Hi, good evening everyone. Welcome. Hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day weekend. Um, I call the meeting to order. This meeting of the Hopkins Select Board is being held both in person and remotely using the video conference platform Zoom. Select board members Brian Herr and Matt Kizner will be participating remotely and all other
members of the select board are present for this meeting at town hall room 215 216 in person. At this time I'll ensure that the select board members participating remotely can hear and be heard. >> Matt, can you hear me? >> Matt, >> we can't hear you, Matt.
>> Yeah, Brian and then come back to Matt. Yeah, Matt, we'll come back to you. Brian, can you hear me? >> Um, any chance we're having volume issues in the room? >> There's a message on the screen that says turn up volume. I don't know.
>> Is there a way to turn up the volume in the room? All right, Brian or Matt, can you guys hear us? We're having trouble hearing you both. >> It shows him as talking, >> right? He's showing his screen as talking, but >> someone else remotely.
>> Um, there's there is someone else. Scott Ober is remote as an attendee. >> How about the Zoom host? >> What's it? >> Can the Zoom host >> Oh, Ben is on. Do you want >> Can he Can we hear? Ben, can you see if you can speak? >> Oh, he did light. Actually, Ben just lit
up and we didn't hear him. >> Check. One, two, one, two. >> Oh, we can hear. >> Hold on. >> We can hear Ben, but it's faint, right? >> Yeah. >> Brian or Matt? C. Can you guys try again? >> Yep. Hello. >> All right. There was Matt. Brian.
>> Yeah. Yeah, I can hear Matt and Ben extremely well. I hear you guys fine, too. >> Yeah. So, we can hear you both. is very quiet. Um, any suggestions if the if the speakers are at max >> seem to work after this volume.
>> All right, folks. Be bear with us for a second. We're not connected to the internet. >> You still there, Matt? >> Yeah, you still I can hear you. You still hear me? Okay, >> I hear you perfectly fine. So, >> that's a little bit better for Matt at least. >> It's just very faint in the room.
So, is it is it not coming? >> I lost my internet. >> Oh, I had to relog. >> Kicked me off at first. >> My chat to Ben didn't. >> Oh, >> let's try relogging. That should work. >> Any ideas, D?
>> Is there hardware? >> Oh. Is there >> is there a dial in the model >> remote for the speaker? >> It's all HC cam equipment. So, >> but so like the like our speakers are
coming through loudly. Is that coming through just the TVs and not the speakers? Do you know that? >> Yeah, I don't know because it's all HCM. >> Okay. No one else uses it. Um, could we turn on captions on the Zoom so
we could at least read what they're saying? >> How about now, guys? Can you hear me at all? >> It It's unchanged, Brian. I can hear you. It's just I don't know if anyone else in the room can. >> Thank you.
It's happening to bullets. This is going to >> Yes. >> And now I can't remember. It should be coming through the speakers that are >> in the room. >> In the room, but it sounds like it's coming through the teeth, like the monitor itself. >> Um, it's hard to tell directional
sounds, so I'm not sure. But yeah. But you know what I mean? Like just >> it's very faint. Yeah. >> Yeah. The speakers are very loud. >> Did the output get shifted somehow? I don't know. Yeah. >> Right. Like wired. >> Yeah,
>> it's almost like the Zoom is coming instead of >> Ben, does it matter from your perspective if we try calling in on a phone number instead of like the Zoom or something? I'm just trying to think. >> Matt, if you want to give that a try while she's talking to Ham. It doesn't
hurt. >> Um, >> mute yourself. >> To me, it sounds like it's something in the room. So, I don't I don't necessarily think how you interface with Zoom is going to matter if >> something down. >> You guys can hear better back there.
>> So, maybe it's the TVs that are like muted. I feel like But >> All right. >> I don't know. >> Well, why don't we all Yo, what if we all drop and come back in? Sometimes that works. >> If you want to try that, Brian, they can
hear you in the back of the room. >> It's I I can hear him. >> I can hear him. >> I just dropped and rejoined. So, if it's no different for you, it's no different. >> Yeah. Yeah, it's always >> Should we try if they >> We'll see if she has any advice from
Jim, but if they can hear them in the back of the room, >> I may have to ask them to repeat things a couple times, but >> yeah, I mean, I have the captions on for me, but >> you know, very hard. >> Yeah, I can hear it. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Did kick me off. I just want to see what
she she It was out of >> Well, I was Is it audible on the laptop? Then we can >> Oh, I could turn my volume on the laptop echo. >> You want me to try it? >> Maybe put it on that microphone.
All our mics like our mics would have to be muted. >> Yeah, I think it would echo. >> That's all I can do. I just want to see what she says. We might have to just move on as is. >> Well, once we get into like discussions,
we always go to them individually. So, it should be quiet at that point. >> People be quiet when they're speaking. >> Yeah. Brian or Matt, I just turned on my computer. Oh, so that makes it double loud, right? That's the That's the problem. >> I just want to hear what they say.
>> Can you hear me now? >> We can. >> They can in the back, but not us. Okay, I'm going to do that. >> I think we might just have to carry on. >> Any advice? >> So, the audio that can we can hear them. So, I think it's something through Zoom. So within Zoom,
you don't get to control the hardware level, but you get to control the source. So I'm not quite sure because the source is working, but you hear them. So Jim sending Alex to see if he can get on and make it
louder. >> All right. So I think we're going to start then. And um it's just going to need to be whenever the two members are speaking remotely, we'll just need it to be quiet. We may have to ask for them to reiterate a couple times, but we're
going to give it a go in the interest of time. All right. Thank you everyone for the patience. Um so the public has the option of attending in person here at town hall or via via Zoom using the link post in this meeting's agenda. This meeting is being recorded. All votes will be taken by roll call vote. We'll
start with the pledge of allegiance. >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
>> And if I could make a point of order, I was going to recommend we take the select reorganization first after now that we've done the pledge of allegiance. I'll second that. >> Okay. >> Did you guys hear that point of order um to move the select board reorganization
up to the front of the list? There's a motion and a second. It's got to be roll call. >> Amy Overbush. Yes. >> Yes. >> Joe Clark. Yes. Brian. >> Brian Herd. Yes. >> Matt. >> Matt Kisner. Yes.
>> Okay. So with that, um, so now the board will, uh, reorganize for the year, you know, determine the chair and the vice chair. Um, we've been using the Robert's rules of orders and as we did this last year, it's not really a, you know, make a motion needs to be seconded in a
second. I'll just open it up. Uh, keep me honest here. And we just kind of look for if you want to nominate someone, we can make that nomination and then, um, you know, we can discuss between the multiple nominations. Um, everyone get that from a process
standpoint? Matt, Brian? >> Yes. >> Perfect. Um, so I I will actually start then and I would nominate Shahul Manan as chair and I'll look for any other options at
this time. I will take silence is not a Zoom issue. And um we do need a motion and a second for this, right? And then >> so thank you >> for the benefit for the benefit nomination and then you >> I just want to make it clear really
appreciated your time as chair Joe. It seems as though you were not interested in running again. Fully supportive of where we are headed now. Just didn't want to miss the opportunity to thank you. It was not an easy year both because of myself and just the significant things this board had to deal with and what we are reorganizing.
I don't want for a second that to be taken as a view on you or your leadership. So, thank you for that. >> Thanks, Matt. I appreciate that. Um, so with that, I would look to close the nominations. Um, >> so make a motion to close the nominations.
>> Second. >> Second. >> Okay. Got a motion in a second. Roll call. >> A rush. Yes. >> Running. Yes. Joe Clark. Yes. Matt. >> Matt Kisner. Yes. Brian. >> Brian. Her. Yes. Perfect. And now it's just we only have
one so it's a vote. Uh we're going to just do roll call of course. >> Oh, so um so the motion to the motion to appoint Shai Dolman as chair. Correct. Yes. Okay. So I make a motion to appoint Shel as chair. >> Second. >> Okay. Amy Res. Yes.
>> Joe. Yes. Joe Clark. Yes. Brian. >> Brian her. Yes. >> Matt. >> Matt Gizner. Yes. Congratulations, sir. >> Perfect. Congrats. We will switch seats. >> Thank you everyone. I appreciate the nomination and uh selection. We'll get
to the next Sorry. Okay. We'll get to the next item to um elect vice chair for the board and u the rules are the same. So I'll open up for nomination. Do we have a nomination for vice chair?
>> I would nominate Matt Kizner. >> I would second that. Uh now we'll go for rollout vote. Amy, >> I think we do we got to close the nomination. >> Oh, >> all right. And double check. Are there any other check if there >> are there any other uh nominations or
anyone want to make any other proposal >> hearing? None. >> I would move to close the nominations. >> I would second. >> Roll call. >> Roll call vote. Uh Amy Dush. >> Uh Amy Rush. Yes. >> Joe Clark. Yes.
>> Brian her. >> Brian her. Yes. >> Matt Kizner. Matt Kisner. Yes. >> Shermanan. Yes. Now we'll go for the uh roll call vote. I >> I would move to formally nominate Matt
Kisner as vice chair. >> I'll second that. >> I'll go for a roll call vote. Amir Dush. >> Abush. Yes. >> Joe Clark. Yes. >> Brian her. >> Brian her. Yes.
>> Matt Kisner. >> Matt Kisner. Yes. Shahul Manan. Yes. Congratulations, ma'am. >> Thank you all for support. Looking forward to working with you. >> Thank you. We'll move on to our next agenda. We we'll go back to our public
forum. Actually, we'll open up the public forum. Um and each person will have up to two minutes to speak at public forum. And please start by stating your name and address. And also uh we would like to remind that
we are going to open it up for 15 minutes uh because we have other agenda items after that but we want to listen to all residents voices. So we will open it up again towards the end of the meeting as we progress through our agenda. So with that I'll open it up. Anyone in the room wants to speak please
come forward. And >> I just want to clarify since we started at 6:15 we'll go until 6:30. Correct. >> Thank you. That's correct. >> 6 okay 6:31. Oh, thank you. I appreciate it. Comes out of the two minutes.
>> Good evening. Marie Lascowski, 15 Lori Drive, Ashland. Whoosh. The other one that you can use that Try that one. No, mute it. That button on the base. >> Yeah. >> Mute it. Try that. Doing it.
>> Testing. Much better. May I have two more minutes? >> Okay. >> All right. Please continue. >> All right. All right. All set. Um, tonight I want to talk about the public safety assessment scope. Um, first we'd
like to thank you for taking on this assessment. We want to realize that it does matter and that the community the community notices when the board is willing to look honestly at how things are working. Um I want to offer one concern about the scope as it's
currently drafted. It defines public safety somewhat too narrowly. Public safety isn't a single function. Emergency response coordination is one piece of it. It's an important piece, but it's not the whole picture. The
licensing process is part of is part of public safety. How h the HPD engages under licensing policy is part of it. Corey and Sori checks and the ongoing oversight of registered offenders are part of it as well. Each of these shape
whether people in this town are actually safe. A scope limited to emergency response coordination produces a school safety review. A broader scope produces a real public safety assessment. We're
asking that the board take a broader view specifically in three areas. First, the HPD cultural around sexual assault, domestic violence, and victim response. When someone comes forward, how are they treated? What do the documented what do
the documented patterns show? What training and oversight are in place? Second, sex offender registration, tracking, and oversight. Hopington has documented failures here, and the town is currently in a defendant in related
litigation as an assessment that doesn't examine this function, and it really needs to do so in order for it to be a true public safety assessment. And third, how the HPD supports the licensing process. The common vic policy
that you will be discussing tonight appropriately requires the HPD involvement, but the current record shows gaps in engagement, incomplete, incomplete documentation, and inconsistent judgment. That's worth examining. Each of these areas connect
to real incidents in this community. Each deserve the same honest policy review the current scope proposes for emergency response. >> Thank you. Time. >> Oh, yeah. I'll be quick. Public safety for children, teens, and women doesn't happen in only emergencies. It happens
in the quiet moments, you guys. It happens when someone walks into the station asking for help, when a registered offender addresses >> needs to be verified, and when a licensing decision is being made about who gets to operate the business.
>> All we're asking you to do is we hope that you define it broadly enough to match the needs of what this community actually needs. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else in the room or on Zoom, please come on over. >> Good evening. Uh Don Kaiser, Oak Hurst
Road. Um I wanted to speak about of course the lake is being poisoned again, this time with three PIFA chemicals were added at the Concom meeting a couple of two Concom meetings ago for our lake. Nobody questioned anything about these PIFA questions. You know, what are they?
One of them, Priscilla, for instance, says that you should not use the plants that have been poisoned with this for compost. That's going to be in the bottom of our lake. Um, but the broader concern is somewhere in my searching of all the things that are going on
environmental is um I came across this sign of a town, big yellow welcome sign that said non-toxic town. This is one of the most toxic towns. We spray from the air for mosquitoes. We've killed the bugs. The lawn chemicals are
everywhere. The mosquito people are always out selling stuff. We're putting poisons in the lake. The town is putting poisons all along the rightways. As an environmentalist, this is one of my favorite times of years because there's flowers popping up everywhere.
