[Music] All right, welcome everyone. We're going to get started this evening. I call the meeting I call the meeting to order. This meeting of the Hopkins Select Board is being held both in person and remotely using video conference platform Zoom. Select board member Matt Kisner will be participating
remotely and all of other members of the select board should be present for this meeting at town hall room 215 216 in person. At this time, I will ensure that the select board members participating remotely can hear and be heard. Uh, Matt, can you hear us? I can. Are you still blessed with
hearing me? Yes, loud and clear. Perfect. Uh, the public has the option of attending in person, here at town hall, or via Zoom using the link posted in this meeting's agenda. This meeting is being recorded. All votes will be
taken by roll call. And we are going to start with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance 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. Um we are going to start uh with public forum. So each person will have two to three minutes to speak at public forum. Please start by stating your name and address. Is there anyone present that would like to start? Is there anyone on Zoom
for public form? There's one hand on Zoom. All right. Bob Key. Did you say Bob? Bob Keley. Hey, can we give access to Bob so that he can speak? I don't know if you can hear me. I just uh I just think I turned my microphone
on. Yes, we can hear you, Bob. Great. Welcome. Thanks. I'm I'm uh thanks for taking my your time. Um I wanted to uh advocate for Hey, Bob, if you don't mind, name and address for the record, please.
60 Pine Island Road. Um and uh on the agenda, it's the item number seven for the road repairs. I'm uh uh requesting that the uh select board approves the funding to repair the
road. It's in um significant disrepair. Um in front of my house in the winter time, it'll freeze into a solid sheet of ice 60 ft long and 3 in deep. In the summertime, it floods. Uh there are numerous potholes down the road and u um
it is in desperate need of of repair. Perfect. Thank you, Bob. Um, one last chance if anyone would like to speak to public forum. There's now a second person on Zoom. Uh, Mike McDonald. Does he have his hand raised?
Yep. Hi, Mike. Can you hear us? Hi, this is actually um Lisa McDonald, Mike's wife, but it always his name pops up on my Zoom when I use Zoom. Um, Lisa McDonald, 62 Pine Island Road.
I just wanted to take a moment and echo um my neighbor Bob Keelley's concerns. I had texted or excuse me emailed a picture of a significant pothole between 60 and 62 Pine Island. It is 5
in deep, 30 in uh long, and 20 in wide. Um, so I just I did send this picture and request to have this pothole filled um over to Mike Manzer earlier today so
that he has it um in his um you know in his email. Um this this pothole has been patched in the past, but what happens with um trucks that come down here is that eventually the um asphalt that's put in
as a patch does um start to de decompose over time because it's it is a patch. Um but it would be really really nice um if that got filled back up before winter. Um because as Bob said, there's a lot of
thawing and freezing that happens and it's like because it's on a hill, it is quite treacherous for um pedestrians as well as vehicles. We've on one more than one occasion um used our winch to help UPS trucks um get out of um this spot
when they get stuck. Thank you. Thank you, Lisa. Anyone else on Zoom? Amy No. Okay. If there's no one else for public forum, welcome. Karen Crumb, 12 Joseph Road. Um, I just
wanted to make one last analysis of the legal council services that we're considering. Um, again, I went through last week's analysis. Also, I made myself a little chart. um happy
to to hand it to you. Giving the top two choices for each person one point and it came out KP Law has four, Harrington Heap three, um me Talaman Costa three. But what surprised me the most is that
they're really they're so similar that our council that's been with us for longest isn't like by and far like so great that the other ones aren't coming up um looking really just as good and they're not blowing them out of the
water. So I believe that um we've saw some really great firms out there that could really change the current trajectory of our town. The other thing that stood out to me about this process is when Lance pointed out that you're making a decision for the town for a one-year appointment. Hopefully, we
won't be in the situation we're currently in to need to review our legal counsel selection again. So, I summed up our legal council process so far as Hopkin Select Board conducts interviews and exhaustive discussions for choosing
a one-year legal service contract versus minimal deliberation to end Tim Brennan's 20 plus year career protecting our town. The residents deserve answers. The other things that were concerns were um cost of services. I know you have a
number in front of you. I don't think you're looking at what a firm might actually save us by avoiding litigations and things of that nature. If we add up what our town is going to be paying out to lawsuits, um Harrington Heap is by far the most expensive. The other thing
is the redaction policy. You know, Harrington Heap said themselves that they made a mistake, but I feel like they keep putting it on us as they're helping us with our redaction policy. Do we need one? Sure. I think um I I think
most towns have one um and I've been looking them up, but they cannot blame this on us. They need to understand and they have said this is this was on them. The last thing I'll say is I was surprised that one of the select
board members was questioning why we're even looking at other firms. And I think um Matt summed it up quite nicely saying there was significant frustration, anger, and mistrust in the community about how some of the events have been handled, especially around our police
department. These people are all qualified to give us service. Ultimately, the residents has been making it pretty clear that they have some concerns about the services they're receiving and at least with the redaction policy and some other issues that are known to us from our positions.
