic as well. Um, we have
all spoken, the three, uh, the superintendent and the fire chief and I and, uh, we're actually really looking forward to this. We've been working diligently since 2014 when Deval Patrick came out with the recommendations and we built the school safety task force on that and have done a lot of
enhancements. That being said, uh techn is evolving so fast. There may be some opportunities there might be some training gaps that we need to fill and uh have an outside independent person come in and look at those and kind of give us a road map that would be excellent.
Perfect. Chiming in there because you know we really look to you. You know you all as like our our safety team, right? The town the residents depend on you. >> And building on that. Oh, sorry. And you
know, I'm very grateful for everything that you each do and good stuff going on in the backgrounds, you know. >> Yeah. Can Can you hear me, Chief? >> Uh, you kind of >> breaking it out. You're breaking up. >> You guys losing me?
>> Maybe. >> Yeah. >> Off video sometime. Maybe. Yeah. >> Temporarily. >> Yeah. Your family's probably gaming and streaming, killing your internet. >> You're still breaking up, J.
>> Can you guys hear me? Okay. >> Yes, sir. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh, yeah. So, I think the last point I was going to make was, you know, I I've been, you know, working with all of you, um, you know, throughout the last year or two. I've been able to see a lot of the good stuff that's going in the background. I think this is a great
opportunity to highlight some of these things and show what we're doing good and then figure out how to take it to the next level. So, with that, I'll I'll kind of turn it over to the board, you know, for comments, thoughts. We know we're not going to solve everything tonight, but I want to hear everyone's perspectives on, you know, how do we
start narrowing down this scope because everyone seems to be in agreement with the idea of it >> uh through the chair. So, first, thank you to the three of you for just being open-minded about it. It isn't easy ever when you are talking about having somebody come in and do a subject matter
expert review. I appreciate the maturity and just the leadership from all three of you in that regard. So just starting there I for me Joe and to the three of you and the broader board I almost want us to really be thinking about sort of number one just ICE and community response. I think we need to be showing
to the broader community that we feel comfortable and we understand what our policies are how things would go and that not just that we're comfortable on paper but we're comfortable with what that might look like in execution including the aftermath and followup. Right? So, not just are we able to
protect a child? Should we be protecting a child based on where they are? Do we have to comply, but also for the community at large, what does the aftermath look like, right? Do we have an angry federal presence now? And how do we respond to that? And what does that look like? So, just being mature
and strategic in our thinking here. And then that's the other one I'd really encourage the three of you to kind of go after here as we get into this really the unexpected piece of what it means to be thinking about emergency preparedness. Heaven forbid we have an interesting I say interesting you can
tell I'm playing video games and watching TV folks a real disaster here right my wife and I like to joke that there's a pretty nice source of water there somebody might come for the town do we truly have the worst of the worst plans in mind as well so just really trying to think about yes real world
examples today but also thinking bigger picture stuff as well I think the community wants to know somewhere someone is asking that really strange question because there's a one in a million chance it's going to save a Thanks, Matt. Um, Shyel, Amy, Brian,
>> I was going to say I definitely agree that we should always be reviewing our practices and looking for, you know, continuous improvement like everyone has said and there's always things that we can learn and the landscape changes. So what do we need to do tonight? We need to narrow the scope.
>> Yeah, I think we're looking for again this is the first time we're all getting together collectively. So I want it to be an open session where you know we can share ideas about how we think this should go so that we can start to narrow the scope because ultimately we want to we want to enable Elaine to go out and
have some conversations with consultants around hey you know these are the five the 10 the the whatever number of things that we want to start to focus on and I I know it's kind of a you know a large task and we probably can't accomplish that in in a short time here tonight but
I think that's the way we want to start thinking about this. >> So, the two things I think that come to my mind the most are the LG facility, which I know we've been working on, but that's um a really big a big thing in town and it could cause a lot of damage if something were to happen.
>> And then also the fact that we're building yet another school in the very same area. So, the Charleswood schools can be very close to Marathon and Hopkins and high school and middle school. And that's a lot of children to if there was a natural disaster or, you know, or a man-made disaster, a
shooting. How would we manage all that? So, so that's the scenario that I think we really should be um working on because we we do the drills, I think, at all the individual individual schools, but what if we had to evacuate the whole area at once?
>> Yep. Perfect. Thank Thanks, Amy. We'll we'll just keep Yeah, I I see you guys have some hands raised. We'll come I just want to get through the board quickly and then we'll come around. Everyone sound good. Um Shel or Brian? Um I would echo the same. I think uh
thanks again um Joe, Ian, Gary for u your thoughtful remarks and openness to it and u completely agree that reflection and through learning or being open to improve is the key to excellence. So very excited and actually
if you remember when we first had the school drill I had asked for you know having a expert look. So, it it's great that we are moving towards it. Uh, and I I am sure it'll be better for the town and for all of our um uh all of our
needs. That said, I agree with Amy. Those are the, you know, major uh areas to focus. In general, I would say uh special emergency situations for school at large uh and the children and areas
uh scope-wise. How do we, you know, coordinate across all the first responders and school? How do we communicate and um uh work with the larger uh national security forces if
needed? And how do we communicate and coordinate with the residents, the parents and um some of those details? If you uh remember we always have you know very anxious um parents me included in
any situation close to this. So a big part of course of the focus would be to protect and act and another big part is to make that communication to u bring everyone up to speed as you see fit with
the and and being prepared with a playbook of that sort. And the other two I mean major but um the other two I would say is LNG plant as Amy was mentioning and then um marathon is
little bit um larger and special focus and I know we have a lot of um a lot of good work at state level also helping us in doing that. But that would be a third one. Uh if we need to you know revisit or refresh our standard procedures and
uh and playbook that will be the third one and I don't know how it it plays out with your our overall strategy. Would be happy to hear from the experts and also uh I'm sure cost and implementation time
would be another factor. So those are my initial thoughts but again uh kudos to you know coming together to do this. >> Thanks Shaid Brian. >> I think it's a great idea. Uh there's no harm in u getting together with everyone
and talking it through and trying to figure out if we can improve. I do think the LG plant was studied extensively uh prior to the legacy farms develop and moving forward. So, we may want to go back and see if that's still in play and
still relevant. Um, I I I don't know like do we have a budget for this, Elaine? This won't be inexpensive. I think it's well it's money well spent, but do we have a budget for it for 27? So, so Brian, she
earmarked some funding and it was really just a, you know, like some ROM placeholder, you know, while we work to narrow down the scope and she can get real estimates. >> Okay. All right. That's cool. Uh, no, I think it's great and I really appreciate
everybody coming together tonight and talking about it and let's do what's in the best interest of the town. Thanks. >> Yep. Um, so I'll go quick and then I know all of you had a couple comments, so I'll hand it back over to to you all. But for me, I kind of look at this as a
few things like, you know, you know, I think Evan, we you know, we talked a lot about the the schools and, you know, over the last year or so, you know, the active shooter stuff is always, you know, a top of- mind thing, but I think, you know, schools specifically, there's so much more that goes into that, right?