But these things pop up like dandelions. And I had a physician friend of mine tell me a couple of weeks ago. He said, "One of the most dangerous places to live in this country is next to a golf course. If your neighbors are doing this, will this also more than double
your chance of getting Parkinson's disease?" Because that's what happens when you live next to a golf course as well as other cancers. I mean, what are we doing? We're spreading poisons absolutely everywhere. You don't see them, so people don't think about them. And I don't think anybody reads this. It
says pesticide application. Keep people and and pets off. You know, I mean, why would anybody do that to their lawn and their neighbors? Um, I would like the board of health to maybe require applicators to at least say what they're
spreading and where and how much and have to be licensed to come into our town. We should have some control. And we don't even know when they're going to spray for mosquitoes. I've got my no spray signs up. I put the, you know, I even it registered with the state, but it was just put out that they covered
with that anvil 1010 two years ago. They covered most of the eastern part of Massachusetts with pas because those >> Thank you. We're close to time. >> All right. It was nice to talk to you and uh Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. He's
coming. Hi, Ed Harrow. Eight Spring Lane. I'm trying to bring a little humor and levity to the affair, so bear with me. I believe Sarah got to the seat just at the wrong time. Okay.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? I have one more. >> I want to talk about silo management. Are you familiar with the term silo management? So several years ago I had a discussion with someone here um not here but in
town about silo management in Hopkin and this was brought to my attention just recently but I want to give you a little background. 2021 co we're sitting out in a tent and shocking to me comes up article 28H
$56,000 of open space funds used to buy a swamp land without ever discussing it with open space 2023 it's a gift five acres with not weed in a trash pile never again was open space
asked hey do you want this 2024 a breath of fresh air things are changing care and custody of Echo Trail transferred to OSP OSPC and we were involved in this 2025 article 28H purchase of land on Saddle Hill and we were involved with
that Hopkin Independent article not a town meeting article 17 made 2026. I read in the Hopkins independent article of work being done on the Echo Trail parking lot. Perhaps it was well needed, but
once again, silo management interceded and OSPC was never notified. Thank you. You'll enjoy what's in your silos, I hope. >> Thank you. >> I think Mr. Parker was earlier.
>> Thank you. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. So there's 8 to 12 documents required for a coming dick license package. That's it. Four to five come from the applicant. The balance come from the town. That's it. Town manager record for
delivering these complete packages to all of you to vote on. 18% 45% for the past 3 years. No, no better than that. Keep that in your mind. 18 to 45%. The rest get passed with contingencies. They never come back to you. They never get voted on again. They just go through
the system silently. In 2024, based on public record, we could find Hopio never even applied for a renewal license and ran 398 days without one. Never got flagged, never got voted till 2026. Maybe we're wrong, but it's not in the record. That's not an oversight. This is a system that and an institution working
exactly the way it's been designed to normalize to work. Now, let's shift to the policy in front of you tonight on Dick licenses. We submitted multiple documents to the town and the board over the past year. Not one has ever been included in your agenda packs for public review. Not one. That includes the seven proposed
amendments you just got last week. And on the record, you all have them. You choose not to put them in the public. The town and the board have But there's a bigger problem. A policy is only effective as the town manager and her team's ability ability
to implement it. That record I just spoke of. Adopting a new policy without enforcement and implementation mechanism doesn't fix the problem. It perpetuates it. These problems have been going on for years. The institution has ignored them. You normalize them. The primary objective tonight is not a policy
approval. The primary objective tonight is public safety for our children, for our teens, and for our women. Trumpeting a new policy without serious change in implementation and enforcement tells everyone in this room, you're not focused on the right objective. You're the ones who can break the cycle. Do you
maintain and perpetuate normalize these institutional failures? Or do you create real reform to protect our children, our teens, and our women? They deserve the latter. The choice is yours. It becomes your legacy. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks.
>> Hello. >> This one. >> Let's try that. >> The other one. >> Hello. Uh Parker Hap 3 drive. Uh, so when I was working at Amazon, I remember being at a all hands meeting where Jeff Bezos was talking about this story where
he was shadowing a customer service rep. And when he was doing it, there was this table that popped up on the screen and the rep said to Bezos, uh, that's going to be broken. And Bezos was kind of surprised by that and said, well, how do you know? He said, well, whatever those
tables come up, they're always broken. And it struck him that this rep knew what was happening, you know, better than maybe what some in the fulfillment center did that he wanted to address the problem. And he looked at other what other companies do from a quality control perspective and found that Toyota have this process. It's called
the andon cord where the andon cord is on the line and if a frontline uh individual sees a defect happening multiple times that any person on the line can pull the andon cord and it stops the whole Toyota production line until the problem is fixed. And we
happen to have a similar process in town government uh which is interesting which it's called a citizen petition and there's been some consternation relative to the citizen petition process but it is a process and it's something that's guaranteed by state law and we were you
know went through this process for you know private roads and we're told at town meeting that there would be an agenda item for resolving private roads at this meeting and I looked at the agenda and I couldn't find a single mention of private roads. And so we're doing another citizen petition to get a special town meeting
called. And we have enough signatures that we could file tomorrow to, you know, address some of the concerns that weren't addressed at town meeting in addition to funding the Hawthorne project. And I bring this not to, you know, complain, but to say I'm going to keep taking action and I hope to work with the board. But, you know, saying at
town meeting that we're going to have a action item on this agenda and not doing it isn't really a vote of confidence. So hope we can work together on that. Thank you. Anyone else in the room and Krishna on Fairview path um I'd like
to congratulate Shahidul Manan for his appointment as our election as the chair and Matt Kzner for being elected as vice chair. Thank you Joe for your service as the chair. Thank you all for your service. I guess I was one year too early
and you got to tell me the secret on how you got younger after a year. Thank you all. >> Thank you. Anyone else in the room or online? >> There are four people online but no hands raised.
>> Please come on in. Hi, my name is Lynn Keyi. I'm currently a resident of Millville. Um, you may remember me from my comments at both the 120 and 48 select board meetings and I'm speaking to you regarding tonight's discussion on the
proposed common victual license policy. This policy tells the board what information to collect when reviewing requests for business licenses. It requires quy and sorry checks. It requires written written comments from the police department, including reports of any incidents or police responses to
the premises. It gives the board authority to review criminal history in executive session. It gives the board authority to deny renewal and to revoke licenses. In short, the new policy is thorough and a vast improvement on what's currently in place. And I'd like to make note of that. It's clear that it
was written in direct response to concerns raised by your constituents. And for that I applaud you um all essentially. Should it be implemented, it would go a long way towards helping to keep the people of Hopington safe from predators uh like Petro Sismanis of
Hillers and George Vasilicaris of Bill's Pizza. My issue is this. A policy that outlines what information must be collected and considered but does not dictate what to do with it is not a protection. It is a process. And you've heard others say that tonight. Unfortunately, this institution among
many others that I'm aware of throughout the state and the country um has demonstrated across multiple administrations and multiple cycles that every piece of information this policy requires can be presented to the board without any real impact even on liquor license transfers which are overseen by
the state. Where is the oversight mechanism here? In 2014, this board had all of the above information when a criminal record surfaced for one of the owners of Bills during an attempt to transfer their liquor license. This is all a matter of public record. They had
George Vasilicaris's Corey. They knew of his criminal conviction for assault and battery. They had the town attorney present. They even had the police report from the 2012 incident showing how he had held his victim, a female employee in her early 20s, down and that his DNA evidence was found on the front of her
pants in the process. >> You were not at that meeting, Miss Guys, not all of you, but your colleague Brian her was. He posited that a 4-day liquor license suspension and a management training course were adequate consequences for the incident in question. Then to ensure a smooth liquor
license transfer, business removed George Vasilicaris from the license application and replaced him with his wife, knowing he would never pass the state's Corey. Not one member of the select court questioned the perpetrator or his wife. In fact, over the course of the three to four separate meetings
during which his transfer was discussed, only one member spoke up. He's no longer hand here, Ben Pelico. He saw through what was going on and knew it was wrong and was outvoted 4 to one. Heather Stanick, Western Massachusetts. The issue here was not a lack of
information because the board had that. A lack of enforceable standards for action and specific thresholds requiring the board to act was without oversight. This new policy leaves outcomes entirely to the moral compass of whoever is sitting at the table. And we can afford
any gray area. In 2014, that moral compass pointed to our four four-day liquor license suspension as adequate punishment for an establishment that was clearly trying to sherk the state's Corey requirement. At the last meeting I attended, the same moral compass found it appropriate to call the police when I
stood up to point out that there were survivors in the room being silenced between items for under a minute. Notably, not one of the three officers dispatched saw fit to approach me about my disturbance. I am writing to ask you that you go into tonight's meeting with a clear understanding of this
distinction and its impact. The policy is only as strong as the institution willing to enforce it. And this institution's public record on issues like the one outlined above has allowed more young girls and women in Hopington to be caused immense harm. I am asking not as your constituent but as the
sister of Amanda Keyi. Giio Baset Liceris 2012 victim. The trauma inflicted upon her by her attacker in the system that protected him led to a decadel long struggle with CPTTSD and substance use disorder that stemmed from it. Though she fought hard, she
ultimately lost her battle with addiction, succumbing to her trauma via an overdose in January of 2023. She was 33 years old. She left three beautiful children who deserved their mother happy, healthy, and whole. She deserved better. It's too late to protect my
sister. Please protect someone else's and make a push to add enforceable standards for action to this new policy. Thank you for your time and consideration. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> We'll now move on to our next agenda item which is the consent
agenda. >> So the number three public forum statement, we don't have anything for tonight. Is that correct? >> Uh we don't. >> Thank you. Good. The select board will consider the following consent agenda meeting minutes. The select board will consider
approving the minutes of the April 14, 2026, May 2, 2026 and May 5, 2026 meetings. Uh, accept gift. The select board will consider accepting a donation of $600 from the friends of the Hopkington seniors to support the senior
cent's memory cafe program and $2,635 from the friends of the Hopkin seniors to support the senior cent's lunch program. Resignation. The select board will consider accepting the resignation of Beth Watson from the Hopkin Historic
District Commission, new town employee. The select board will consider affirming the town manager's appointment of Prince Guong as the town's water and sewer assistant. Farmers market alcohol application. And
the select board will consider approving MGLC1 1381 15F farmers market license for Rashford and Sons Brew House to sell beer at the Hopkinington Farmers Market on Sundays from June 7, 2026 to October
11, 2026 and MGLC 138 section 15F certification has been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture res agricultural resources MDAR. The retail sale and sampling must be completed in accordance with MDR
regulations. Sample size cannot exceed one ounce and no more than five samples can be served to a single individual. Samples must be provided in a single-use disposable cups. Vendor must provide suitable trash recepticles to
accommodate the sample cups. Vendor must ID individuals requesting a sample to verify that they are of legal age and bottles opened and used for sampling cannot be sold to the public. All paperwork including tips,
certifications, and insurance have been provided. The Corey and Suri checks have been completed. Last one, Jamalo Craft Wines to sell wine at the Hopkinington Farmers Market on Sundays from June 7, 2026 to October
11, 2026. An MGLC 138 section 15F certification has been approved by the MDR. The retail sale and sampling must be completed in accordance with MDAR regulations. Sample size cannot exceed 1 ounce and no more than five samples can
be served to a single individual. Samples must be provided in single-use disposable cups. Vendor must provide suitable trash recepticles to accommodate the sample cups. Vendor must ID individuals requesting a sample to verify that they are of legal age and
bottles opened and used for sampling cannot be sold to the public. All paperwork including tips, certifications, and insurance have been provided. The Corey and Sor checks have been completed. >> So moved.
>> Do we have a second? >> I can second. >> We'll do a roll call vote. Any discussions? >> Yeah, I do have a question. Um, so it says the Corey and sorry checks have been completed, but this does this also indicate there were no um No, nothing came up on either.
>> That's correct. Nothing came up. >> Okay. Any other questions or comments? Nope, >> I'm good. >> We'll go to roll call vote. >> You want to see if Brian and Matt have suggestions? >> Oh, yes. Uh, Brian, Matt, can you hear us? Do you have any suggestions or
comments? >> All set. >> Thank you. >> Sorry, Brian. Go ahead. >> He said all set. >> I'm all set. Thank you. >> Thank you. We'll do a roll call vote. >> Amir Bush. Yes. >> Joe Clark. Yes.