So, I do ask you to take this seriously, take the residents input um to heart and really think about what will be best for the town moving forward. Thank you. Thank you. One last call for public forum.
No one new on the Zoom, correct? Amy, no. No hand. No more hands up. Perfect. So, we will move on to the consent agenda. So, this evening, the select board will consider the following consent agenda minutes. Um, from the September 9th, 2025 meeting accepting
gifts um specifically a donation of $150 from Naga S Lakshmi Kakumani to the police department to be used where needed. Uh, the select board will consider confirming the town manager's appointment of Thomas McGrael, health services agent, and Yamallet Maroquin
Rivera, PDM public health nurse. Um, this board will also consider approving a request for $12,000 to fund eight scholarships of $1,500 each to be awarded to high school graduates who are Hopington residents graduating in the spring of 2026. So, um, I will look for
anyone want to break anything out or make a motion. I'd make a motion to approve the consent agenda. Second. We have a motion in a second. Uh, for this we need roll call or I guess roll call for everything. Yep. Uh, Amy
Amy Rder Bush. Yes. Chidel. Yes. Brian her. Yes. Matt. Yes. And Joe Clark. Yes. So that is unanimous. Okay. All right. Next, we are going to move on to our FY27 budget message. This is a
joint meeting, so I'd like to welcome the school committee, appropriations committee, and capital improvement committee to join us up here, please. [Laughter] Welcome everyone. Thank you. [Music]
Everyone get a seat. Perfect. Uh, so tonight this is about more, you know, we're going to develop the budget message together. Um, Elaine, do you want to kind of introduce this and what you think how we think we should start? Sure. This is uh the board's uh annual
uh budget message before everyone starts working on their budgets. Uh, and Kyle Laierre, CFO, is going to take us through um some recommendations. Thanks, Kyla. So, there are a couple of documents in your packet that one is for the sources
and uses that was that was distributed during last select board meeting that had a 2% increase over FY26 for all departments. Another one is for level service which was suggested at last
night's last week's meeting, but the level service is not the same thing as 2%. And the last one is the preliminary 5-year outlook for fiscal year 27 through31.
Level service has the following assumptions. expenses for all town, which means non-school departments, will only increase by 2%. And we know that is conservative given
the increase that we're all incurring on a day-to-day basis. Salaries for all town again non-school departments have increased an average of 3.5%
because the range for our annual um promotion or annual raise was a 3 to 4% increase and as we heard from Evan and Susan at the last meeting their average increase
for the school since FY20 was 5.9%. % and that and for FY27 they need to include other expenses that have been incurred by the town for the past few years. So their level service increase
equates to about 7.6%. So, the current FY27 capital plan that has been submitted by the departments, again, it's preliminary. The school is not included in this, has an $8.8 million expense associated with
it. We do believe that we will have over $11 million in free cash for FY27 because we have an average an overage in investment income, $4 million in
overlay, and $3 million in insurance and benefits that was not expected. So, the town accountant and I have been working together to look at our revenue sources. And the for FY27 and beyond,
we're coming up with a much more reliable source. Instead of just a percentage increase year-over-year, we're actually diving into the detail so it becomes much more accurate. That's good and bad. We will have less free
cash in the years to come if we have more accurate revenues on our sources and uses, but um we'll have better numbers as we go into our budgeting season. We have increased the expected amount in the meals tax revenue based on the
receipts for the last two quarters. So you'll see that increase to 250. The official capital budgeting process kicked off last Tuesday on the 30th and all requests are going to be submitted by October 24th.