um you know, weather events, just um just challenges that kids are facing these days that uh we may be able to do stuff proactively to help. I think we we heard a little bit about that a little while back. So, I think there's just, you know, different things that just haven't been in our scope uh that and
you know, frankly, we're probably doing some of it, right? Um that you know, I'm I'm just not aware. Uh and then I think beyond that if if I look at something you know this was more of a tactical thing for you know thinking about the select board in the broader sense. Um
you know these last two years for me I think about you know you know Gary uh and and Joe when we do the you know your performance reviews you know I'll be very honest um it's it's been a challenging thing to do. You know, I I've obviously spent a lot of
time around the fire department growing up, but I would never pretend to have spent my career in there. Uh things that you guys every day and you've been doing for decades. It's been hard as like, you know, someone coming in to, you know, performance manage that. So, I think the
board could you use this as, you know, ways to kind of set better goals for the town and for our leaders. Um it's not just you two, you know, Elaine, we've talked about the same thing. So, um, I'd like to, you know, look at things like that as well. So, um, I will pause there and kind of hand it over to all of you.
You know, initial thoughts, feedback. >> Chief Dory, do you want to go first? Do you want me to I know I saw your hand up. >> Uh, doesn't matter. Uh, Mr. Bishop, I think we're both probably going to talk about the same thing. Um, just so the board's aware, um,
we do a lot in the emergency management realm. um police department schools um have been working together for the past couple years. Um we've also partnershipped with Mass Maritime, their emergency management program. So last year we actually did a townwide uh with
all the department heads a tabletop exercise focus on a focusing on a natural disaster at one of the schools. Uh we also have a partnership with them again this year. We have another um tabletop exercise coming up focusing on an incident at um a marathon and then
we're also working with another individual to do a uh something with the water department. So we are doing a lot of things behind the scenes. Um and then I'll probably let uh Mr. Bishop talk about the I love you Foundation and some of the stuff we're doing for like after the active shooter type events.
>> Yeah, I can jump in and uh thank you Chief Doy. So, just to piggyback on that, I know Matt and Amy brought up different points about um some of the stuff that we're doing uh in in kind of after an event, we're doing a lot behind the scenes. We're working with the I love you guys foundation. They came in
and did a training with our central office team. Police was there, fire was there. We actually went through a scenario um after the fact and we talked about reunification. Uh and to Amy, your point, having the buildings close by, what would that look like? Where would students go? How would we get parents
involved? So, um, you know, we don't get into all those details with the community, but there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes. Uh, we meet as a police, fire, and school system, um, monthly, uh, for our district safety task force, and we we go through all different types of scenarios. We just
had a weather drill at the middle school, uh, an actor shooter drill's coming up at the high school in a few weeks. So, we're always prepping those. We're talking about how it's going to work, trying to look at different things to make sure that we we have drills that are um, useful for our staff and for our students. We've talked about um doing
some more drills at the elementary level. That has not been something that we've done um historically here in Hopington. It's something that we're considering doing. So um I've been impressed with the collaboration and the work that goes on behind the scenes. Um I do think having an audit come in to be able to point out any blind spots I
think is important, but I'm also excited for them to hopefully come and see some of the good stuff that we're doing as well. Uh because I think we do have a really strong partnership. Awesome. Thank you both. Uh, Chief Bennett, you know, Megan, we we we haven't heard from dispatch and then obviously the rest of
all your leadership teams. We'd love to hear um from you guys while we still have a couple minutes. >> Sure. Um, as as we've been talking about, we've been working really hard on this safety topic both at the school and um in
collaboration with the senior leaders, educating people on how to react and respond to an active attack. Um, we uh I'm actually one of the reasons I'm looking forward to the audit is so we
can really show all the work that this this team has put in and uh give some kudos to my to my people from an outside source. But uh and even Elaine support has been immense. She's given us time at senior leader meetings. She's made her
staff uh available for trainings and uh we're going to keep it going. Um, as a senior leader, Megan, do you want to go next? She's on mute if she's talking. All right, we we can move on. Megan. Megan.
>> Yeah. Sorry about that. I'm on my cell phone and I got myself into a screen that I didn't know how to get out of. Um, but no, I agree with what everybody says. Um, you know, we have done a lot of work in the background as far as
preparing for things as well as, you know, afteractions, probably unofficial afteractions after anything's happened. And you know, I think we do work great as a team. Um, all of the different departments, but of course, it would be great to see, you know, where do we need
some help? Where where are we doing good? Where could we do better? I think it's a a great idea to to get an outsider's opinion on on how we're doing. >> Perfect. Um and and I will kind of open it up to
the rest of your leadership team, but I know several of you joined, so I want to make sure everyone has a chance to, you know, share their thoughts. >> Deputy >> uh No, I appreciate it. I think um as far as scope goes um I think doing a
deep dive into individual policies um the training that uh is available uh for our staff and um how it matches up with best practices um not only statewide but across the nation um and using real life
examples um catered to um our unique community. Um I think we we're very different than a lot of communities and um some of the things that we have available to us uh the contacts that we have and um just our geographic location
um gives us a lot of advantages but it also um can create some uh some obstacles for us. So um I think anybody uh from the outside that uh has you know experience in this um to look at what
we're doing and then um also giving us critiques to um do better and where we can uh obtain that training um or documentation to uh to improve um in the areas where we may be um I don't want to
say weak but u not as strong uh as uh as we should and prepared for um whether it's a you know an attack or whether it's a natural disaster. Um so no certainly looking forward to showcasing our abilities um but also you know
looking to see uh as the superintendent said some of our blind spots um that we may not see or taken into consideration from uh somebody who isn't from our area and you know lives lives and breathes us every day. Great. Thank you, deputy. Was there
anyone I missed or that we missed? >> Yeah, Matt. Matt McNeel for the PD. >> Hi, Lieutenant. >> Hey, how are you? >> Uh, I just want to piggy back on everybody what everybody else said about how we're uh working together. We train, we cross trainin. And uh the biggest
thing uh the deputy mentioned is policies. Um coming off, we just got accredited. Um I devoted an entire year. Um and we've either developed new
policies or have reviewed over 120 policies and they're on schedule to be reviewed. uh you know um all the time. So as with we find new trainings like the uh I love
you guys training that we got with the school that's not part of our policy but it may be in the future since these all these policies are continuing to grow and if and change and use the best practices in law enforcement. So, uh,
working collaboratively, it certainly helps us manage and create policies that work well with everybody. >> Awesome. Thank you, Lieutenant. >> Um, so like Elaine, we haven't heard much from you. Love love to get your
your thoughts here. Obviously, you and I have talked about this, you know, quite a bit, but I'd like you to share, you know, especially since you'll be spearheading this initiative. >> Yeah, I'm just uh taking notes and um we'll come up with a a u brief scope
that we can um put out to consultants and um and see what it costs. But yeah, it sounds like it's an audit of policies, practices, procedures, services, including new technology, training gaps. you using some real life examples, things that are that are
unique to Hopkin perhaps. Um and then a focus on coordination and communication with everyone. Um so it's it the scope is broad, but um I think that's something that we can probably pull together.