Brian >> Brian her yes >> Matt >> Matt Kney yes >> shelmanan yes we'll move to the next agenda item which is FY2025 audit presentation the select board will receive the fiscal year 2025 audit
report prepared by Rosalie Clark and associates based on its review of the town of Hopington's fiscal year 2025 financial statements. The auditors concluded that the town's financial statements are presented fairly and did not identify any violations in the
expenditure of federal awards. And we have our auditors and town administration. Please go ahead. Take it away. >> Good evening. My name is Tenzio Vicelli. I'm a representative of uh Rosselli Clark and Associates, certified public accountants with offices in Uber and
Massachusetts. But before we get started, I'm dying to know what's inside the silos. >> We'll see. >> You can't open till Christmas. I >> was hoping maybe it was candy or something. >> So, uh, like I said, uh, we were outside auditors. We were engaged. This was
actually the final year of a three-year engagement letter dated May 5th of 2023. We have since been re-engaged for another three-year engagement for 2026 through 2028. Um this was a financial statement audit. Uh the objectives of
financial statement audit are to form an opinion on the fairness uh and uh material accuracy of the financial statements. This was an audit forensic audit. Had it been a forensic audit, our scope would have been significantly different. You should have in front of
you a couple documents. One would be the actual financial statements themselves. And then another should be what we call a required communications letter. It's about three pages long. I'm just going to touch upon a couple aspects of this required communications letter. Uh management, which includes all the folks
in this room, are responsible for the selection and use of appropriate accounting policies. Accounting estimates are an integral part to the financial statements prepared by management and are based on management's knowledge and experience about past and current events and assumptions about future events. The most sensitive
estimates affecting the town's financial statements pertain to the calculation of the pension liability which is actuarily determined at the county retirement level. The OPE liability which is also actuarily determined however that's done on the town of Hopkin itself. um as well
as management's estimate of the allowance for doubtful accounts which was based on historical revenues, historical loss levels and an analysis of the collectibility of individual funds uh to individual accounts. The financial statements disclosures surrounding those three estimates are
quite extensive within the financial statements themselves. I'm happy to say that we did not encounter any significant difficulties in dealing with management and performing and completing our audit. um did not have any disagreements with management in any financial accounting reporting or other
auditing matter. Um and like I said, the rest of this document uh you can read on your own. So the town's financial statements were actually issued on December 31st of 2025, last possible day of the year, calendar year, with an unmodified or
clean audit opinion. We did not have any internal control matters u that would have arose to be what we call a deficiency in internal control that would have had to been communicated to you folks. The financial statements themselves consist of several parts. The first is the actual audit opinion which
once again is a clean or unmodified opinion. It's then followed by the management's discussion and analysis. The MDNA is an attempt to to discuss what happened during the year in plain English or at least make the best
attempt at trying to do that in plain English. Um, it's then followed up by what's called the governmental funds financial statements that presents the town as if it was a private concern similar to say EMC. It's on full acrruel
basis. So, this is where we recognize all your receivables. We put your debt on the books, your your long-term liabilities, as well as any um long-term receivables, removing all the quoteunquote deferred revenues that are recorded as part of a modified acral
basis. The next section, the fund financial statements, which are on a modified acrruel basis, and those most closely resemble your internal accounting records that you maintain on UMIS, which is what you actually run your operations off of. There's proprietary financial statements for
your sewer, water, and solid waste. Those are also on full acrruel basis. Uh we have a fiduciary funds financial statements for your op trust and your private purpose trusts. You have some some scholarships that are that are in that that category. You have the notes
of the financial statements themselves, which again are quite extensive. And then we have what we refer to as required supplementary information primarily on your pension um funding, your OPB funding and um a budget to actual on your general fund.
In terms of budgetary flexibility, a common measure used by rating agencies, including S&P, which is your rating agency, is to evaluate a a community's assigned and unassigned fund balances as a ratio of its normal general fund expenditures. This is referred to as a
reserve ratio. The town of Hopkins's 2025 reser reserve ratio was approximately 35% which was an improvement prior year's 31%. S&P considers that to be quite strong. 15% was kind of the benchmark several
years ago. They've essentially upped that to about 18%. So you do have quite a significant cushion in that area. In fact, S&P continues to rate your long-term debt as AAA. So the town has entered fiscal 26 for
which today we're exactly 90% of the way through fiscal 26 with a number of significant reserves. You had certified free cash of 16.2 $.2 million and you had general and specialized stabilization funds of approximately 6.3. So a combination of two is about
$22.5 million. In terms of the budget to actual performance itself on a statutory basis, the town's fiscal 25 revenues and other financing sources exceeded um its expenditures by nearly $ 8.5 million.
The town carried over $1.2 2 million into fiscal 26 in the form of articles and encumbrances. Actual statutory based revenues exceeded budget by nearly $2.4 million. And you can you can see that table on page 59.
Uh while expenditures and carried over articles were nearly 6.1 million lower than budget, the town issued approximately $9.4 $4 million in general obligation bonds and that's inclusive of any bond premiums in fiscal 25 debt service as a percentage
of your general fund was about 6.1% which is slightly lower than last year of 6.7 and going back from memory I believe it's significantly lower than fiscal 23 the town had $81 million in temporary debt in the form of a bond anticipation
note or ban outstanding at the end of the year that ban had a stated interest rate of 4% and scheduled to mature on June 10th. The audited financial statements themselves include uh debt service tables which show you 26 through 30 uh
expected principal and interest payments and then in fiveyear increments thereafter. You can find that on page 42. Give you an idea as to what you're what you'll be expecting in the future. Although I do understand you have a pretty sizable issuance coming up any day now. In addition to the long-term debt, the
town, just like all of its other peers, face significant future obligations in terms of uh personnel costs, primarily pension and oped. The town is a member of the Middle Sex County retirement system and therefore it really doesn't have any real control over um the
management of its pension saved at the establishment of a pension reserve fund which is essentially like a stabilization fund that you might put money in to assist in the event that there are unusual or unruly increases over the years. But based on the most
recent actuarial valuation, Middle Sex County was about 59% funded. They use a 7.15% discount rate and that's in terms of regional systems that's uh slightly lower than the state average. I believe the state average is about seven
and a quarter. So it's a little bit more conservative. Barring any material changes to any actuarial assumptions, which is possible, we would expect that this funding ratio would come up this year. as calendar 25
S&P returned approximately 18%. And the prep investment fund which many of the um uh pension systems are invested in came in roughly around 12%. So that's significantly higher than the 7.15% discount rate or target rate of return.
The town has an OPED plan that's nearly 18% funded at June 30th of 2025. I kind of put you kind of right in the media of other communities about your size. Um, you've accumulated roughly $7.9 million as of June 30th of 2025 for this future
obligation that your independent actuary estimates the total liability being about $44.5 million. Um, want to continue reminding this board and management about the importance of network security. Um, taking that very
serious. I I can't tell you how many times I walk into a client and they tell me that they've been victimized by ransomware and whatnot. Um it's uh we've talked to the treasur's office when it comes >> I'm so sorry to interrupt scams because
that's the department that's going to get hit. >> I think we have a question from the board. >> Sorry, I I'm so sorry to interrupt. I'm having a really hard time consistently hearing the gentleman. I don't know if he wouldn't mind pulling the microphone a little more firmly in front of him. I'm getting it in and out as his head moves and I really want to follow along.
>> Okay. Thank you, Matt. >> Would this work a little bit better? >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Unfortunately, I'm pretty much done. I'm sorry. Um so, like I said, uh we we did spend some time with the um treasur's office just to discuss these are common typical
fishing scams. Uh just be aware of it. Um, this is a town of the size where if somebody's making a request via email to change any method of payment, it's a small enough community where particularly payroll, they should
probably come in in person to make those changes. And uh, when there's a change in vendors asking, please change from pay me by check to a direct deposit or a wire. um some investigation should happen on that just to prevent you being
victimized by your fishing scam. Finally, I'm happy to report that the finance team provided us with very good quality reports and accounting schedules which greatly facilitated the completion of this year's audit. And that folks concludes the formal part
of my presentation. >> Thank you. Great to hear. the outcome was very positive and your comments are um positive, but we'll open it up for questions and comments uh with my colleagues. I'll start with Mr. Kisner.
>> Thank you, sir. Uh I really appreciate the depth of this. There there are a couple things I wanted to quickly ask you about. I noted one of your recommendations centered around a revolving school fund, which I'm sure you know in Massachusetts is not necessarily under our jurisdiction. I wanted to understand from your
perspective how you might have seen in other towns the communication across the schools or how you might have seen this approached. >> I think I may have missed the beginning of that question. I'm sorry. Would you repeat that? >> Yeah, I I'm sorry. As I was looking through the audit report, one of the
items that I believed I had noted was about an excess value in a school revolving fund. >> Okay, that that's the school lunch program. Um, this is something that we we've put in in in all of our reports.
There are under Massachusetts general law and um, a uniform Massachusetts accounting standards, there are two fund balances that you you that that need to be taken um, taken care of. The
first of which is your school choice that cannot exceed one year's expenditure. So if you if you normally expend $1 million at the end of the year, you can't have more than a million dollars in there. You can only have essentially one year of reserve. The second one, and this is a federal
requirement, is that the um school lunch program can only have a reserve of 3 months. And um I do believe that yours is exceeds the three months because you had $1.9
million in that fund. and that's roughly one year reserve. This is not a typical. We've seen this in virtually every single community. This is um that the the school system needs to just develop a plan as to how they're going to spend that down. After CO, there was a
significant influx of money into the school lunches. Um like I said, I'm seeing this virtually everywhere. you know, for the most part, um, 3 4 months. If it was, you know, 5 months, I probably wouldn't even make the comment, but you folks were nearly a year out.
So, they just need to develop a plan as to how they're going to spend that down. I'm sure they have capital needs. Um, you're building other schools. Maybe they can use some of those funds as part of that as long as it's for the school lunch program. But, um, >> now I can tell you, work in finance,
you're spending my money while we're talking. I appreciate the answer there. Part of why I was asking the question is schools are outside of our remmit here as you're aware in the state of Massachusetts. So I'm a little leerary of the notion that we're ultimately receiving an audit which has an observation of non-compliance that we're
not directly in a position to immediately remediate. So I'm trying to get perspective from you about how you have seen this non-compliance handled and how you have passed this information between the executive functions and other towns or is this as far as it goes? Again, we provide this
recommendation to the town. The school is a department of the town. Hopefully, this makes its way through to the school. >> Okay. Thank you. My only other question for you, and I apologize to ask it so generally because there was an awful lot of good detail in here that I hope it's clear. I was reading through. Could you
just give us what you might consider the executive summary from a good, bad, ugly, our short, mid, long-term financial health? And I'm not asking for details here. I'm asking for you are an expert and I'd really just like a
concise plain language looks good looks bad doesn't look great so that people get the benefit of hearing that from you as an independent authority. >> I think I got that question. Um the biggest concern I have is is the rising
amount of debt and I think even even S&P um noted that in their report um that that might be a a potential for a downgrade but there is since since coming out here uh 9 years ago the the
debt level is is is starting to to get pretty significant. >> You heard him say it, not me, folks. Thank you. Thank you, Matt. Uh, we'll go to Brian. >> I have no questions at this time. Thank
you. >> Thank you, Brian. Uh, Mr. Clark. Um, so first of all, thank you. Always very thorough. Uh, more just to call out for kind of the residents. No material changes that you notice, right, as part of the
>> No material weaknesses. Yes, >> weaknesses. Thank you. And as far as >> plenty of material changes, >> sorry, I meant weaknesses. Um, as far as your recommendation network security, um, how common of a threat is that in other municipalities? Are you seeing
that in >> majority? Is it just starting? Is it has it been going on for years? >> This has been going on for quite some time. Um, municipalities are not immune to this. In fact, I would probably take a guess that they're probably
easier targets because you have significant number of of people in different departments working in different locations. And how do you communicate appropriately and or do the right training on on this matter, particularly fishing scams or ransom
wares? I mean, to be frank, I've I've actually clicked the wrong button on more than one occasion because sometimes it looks so darn real. Fortunately, we have very very good security systems. Um, but yeah, um, we we see that
everywhere. Um, very large communities, very small communities. So, it's pervasive throughout the industry. >> And you recommended a few what I would call like kind of process changes to kind of help with that. But is there anything have you given any additional
recommendations to your clients around this you know consultants or vendors to work with just training >> training is is is a key. Um do you folks use the no before system? >> I believe we do. >> Okay that's an excellent start. It
really is. Okay. >> I'm good. Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Deush. >> Yeah. I just wanted to note too, I don't have any big questions, but um it looks like this report is already available on the town website for anybody who wants to d it's a long report and people might want to look at the numbers and details
themselves. And then to echo um what Mr. Clark was saying, the network security that there really is a serious problem. I've gone to some workshops on that and a lot of towns do get hacked like they get a wire transfer request and they don't triple check it and then they send their money somewhere else and you can't
get it back. So I guess just for a future note for the town manager if there's if we could fund more cyber security training um I think we would like to hear about that in the budget time if we're not doing enough um like you said the no before training there's proof point there's other companies you
can use to um right to to secure because it's the people that when when you're hacked it's usually a person made a mistake not the computer felt usually >> there's an old saying a chain is only as strong as it weakest link >> right >> anything Yes, that's it.