I think it's really important to pay attention to the assumptions on the sources and uses document especially two items. We are assuming that the free cash that we have in in the town will be used to pay for all capital expenses
including stabilization in OPED. And we are not currently planning on any new borrowing for FY27 other than what's already projected for the school projects already approved.
The last page in the packet is the five-year outlook which is based on the five-year capital plan which was submitted in FY26. Again, this 5-year outlook does not have any additional debt being borrowed. And
it also has an assumption of $8 million in free cash year-over-year. You'll see the deficits that are projected over the next couple of years. I included that in the packet so you see
the deficits. The planning for FY27 is going to be critically important on how to set us up for the following years. Thank you, Kyla. Um would school committee like to start?
Sure. I need to um call my meeting to order. Oh, yeah. Sorry. Of course. Have a motion. I move to call the meeting to order and a second. Second. Great. We call the meeting of October 7th, the school committee to order. Um,
can we have a vote? Miss Rona, yes. Miss Richard Kavanaaugh, yes. And I'm a yes. We're all set. Thank you. So the one thing that we really wanted to um press forward in this um meeting is the special education reserve that is
now been taken um outside um or you can explain it better. It's been separated um for the budget and that's now coming into our budget. So that's going to show a big increase the way that it's coming in and sitting
into the budget there. We just want to call attention to that. make sure everyone's aware that that's happening and that's not a school increase in spending. It's the same amount of spending. It's just put it in a different place.
So, just to refresh everyone's memory, the Special Education Reserve Fund has been funded from free cash for the past few years. The special education reserve fund was created in 2022.
Um, and the town approved the reserve fund for unknown expenditures. We know what the school is you is using the fund for. So, we have to do what's right by the approved
um motion and we have to put it in an operating budget through the chair. How much was that? A million dollars roughly. Y 1,156. Thank you.
Sorry. A a quick clarifier if I can. Is that number increase coming into your budget reflected in the 7.x% X% that was noted as the anticipated level service increase. Yes. Thank you.
Okay. Um from the board, any additional questions for the school committee? Okay. I I'll go. Sorry. I have a I have a couple quickies on this topic. First to everybody both on the board in person and the constituents, my apologies for
not being there. I'm recovering from some health stuff, so I'm also going to stay off camera. You're missing my beautiful face. A couple quick questions and thoughts. So, to Kylo Laierre, I do want to quickly note that while it's nice that more accurate reporting upfront will reduce free cash, I also
think it's important to highlight that that means that we're taxing less upfront overall because we're going to know how much we need. So, yes, less free cash year over year, but as a taxpayer, I want you to hear that as I'm going to ask for a little less money from you. I think that's an important
note. I do want to suggest to the school committee in particular, but to other departments who may be listening as well because of where we are in terms of the projected shortfall, I'd really love to be having a riskbased conversation with you this budget cycle about what's some
known stuff in the next year or two because we know the next year or two are going to be a lot worse. Do you have like an air handler coming due and you're going to ask us for it next year? We know we're going to say yes. Maybe we should have a strategic conversation where the conversation is easier to have this year where it may be more painful
in years to come. And I'm just pulling that as an example out of thin air by the way. But just to try and be a little bit solutionsoriented and strategic around the capital planning process to all of us. But on the flip side, and this is my last quick thought, we probably do need to start having a
conversation. And again, this is not just aimed at the schools, nor is it for the schools. I hear Kylo Laierre telling us essentially that we are not sustainable right now. Our expenditure versus our tax and our sources of income is coming to a point of known deficit,