>> Perfect. Yeah, I I mean I I can't echo enough, you know, first of all, thank you to everyone taking the time tonight jumping on. I know it's been a busy week for all of your departments, you know, with everything with the storm. Um, you know, but I I I really believe like this is going to be a very positive thing. I
think it's going to show a lot of the success that you guys are doing behind the scenes, you know, that I' I've been aware of. And then, you know, anywhere else that we can do any additional good, it's it's only a benefit. So, you know, I thank you all for that. >> Any final thoughts from anyone before
we, you know, let everyone get back to their their nights? Just wanted to take a minute since we have the PD here to give them congratulations on their accreditation that they earned recently from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission. >> Thank you for saying big deal.
>> I was going to echo the same. Yeah, it's a big deal and long uh I think u deserved and u waited. So I appreciate all the efforts. U Sergeant McNeel mentioned about a year in the works and
kudos to our chief and deputy chief and u it's a really nice accolad and uh accreditation certainly uh builds uh confidence and shows the excellence of our police department. So I appreciate that
>> chair. Thank you all. >> All right. Awesome. Well, I really appreciate everyone making the time tonight. I know this was like just a start and and we're still pretty broad in scope, but Elaine, you you clearly captured some things to have some initial conversations and, you know,
again, we will we will be discussing all of this as a group, you know, moving forward. So, thank you all again for the time and have a good rest of your nights. Hopefully, everyone gets some sleep until the next storm comes. >> Thank you. Thanks for having us. Thank you. Good night. Have a >> good night. Thank you.
>> All right. Um, I lost my second screen, so bear with me. I think moving on, the next thing was uh the board will discuss uh partic participation by a member in the search process for the new school department
CFO. So, um first off, I'm not sure if we uh if I haven't already signed off, but you know, thank you to him. you know, you he hasn't been in the role long, but there's been collaboration from the jump uh with him, you know, working with the board, working with the other departments in town. You know, I I
certainly greatly appreciate it. And then, you know, obviously, I just want to say thank you to Susan. You know, she's done a phenomenal job in that role. Um those will be big shoes to fill. So, with with that, you know, we're just going to have a quick discussion. Um it seems like in the past
where we've been asked to uh you know have a member join a search committee or something. It it seems like there there's no uh strict way of doing it. So I think the chair has even been left up to his discretion his or her discretion in the past. But I just wanted you know
all of us to decide as a group. So we will vote on this. Uh but I'm just going to start with because I think there will be interest in this. Um just if my board my fellow board members that have interest in and would like to do this if you don't mind just kind of taking a few
seconds and just calling that out and sharing why >> I'm just gonna say that I'm not I'm not interested if that's helpful. >> Okay, perfect. >> I don't find that interviews interviewing people really is very helpful to me. So if someone else enjoys it should do. Yeah,
>> I I think you know I would appreciate um you know anyone's interest but I just want to put out I I would be interested and uh I've been leaner to school and also leans to the budget advisory so I work with this position a lot uh or interact a lot as well. So I think I
would um you know it would be I I think I can contribute to the selection process based on that experience and that relation. Uh so I would be interested uh and I certainly appreciate anyone else being interested as well.
>> Mr. Chair, I too would be interested. Uh I have participated in this process in the past. It's a really important position not only for the schools but for the entire community and I'd be happy to uh participate again. Thanks. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you, Bolt.
>> I'll make it three in a row. I'd like to be interested as well. This or I'd like to be considered as well. So, this is a position I worked pretty closely with during my time on CIC. I obviously came up through the budgeting side of our town. So, this is a position that is of
great interest to me. It's someone who potentially could be, as Joe noted, we've had significant collaboration since Evan came into role. We could be having a similar impact from a financial perspective as well. So, I'd like to be involved in making sure that we get somebody who has a similar view.
Um, Mr. Chair, if I may, I I I see my colleagues um being interested, I think I I um given Mr. Hair's experience and previous u um you know, decades of
experience in this, I support him and withdraw at this time. >> Brian, I wonder if there's an opportunity for us. I can't believe I'm going to say it. Can we tag team this? like can I maybe come along with you? I can see a little bit how you approach this. I'm comfortable yielding to you as
the one name if we truly only have to give one name, but I'd love the idea to learn and see how you approach this a little bit if you're a medible. >> That doesn't that would be fine with me. I have no issue there. Um I'm not sure how the chair wants to proceed.
Sorry. >> Can I just clarify the date is March 11th. Can everybody who's interested make that date? >> It depend on time of day. For me, unfortunately, I'm stuck at a training in Cambridge. >> Okay. >> Either way, I don't need to be on this
hill and I like that Brian is interested in doing it. I just want to try and get a chance to learn from it, but I'm comfortable backing down as well and just having Brian take this one. >> Okay. Well, I mean, I I think back to Amy's point, first off, it it's right now it's just
one thing. It's not like we've had ones in the past where it's multiple nights like, you know, some of the screening stuff. Um, who can make the 11th? Matt said, you said you had possibly had something in Cambridge. >> I'm in Cambridge. If it's at night, I can make it, but if it's during the day,
I'm likely out. >> Okay. Brian Shidle, I'll let Brian speak first. I can be the backup. I think 11 looks okay with my calendar right now. During midday, I assume, right? But again, I think Brian would be my first preference.
>> Yeah, if if it is midday, that could be a challenge for me. Um I I was thinking it might be an afternoon or evening typical meeting thing, but uh I'm sorry, Mr. Chair. Who Who's the
liaison for the school committee? Is that >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, that makes a lot of sense as the liazison as well because he knows more of the particulars about what's going on right now. Um, but yeah, the the 11th could be a little bit of a
tight one for me. I'm glad Amy brought that up. >> Okay. Um, so I I think what we need to do, I mean, all three of you, in my opinion, would make a great fit. Um, I think we need to go back with Evan if it is that
afternoon. Um, it sounds like that'll be a problem for both Brian and Matt. Shidle, you said you would be able to make it if it was that the 11th. >> Yeah, 11th. I I think I can make it. >> All right. So, let's Are are we comfort?