>> Thank you. Um, thank you again for all the thought of work and thanks to our finance department also um for their wonderful work because of which the audit came out to be really good I assume. Uh so my question is for the OPE
the discount rate that you mentioned uh the return being 12% is more for recent years but the discount rate is over average over time. So do you see that still being an issue or you expect that to be readjusted given you know the
recent years returns being high just to take >> we talking about the pension system >> uh opeds for OPE calculation you mentioned the discount rate was lower than the average returns >> oh that was actually the pension system the okay the OPE um the way the
actuarial tables work or the way the the standard works um being that you're only um funded bear with me again >> 18
>> 18%. The actuaries will will calculate a blended discount rate for you. So there's going to be a crossover period. At some point in time you have, you know, $6.9 million. At some point in time, that money is going to dry out. So
you get to use the discount rate the um the expected in investment rate until your money uh winds down and then at that point in time you end up using a risk-free discount rate until theoretically the last employee passes
away. That's what the actuaries do. So until you get to a much higher uh ratio of funding, you're probably going to have a blended discount rate, a sing what they call a single equivalent discount rate. >> Thank you. Where I was going is given
all that, do you feel we are in um at par with the median or average other towns in terms of our OPE funding and where we are 18%. >> You you look like you're right right in the sweet spot of where your peers are. Okay.
>> Um I have I have a very large city that is 0.19% funded. I have other communities that are 60% funded. Um it all really all depends on um the size of the community. Um budgetary constraints. Um but you
folks are probably right in the wheelhouse. um your actuary can probably give you an exact metric as to where you stand within the rest of the state because I believe your actuary does roughly 35 to 40% of the state. So it's a pretty good representative sample.
>> Thank you. That's um great to hear. Now the last question is uh in it's great that we don't have any significant deficiency and um our controls are pretty robust. Would you recommend any additional control uh going forward or anything for process improvement
perspective other than the security measures? Off the top of my head, I don't have really anything other than perhaps maybe implementing closing checklists um to to better ensure smooth close um formal
documented policies and procedures to be constantly you know not constantly but consistently upgraded and updated. >> Makes sense. >> And both of those are very lowhanging fruit. >> Yeah, for sure. No, that shows the great work the department has been doing and
thank you again for the thorough analysis and um audit. I appreciate the update as well. Is there any other question comments from anyone? >> I was just going to add about this the excessive school lunch balance. That's
it's not our purview, but the town staff will work with the school staff about spending some of that down. Then maybe there's some capital projects for the cafeterias that they could work on. >> Yeah, we'll forward this along and have that conversation. Okay. >> That's a great way of spending the money down. They they always want to have new equipment,
>> but you got the funding. >> Yep. >> Anything else, anyone? >> Well, thank you for coming and thanks for the update. >> Sorry. >> We'll move to our next agenda item, which is appointment of new police officer.
>> Pointing at Thank you. >> Sorry, Mr. Ker. You had something. >> Yes. I'm sorry. I just very quickly wanted to recognize and celebrate town finance staff. I appreciate that a consistent theme in that report was their professionalism and the excellence of the information they were providing.
Should not go unstated. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Sorry. Did they miss mis >> No, he was just >> I think that was it. We could we couldn't hear >> departments for another year of getting the reports in order, all the work that
goes into it >> and just the continued great job that they do. >> You have a sharp beard. >> Yes. >> Joshua Stevens for Hopkins Road. >> I've been affected by the town water. >> I'm sorry. We have closed the public
forum. >> What? I thought you said I could speak. >> Oh, no. I was asking my colleagues. I'm sorry. We'll have the public forum again towards the end of the meeting uh once we go through our agenda. But thank you for staying around
>> and people can always email us if if they have more to say that than or they can't stay. We can we do we read all our emails. >> Thank you. Uh we'll move to next agenda item. Appointment of new police officer. The select board will consider appointing Victoria Fleger as a police
officer lateral transfer. I think um Deputy Chief Van Walton is on the Zoom. Oh yeah. >> And police chief is here. Chief, take it over here. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. Thank you, sir. >> He's going to get through the chair.
>> I'll pull up another chair. >> Operations Lieutenant. He's good at that stuff. Facilitating stuff through the chair. Good evening. Um, very happy to be here again with another really strong candidate for your consideration. Victoria likes to be
called Tori Fuller is uh is the final candidate out of a long process. And as I've said repeatedly, uh it takes a lot of work, a lot of hours to get someone here. Um, this one was especially complex because not only did
we go through the entire interview and selection process, reviewing resumeumés, interviewing, second round interviews, background checks, physicals, drug tests, um, psychologicals, uh, because she's coming from the federal government, she had to also
undergo uh, kind of a reverse order. And I wanted to just thank Lieutenant O'Neal because a lot of things that we would do once she comes in, we were forced to do ahead of time to get her accepted within the municipal police training council um
and within post and she sits here certified with all of her certifications. She's been through two federalmies and uh I think you you're going to be very pleased when you speak with her. >> Thank you, Chief.
Miss Fleer. You want to say something? >> Hi, my name is Victoria Foliger. Um, as the chief stated, I come from the federal government. I have about four years of experience there and I really look forward to working with Hopkin and getting to learn, you know, more about
all the residents and building a relationship with all of them. >> Thank you. Thank you for stepping forward and uh you have a wonderful background. I'll open it up to my colleagues if you have any questions or comments. Starting with Mr. Douch. >> Yeah, thank you for coming today and all
the information is in our packet. I guess I I do always like to ask a question if it's all right, but like can you can you give us something from your experience from working in DC that you'll be able to carry forward um to working in Hopington? So working in DC, I met with probably thousands of different people every single day from
all different backgrounds, all different races, ethnicities, and that really helped me with my communication and being able to work with different people who may not be from my culture, but I learn how to deal with them in their culture. And not everybody likes being looked in the eyes. So, it's important
to recognize that people are different and they all need to be treated the same equally, but handled differently when you speak with them. >> Thank you very much. And I don't have any other questions. >> Um, I mean, your resume to me kind of
speaks for itself where you are in your career. I think you'll be a great asset to the town. I'm glad to hear you don't have to go to another academy. That's that's a great thing for everyone. So, you know, welcome to the town. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Clark. Mr. Mr. Her,
>> no question. Welcome to Hopkin. Thank you for joining the team. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Her and Mr. Kizner. >> The chief was right. I was going to be happy when you talked. That was some very impressive communication and I appreciated the thoughtful analysis of
you viewing each person uniquely and how you saw that as a translation to the community. I really wanted to hear you talk about how you were going to bring those skills to the town. You did so in a very impressive way very quickly. Welcome to the town. We're excited you're here.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you again. I have no further question and uh welcome and um we are really happy to have you. Appreciate that. >> Thank you. I look forward to working with you all. >> Thank you. With that, I'll look for a motion. >> I move to appoint Victoria Fulgar as a police officer in the Hopkin Police
Department. >> Second. >> Second. Any further discussion? We'll go roll call vote. Uh, Mr. Bush. >> Amy Roush. Yes. >> Joe Clark. Yes. >> Mr. Her. Uh, Mr. Her.
We'll go to Mr. Kisner and come back. >> M. Kisner. Yes. >> Thank you. Mr. Her, are we are you with us? >> Yes. Sorry. Brian her. Yes. >> And Shar Manan. Yes. Congratulations. >> Thank you.
>> We're talking on Zoom. I promise. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you. >> Are we going to take pictures? I >> I don't know. Are we going to do a group picture? >> Yeah. There we go. All right. There's only five minutes. I
don't want to >> take the picture. >> Yeah. I can take two. >> Chief, you want one on your phone or you? All right. have to sign your camera. >> Have to security.
>> Thank you everybody. Our next agenda item is tax abatement requests. The select board will consider requesting that the board of assessors abate outstanding real estate taxes for the following parcels that were conveyed
to the town. PCL R385 Honeybee Pass $32.69 $69 FY2024 Parcel R314 R3145 Lincoln Link Street 34.58 FY2024
Parcel R31350 Wand Road $104.35 FY2024 and the following parcel with no which no longer exists in the database and the land became part of the legacy farms
development parcel LR14-9-0 Clinton Street $7,644.58 FY2010. >> We have two separate We have to do it in two separate motions to >> Okay. Is there any discussions? Um we can go around. Mr. De Bush, >> I don't think I really have any
questions. These are things that all passed at town meeting and we've followed all the steps. So now we can um so we don't want to be paying real tax state taxes to ourselves because we now own these pieces of land, right? That's okay. >> Thank you, Mr. Clark. >> Nope. Amy summed it up. Good to go.
>> Mr. Her online. >> Does the town manager suggest that we go forward? >> Yes. I recommend uh that the board request abatement of the taxes. >> Thank you. Anything else, Mr. Heron? >> No. All set.
>> And Mr. Kushner, >> can we just confirm there's a property on here that we said is no longer on the books. Is this property formally been removed from other town databases, or will that be done as part of this? >> So, I believe this is a case where it's
uh it's no longer a separate parcel, but it's included in another parcel. So, yes, I'm hearing I'm seeing the nodding of head that yes, that's the case that this is actually being taxed as another parcel. So, it's being taxed twice. >> Okay.
>> Thank you. I'm all set. >> Thank you. I have no further question. So, I'll entertain a motion to uh on the tax abatement request. I think there are two motions. Yep. I move that the select board requests that the board of assessors abate the outstanding real estate taxes on these properties under
the provision of Massachusetts general laws chapter 59 section 72A Honeybee Pass parcel parcel R385 Lincoln Street parcel R3145 and Whan Road uh parcel R31350
>> second >> any other discussion we'll go to roll call vote Mr. Brian her. Yes. >> Mr. Kizner. >> M. Kisner. Yes. >> Mr. Clark. >> Joe Clark. Yes. >> Hey, Mr. Bush. Yes.
>> Shmanan. Yes. >> Just a quick thanks to John Nice, principal assessor, and CJ Keter, uh, for bringing this forward. >> Thank you. Yep. Um, I move that the select board request that the board of assessors abate the outstanding real
estate taxes on these properties under the provisions of Massachusetts general laws, chapter 59, section 72A, Clinton Street, parcel R1490. >> Second. >> Any further discussions? Roll call vote. Mr. Rush. >> Amy Rush. Yes.
>> Joe Clark. Yes. >> Mr. Brian her. Yes. >> Mr. Kisner. >> Matt Kisner, yes. >> And Shahmanan, yes. Just a question on that second one that is part of another parcel now that won't come before us again, right? That this will take care of that.
>> That's correct. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you again CJ and the SSRS team. We'll move to the next agenda item order of uh which is common victual license policy. The
select board will consider reviewing and approving a common victual license policy. Ela, do you want to give us an update first and then I think we have our town council today with us so we can discuss the vual policy that we have
been uh uh looking for updates and kind of refreshing the process >> through the chair. Thank you. Um so the board reviewed it at its last meeting and there were some additional questions for town council um and other things you may want to consider. So town council is
here this evening to discuss the policy and answer questions. >> Thank you. Thank you for coming. Do you want to give in a kind of overview from your end and how do you see? >> Sure. I'm more riding shotgun tonight. So uh Kayla's put in more of the uh
laboring ore here. So I'll let her uh give an overview. >> Hi everyone. Kayla Venkowskis. I work as an attorney at me Tarmman and Costa uh service town council. So I was asked um do you want me to just jump in? So, we were asked to answer a few questions
related to um the Corey process for for Common Vic licences. And so, I wanted to give just a general um sort of overview and then I'm happy to answer questions from the board. Um so, first of all, it's
important to note that for um common VIC licenses, the town has standard level access for Corey. And what that means is there's certain information the town can and cannot see. And so for standard level access, here's what a Corey will
return. If the offense is a murder, manslaughter, or sex offense, and the disposition is a conviction, if the offense is a misdemeanor, the disposition is a conviction, and the disposition date or incarceration release date is less than 5 years prior to the Cy request date, the system must
return the offense in all other convicted offenses. And if the offense is a felony, the disposition is a conviction, and the dispos the disposition date or incarceration release date occurred less than 10 years prior to the Corey request date, the system will return that offense and all
other convicted offenses, and it will also return pending offenses. Um, so the town's access is limited to crimes in Massachusetts. Um, and as noted, that's for misdemeanor, 5 years, and felonies, 10 years. And there were a few a few
specific questions. So if someone took a plea deal, what the town will see is the lesser offense. And so because that is what they were convicted of. Um it will not show if someone was arrested if no charges were filed. It will not show if someone's been accused but not arrested.
And it will not show if someone is the subject of an active police or DA investigation. Um okay. And then I'm going to jump to Um okay. Um whether or not the town So there was a question regarding the town
town meeting um did not approve a ci a civil fingerprinting bylaw. And what that practically means for the town is that the town does not have the ability to do civil fingerprinting for common vict licensed applicants. The there is no um other legal mechanism to do so.