especially with our anticipated capital expenses for MWR and other things. I think while we don't need to have the hardest version of that conversation this year, it would behoove the departments to start thinking about what would it look like? How do we start thinking about what a smaller budget
might look like? And I don't want that to start with people. Maybe it starts with services. And I don't love that that's where it is either, but we may find ourselves in that position. And the more planning we do up front and the more tactical we are about that, the less painful it's going to be if we find
ourselves there. That's my time. Thank you. Can I respond to the capital planning? Um, anybody who would like to attend the school committee meeting on Thursday evening at 7 o'clock. Mrs. Rothmitch will um present our capital plan that
goes out for five years I believe five years and gives um accurate figures um to what we're looking at for the next time. So we've done that planning. Yeah, I did have a question about the
special education reserve fund is a little confusing to me. We didn't used to have one and we've had one for a few years and so now we know what we spend on you're moving it for FY26 it's moved into the operating budget but going forward we're not going to put it into a special fund anymore. Um it's going to be part of the operating
budget. Okay. I thought the purpose of putting it in the special fund was that um you know the because it was used for like the out of district students which that number is not always predictable. Is that correct? And some years we might need to use it. We might have more or less um out of district students. So if
we didn't use it all, it could be saved for the next year, although we've always used it all. Um, so what is the reason for moving it to operating? The motion that was approved in 2022 was a reserve fund is for unknown operating expenses.
Okay. So, it was to be used if there was a um unknown expense for books or something like that. Since we know we're going to use it for tuition or honestly special education services, um we know what we're going to use it
for. We have to take it out of the reserve fund, right? That's why we're taking it out, but we're not going to put refund it anymore. Is that what we're saying? We're not going to fund it from free cash. Okay. Yeah. But we could Okay. So, we could fund the reserve fund from operating budget. Yep. Okay. Got it.
Thank you. We're just talking schools right now, right? Correct. Yeah. General. Well, school committee like talked about there. I'm good. I'm good with schools at this point. Thanks. But I have some other just general stuff when you're ready. Okay. Um I don't have any questions. Shul
right now. I just have um couple clarification. One is what are we anticipating for contractual obligation in terms of percentage this year? Do we know kind of Do we know that?
Yeah. I um I know it's Rother Mick talked about it last time, but I think it's I don't want to give you the number of that. I don't have the number right now in front of me, but I know it's an increase because of the contract negotiations went through. So, um I want to say it's upwards of 3% or higher with the contracts. Gotcha. Yeah,
we can give you accurate number. Sure, that would be helpful because contractual obligation is something that we have to do and that actually takes away from the part. So even though the overall looks a little higher um or more than 2% it's actually a majority goes to
the contractual obligations. Just wanted to point that out. And secondly, I was wondering um and Kyla, thanks for bringing that up that this is an aberration from the town Warren, but I'm wondering that is going to be the practice going forward. Um cuz
my little worry is that all the previous years we've been doing it in one way and doing it certainly differently could um be make it a little more difficult to make apples to apples comparison trend and all those that we constantly analyze
to optimize our budget or would it be an easier path to have a special warrant added which would legitimize that the way we are doing the accounting practices I'm not an expert in accounting or finance And so um in this budget reserve fund is not intended to be used
the way we're using it and it's actually against what do recommends. I see. And a followup is in that case the previous years we were out of compliance. Is that something we need to rectify? No. As long as we clean it up going forward.