I think we're all I'm very happy that we're all kind of working together on this. If you you guys are fine, I don't think we need to vote. like let's just take this I'll talk to Evan offline and we'll make sure that works timing wise. Um again I think we're all in a good spot though. >> We can be adults. There can be a
question that can be shared in the background. >> Okay. All right. Cool. Well, you know I appreciate all of you you know volunteering for that and you know the good discussion around it and the collaboration. So um with that we will
we will move on. Give me one sec to get back to my agenda. Should we do we need to vote so that the chair will coordinate the the decision or or do we not need to vote? >> I that that was more of a formality I thought was nice, Amy, just for us to work together. It sounds like everyone if you guys would like to do that that's
fine. >> Um it it wasn't necessary though based off of this whole thing. >> Yeah, that's fine. You're find out the exact time and then we'll figure out who's going to do it. >> We got to work remotely more often. It gives us better behaviors. Myself very
much concluded. Um, all right. So, so moving on. Next, the board will consider reviewing and discussing preparations for this Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 annual town meeting. The board will consider setting the time of annual town meeting, reviewing the draft warrant, including the language of its own articles and
reviewing ideas to maximize attendance at the annual town meeting. So, Elaine, do you want to jump in here because we're obviously going to go through a couple things. We're going to go through uh the articles recommended by the board to start. Um I think we've
also did we already let in Connor and Zach to join us around once we get to the part around like how we can drive attendance. I think that'll be good. Um and then also of course the time um you know I think moving to a Saturday for the first time you know I'm really
interested and hopeful that we drive larger attendance. Um, but I haven't put any personal thoughts into is it 7 am, is it 9:00 am? Is it 10 am? So, I'd like to kind of start with, you know, who has thought about that and what they think
is best. >> Has has anyone thought about that? >> And it's fine if not. So, I've looked over the draft warrant and um I can there's a couple that I think are going to result in some discussion, but
hopefully not an overwhelming amount. Um I think starting at 7 or 8 would probably not be good for attendance. Um and starting too late, we're going to run the risk of
not finishing the warrant in one day. I would say a 9 or a 9:30 start would probably be late enough that people are not dragging out of bed, but not so late
that we're going to have to worry about, well, when do we schedule the next next day at the meeting? >> Okay, thanks, Zach. And to that point too, Zach, uh, you know, being that it's going to start on
the earlier side of the way, you know, I think one of the issues we've always run into with the evening town meeting is that it kind of clashes right with most people's meal times. You know, we can kind of if we make that like more of the 9:00 area, 9:00 range, that kind of
gives people a little bit more time to get something in their their stomach before they come on down to the middle school. Okay, good point. Uh, thoughts from the board on that. >> I guess I had a question about there's a lot of town hall staff that will need to
attend and is 9:00 good and it allow enough time for preparation of the site or they'll do that the day before. >> I think the 9:00 would work fine. I think a lot of the preparation could be done ahead of time, but also, you know, um, not sure kind of the election
workers would arrive between 8 and 8:30 perhaps. >> Yeah. So, they would just arrive a little bit earlier. And um yeah, if we had a you know that that start time, we'd have plenty of time to do most of the prep work the days leading up,
especially with it being on a Saturday and there not being school. We could probably even do some of the setup after school gets out on Friday. >> Yeah. Yeah, I think as I recall, we during the pandemic when we had the Saturday outdoor town meeting, the first one it was at 9:00. Um, and getting
there at 8 for setup was was fine, which we couldn't set up the night before because it was outside a lot of things. So, I think that worked well. >> Okay. uh from the board. Sounds like that 9:00 amish
start is, you know, a good recommendation. Anyone have any different thoughts? >> I had 9 to 10 in my head, so I'm happy to hear that's the number popping out. I >> I'll take silence as Sorry, I can't see everyone on video like normally, so I'll take silence as everyone's kind of in
agreement with that. >> Yeah, nine o'clock. It's fine with me. Yeah. >> So, >> problem over here. >> Okay. So, I think um I believe we're going to make a motion on that piece. Do we want to while we're We can still talk
about the rest, but do we want to do a motion on that? Did we need a motion on that, Elaine? I can't recall. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, does anyone want to make the motion to set the start time of the May 2nd, 2026 annual town meeting at 9:00?
>> Yep. I sorry, I'm I was just looking for the motion. Okay. I move to set the start time for the May 2nd, 2026 annual town meeting at 9:00 a.m. >> I'll second that, Mr. Chair, and then with a question.
>> Okay. So, we got a motion and a second. Um, before we go to roll call, thoughts, questions? Brian, you had one. >> Yeah. What's the What is the spillover date then in that scenario? What if we have to go to another day for whatever reason?
Would it be Sunday or would it be the following Saturday or I'm not wishing this, I'm just asking, you know. >> Yeah. Or Monday evening, I don't know. >> Yeah. So, if I may, great question, Brian. Um it so it actually doesn't say
so it leaves to the discretion of what our rules are on town meeting time where at the end of the meeting we can select a date when we're adjourning of when we're going to reconvene. >> So we're able to we don't have to make it a consecutive day like it had in the
older version of the bylaw. we can just say um we're going to meet again on Monday night of the the coming week or we could if there's other issues with the space that day then we can pick another day accordingly.
>> Okay. Thanks. >> But I assume before we get to Saturday time meeting, you'll know when the room is available. Like you'll know that Monday might work or next following Saturday will work because we don't want to be deciding on the fly and looking up if the room's available.
>> Yeah. We'll have a recommendation. We'll look into making sure we have recommended dates and times for if we have to go to a second day. >> Okay. So, we don't we only have to decide the first day now and before we get to the actual day, we'll have a backup date for
>> Perfect. So, with that, we we did have the the motion and the second. Um any other thoughts from the board? All right, then we will go roll call. Amy >> Amy Bush. Yes.
>> Matt. >> Matt Kisner. Yes. >> Brian. >> Brian her. Yes. >> Shidelon. Yes. >> Joe Clark. Yes. So, all right. So, town meeting is set for 9:00 a.m. on May 2nd. Um, now the other parts of this
conversation were just um Elaine, do you want to or can we pull up the current articles? Do we have those available on the agenda? >> I think Ben can pull those up. The draft warrant.
>> It's many, many pages. Joe, while that's coming up, just on a on last topic there around town meeting, is there an opportunity for us next time we discuss this to maybe get into like we're expecting more families and potentially children, maybe doing some more logistics planning for that,
including like how the heck do I get a bunch of donuts there to sell kids and some of the more benign but important parts of ensuring the meeting is successful. >> Yep. So, and and again, we can talk about that a little bit now. You know, it's I never anticipated us to just
finish this tonight, right? Like we're at the next couple meetings, we're going to be talking about this more and more. Um because it's just that, right? Are there foods? You know, I'm sure just off the top of my head, it would be very easy to get a food truck knowing that, you know, hey, there's a couple hundred people >> Exactly.
>> going to be at at the middle school from 9 to to, you know, just at least two and they would need lunch. You know, there's things like that that we can do. Um We can talk about that a little bit now. Uh but this will not be the end of these types of conversations, Matt, to
>> Okay. Yeah. And I and I didn't think it would be Joe. I just it popped into my head after sort of the natural point in the conversation. So just getting it out there, thinking about not only how do we help accommodate like the young kids that might be there while parents are trying to vote, but just like, yeah, how do we get donuts, the water bottles, and
is there a way we can tie it to the PTA, blah blah blah. We we can be smart about the fact there's going to be a lot of people there who are going to be hungry and thirsty. Yeah. Yeah. I I think my thought right now considering the timing and we're moving through the agenda pretty quickly. Let's when u when Ben
pulls up the article so that we can have a quick look. I think our next meeting we'll put this on as you know specifically all those little pieces of logistics, food, helping families, all of that on the next meeting. Sound good? >> Thank you, sir.