The only way to do a nationwide Corey check is through fingerprinting. And then um questions on what the police the police may share with you. Generally, the police department cannot share criminal justice information which
is not publicly available or which would not come through on a back on a permissible background check. um if they have legitimate and articulable concerns related to the business operations or the applicant's suitability to run a common Vic business, they may bring those to the board and the board may
consider those. But the board will need to articulate why and how whatever has been brought to them has been lawfully brought to them and how this makes an applicant unsuitable to hold a a common VIC license. And then um sex offender registry checks. The
town has the same access as the general public, which is access to level two and level three sex offender information. Level one sex offender information is unavailable. Um, and this will be limited to the the U registrant's
current status. So, if they were previously registered as a sex offender, that will not come up in the sex offender registry check. Uh, it may be otherwise publicly available, but in terms of that check, it won't it won't show. And then um questions surrounding the board's
authority to deny a license uh an applicant's license based on what might come up in a quory check. So a licensing authority generally cannot use a permanence criminal record or sex offender registration as an automatic reason to deny a license. They may use
quy or sorry information as part of an individualized evaluation of whether the applicant is suitable for the specific license or activity involved. So this means you consider whether the whether the you may consider whether the offense is directly related to the licensed activity. You can evaluate the risks to
public safety or vulnerable populations. Look at the seriousness and age of the offense and consider evidence of rehabilitation. Um and before making any adverse licensing decision based on a CORIY, the board generally must provide the applicant with a copy of their criminal history
information and disclose the source. And then lastly, conditions the board may put um may impose on a lency. So the board of course has the ability to impose reasonable conditions related to a license. Um and these must be related
to the actual business operations and tied to public health, safety or welfare. Um but the extent to whether conditions may be considered reasonable will depend on an analysis of the applicant and the business. Generally, the board is granted broad authority to impose conditions because of the broad
discretion granted to deny common victual licenses. Um however, the board may be restricted from imposing conditions that are so restrictive that the resulting license may be considered a different class of license. This is based on case law. Um, and I'm sorry, can you hear me? Okay.
Um, what I would add is that conditions may be suscept susceptible to challenge if they are overly broad or arbitrary, if they conflict with state anti-discrimination laws or unrelated to the operation of the establishment. If you genuinely feel that a license that a lency poses a significant risk of harm
to the public or its employees, then that they then that would likely constitute sufficient grounds for denial. However, the board may also could also consider imposing a condition that does not necessarily restrict them from doing something, but instead grants the board authority to initiate
suspension revocation proceedings to the extent there is any impropriy with respect to licences um and the public or their employees. And I just want to reiterate that if there are concerns giving rise to a concern over you know someone's proximity to minors or the general
public, denial is probably the better path here. especially because enforcement of these conditions may be difficult. And I'm happy to answer any additional questions. >> Thank you. Um, we will take questions. I'll start with, uh, Mr. Clark.
>> Awesome. Thank you. That was extremely thorough and I'd be lying if I said I actually remembered or wrote down everything. So, um, you know, I'd like you to make a recommendation like could you send that to us so we could kind of like take it in actually like document it, have a chance to like go through it
thoroughly. I think, you know, as we've seen there's there's a real need to like get this right >> and and and obviously like what whatever we decide in the next month or so doesn't have to be like the final version of it, right? It can be a dynamic thing as we go on and like things evolve and stuff. So, um, and and
you know, we continue to hear feedback. you know, we've given other we've been given other recommendations. I I'd like, you know, I received an email, you know, within the hour before the meeting tonight. Obviously, I couldn't, you know, take that into account, but I'd like I'd like to get council to review
that those recommendations as well and, you know, come back cuz this was really helpful. Um, but combine those things, you know, and and I think that last piece of it was, >> you know, really recommendations on for like how do we enforce this going forward, right? Because it's great to have the policy. We've gotten a lot of
feedback on that and and we've heard it. >> So like just this is like that next step for me if we can kind of do this. I know this is um you know this has taken a long time to kind of get here and so I feel like it's important to kind of go that little bit further and and really
capture as much as possible. >> Is that fair? >> Yeah, happy to reduce your writing and happy to consider more additional questions and how we implement that into the policy. >> Perfect. Joe, too, it's it's important to note that I think the work that that Kayla's done here and that that we've done in looking at your existing
policies is kind of twofold. One, we wanted to um work on some stuff organizationally. Y >> your policies in a way had conflated uh the the procedures and um policies that we would have under other licenses,
including the timing issues. Kayla's fixed a lot of of that in the draft. That's all the the wrote stuff, the black and white stuff. This is all kind of next level discretionary authority that we're trying to convey and give you the tools you need. >> Yep. Yeah. No, and and that's a great
point. And I think, you know, I think we talked about this at one of the previous meetings like with the draft, you know, we we can always move forward with something as is, right, to like get it in place, but then continue the conversation as well. So, you know, to the to the fellow board members, I'm
open I'm open to like both those options. Um, and yeah, that's all I have tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. And I think we can make those other recommendations and information available if you don't have them already, so you can consider
further. Uh, so with that, I'll move to Mr. Her. >> Uh, thank you very much for that overview. uh some of the concepts and points you made uh ring bells with me from involvement over the years about what could and could not be done. Um I
would be interested in hearing uh as Mr. Clark mentioned what your thoughts are on some of the feedback we've received of late. Uh I don't know if all that can be incorporated or not and uh but I think we should at least take a look at it and then uh I I'm assuming that all
this is going to get worked into the final draft that we think we should then vote on at some point in the near future. Is that correct? >> I I think so. And and I'll let Kayla speak more to it, but there's some of this stuff in the the case law and how
far you can go that we probably wouldn't that we would more frame those questions that you could raise. I don't think in the policy itself we're going to lay out how far you can go or what the amount of conditions you can have, but we'll set you up for success in that regard by
making sure that the policy addresses the procedural elements that allow you to implement all of the the leeway that Kayla's described here. >> Great. That makes sense. Thank you. I'm all set for now.
>> Thank you, Mr. Her. Uh Mr. Okay, sir. >> Thank you. Highly educational for me as well. I'll echo Mr. Clark and Mr. Her. I'm looking forward to getting to digest this and hear a little bit more. I appreciate that you got to hopefully hear some of the public forum comments. I'm really struggling in this space
because there is a discretionary aspect to much of what we do on this board and my job in quality tells me that the more I write it down and the more prescriptive I make it, the more likely it is to cause me trouble. So, I very much like the idea of where you were going in terms of giving us more
decisionbased principles to help guide what we should do when and to make it clear that that is a requirement, but not necessarily what the enforcement action is. I think a lot of what we're hearing can hopefully be addressed by making it clear that certain violations
or certain exceptions always come to the board, always require a review. and then we use the public forum and the public space to make sure that we continue to make decisions in the vested interest and in alignment with the town. So, thank you for the continued partnership here. I like that we are taking the time
to get this right, but I am very much of a mind to have it in place before we begin any discussions on Vic again this year. >> Thank you, Mr. Kar and Mr. Dush. >> Yeah, there was a lot of information. I appreciate you putting it together, but it's a lot of information to absorb when
it's just verbal, too. I I'm finally deaf in one ear. It makes it even harder um to process sound. So, anyway, so I'm probably go read this at at home. Um and then I think some a couple I had a couple questions that I'm not sure that you answered here, but um are there
restrictions on where sex offenders can work in Massachusetts, such as can they work in commonal licensed businesses like restaurants? >> Sure. So, that's a good question. Those are individualized. So, it will be based on um the sex the sex offender registry board's determination on an individual.
So, for level one offenders, there's likely going to be no prohibitions. For level two and three, it's going to be specific to the individual, the crime, where they're located, um things of that nature. There's no blanket exclusion from for them from working in certain industries. I would say that they're you
they're typically more limited to um places like I mean child care, health care, law enforcement, security, anywhere where they might have you know close onetoone access to vulnerable populations. >> Okay. So um like I think I said I'm not
quite ready to vote on this tonight because it's a lot of information to think about. Um but we can um one other thing that so it does worry me that I know we voted down the civil fingerprinting at town meeting but like we live very close to other states like Rhode Island. So if somebody our corey
would only cover Massachusetts it sounds like. So if somebody committed a crime just across the border in Rhode Island we wouldn't have the record of it unless we do the national fingerprinting. So I think we need to think long and hard about that if we might want to bring that back again. Um, >> I think too it's important to note that
as as Kayla suggested, there's other publicly available information that you're not barred from considering. We can't use the Corey process to uncover things perhaps from Rhode Island, but that doesn't mean that there's not publicly available information that you
could use. It's not a bar against that. So, if there's >> that could be an in between sort of option that >> Yeah. available police records, even um uh news reports. There are other things you can do provided that they're reliable and paint the picture that you
need to evaluate a person's suit suitability. >> Okay? And then let's see. And but then again, if people have filed police reports against someone, but they're not arrested or charged, that's not going to that's not going to be
something we can find out about. um and or and or deny the license for that reason or depends how serious >> in some contexts and I'll let Kayla speak to it as well. You even if someone's never formally charged or if
charge charges are dismissed that doesn't mean that they're not useful in the licensing context. >> Okay. But it wouldn't be on the Corey. We would have to find it through some other manner. >> Right. Right. you the only thing you'd see on the Corey as it relates to non-convictions is if the offense is
pending. Um so if you know if an arraignment if they've had an arraignment and charges have moved forward and they're still in the process of going through going through to trial for um to see that through. So, but like Jay said, if you have other available
avenues of find of obtaining this information, then you can certainly use that information to the extent that it sheds light on the suitability of an applicant. >> Okay. And then let's see, just trying to go
through my questions to make sure I got all the answers here. Um, and we do we have the authority to require the the private business to corey check all their employees? I know some businesses just do that and some don't. Um, but can we require that in
our common victral license same policy? >> So that would come down to sort of a condition about whether or not that's a condition that you can impose on a lency. And you know, every license applicant is going to be an individualized um review. But I would suggest that if you're considering
something like that, it it should be across the board for all Common Vic applicants. And that still may be susceptible to a legal challenge if somebody was to bring one. Um, you know, they certainly have the right to request standard standard access level quaries
on their own employees. Um, but in terms of the town's ability to require them to do so, that is unchallenged. So, you know, possibly, but >> Okay. But it's unknown. Okay. >> Did you want to add anything?
>> No, I think that sums it up. We're not sure about that. So, I I think that again we would look at if it was kind of content neutral and we were institutionalizing that across the board, that might be a polic policy to
work on. But we haven't uncovered any case law or guidance documents that talk about whether that as a standalone condition would fit the particular facts because with each application we're considering the particular facts.
>> Okay. All right. So I think we might want to think about that a little further like if we would want to oppose that. I know you're saying it's not tested like on businesses that employ minors for example. Um might be different but okay. Um, I think I think that's all my
questions for now and I'll think I'll relisten to what you said and I'll um think about it for the next time. >> Okay. Thank you. That was very thorough and insightful and we'll process more as we hear from uh or have the written version of it. U I have a couple of
quick questions. One is across Massachusetts. Do you know of any other best practice in terms of background check across any other towns pictori? >> I mean there's not really any sort of standard practice. I think what you're
like the standard level Corey access is what most towns require of common Vic applicants. I don't believe um there are many if any that do require fingerprinting level for for that business type alone um or even for that for that business type um it's not a
very common one so you know I think um I did pull a few so I just want to in a couple of towns that h that do have them they are more related to thing um businesses such as hawkers and peddlers canvasers solicitors um fortune tellers
These are these are businesses that have a sort of onetoone relationship with their clientele. Um so I have a feeling that that is why these types of fingerprinting bylaws get passed and approved. Um but I I in a you know a quick search did not come did not see
any for common victual licenses. >> Yeah. And you know there was a recent statute a couple years ago with ice cream trucks where there's a heightened level of scrutiny too. You know, I think circumstances find us here where we're scrutinizing this at a at a kind of a
more granular level. I've been representing cities and towns for 30 years and the common VIC license process doesn't often get this kind of scrutiny. I think it's great that we're doing that. Um, but in more towns it's much
more routine. Even if they have a process for collecting a Corey, it's just becomes routine. here. I think we're in the process of switching gears and getting our our process and our policies up to where the town of Hopington needs them. So, we're
providing much more scrutiny than we would normally see, which I think is a great thing. I would hope that we might become a model for what other towns may want to see. >> Thank you. That's uh very helpful. And if you can give us some of those examples, we'll also process that. And
um second question is uh in your observation and experience what is the police participation in the ve license review process? Is there a norm across these towns?
I I mean it is sometimes and I'm not I want to put this in the right context. I think it can be a little bit more preuncter uh at times where by these applications
we'll go across the desk of the police department, the chief or whoever handles that at the department and they'll come back with either just a clean comment or a comment that there's something to look at in terms of formalizing it in terms
of a process. I don't I haven't seen that as much, but I certainly see it as routine that we'll at least hear or get a note or a letter from the police chief or the police department with not only common vic licenses, but we see this with liquor licenses, we see this with
class 2 licenses whereby if you have a police chief that's actively involved in all of these licensing affairs because there's some impact, then they'll be involved on some level. Here we're trying to standardize it a little bit. So I don't often see it as being written
down on paper and standardized. It's just normally a normal rooting of or routing of a particular application that comes back with a a police chief comment. >> I see. But no standard process in your >> No, there's nothing standard that I see
out there. more frequently it's just because they're involved because they get a copy of it and then they routinely give their um do a whatever research or review that they're going to do and send it back. >> Thank you. And how much of the formal
background check results versus informal complaint not informal but unsubstantiated complaints or police at the police station and others are permissible for decision making on v licensing.