Okay makes um I think clear on that front. And last one is I think uh for last few years we have been analyzing what is our projected cost in terms of debt upcoming approved u one was projected that with
uh approved debt and one was projected with unapproved but potential ones uh including school which kept us kind of um on our toes to see what our taxes are going to be and all that and uh I am
anticipating we are continuing to update those to see that picture as well. Your five-year plan has those projected debt amounts. Sure. And when we come to that capital budget discussion, it would be interesting to see if that has changed from our baseline assumptions uh in a
positive direction or there's been a little bit of gain in some ways. that I think would be another measure that we could look at overall because we want to manage the budget and also make sure the service levels are um continues to provide the excellence that
we all expect. It's a tight rope but we want to make sure thank you. Nothing else. Perfect. Thank you. Um like to hear from CIC next or appropriations. Sorry, we've opened our meeting. Thanks. Mike, you want to start off? Do you have any
questions? I just barely read through Kyler's thing because of work and stuff. So, I'll defer to my teammates. Um, yeah, the budget message I I'm just looking at this for the first time, but I interesting observation was our debt
payment split that you're expecting for the year that last year when we did our modeling was going to go from like 12 million to 13 million. I see this year it's down 11 million. Is that because of the new expectations on the cost of we were able to borrow shortterm which
was we didn't know if we could do that with the amount of money that we needed to borrow. So we were borrowing at shortterm which is a lower interest rate and lower principal payment. That's good. The other thing is the uh cash uh the three cash and for capital
project we already have a list of the capital projects. I met with all the department heads in advance of the um formal requests being sent out on the 30th. So the 8.8 is relatively good
given all of the time that we spent over the summer formalizing that. Sorry, doing that proposal. Yes, but it could be less. I don't have the schools included in that yet. So it could be more. We have a
actually Kyle I had one question on free cash. You mentioned the number of 11 million. Was that expected new free cash? I know we transferred some into free cash last year. Is that the overall balance or I believe it will be over 11 million for 2017. Last year we put in stabilizer.
Oh yeah. We we move free cash into stabilization. All right. Thanks. Yep. Quick followup. Oh sorry. Uh quick follow-up question. And I've noticed the employee benefits are projected to be 10% increase.
Is that too high reasonable? At this point, we don't know. So, it's expected that it's going to continue to go up. I think we'll have more clarity in the coming months, but that's that's an estimate this year. Yeah.
Yeah. What was it last year? 11.3. Okay. But there was kind of renegotiation, right? So, I'm sorry. There was a renegotiation point like or do we expect it every year? Is it renegotiated every year? Uh health and and other insurance. No,
not necessarily. It was natural 11%. Okay. Um I think there's obviously a lot that's going to change as we go forward. So, I don't want to get really deep into the details, but I do want to note there's a
big difference between 2% and level services. And so, that's really where um the work is going to need to be done. And I guess as we look forward to all of that work, what's your what's our vulnerability
regarding um federal funding and how precariously are these numbers predicated on your currently best guess? I can speak for the town side and probably you can speak for the school side. So for the town side, there are a
few departments that rely on federal funding. It's not I don't consider it significant, but there are a few departments that we'll keep close watch on. Yep. I believe ours was around 500,000 that we receive from the federal government.