>> Yep. All right. Um, so let's see. Uh, Elaine, Lance, any thoughts on, you know, what we have right now for the select board ones? You guys want to walk us through? Some of these are kind of, I would I would say
like, you know, common articles that we have, you know, or standards every year. Um, but do you just want to run us through some that may be different or things that need special attention? Tonight, >> there's two citizens petitions, so that's something
And I think the the more the unique articles start with know the capital projects although you've seen the list and that's article 13. And one thing we're doing a little bit differently um
later on is there's an artic separate article with the onetime expenditures in article 14. And then rather than having separate articles for each um capital project for water and sewer enterprise, we've grouped those into
uh into one article for each where people can pull out ones for separate votes and so forth. So the way we've done for the CPC projects, uh we would take that model and use that for some of the capital projects.
>> So, that's new for this year. >> I know it's early to ask this, but Zach and Connor, have you had any thoughts at all about what portion of this agenda you feel is remotely feasible to consider as consent? Obviously, Ela, I'm interested in your thoughts here, too.
I've looked at a few of them that I think are some of the standard ones that we do year after year that we've successfully put in the consent agenda the last round. Um I think that it it's worth noting that the things we put in
consent last time, none of them got pulled out. So obviously folks were okay with those things going in. So we could potentially repeat some of the things that are regular items. uh year after year that we did last year successfully.
>> Thank you. I like that you're at least thinking about it that way. >> Yeah. Yeah. Thank Thanks, Conor. And I would agree that went pretty smoothly last year. I felt like we had a good amount in the consent agenda and it went pretty smoothly. So,
um I I guess tonight, you know, I I think there's obviously several ones that the board typically um votes on, you know, for recommendation. Uh we are not going to be getting into that tonight for all of these. I know we're still in the middle
of budgeting. Um Elaine, is it does it sound reasonable, you know, as we finish up the budgeting sessions over the next meeting or two that we would have more time in a few weeks to kind of spend on individual going through these? Is that fair or do you think we need to do something more tonight?
>> Yeah. No, absolutely. And we can have the sponsors in um just as you're looking through there's also the first draft of the uh the electric bicycle article as well as in here. >> Yeah. I I I think we're going to need quite some discussion time on that one
>> ahead of town meeting. >> And as I mentioned, there were two citizen petitions. >> Yep. One was the what was it? Drainage and the other one was Oiello Drive. >> Correct. >> Anyone want to discuss those tonight?
>> We should just be prepared on Oiello. I mean, I I'll speak candidly. It's Parker. Parker is active. He's smart. He's going to have his street ready and he's wellliked in town. So, this is not one that's just going to go up and be a quiet we all poo poo one street getting
accepted. He's going to have a plan. He's going to have numbers. He will have done his diligence. So, I just that can be a good thing or a bad thing. I don't have an opinion about this chair. I just want us to be cognizant that's not going to just be a quick up and down. People are going to be ready to talk about that
one. And I think we should be ready to let them because there's a bigger discussion here around what are our true expectations for having your road accepted in town. I know this is the road we're talking about this year happens to be oiello. There are a lot of
proverbial ollos in town. >> Yep. And and just as a it's a great point, Matt, so thank you. Um and the citizen petitions we always give a recommendation correct Elaine from the board. >> Uh it depends. Uh not every uh one will
require a recommendation. These I believe will uh because it's acceptance of a street and the other one is um funding I believe for drainage improvements. >> Okay. All right. Yeah. So we'll set up some specific time at at one of the next couple meetings to go through those
through most these articles individually. Any other thoughts and comments from the board before we move on? Obviously, this will be a continued conversation over the coming weeks. >> Okay.
>> Um, give me one second. So, I think next was the uh town charter survey. >> I'm just getting back to my screen. So, the board will review and discuss responses to a survey from the charter review committee. Um, you know, I I have
I have this up. Oh, I had it up in front of me. Um, but Elaine, do you want to like introduce this? I I think you know as I looked at some of these responses um you know while I would say for each question there was at least one if not two kind of comments around an opinion
for where that should go. Uh but in general my feeling was the board kind of agreed on on the questions um as an overall do you think I should go through as a whole the the responses? What's what's the best course of action here?
Well, I think the the intent was that um we would compile the um the responses and then people would discuss them and determine, you know, how we'd want to respond to the survey. So, probably some discussion for for most of them. >> Yep. So,
um does everyone kind of have them in the responses in front of them >> or should or should I >> I do >> go through them? >> We got it. >> Okay. So like I I'll start you know with the first question. Have you encountered problems issues with rules in the
current town charter that have affected your ability to do your job? And if yes explain in detail. So um you know the responses were overall just you know mostly no. Um I think there was a couple things um you know one one person wrote
in my legacy capacity I did go to the town charter as part of trying to enforce and appropriately scope the role of CIC tob. And overall the charter provides a solid governance framework and clearly establishes separation between legislative authority you know town meeting executive authority the board and town manager and
administrative operations. So um and then there was some additional challenges operational challenges that were discussed. Um I'm very comfortable with everything that was written here. Did anyone you know not agree with comments in this response?
Not so much not agreement, but there was a there was a lot of sentences and bullets. So, I was not sure what the ask was. What are we asking the charter community to look committee to look at about that? >> Well, I I I think it's more we like this is a collection of our responses, right?
So, um we need to be in agreement on what we send back to them. So, like you know, again, I think everything I personally agree with everything that's on here. Um, but could we do we put it all in? Do we like shorten some of it
just to, you know, make it a little bit more concise? I think that's the type of stuff that we need to decide on. >> Yeah. I'm sorry to the chair. I had sent my responses, but I didn't see the compiled version. Is it
in the meeting? >> Oh, it was a separate document. Um, >> yeah, it's not in the package. Uh Vuda sent that out this afternoon. >> Oh, I've been in meeting >> at 1:47. >> Okay.
>> It's also attached to the meeting calendar for the meeting on the town. >> Perfect. >> Open that >> through the chair. Well, while Mr. Manad's opening that up, I was going to make the suggestion that we kind of just pass it all. I like that we were asked structured questions. I suppose if there
is distilled and like a central summary statement we as a board want to convey, I'd love to align around that. But at the end of the day, we all took the time to answer the questions and provide the feedback. There's five of us. I don't know that there's a lot of harm in just sharing it as is and challenging the smart people on that board that we've
empowered to digest it. Again, if we want to summarize, why not? But it says what it says. >> Matt, I I'm I'm in complete agreement. I think it's a wonderful idea. like that >> and you know it certainly you know stops me from reading through
all of these and in front wasting everyone's time but uh uh to the rest of the board I I I agree with Matt does that seem like and I know Shadel you just got it in front of you but I think there's nothing wrong with sharing the collective thoughts
everyone okay with that >> fine >> yeah I guess it's okay just some of them I think are a little contradictory sometimes but it's But we could just share it. >> Yeah, sounds good. >> All right. I think I think that kind of
covers us then, Elaine. >> Okay. >> It helps knowing that that was published with the meeting so that you know any folks that were curious what the questions were or what the board's responses are, they can be found in the meeting invite attachments. >> Yeah,
>> I think Connor has his hand up. He might have I think he's the chair of that committee. >> Yeah. Can we get I see it now and it looks good. Yeah. And I I see mine there too. So I think it's a good com compilation.