>> I mean I I think of one way to view that is that it's evidence. So you are in a position to issue a license that puts you in a quasi adjudicatory kind of role where you're collecting information and the you're
allowed to consider the facts that are before you. So even if it doesn't emanate from a Corey, if it's reliable information and it's reasonable to consider it and it forms the basis of a decision, the test of whether or not
that decision was sound is again going to be somewhat differential to your judgment. The cases suggest that. But we should be sure, especially if it's not Corey information and it's a third-party account and it's
hearsay related, we might want to be more careful. If it's the basis, if it's on a police report or it's anything that's corroborated, then I'd feel more comfortable with it. It's very much a casebyase process. >> Thank you. a followup, but how how do
you see the towns formalizing that because that can go very deep and unsubstantiated or you know hearsay and some important information too but we're talking about 200 300 business every year
>> and then going through this process practically what is in practice and what is the best practice in your view >> so in my experience I see less of that use of that kind of evidence in this kind of inquiry in and around the Common Vic process. I see
more of that around liquor licensing itself, around LTC issues, uh class 2 issues, uh things like that where we see this more routinely looking at this
kind of information that is coming to us from less formal sources. And that's only because we just don't have the body of litigation in and around common vic matters that we do under those other licenses which are more frequently
litigated and challenged. Not because it doesn't exist, but we're more routinely involved in disputes over those other kinds of licenses. >> Thank you. That's very insightful. And finally, again, we'll process and probably get back to some of the other
specifics. I echo with Amy that um when we first started looking at it, I brought up the fingerprinting issue or fingerprinting option and um it didn't pass on the board and didn't pass in the town meeting either as you know but uh
how much of it is in practice for common week and how much um if there is any other workaround for that to get to the national level or beyond the borders as um Amy was also suggesting. So the fingerprinting bylaw is the only
way to get a national quarry. So the town would have to attempt again um to pass a bylaw that allows them to do fingerprinting. Um and it would be for whatever license types were established in the were outlined in the bylaw. So it would be common vix and if you chose to include any others um there's no other
mechanism to obtain national corey information. Um that's um sorry um that's the legal mechanism to obtain core information because that the bylaw would be approved by both the attorney general and then would be reviewed by the FBI and the FBI in the
end is the one who signs off on the ability to do fingerprinting for a specific industry. >> I'm sorry. So even if there is a process for fingerprinting, it has to go through all of those. So when you p when you pass the bylaw,
so the step one is to create and pass a bylaw. The the attorney general's office would review the bylaw and then the bylaw would also be reviewed by the FBI. >> I see. >> Because they're the ones who are going to produce the fingerprinting check. So they have authority to over whether or
not it's appropriate for that industry. >> Thank you. And I think it came up from my colleagues. Is that um is that permissible based on the privacy laws and based on the you know citizens
rights for protecting their information? >> Yeah. So that's why the fingerprinting bylaw is the only way to get that information is is for exactly what you mentioned for protection of people's private information. >> Thank you. >> But can I just follow on to that? You did say that that we we could use other
publicly available information like a Google search and find their name and a crime they committed at a restaurant in another state that we we just have to do that on our own. I guess that's not a finger. >> Yeah. I mean that would be publicly available information as opposed to what a what a national query would return
which would be like convictions or um convictions in other states and whatever that state's level of Corey access would be. And so but if you're able to find otherwise publicly available information and as Jay mentioned that you could rely on that was you know reliable and or
corroborated you could rely on that but it might it's definitely going to be more limited than what you would get in a Corey you know should anything come up for a specific applicant >> right okay not sure how we'd formalize that if we required that the Google search be done I don't know
>> there's no process or formal process for that >> yeah okay something to think about um >> any other question. >> Not right now. >> Matt, Brian, any other question? >> I'm all set. >> All right. I think we're good for
tonight. We'll review what you sent to us and we'll continue the conversation. >> We'll follow up. Kayla will provide some of the the background for her responses to the questions that that were posed to us. >> It'll be great. Thank you. I appreciate you coming. >> Thank you. >> Right.
>> I think I'm up to the next. So, I think we will not vote on this today or um we'll need to process the information and then we have follow-up questions. So, we'll put it in the coming agenda to continue the conversation and vote on it. >> Does it sound good? >> Yeah.
>> I think Joe's going to stick around for an excellent >> Yeah. U safety assessment. Yeah. >> Yep. >> No town meeting discussion. >> We've got >> Right. Right. So we'll move to our next agenda item
which is 2026 annual town meeting discussion and recap. And I see our town clerk and moderator here. Please come on >> and council >> and our council too. >> Mr. Chair was trying to say something.
>> I'm sorry Bran. We didn't hear you. Can you repeat? >> Yeah. Matt was trying to get your attention. That's all >> he said. Matt was trying to say something. >> Oh. >> Oh, sorry, Matt. We missed that. Can you repeat? >> I think Matt's not on the Zoom anymore. >> Yeah, he mentioned he would have to drop
for a bit. I'm not sure if he's coming back or not. >> Okay. >> He's not on the Zoom. >> Thank you. I think he's sick and mentioned he wouldn't continue, but thank you. So, please take it away. U we can start with your view of the town
meeting and your comments first. And uh do you >> you want me to kick this off because I kind of >> Oh, you kind of worked on it. >> Yeah. I mean, it was it was a joint thing. I I I I think you know where this came from was it was our first Saturday town meeting, right? Um and obviously anytime you do something, which is a
fundamental change. It's, you know, there's going to be bumps in the road, you know, things we learn from. And I thought it was really important, you know, talking to Elaine and everyone here that while it was still fresh in our minds that we come back, we regroup, we talk about what we think went well,
uh what we think didn't go well. Um if there's anything cuz to me like my only goal with town meeting, how can we get more attendance like that to me it's the single goal that we should have as a board and as like as town hall to just get as many people there as possible. And obviously the numbers were not
ideal. Um, so it was just to kind of bring this while it was fresh in our minds. I felt like if we waited much later, school would be out and we would lose a lot of attention on this and then next thing you know it's special town meeting and we haven't really made any changes. So I think we had the assumption that we're going to have a
special town meeting in the fall. So this was really an opportunity to kind of discuss this internally. I also recommended like do we do some type of, you know, public hearing where we could get live feedback. We talked about surveys, um, anything to just engage the
residents and understand what like what we can do to improve attendance and that was really like kind of the basis for this whole thing kind of open discussion >> and thank you Joe. I think that makes sense and the way you put it out that uh puts in a good uh structure to it. I
think how we can probably frame it is uh hear from Connor and our moderator and council your view of what went well, what can be improved and we can also address what we have heard what you have heard from the town residents in terms
of where you know things can be done better in especially in participation and then we can al also rotate around and give our feedback and questions. How does that sound? >> I think that sounds perfect. Um, so I mean I town I'm the town clerk Connor
Degan. I've heard a a significant amount of feedback on both positive and negative for how the meeting went. Um, I mean I know that like you said Joe, the the turnout disappointing, but at the same time we had more people show up
than came last year to actually vote to move it to Saturdays. I don't think we have enough data at this point to really make the final call, but we do have at least one of those data points to start us out on it. I I think having the options for for food was a great way to
be able to provide I don't I think you know we saw a mixed amount of participation in it, but that's again first time we do anything. People are still figuring out what it is. A few people said they weren't sure what kind of things were going to be offered. So that's part of why they they weren't sure what they were going to have to do
with that. So maybe kind of you know if we have more time we can put some information out further ahead of time to be more prepared for that. Uh, I think one of the big benefits and this was kind of a cart horse situation where if
we want to be able to provide something like child care going forward, then we can't provide that equitably and equally if we're doing it on a week night, but we can provide that if we have it on a weekend day where we can have people come in, their kids are not going to
it's not going to be past bedtime and stuff like that for kids on a school night, which is what we run into weekdays in May typically um in this since town meeting, we've had a few organizations, including the local Girl Scout troops reach out about potentially
offering babysitting in future years. Uh and we've already had the Boy Scouts block off their calendar for next year for the day to be able to come and continue to offer food and refreshments to the community as they come to perform their civic duties. Uh, you know, I
think we need to solicit feedback in general from the public. Like you were saying, Joe, I think it's it's vital that we take this time to see what went well, but we also need to be very conscious of we're never going to be
able to set this up in a way as an open town meeting that's going to satisfy everybody. But we also need to be aware that those of us in these positions where we're representing everybody need to be aware that we are we're stewards
of good government as well. We need to be sure that we are taking those who have accessibility challenges and that we are representing them and giving them access. Uh, and I just think it's very easy to see that there will be folks who
understandably are upset by inconvenience as well, other things that were going on in their lives. But there are people who have said to me since sense that they would have not been able to attend because of other issues like not being able to get a ride on a week night or something like that, not being
able to stay the whole meeting, not being able to have both parents attend because the one of the kids was going to be, you know, past their bedtime. and they're going to be beds so only one parent could go. I think as we have this we can spend more time over the next
year trying to work towards community organizations planning around it. Um you know I think the other piece to keep in mind is this year and last year we didn't have the same degree of controversial articles. Um, but we kept
the time relatively slim and we were able to get it done in one day, which I think was a big feat and it saved a lot of money in the long term. The time frame of this meeting would have been a twoight meeting if it had been a a
nighttime meeting because it would have drifted over most likely and then it would have taken a while to get started back up. probably somewhere in the late last 10 articles, we would have probably had a point where we had to stop for the night. Um, and you know, I really want
to give some props as well to Zach on his first annual town meeting. He worked it very well, masterfully even, and kept us moving along in a way that didn't feel rushed. And I want to just take that moment to thank you for first
successful Saturday town meeting. and I'll pass the mic over to Zach. >> Thank you, Connor. >> Zach Kosan, town moderator. Um, I'd like I can echo a lot of what Connor was saying. I think um child care.
Making that available would do a lot for increasing attendance. I know my son was sitting with my wife and his tablet in the audience and I some other people I know had their kids there with them as well. And I'm sure that it would be
easier on everyone if um cuz I remember we did this for a town meeting, special town meeting for the Charleswood school, if we could just drop all the kids off at the library and have them watch Bluey and run around rather than try and sit and listen to me try and run a meeting.
Um, I do think having it on Saturday, in addition to it not going late into the night, being able to do the entire town meeting in one sitting was very helpful. Um, especially when we
don't have controversial items on the warrant. If as we get towards the end of the warrant, there's a lot of busy work left, it's very, very hard to get a quorum in place for that second night or
if everything goes terribly the third night of town meeting. Nobody wants to stay out that late once, much less three nights. Um, one other thing I've heard from several people is that we do need
to do a better job announcing and advertising town meeting. Um, I know there was some issue with the DPWD, whoever owns them, big light up road signs that they
weren't available. But also um one suggestion that I got um from the garden club actually they have signs that they use for their plant sale every year and they just reuse the same signs every year and slap a new number on it which
would be a cost-effective way of um being able to get out the information that town meeting is happening in the first place. Uh, I do want to thank all of the residents who came to town meeting who almost
universally respected the time limits and kept their discussions on point and to the point and uh, town meeting can't run smoothly without everyone's buyin and everyone's participation. Uh, so I I think we have some room for improvement, but I think
for our first Saturday town meeting, it uh, went quite well. >> Thank you, Zach. I appreciate that. U insights and comments. Um Mr. Council, >> sure. Um I'll offer just a little bit because it was my first uh annual town meeting for the town, too. But as you
know, I I attend a lot of town meetings and I'm a town meeting moderator myself. I I thought that the town meeting went well. I thought that there was good involvement, good participation, good flow. Uh the leadup to it on the staff level, which was all that I was
involved in, was really great. I thought there was a lot of involvement where the warrant and the motions touched a lot of hands and there was a concerted effort to get everything right in terms of those articles. There was problem solving, issue spotting, all of that. I
think those are all you hit touched all the the points at which you'd want to for a successful town meeting. I'll add anecdotally that moving from a weekday to a weekend could be preferential for
whatever reason. There is no correlation based on my experience between attendance and whether you do it on a weekend or a weekday because there's pluses and minuses to both. running a good town meeting, getting the word out, maybe having more some sexier articles
sometimes brings people out more, but I don't see the attendance issue affecting it. I do think if you tend to run a little bit long for one night, a weekend, you you can get more done um because you there's just a bigger block of hours that you can do. But people
give up things there. We run town meetings in the spring. Parents are out there with kids doing stuff. So, it's um that that can be difficult, but that can be difficult in the weekdays, too. So, I I thought it went really well. Um again, my first meeting with the town, I go
through about 30 or 40 town meetings a year, and uh you guys are well above average in terms of the functioning, the smoothness, the cohesiveness of the staff. Um the the work that Connor and Zach did I thought was really good, too. >> Thank you. That's very insightful and
interesting perspective as well and thank you three of you for your dedicated work and making it a successful town meeting. Now I'll open it up. Uh Bran, do you have any questions or any other comments that you want to add to it?