It's not insignificant. Done. Yes. Thank you. Um, a couple thoughts and then Mike, you say you may have something after all. I think I want to keep this at 30,000 foot view and I think that's the purpose of this meeting and I I so appreciate all the work the
CFO and the team has done here to make it easier to to adjust here. And when I look at the current deficit of 2.7 million, although it's not insignificant, it's probably manageable because we've dealt with numbers like this before. But in 12 months from now, we're going to be
sitting here talking about a $13 million deficit. And I'm wondering, kind of echoing Matt's thoughts earlier, is it not too early to start even this year getting even tighter so that we don't have a $13 million deficit a year from
now? Meaning, is there any appetite? Has there been any discussions to have level funded instead of level services for this fiscal year andor something in the middle kind of where Gene was going so that we are starting to chip away at
what looks to be a four times larger deficit a year from now? I'm very concerned we're going to solve this issue, find $2.5 million somewhere and feel like, oh, we did a great job and we're ignoring what is coming. It's a
hypothesis. It is coming. So, I'm just wondering if we can be a little bit more aggressive on this budget so that we can start chipping away at what's coming in 12 months. I think that's fair. Um, one sec, Elaine, do I need to open the public
hearing and continue it 6:30? Yes. All right. So, everyone sit tight and open the public hearing. If you don't mind, I Mike did say he had a question. Yeah, we're we're going to come back to everyone. I just need to open this and then we'll continue it and come back to this conversation. So, seeing as the
time is now past 6:30, we shall open the scheduled public hearing with the reading of the posted notice. The Hopington Select Board will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, October 7th at 6:30 p.m. pursuant to Mass General Law, Chapter 140, Section 9 to consider whether the common vicular license of Crusting Co. Pizza and More. Ryan Dion
is manager shall be revoked, suspended, or a fine issued in accordance with Mass General law chapter 140 section 9 and other relevant provisions of said chapter 140 for conducting business without a license on or about September 18th, 2025. Crust and Co. Pizza and more is located at 77 West Main Street,
Hopkin and Mass. The select board may consider any of these remedies provided for in the statue if there is a finding that the business has been conducted in an improper manner. The public hearing will be held at Hopkins Town Hall, 18 Main Street, Hopkin and Mass on the second floor in room 215 216. Hopkins
Town Hall is handicap accessible. Um, do I need a motion to continue this or just All right. So, we will continue this and we can go we can go back to our conversation. continue and for the public hearing. We'll come back to that after this conversation concludes concerning the deficit and I don't know
if you have the numbers here but with the increased tax rate over the next few years for the school that we built that increase in tax within the town of the homeowners is that going to be enough to help reduce the possible deficit?
No. the the levy and the 2% increase year-over-year is included in the forecast. Okay. Follow on to Mike's question, but there's a million dollar variance in that, Kyla, I think, in that, you know, under
sources of funds, we're going from 12 million to 10 million, right? Year-over-year. So, we're going down, which I to me is a little odd in itself and that we're trying to tax to get ready for all this coming at us. But then in the use of
funds, it's a $1 million variance downward. So, it's on the what page either either under 2enter level services. So, in sources of funds right up top, it goes from 12 to 99 or 10. Let's go from 12 to 10.
Yep. in the next in the fiscal year, right? On the deadline, right? And then dropping down to the sources or the uses rather, we're going from 12 8 to 10 9. So 13 to 11. Yeah. So two there. Okay, that does line up.
I'm sorry. That does line up. Okay, I'm good. Thank you. One quick follow. So I I take Bill's um concern into account. I think that's um all of our concern and that's why the
projection and the model will help us understand the reality even stronger I think. So it's definitely a good would be a good practice which we have been trying to last year we didn't do any uh net new um debt which is which was an achievement. We will continue to focus
on that and see how much we can uh try to save or be more conservative for the future. One thing I noticed Kyla is um that the capital article projection next two years has gone up by four and 5
million respectively. Is that some known items from the current model or has anything changed? So this year I'm looking at eight, next year 12, following 13. Yeah, there's some um big projects that
are projected. There's an addition to a fire addition to the fire station. There's expansion to senior center and some condensing units. There's um significant roadway improvements that are needed. Um it's a variety of things.
I see. So that tells me which I'm glad you have put in here. It's following the model and the projections that we had earlier established right. So looking at that which means some of a lot of these are potentially discretionary
uh in terms of the capital uh budgets. So that'll play into you know some of the conservatism potentially we are looking for uh or opportunities we are looking. I'm not saying we may or may not be able to do exactly those cuz we
would do want to do the high priority ones. Uh but that's probably one area where we could start to look at. And the other one is I think it would be a good to baseline the numbers as to where do we stand in terms of our stabilization
funds in all the stabilizations and OPE. Yeah, we're in good standing with both stabilization and OPED. We're meeting our requirements on both and um following our policy. Thank you. Do you have the numbers percentage and total wise?