Thank you for doing that. >> Connor. >> Yeah. Yeah. So um thank you all for for getting these responses together. Uh and I do also, you know, implore you to all keep in touch with what's going on in the process and share with us your
thoughts going forward. Um, just even as you see little things in the perspective you have on the board as you go through this budget cycle and everything else that could make your jobs easier, make everything more efficient going through. Uh, you know, this is unlike the last
cycle. We don't have a member of the select board there to kind of keep everyone in touch of what's going on. So, you know, I I want to hope that we can just kind of keep communication lines open. I'm obviously communicating with Elaine and Lance about things going on at the meetings, but um happy to
continue to come by and and give some updates here and there based on what we talk about as we get further through the feedback process. >> Yep. No. And and Connor, would you mind if we like, you know, I I have full confidence in you leading that process.
would you mind if you know we kind of look for you to say you know when our meetings are and if you want to come and be a part of that and share an update on something new we we would love to have you. So >> I'm absolutely always happy to. >> Yep. All right. Let's go that then. So just you know anytime you feel like you
know something new happened and you want to update us just you know let Elaine and I know and we'll add you to the agenda. Sound good? >> Perfect. Thank you very much. All right. Um, moving I think we will move on then to
uh the board will consider approving a one-year agreement with the Massachusetts Division of Standards to provide weights and measure services. Select board is appoint is the appointing authority for the sealer of weights and measures which is an annual appointment. So Elaine, I think you introduced this a little bit uh before when we were doing the budget around,
you know, how our our sealer um passed away unfortunately and you know, we are now looking at the state um to provide those services since we are still under 20,000 employees. Uh so do you want to introduce this one please?
>> Yes, thank you. So um uh in looking at the position, we have the opportunity to um to post the position and hire someone or uh we can contract with the state to provide the services on a one-year basis. Um in looking at uh at it uh our
um Laken who did it for many years um was the master of of of what he did and was you know um an expert at it. But we don't know a lot about what he did and um we need to learn more I think before
we can craft a really good job description and get someone on board and give them direction when we're learning about the position at the same time. So, uh, the state had offered early on that they do provide this service. Um, they provide someone who, uh, will come out
and do the work for a one-year one-year period. Uh, if we wanted to renew after one year, and it's for a calendar year. If we wanted to renew, we can do that as long as our population is under 20,000. But I think we need this year to to learn more about the position, what the
person does, enough to give a new person the guidance um, going forward. Um so this is um a recommendation that we do this for a year. The cost for one years is $6,700 which is just $1,000 more than we had
budgeted for for someone to do the work. So it's a reasonable cost. Um the state they do this for many communities. Um so it's something that they do every day. >> Perfect. Um, >> I think that makes sense given the
sudden departure of the the passing away of the previous person. Yeah. >> Yep. I think this is very reasonable. So, I'm supportive >> creative solution. State's going to support it. Love it. Thank you, >> Elen. You got the same. I think this is great.
>> Yep. Let's go move on with it. >> Uh, Brian, any thoughts? And we also need a motion as well. >> Yeah, I'm I'm good. Sounds makes sense. >> Okay. >> I move to approve a one-year agreement with the Massachusetts Division of
Standards to provide weights and measures services and authorize the town manager to sign the agreement. >> Second. >> So, we've got a motion and a second. Um, if there's any further discussion,
if not, we will go to roll call. Amy >> Amy Ritter Bush. Yes. >> Matt >> Matt Kisner. Yes. >> Shidelman. Yes. >> Brian. >> Brian her. Yes. >> And Joe Clark. Yes.
All right. So, thank you all. Um, thank you Elaine for, you know, finding that that option for us. Uh, and that brings us to the town manager report. So uh for uh this week I'm requesting um uh approval to post a couple of
vacancies that are existing right now. Uh first is the deputy communications director. This is a new uh position that was created um in last year's budget cycle. Um so the the position is funded. A job description has been created. Um,
and uh, this position will serve as the primary operational supervisor for the town's police and fire dispatch operations. Uh, provides direct oversight of full-time and perdm dispatch staff. It's responsible for day-to-day supervision, scheduling, and coverage, training, coordination,
quality assurance, and ensuring consistent and reliable 24-hour emergency and non-emergency communications. At this time, the director handles all of the supervisory and administrative work for the department. And uh as was um discussed in the last budget cycle, it has become
overwhelming um for the for the director. And so this position would take on that responsibility or some of that responsibility. >> I'm very supportive of that um communications director position especially because I know the pain. I
spoke to the dispatcher group and the director and I also heard that sometimes the director also proxies as the dispatcher herself. So this would definitely alleviate a lot of the pain points around and the workload has increased. I know that and it's funded. So great to
hear. Thank you. >> Yeah, Megan's been screaming for this one for a while. I'm happy to see it. Uh the next uh position is actually uh DPW intermittent labors for the summer. Uh they work with work from May through August. Uh seasonal employees assist
with lawnmowing, weed trimming, property cleanups, and other general maintenance duties to keep parks, fields, cemeteries, and municipal properties safe, clean, and well-maintained. Uh it allows the full-time DPW staff to focus on infrastru infrastructure projects, preventative maintenance and other high
priority operational work during their busy season. Uh these are included in the FY26 and FY27 budgets. And then the third is the senior center van driver which is a part-time
position. Um and uh this position is becoming available as one of the primary van drivers is scaling back their hours and so the current staff don't have the time to fill in and so this additional part-time person will fill that gap >> and that serves the senior center
population. >> Perfect. Uh thank you Elaine. I mean I I'll just be I'm very supportive of all of these. I think they're, you know, critical components for different parts of the town. So, uh, to the rest of the board,
>> I supported one, but I I support all. I think all are critical. I agree. >> Any other comments or and we do need a motion on this one. >> Mr. May I move to approve the posting of the deputy communic communications director senior center van driver
part-time and DPW intermittent laborers position position >> was that sorry was that a second Matt? Yes. >> Thought so. All right. So, we got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Roll call. Matt.
>> Matt Kisner. Yes. >> Shidel. >> Kisman. Yes. >> Amy. >> Amy R. >> Brian. >> Brian. Her. Yes. >> And Joe Clark. Yes. So, that is four and one extension.
Um, carry on Elaine. >> Um, and then the final item was just to review the meeting schedule. uh leading up to town meeting uh in case there were any conflicts. Um in looking at April, uh we do have a meeting scheduled school vacation week. So uh didn't know if you
wanted to reschedu that one or uh fold the discussion of the town meeting presentations into another date. So something to think about. We'd have to do that right away. But I did notice that we do have a school vacation date there. >> Yeah, we've got a couple meetings coming up. I mean, we're going almost every
week in a row, right? So, let's um let's hold off on that tonight. >> And that's it. >> Can I add um the town meeting is very early this year, May 2nd. So, if we were for example to cancel the April 21st,
the EHOP had already scheduled the know your vote for the following Tuesday because we could see on the calendar there was no um select border school committee meeting that night. So, just if we had to I'm available April break if we need to, but it could be hard to switch it to the next week since town meeting is so early.