>> I would have two quick uhations. one. Uh I don't think that the votes and how they played out would have been any different had it been a Monday, Tuesday, or if it was a Saturday meeting. I think in general the vote seemed to follow a
fairly typical process for Hopington. I think the thumbs were pretty consistent for Hopington as well. So I don't think the day really impacted that. And I thought, you know, in general, it was extremely wellrun. I think Zach did a great job in his first year. So kudos to
him and Connor for all the work he did too. My other observation is uh citizen petition articles rarely work and this town meeting I think clearly highlighted that again. So in the future, if folks
really want to get something done, they got to find a champion inside town government and have that entity or that individual with some authority and opportunity to marshall and, you know, organize the effort to make something happen. But
citizen petitions, uh, while they're lawful, they're very hard to get town meetings to buy into and actually pass. So I would just put that out there as well. Thank you. >> Thank you, Brian. That was very insightful. Um Amy,
>> yeah, I think I'll echo what Brian said. Like I think it's usually the I think it you and what the town attorney said that um it's us often the topics that drive the turnout more so than the the day the day whether it's an evening or a weekend. Um but I really appreciate the doing the feedback on it and I I know
we've been working on a survey to survey the residents like we did about five years ago. I think it's gone out, right? Yeah. Yes, I would encourage everybody to fill out the town meeting survey and I've started running the statistics. I get the voter list from the town clerk's office and um one I'll just I'll present this at a future meeting if next time we
have it on the agenda. But when we did this same thing in 2022, we had so much such an influx of new people in town. Um so 37% of all the voters in town were registered to vote less than 5 years. And I think that's from the buildup of Legacy Farms and all
the new housing. But and conversely um people who have lived in town less than 5 year years are far less likely to come to town meeting but once you get into that 5 to 10 year range so it goes from 3% of the people who've lived here less than 5 years go to town meeting but 11% of the people who've lived here 5 to 10
years do go to town meeting and so that number has really jumped and so now people who have lived in here lived here less than or been registered to vote I should say less than uh 5 years is is down to 27% and that and we have a bigger pie chart here for the 5 to 10 years has moved up
to 27%. So I think we'll get more participation just by people having been here longer and feel maybe have gotten to know what town meeting is. But I look forward to exploring that in more detail. And I think the survey is a great idea and I I I already filled out the survey. But um one thing I hadn't on
the evening town meeting I don't want coffee but I really wanted coffee at the morning town meeting. I hadn't thought of that. So I think that needs to be an addition. Uh let's see. But I look forward to the survey results and see what people want to do. Um, thanks to everybody for putting that together.
>> Thank you, Emmy. I would echo the coffee issue as well. Early morning, we all need a few cups. But, um, thank you. I think, uh, I would echo some of the things my colleagues have said, but, uh, one emphasis on is that, um, one big
thing I heard is the coordination of the dates uh, were in conflict with some of the major events especially for kids and school. So there was a few soccer tournament that was happening. I think u there was a communion that was
happening. So all those are kind of mustd do for people of certain group or people of certain u age and family category who were simply unable to join. So one thing to think about should we go for a Saturday date or something and on
a weekend we would need to put in a lot more effort to see how best we can plan and orchestrate with these other key event areas and how can we make sure everyone kind of blocks that calendar and I know it's going to be hard but as
for for example for next year should we do that probably in the next couple of weeks we should do that u so that's one way to kind of mitigate that because I did a you know kind of scan and I'm waiting for more detailed data but uh
people with kids of a certain age and others were like very minimal for that reason and also I take what Zach and Connor you have mentioned adding some um daycare service would certainly help them join as well. Uh apart from that I
I agree. I think uh more communication more uh evangelism and kind of helping out and encouraging people to join uh the town meeting is going to uh be the key. And communication wise also our feedback was there wasn't enough boards
or enough uh public communication on this for general uh residents. people who are involved and engaged at volunteer level they are more aware um than general residents but that's another thing we could also look at potentially but
otherwise I thought it was a great success we finished on time we had most of the articles except one and uh I think we pretty much made it with Koram except the last one but it was very tight and uh again we we definitely want
to put in more effort to increase the participation going forward and I'm looking for more comments coming through various public forums and feedback and survey mechanisms. So more to come on that. So with that I think Joe did you want to add some
>> I just had one more uh like question just to remind all the residents how long is a survey open for >> and where can they go for it? I just want to document that because I because again going back to like our advertising issues, right? Like we we've got to start like early thinking about those
things. And I think it even starts with something like this survey. >> Yep. So the survey is available. It's on posted on the town's Facebook account. It's on the town's uh web page. Um there is no termination date. This something that maybe the board wants to determine
uh when we close the survey. Uh I figured this meeting being the first meeting since the survey has been open is a good time to think about that. We have about a hundred responses thus far which is pretty good. Um but uh you know I I got a contact call from Nick Sko well not call email from Nick Scoffield
who wants to put an article out about help us circulate a little bit further. So hopefully get some more feedback. Um so but it's up to the board in terms of when you'd like to close that down and start analyzing some of that data. >> Do we have to decide today? I don't think we I don't think we need to decide
tonight. Um I would lean towards keeping it open longer. >> Yeah. Another month. Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean I Yeah. At least I I feel like once school stops, people are going to lose focus in town. People head out of town for the summer, so we probably don't need to go much beyond that. Um
but I see no harm in keeping it open right now. >> That would make sense. Brian, do you have anything else to add or comment? No, I'm fine for now. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. >> To think of one more thing. >> Yeah. >> As I was looking through the statistics,
I thought it was interesting. There's only I think I'm going to count 18 people who have attended all 10 of the last 10 annual town meetings. So, Mr. Degan is one of them. As not surprised. I'm one of them. >> How many? Less. How many? >> Last 10. Brian is one of them. But I don't know if we might want to recognize
that sort of part participation um of people who attend every town meeting or five in a row or something like a five-timers club some like they do on Saturday Night Live. >> Feels like cheating for me, Amy. >> Yeah, it feels like cheating for you because it's your job. Yeah. But the other thing um to or maybe and I think
I've heard other towns do recognize people who it's their first town meeting just to really welcome them and thank them for coming because it's everybody's first time once. So >> yeah, >> sure. Well, more to come and we'll keep the survey open. Thank you again to all
of you and please >> I just wanted to to add if I may um to kind of build off of two things that you folks said that I think are important to recognize and shad one that you said as well. Um there are there's always going
to be a risk that there will be conflicts in the coming year that we could figure out and identify, but at the end of the day, we're all part of different social groups. Our families are involved in different organizations and clubs, and we don't know what we don't know. It's vital that we hear from
folks about what things we need to be worrying about or in conflict, organizations we need to be reaching out to. and for individual residents, citizens that are concerned about things that'll be coming before town meeting to discuss with the organizations they are involved in to ensure that they can set
this as a priority that won't be in conflict with other things in their lives. The other piece I wanted to touch on is something that Mr. Hurst said. Um I can't echo enough how vital it is to see about if you can find town sponsors
for anything. Um, it's the very first thing it says on the citizens petition guide that this board and the town manager's office publishes and it's first step you should do is reach out to a town board that you think might touch
that particular issue and see if you can find a solution there first. And the reason I say that is that gives so much more opportunity for situations like the boards, town council, town staff to review everything. So, you know, keep in
mind like take advantage of the experts that are that are available to you if you go through that process as well. >> Thank you. >> I neglected to mention Mr. Harrow who was in the room has also been to the last 10 town meetings. >> Oh, and I can take this opportunity to point
out there's been a long period of discussion here about silos. Thank you. Sorry, we can't open for public comments at this time, but thank you again and u we'll continue the conversation and thought process on this. Appreciate it.
>> Thank you. >> We'll move to our next agenda item which is public safety assessment draft scope. The select board will consider reviewing a draft scope of a public safety assessment which would be used to obtain proposals from consultants. The
assessment is funded in the FY27 town budget. Um Len, do we have a context that you can help us? >> Sure. Um as you may recall, the um town meeting appropriated $24,000 for an
assessment. Um and prior to um coming up with the uh proposal for the amount uh I had talked to a couple of consultants um about you know what the board was thinking about um and whether that was you know what the right amount of money was. So um one of them did come back
with what's in the packet today which is a draft um overview and scope that uh reflects what other communities have done and what this board has talked about. And a scope of this size is something that they're saying is within our budget. Um but of course it can be
modified. Um and this will go out to um for a public uh seeking a proposal. So it would be a bid process. >> Thank you. U open it up for questions. Amy, >> um I'm Can you skip me? I'll come.
>> Oh, sure. >> Uh yeah. So I I want to start with kind of like the process side of things. So, like you said, Elaine, this is going to go out to like public bid. I know sometimes we look for um like consultants we've used in the past and it's it's kind of like, you
know, a proactive approach to that as opposed to like how do we how wide does this go in something like this? Because this is different than something we've ever done as a town from my understanding. >> I think in this case, we'd look to see uh consultants that other communities have used. Um we would also um go out to
there are public agencies um state and federal agencies who do this work as well. Uh they may be interested. There are nonprofit entities um and consultants. So we would um look to see um because we haven't done a study like this before. uh what who others have
used um reach out to them and reach out to our other communities and see who might be a good consultant to reach out to and then the board would review whatever is received and make a determination. >> Okay. Um yeah, I think that's a start. Again, like I I do not expect us to like
solve this tonight. It's kind of like the first pass of this. Um I know how much work you've done in the background on this Elaine, so thank you. Um, so I think my only other thing was I personally wanted to look for and I don't know if I'm seeing it in
here any anymore, but as far as scope, I wanted to know, you know, we we talk about like performance man management of like our town leaders, specifically the fire chief, the police chief. Um, I've said this before, it's extremely difficult to come up and performance
manage when it's outside of your field. you know, I do it all the time for work. Um, and and I grew up around the firehouse, right? So, it's not like I'm unfamiliar with it, but it's very different to be in this in this seat and do it. So, I I think if we could use this also as a way to help set those
goals, I think it would be critical as like a path forward to have that expertise that we could lean on and establish kind of a future path for us. >> Good. Otherwise, >> thank you. Brian, do you want to add and uh ask any
questions or comments? >> Yeah, one comment I would have is to make sure in the RFP that we issue Elaine that we ask uh one of the questions to be uh and get get information from the applicants about their qualifications as they see it and
their experience in doing this type of work in Massachusetts. Uh sometimes with RFPs in the public sector, you can put them out there and all kinds of different folks can apply and you know spin it up and try and get some business out of it, but I really want to see the experience in
Massachusetts doing this type of work and have that documented in their response. Thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah. >> Yeah. And and I think you said this already. You're going to get feedback from other towns. So, I guess I'd like to know if other talents have done this and it brought them the deliver things
that they, you know, what what they need to improve and they were able to budget the things they need to improve probably have a cost so they would budget to get all those things done. They could help them prioritize and figure out how to improve and then so are we are we going we wanting to add to it or think about it
another week or >> Well, I I think I I wanted to give like my like one of the things I wanted to see out of it. I think you know again with it being an RFP we're going to get responses right some will be inside our budget some will not be we will have to make a decision as a board like how we
move forward you know a lot of times this stuff you know you add scope you know you descope things right like as we get through it I I think this is a starting point if you want to add something it doesn't doesn't hurt >> no I don't think I have anything at the moment but I didn't know how long before we want to send it out because it'll be
a process >> if we want to wait one more meeting to send it out or we want to go ahead and send >> Oh, no. I I'm comfortable. >> You're comfortable sending out? >> Yeah. Okay. >> I I just had a couple of questions. One is um in doing the scoping, did we
follow any um industry standards or um framework based on which we can kind of compare apples to apples. I'm thinking after the assessment is done, what are we going to do with it? And a good way to do that is can we compare it from
past assessments, compare it with other towns assessments. How do what do you think about that? >> Yeah, I think uh one of the things the consultants did mention was was that you know everyone's is a little bit different you know the focus that they have and so it may not be totally comparable to someone else's assessment
but if it's something that this town wants to do regularly then you will be able to have those benchmarks going forward. And one of the um I think the important thing is the this last section on deliverables. We want to make sure that that that what's delivered is what
the board is looking for and what sets you up with a good framework going forward to continue this and to then implement and monitor whatever is recommended as well. So make sure we take a good look at that. Make sure it's what what we want.
>> Thank you. That makes sense. And u last one on this is so what is the next step? We're going to float the RFP and once we get the responses, we're going to discuss as a group or it'll be through your office only. >> The board would would be >> get perview on this and
>> we would work with our our procurement manager to um to issue an RFP or IFP whatever whatever process it comes out to be. Um but it may take a little bit of time. We it's post town meeting. We have to get in a queue to go forward. So
>> what's our timeline now for this? Uh not sure. >> Okay, let's check on that. Good. >> We want to start working on that right away though. >> Great. Yeah, I'd look forward to that and I think this would be a great way to uh assist ourselves, of course, and then look for improvement opportunities. Uh
any other question from anyone else? >> Do we do we need a motion to move forward? Are we good to I think we're just good to have you guys post this, right? >> If that's what you'd like to do, then >> did we did we need a motion? >> Quick motion then. >> Yeah. I I would move to authorize the
town manager's office to move forward with the RFP process >> for a public safety assessment. Right. >> Yes. For a public safety assessment. >> Second roll call. Amy >> Amy Rush. Yes. >> Joe Clark. Yes. >> Brian. >> Brian her. Yes.