I don't have them with me. No, but I can get them to you. That would be very helpful. Thank you, Amy. Yeah. Um I was going to say I do appreciate um Bill's point, but I do still think our best message should be level services um and only going down if if there was a less of a need in town
for services. I guess if if the school population was dropping, I understand we might drop that or if um I don't know if our DPW had less needs, I'd understand reducing it, but I don't think we're at that point yet. I think we still need to be at level services for the residents that would so would not be Yeah, I don't
know if this is the year for cutting right now, but we can see as we progress through the season. Matt. Yeah, absolutely. So, Bill, thank you so much. which I was hoping somebody else besides me was going to make that point and I desperately appreciate that you
did. I want to push back a little bit, Amy, on the language of cutting. To me, level funding is not inherently a cut. It is representing previous services rendered and if there's been a change in the financial conditions. Well, that's the same as it is in our real life and we make decisions accordingly, but it isn't inherently a modification or a cut
of the services. I am so sensitive to the language that we use here. There's someone who is sitting in that room who once told me how hurtful it was during this conversation that we just refer to it as a cut as though these are not people with lives and jobs and
aspirations and dreams. And so while yes, I am going to talk about conservatism and some of the actions that I think may be necessary, I don't want to lose sight of the fact that these are people too. I will be a little more emphatic in terms of what I would like to see. I agree with Amy in the
sense that I don't believe that this is necessarily the year that the belt has to be fully tightened, but Bill makes a compelling point. There are some things that we can be doing to tighten up a little this year that might make it a little less painful next year. I think presenting that option and seeing what level funding looks like, having the
departments go through that exercise, allowing us to have an informed conversation that we present back to the town. We're ultimately supposed to be making decisions on their behalf. Let's arm ourselves and them with some information. Let's have a conversation at the dinner table about what our finances look like. It's exactly what we
do in the Ker House. It's what I think we should be doing in the Hopington House as well. Thanks, Matt. Um Ela and Lance, thoughts on this comments? Nothing to add? No. Okay. Yeah. So, so I think, you know, I
think a lot was shared that and it's it is important to start looking ahead. Um I also recognize this is the first meeting that we're having, right? this just started. Um over the next three months, this group will be gathering together to go over this. We're going to get into a lot more detail here and as
we look closer and get, you know, um go from some projections to, you know, more concrete numbers, we'll be able to dig into these things and figure out what's best for the town. So, um with that, I think we're probably good for tonight. I don't think we needed a message. Did we need one tonight?
We have to vote, do we? I'm sorry. Do we? Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Um well, I I would suggest that uh the board So, and this is this just the select board that takes this vote, correct? Yeah.
But I would suggest that the board adopt the budget message as presented by the town manager's office in the packet. Um it speaks to level services. It speaks to, you know, sex special circumstances, things that you have to look at. Frankly, it's very similar to last
year's budget message. And um I think that played out well. We have $11 million in free cash. That's like a that's boom town stuff uh that we need to be very careful with. I think we should think of it as like 5.5 million and put 5.5 million in stabilization and
balloon that draw down on that in coming years. But I think the budget message as presented by the town manager's office seems reasonable. I would agree and I think um to reaffirm our going in position is level service and level budget. So um keeping fingers
crossed we'll keep other you know good advice and uh strategic um view in mind but that would be the right u message and I agree that what Ela has presented uh covers our view on this and I support that.
Amy yeah I agree um with what Ela has written up in in the packet. So, a level services budget with a target tax impact of 2.5% or less. And we all understand this can change over the course of the budget process. Matt, any comments?
I'm not in alignment with that message. I I while I understand from a fiscal perspective we may be finding ourselves in a similar position to last year on a spreadsheet, we have heard a rather compelling message from all of the other representatives in the room that this is not last year and that the future ahead
of us is not this year either. I don't know why we would message the same. So perhaps I am just the I'm the bad apple in the bunch here, but I would be a little bit more comfortable echoing a little bit more conservative and challenging a little bit more around some level funding messaging as well. It
doesn't mean we go that way, but if we put out another message of just level services and we shock people with 13 million next year and a deficit, they're going to remind us and I'm going to remind you. Okay. So, did Brian make a motion? Yeah. So, did you make a motion?