>> Can I ask a silly question? Do we actually have to meet on a Tuesday? >> Nope. >> Oh. So, yeah. So, so like those are both great points and I think you know we have the flexibility seeing that we have a lot of meetings coming up to move some
stuff around. So, let's I I think we should get through this this next meeting um because we'll be closer to being done with the budget stuff and then have a view of exactly what we need to do. I want a clear plan of exactly what those next steps for a town meeting are before we make a decision. Got a few
weeks to figure it out. Everyone good with that? >> Sounds good. >> Cool. All right. Um thank you, Elaine. Was that everything? That's it for me. >> All right. Um,
liaison reports, board invites, um, you know, the one thing I, you know, I called out before when we had public safety and the schools on, you know, all the work that went on. I don't think I mentioned the DPW for all the effort that they put in the last 48 hours. Um, I think they did a tremendous job uh,
clean up the streets and I know there's a lot of work still to be done. So, I want to just, you know, remind the residents that they will be working through the next couple of days. Um, but to the rest of the board, >> I have kind of a list when you're ready.
But, um, you want me to go? Um, so there's the Franklin Road Solar Facility, but we've gotten a lot of emails about that. So, I guess I'd like to get an update on that at a future meeting. Um, and maybe we could look at the select board rules and procedures at a future meeting because
maybe after town meeting, but um, we hadn't revised those in many years now. And then I think we already have it on the future agenda item to the W2s to discuss that in public one more time. >> Yep. >> And then board invites. I think we got invited to two different Ramadan events.
So I just wanted to highlight those. Um, Thursday, February 26 at the Mazam on Wood Street on No, sorry, sorry, the the mosque on West Elm Street. And then Saturday, February 28th at 5:30 at the Muzzerine, which is the one on Wood Street,
the H the Hopkin Cultural Council grantee reception. So, it's the same night as one of those. That's February 26 at 5 or Oh, no. Sorry. I hope I have that right. It's another one. And I'm not sure if I have the right date, but it's coming up soon.
and the quilt show, the Marathon Quilters Guild, Friday, February 10th, or sorry, Friday, April 10th, 26 at 7:00. And the Winter Farmers Market is getting some kind of award on March 8th that we're invited to attend. I think
that's it. >> Yeah. Um it's it's a good amount. Um may maybe maybe next meeting Amy because we've got several and they're coming up kind of quick or no I guess some of them are coming up this week right the two
>> Ramadan ones. >> Yeah I just wanted to add uh Amy thanks for bringing that up. There are actually three. >> Oh there's three. Oh boy. So there's uh 26th on mosque alas near the price chopper, 28th on Masumin Center near uh
fruit street and March 4th uh in the high school organized by the uh Muslim students association there. Uh and then uh you're right the HCF program is also coming and when we have a moment I wanted to
also recognize that we attended the Chinese New Year event last weekend and it was a a less colorful and uh vibrant event almost 300 people uh residents joined and uh a wonderful cultural program was held and I was there
representative James uh schoolboard chair and u chair of historical commission quite a few of the town representation and um thanks to the Chinese American Associations of our town. >> Oh, and can I piggy back? I have on my
background here. Um it's a light up um Chinese fan. It was in honor of Lunar New Year that they gave us each one of those. So, I thought it was a good opportunity to put it on Zoom. >> Yeah. >> It's a really lovely event. Yeah. >> Very, very nice. I love that. Um so, for
these, so we got three coming up in the next week. We've got Thursday, Saturday, and then Wednesday, it looks like. Um, and I just want to make sure we have coverage for all of them. Um, I definitely cannot do the fourth. I'll be traveling next week. So, do we have who
can make what days? I just want to make sure the board has >> going to all three and fourth planning to go. >> Okay. >> I think I can go to the 28th one.
All right. My best bet might be the 26th. Um, what time was that one? >> Five o'clock. >> That's a little tough timing. >> Yeah, they're all at five. I think >> they're all at five.
>> Yeah, that's for the month of Ramadan and the bus breaking time is around 5:30. So, >> they all start at 5. >> All right. >> I suppose someone could come late though, right? because you just can't start eating before 5. That's the thing. >> Yeah. Yeah. I think that uh that is
always welcome. And uh I'm also joining the HCA event. I got the tickets. So >> I'm on a plane Thursday coming back Tuesday or Wednesday, I think it is. So I'm gone. >> All right. Uh thanks, Brian.
It sounds sounds like we might be able to cover these though for at least these initial uh couple before next meeting. But >> can I ask because Amy has made a pretty compelling point here that we probably need to have some sort of visible table or calendar coming to the meeting for
discussion because it's unre it's unreason as I'm trying to follow in good faith. It's actually not easy to keep track of all of them as they come in. >> Yeah. Nope. I I'm good with that. I I think we can we can pull that together for the next meeting because it is a lot. That's why I'm focusing on just the
three right in front of us for right now. >> All right. >> Yeah, we could talk about the March ones next week. We have we're meeting again next week, right? >> Correct. >> Okay. >> All right. Okay. So, that covers us. So,
thank you. Um, kind of back to Amy, did you say you had more stuff for leazison reports and invites? >> No, I think I got through everything. >> Okay. Um, who would like to go next? >> Matt, >> I'll go quick here. I had the chance to
go see the water and sewer advisory board last week. So, I had a high level conversation with them about some of the changes that we have been working on in terms of updates to the financial policy. So this goes back to some of the work that I was working on with Kyla in terms of proposing some target rates for
the water and sores retained earnings as well as just some of our general practices and policy around rate setting. So we reviewed sort of the what the why what drove us to do this? Why are we here? What do we think next steps look like? So we had a really positive
directional conversation. Next steps there are they've requested that myself, Kyla, and Matty Abrams, our engineering consultant, actually go back now and do the technical conversation. So, I kind of had the first pass. What are we talking about? Why are we doing this? We're going to go back now with the
numbers people and do the technical side of the conversation. I don't anticipate significant updates to the policy that Kyla has shared with us. Ultimately, the concern from water and soore was that the what we were proposing would not cause significant shifts in the rates. And to all of you, no, it won't. We're
drawing a line at the bottom of the chart. We're changing nothing about what's going on with what was already on the chart >> to the chart. Sorry, Matt. Are you talking to the water um s advisory board as well? They missed that part. >> Yes. So, I'm saying I went to see water
and sore advisory this past Wednesday and had the first conversation with them. I'll be looking to go back now with Kyla and Matt Abrams to go over the finer details. >> Thank you. Yeah, cuz I think uh this is good um discussion to have and we'll look forward to the discussion once the
board uh advises us with all the inputs what the rate should be. Uh the reason I say that is that I think board's charter one of the main task is advise the select board on what sewer rates. So I
appreciate your connecting with them of course. >> Thank you all for the opportunity. It is nitty-gritty and kind of crappy work, but that's okay. It's water and so >> um Matt, is there a plan um to come in
front of the board from the WSAB? >> So, I don't want to speak for the WSAB on broader rates for next year. I'm going to go back and finish the drive on the update to the financial policy, which Kyla already showed you. you've seen the draft language of that or you
at least have it in an email and we've discussed it openly here. So, I'm comfortable with the open meeting portion of this. I'm working on getting their alignment because ultimately as Shahadul and you've noted, they're the advising board. I want to make sure that whatever I'm pushing as an update for us is something that they're recommended
and aligned with as well. So, I have a proposal I'm driving. We're going to make sure they're aligned. They'll ultimately come back to us with their alignment and final recommendations moving forward. The final action here, Joe, would be that we would then review the policy at large, a piece of which
involves the water and soore language. There's other stuff there as well. >> Okay. But but so it sounds like, you know, that's probably a month or so or two away. Fair. >> I don't think it's going to happen before town meeting. I I don't think it needs to drive that fast here. I'd
rather be slow and steady and make sure everybody's aligned and comfortable with where we are. >> Just gauging for future meetings. So, thank you. All right. Um, should I do O'Brien? >> Nothing at this time. Thanks. >> Nothing.