>> Sherman Manan. Yes. Thank you. Elaine. Let's move forward with that. >> Still not there. >> He's Oh, he was not. I don't think he's >> Matt is not there. >> No, he's not there anymore. Uh the next item is order of taking Lynen Street. The select
board will consider executing an order of taking and acquiring by eminent domain as authorized pursuant to article 33 of the May 2, 2026 annual town meeting, a permanent easement for all purposes for which public ways are used
in the town of Hopkin, including the installation and maintenance of utilities over, in, under, through, and upon the person parcel of land depicted as Lynen Street shown on a plan of land
entitled Street Acceptance Plan Lynen Street Hopington, Massachusetts prepared by Haley Ward and dated October 7, 2025. So before we start, Elen, do you want to give us more context? >> Sure. So this follows up with one of the town meeting articles that passed and
that's the acceptance of Lynen Street. So town council has drafted an order of taking and a vote of the board to move that forward. These will get recorded in the registry of deeds. Uh and the abuters will be notified. >> Thank you. Uh questions, comments? Um
Mr. Clark? >> Nope. I I mean this is straightforward to me. This is based off a town meeting, right? This is the actual motion to move forward. So, I'm good. >> And Tommy indicates this all in order for us to >> Amy. >> Yeah. So, I don't have any other questions.
>> Brian, do you have any questions, comments? >> No questions or comments. Thank you. I don't have any either. So, we can move to uh move the motion. >> I hereby move that the select board acquired by eminent domain is authorized pursuant to article 33 of the May 2nd,
2026 session of the Hopkins annual Tom Town meeting and further to authorize the chair to execute and enter into any and all documents necessary to effectuate the acquisition of the following property. a permanent easement for all purposes for which public ways are used in the town of Hopkin, including the installation and maintenance of utilities over, in,
under, through, and upon the parcel of land depicted as Lynen Street shown on a plan of land entitled Street Acceptance Plan Lyndon Street Hopkins and Mass prepared by Haley Ward and dated October 7th, 2025, and recorded with the Middle Sex South Registry of Deeds. And further that the board determine that no persons
will sustain damages in their property by reason of the hearent uh taking all in accordance with the provisions of master journal law chapter 79 section six is amended and award no damages in accordance with this determination. Second. >> We do roll call vote. Amy
>> Amy Roashes. >> Joe Clark. Yes. >> Ryan. >> Ryan her. Yes. >> Shelman. Yes. Thank you. We'll move to town manager report. >> All right. So um this week um have a
town department position vacancy in the uh DPW. Uh so in the uh FY27 budget is a new working fourperson in the water and sewer department. Um and so uh in your packet is a memo from uh DPW director
outlining the um support for this position that was um that was stated during the budget process. Uh and this would allow for um focusing uh have two crews um on duty and to um to further
the work of the department. Any questions? >> I'm good. No questions. Brian, feel free to jump in. >> All right. Please continue. >> Thank you. I don't have any idea.
>> Uh, next one. >> No, I think we need a motion there, right? Is that post? >> Oh, is that a motion? >> I move to approve the posting of a working fourperson position in the water and sewer division of public works. This is a filling a vacancy or it's a it's a >> it's a new position. >> It's a new position. Okay. >> July 1st.
>> Okay. So, I'd second >> you made the motion. >> I made the motion. You seconded. >> Amy, yes. >> Joe Clark. Yes. >> Brian. >> Brian. Sherman. Yes. Thank you.
So next is um the report on the fundraising from uh the uh 130th Boston Marath Marathon Invitational entries that the town received and distributed to local organizations. So this year the organizations uh raised $542,000
$85356. So it was a it was a great year. Um the report by organization is attached by bib and uh I think just virtually every um entity, every runner was able to
provide the minimum 6,000 that the board was looking for and some well in excess. >> Thank you. >> So it was a fantastic uh fundraising this year. >> And that's for how many organizations? >> Uh I don't know the number of organizations, but it was 52 entries.
>> Uh any questions, comments? No, it's just great that it was a little bit more than last year was raised. That's good. >> I'm good. >> Okay. And then uh finally, I wanted to talk about your summer schedule. Um June and then uh July and August. Uh if you
want to meet once a month, uh we could set those dates. I put in the in my um report the dates where your regular schedule would fall, but it doesn't have to be on those dates that you need. So, um, I will say I already planned my
vacation around these dates. I'll be gone July 11th through the 20th. So, I'll be back in time for the 21st. >> So, I can do all these dates. I don't know about anyone else. >> Yeah, I have no issues. >> Brian, any issues with the dates?
>> One per month. >> Sorry, are we going to one per month or no? >> Yeah, we were proposing once per month. Once a month, I think in June we have two. July we have actually we have two so if we do we want to go once a month
is the first question but Amy and Clark are okay Mr. Clark are okay with the current dates. Would you like to propose once a month or you think these dates would work? >> If I could make >> I don't have a strong opinion. I was just trying to clarify what we're
looking at. >> Thank you. >> If I can make a recommendation, yeah, I love the idea of once a month in the summer. I think you should look at kind of some of the upcoming meeting agenda items and work with Elaine. I think, you know, I don't have any issues with any of these dates. Um, these current ones
worked uh for Amy as well. So, I think if you kind of work with Elaine, you could kind of figure out how to fit them into once a month. I think the board and town would be very receptive of that. >> Yeah, that sounds like a plan. >> Yeah, I agree with Mr. Clark that if if we could reduce it to once a month without still having time to fit
everything in, I think that would be great. I'm also okay with all the dates except for July 7th, but I'll work with Elaine and we'll see how we can work and communicate to all of you and feel free to give feedback over email or call or
uh talking to Elaine and we'll target once a month. Uh hopefully we can fit in. >> I think July 7th could be a problem because the holiday the previous week we'd have to post the agenda very far in advance. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, we'll work on those and uh
communicate back to you all of you. >> And if something is urgent, we could try to do a remote meeting like something brief. >> Yeah, good idea. >> All right. Leer reports and board invites.
>> I I don't have anything new this week, >> Amy. >> Um I think let's see. For the board invites, we have the Pride parade and the uh Fourth of July parade. So, I guess it would be good to know if we if any of us are going to go to those and if we could march together. Are are people are you guys planning to be at
the July 4th parade? >> I'm planning to be. Yep. I will be out of town. >> You'll be out of town. >> Brand, do you have plans for attending July 4th? Um July 4th even? >> Yeah, I will I will be out of town.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> You'll be attending? >> I am planning to. Yeah. >> Okay. So, we'll >> we can ask Matt. >> We can ask Matt. We could all three go together if >> right. >> We have a banner held. >> We have a banner. Yes. >> So we could do that. Yeah. Let's uh plan for that. >> And then the same the pride parade um
had the invites up. The pride parade is um June 20th on the common and I'm able to attend. I don't know if others are planning to attend. >> I'm planning to attend. I usually attend every year, but >> and then uh right before the next meeting on the 2nd, we'll have um people
from the freedom team uh come to uh raise the Junth flag. >> Oh, right. Okay. >> Oh, yeah. That is the June second >> time on the I think we did it at 5:30 last time. >> Is that June 2nd meeting? >> June 2nd. June. >> Does that work for everyone?
>> I think so. I not sure if I'm traveling that day, but we'll figure it out. Okay, Brian, do you have any comments or you think you can make it? >> I won't know until that day. Uh, given my work schedule,
>> we'll work it out then. >> Okay. So, we do the flag on June 2nd if possible. Okay. >> Yep. 5:30. >> I'll have to confirm that with them. What time? >> All right. Thank you. Anything else, Amy? >> I don't think there's anything else now.
Uh Brian, do you have anything that you want to talk about for leazy reports? >> Not at this time. No, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good to think. Sorry. So, in addition to the town meeting survey, which we already talked about, there is also a charter commission charter review committee survey that is out there and
both of the surveys are not very long to take. So, I would encourage everybody to take them and I think it's still open till the end of the week. The um applications to be on the police chief screening committee. Is that right? >> The 29th, I think. 29th. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, if anyone wants to apply for that, they they have a chance through
the 29th. >> How's it looking? Generally, are we getting applicants? >> Uh, last I knew there were 17 applicants. >> Oh, nice. Okay, great. All right. Uh, I don't have anything. I just uh wanted to update. We I joined
the um Memorial Day event and it was wonderful event indoors in Amy did too indoors uh in um St. John's church because of rain it was taken indoors but it was well participated more than 200 residents and veterans and
representative James Dros also joined it was really u very thoughtful and solemn event we all um had it very good uh and very well organized through the veteran celebration committee so thank you to the celebration committee and really
wonderful program so with that um anything else on lezone future board agenda items. Anything to add from anyone? >> Um, I thought we had already added Elaine, but the conversation around what we do with these private roads, um, like
we saw from the citizen petition, I think there's other options aside from making them public, uh, like let's get that on. you know, we we weren't able to do it for this evening, but let's prioritize that if we can for another conversation because um I think there's
options there and we just need to address them. >> Agree. >> Yeah, I agree. That would be good for >> that be a good addition. Sure. >> Anything else? >> Brian, anything you wanted to add? >> No, thank you.
>> I had one and we actually two potentially. One is um for the public forum that we have in the board meeting, we kind of set out the rules and that we are following uh first 15 minutes and then towards the end remaining. But I
think given uh some of the feedback and a lot of enthusiasm from um the residents, it'll be good for all of us to kind of shed some light on it and see is there any other thoughts or any way we can um we want to restructure, we want to manage it differently or we are
all good with the way we have laid it out now. So something for a future agenda item so we all can speak to it and figure out how we want to operate in future. Uh and the second one was we hear a lot about town communication um on town meetings and others. I know
there's a lot of effort that goes out and we communicate we feel like you know top of our lungs but still sometimes it doesn't always reach all the residents we get that feedback. So something we want to look at and see what are our current communication venues and channels what can we add what kind of
brainstorming if there are ways we can make it better and improve on those. Uh, so those are the two I I was thinking if anything else. >> Um, we did have a resident here for public forum. I know he walked out, but
I don't know if he's on the Zoom or something. >> Yeah, this would be a good time to >> There's no one on the Zoom. >> No one on the Zoom. I saw him walking out. So, >> hopefully hopefully he knows he can come back next week and next meeting.
>> Yep. or we have Brian. We can open up the public forum for some public comments. Please come over. >> Good evening. My name is Brian Johnson. I live at 20 Burkedale Lane. I've been a
resident of Hington for approximately 5 years. Um having received one or maybe more surveys regarding Tommy, I just wanted to share a few thoughts. Um, regarding one idea I've seen floated, I would urge against moving away from open
town meeting. Uh, in the early 1960s, the town of Brattleboro, Vermont did exactly that. And in April of this year, they returned to Opentown Meeting primarily because the residents of Brattleboro felt they no longer had sufficient voice in how their towns
being run. >> Excuse me, Brian. Can you speak to the U microphone? We're living in a time in history where more and more citizens feel their voice no longer matters. Where important and consequential decisions are being made by fewer and fewer people who don't care
about how their decisions impact others. Let's not take Hopington in that direction. I would instead look for ways to remove barriers to attendance. Whether this might include providing transportation to those who need it, nearby or on-site
activities for kids so parents can attend, or something else. Identifying and removing barriers is something that can and should be further explored. Finally, some of these topics that come up in the warrant items are complex and occasionally difficult. Have we explored
ways to clarify some of these items? Admittedly, this might not be easy. I've talked to people about items when there weren't and at first their eyes glaze over until suddenly something connects and they see how it impacts them. Are there better ways to help our neighbors
digest some of the more complex items without asking them to do a lot of homework? Town meeting might not be considered by many to be fun or exciting, but in this age when so many people feel that democracy is under attack, town meeting
a treasure. Let's do what we can not only to preserve it but to promote it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh do we have anyone else in the room or on Zoom who wants to speak? >> Do you see anyone? >> There's no one on
>> Seeing none. Then I would move to convene an executive session pursuant to master general law chapter 3A section 21A purpose 3 to discuss strategy with respect to litigation stone wallet assessor's map parcel R16270 between 61 and 65 Winter Street pursuant
to Mass General Law Chapter 38 section uh 21A purpose 2 to consider strategy with respect to negotiations with non-union personnel uh non-union town employees to approve executive session minutes 31726 33126 5226 to allow Allow Elaine Lazarus, Lance Del Priori, Jay
Talon, Ed Harrow, and Mory Gasser to participate in executive session and not to convene open session at the conclusion of executive session. >> Second do roll call vote. >> Mr. Bish, yes. >> Ch Clark, yes. >> Brian, >> Brian her. Yes.
>> Sh manan. Yes. Thank you. Have a good night. I need some