>> All right. Awesome. So then that brings us to um I think we kind of started doing future meeting uh agenda items. I think that was the next Give me one
sec. Yeah, future board agenda items. Um, I think there's a lot of stuff that, you know, we plan on having in, you know, quickly in upcoming meetings. We're just as we've been going through the budget and moving into weekly meetings. Um, I
think this stuff will get t tackled naturally over the next couple of weeks, but was there anything else anyone wanted to call out? Anything new or anything we can remove? Okay, I will >> sorry I was on mute and couldn't find the button earlier. >> All right,
>> so I was just browsing. I thought I mentioned it, but maybe uh wanted to add uh our overall strategic plan and master plan as a uh discussion agenda item. Okay,
>> Joe, if you want to roll in. There's an agenda item there that I think I had put on about essentially that for open space if you want to smash the two together and just leave like open space as a parenthetical there to help you clear real estate on that list.
>> Yeah. So, you're talking about item L, Matt? >> Yeah, I'm pretty sure that was me. That was sort of where I was earlier about wanting the strategic plan and outline for how we were spending that money. >> All right. So, we'll we'll adjust that. >> Yeah. Do you think item D could be
removed now? We've discussed that a couple times. >> Yeah, I'm I'm I'm fine with removing that. That's a good point, Amy. Like, we will continue talking about it, but I don't think we need that as a future item right now. >> Yeah. >> And item A, do we have further followup?
Um, I mean, I' I'd be happy to keep it open cuz there were some loans, but I wasn't in that meeting. So, wondering, let's leave it open for another meeting or two, just because I just sent the action check-in out to James, I think on
Friday, following up on our last meeting there. So, we'll leave one or two more there to at least get a final from me about what I learned, if nothing else comes of this. >> That's okay with everybody else. I am good with that. >> Sounds good. And coming back to the
strategic plan, sorry, just to clarify this L is um only for open space. >> No, he he's recommending broadening that to strategic plan and open space is one of the items that that would be part of that,
>> right? What I was talking about is overarching town strategic plan and uh and our master plan. It could be two items or one. The reason is master plan is uh more of a planning board responsibility but my thinking is the
strategic plan will lead to updates and upgrading the master plan. So I'm fine either way but I I agree with Matt the space preservation can be tucked into that of course. >> Okay. Yeah I I I think I think we're all
in agreement that it can be discussed. Um, so >> there's also um an open space and recreation plan that our land use department is working on updating. So that's tangentially related as well.
>> I think we could probably remove item E, the um discuss preparations for the Saturday town meeting because we're already in the thick of that now. It doesn't need to be as we'll be talking about that at every meeting probably. >> A real agenda item. >> Yeah, I agree, Amy. I I think we can also Should we remove item G as well? We
kind of put that on Connor to come back to us. >> Yes. >> Oh, yeah. We already initiated the process, so it seems like that can come off. Yeah. >> Okay. So, yeah. So, we're then we're removing DG.
Um Amy, I want to I think we should, you know, combine H with your comments around the board's, you know, policies and procedures, right? What did you bring up earlier? >> Oh, yeah. We have a rules and procedures document on the town website, but we
haven't updated it in a while. >> All right. So, let's add that to H and do that at the same time. Okay. I I was going to save >> I was going to save it for a future meeting, but I actually did want to add succession planning here regardless of who is in that seat. Having joined this
board this year was really hard to just kind of come in in the middle of the conversation. Meetings were already booked. I was trying to come up to speed about what the heck the role is. just having some sort of thoughts about how we might want to bring someone in. Continuing with Amy, whoever else they may be
establishing ways of work around it that are standard. That's a much better way of saying it. >> Sorry, Matt. You're talking about age still or >> no I was thinking I was adding to the conversation around goals and thinking as a specific sub element just how the
board functions in the period of transition after election and if there is a new member and I was reflecting my own experiences really tough to come up to speed in terms of resourcing and knowledge management wondering if we want to have a thought about putting some policy or resourcing behind that as
well and discussing it here as a When I started, I thought I had a meeting with the town manager, a meeting with town council even maybe, and then the signed up with the MMA to take the training, >> right? >> None of this is a crit. >> None of that has happened. Okay.
>> Yeah. I was just thinking they sound like different topic to me related, but individual goals are more for town goals that individal. And what Matt is talking about is more uh ramping up a new member with the
select board policy and procedure. We can keep both. I was just wanted to wanted to clarify that. >> Did you join the MMA, Matt or not the MMA, the Massachusetts Association of Sele?
>> I did indeed. And I went to the training. >> Oh, good. Okay. So, you did that? >> It was the training. >> Okay. Yeah, that's a good topic. I think we can add it as another item. Okay.
All right. I I think we think we captured everything. So with that, I think we would need a motion to >> I adjourn and convene an exe executive session. I move to convene an executive
session pursuant to MGLC38 to discuss strategy for negotiation with non-union personnel, police, chief, fire chief. Pursu pursuant to MGLC 3821A purpose 6 to consider the purchase exchange lease or value of real estate land at assessor's map R1620 and 290 CDA street
because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the board to approve executive session minutes from 20 Jan 2026 and 03 Feb 2026 to allow Elaine Lazarus Lance Delpior Nicholas Anasta Palopoulos Anastapulus Pulis I feel
better about the second one to participate in executive session and my apologies Nicholas not to convene in open session at the conclusion of executive session. >> Second. >> Perfect. We've got a motion and a second. This will be roll call. Amy
>> Amy Ritter Bush. Yes. >> Matt. >> Mattis. Yes. >> Brian. >> Brian her. Yes. >> Shidelon. Yes. >> And Joe Clark. Yes. Uh, thank you everyone. That concludes our invite. All the board members, you received the se separate invitation for executive
session. >> Yep. >> All right. Awesome deal. Thanks everyone.