Yeah. So, I'll move items one through one through I guess it's five uh as presented by the town managers for the budget message for FY27. I second that. All right, we have a motion and a second. This will be roll call. Amy
Amy Rbush. Yes. Shideland. Yes. Brian her. Yes. Matt, no. And Joe Clark. Yes. All right. Thank you everyone for joining us tonight. Again, we will be continuing this conversation. you know, things things can change, but we'll be looking deeper. So, I
appreciate everyone attending. Thank you. Have a good night. Sessions ahead. All right. So, so next we're going to go back to continue our public hearing. Um, so first I'm going to walk through the process and we'll we'll go through that.
Um, so as was stated in the notice, the select board is holding a public hearing regarding the Common Vic license for Crusting Co. Pizza and More for opening without a license on or about September 18th, 2025. The board will now hear testimony starting with the town manager, then the owner of or restaurant manager, and finally the public. Public
comment shall be limited to two minutes. The board will then vote to close a public hearing and make a final decision as to whether or not it shall prescribe any of the qualifying remedies as outlined under the applicable legal standard. So, at this time, um, you can come join us. Elaine's going to open
this up, though. So, thank you. Um, so, uh, Crescent Company submitted an application to the select board which it reviewed at a meeting on September 9th. The board voted at that time to approve the licenses, the entertainment and common fiction licenses with the following. That all
permits from the board of health are issued in advance of the license and that all required inspections including electrical, building, fire, and health are completed and satisfactory before issuing the license. Um on September 19th uh in the morning, our office was informed that Crestston Company had
opened um on the 17th or 18th. Appears as though it might have been the 17th. Um and uh this was before the uh final building inspection uh had occurred. So the building inspection had not occurred on that morning of the 19th. The fire department had completed its inspection
on September 5th and the board of health had issued its permits on the 15th. And so um when uh we uh learned that the business was open without the select board's licenses, I called Mr. Dion and informed him that he could not open to the public until all those inspections
were completed and the license was issued. So, he agreed that the b business would close until that occurred. And that did occur at 11:00 a.m. that later that morning. All the inspections were completed and the license was issued. Perfect. Thanks, Elaine. Mr. Dion,
welcome back. Good evening. Thank you. Excuse me. At no time was it my intent to open without my common Vic license. I was under the impression that I was cleared to open at the license was moving through the necessary channels. I I'm just going to reiterate um what
Elaine just mentioned, but I conducted a soft opening on Wednesday, September 17th, only after the health department cleared me to open following their inspection on Monday the 15th. On Tuesday afternoon, I confirmed again with the health department who checked with the building department and told me
I needed a fit up form. I found this odd as nothing inside the building had changed. I immediately uh completed the form. 95% of that form did not apply to my business. Uh paid the fee and scheduled a walkthrough with Chris uh the following morning prior to opening. During that walkthrough, only a few
minor details were noted and I was not told that I could not proceed with the opening. As Elaine alluded to, on Friday, September 19th at 9:15 a.m. I received a call from her. Uh, I immediately uh contacted Sean at the health department who confirmed he
submitted his paperwork and Chris from the building department. Chris physically returned for a one minute walkth through uh and confirmed I was good to go. And again, as Elaine alluded to, at 11:21 the same morning, I received a call back uh saying I was clear to open. In hindsight, I recognize
um I should have had the physical license in hand prior to opening, and for that, I sincerely apologize. However, I do want to note that I found the process uh confusing and unclear at times. Okay, thank you. Um, so now we're going to move towards public comment if anyone
would like to join us. Start with name and address in two minutes, please. Yeah, welcome. I don't know the protocol. So, Johnowski 15. Yep. Thanks, John. Yeah.
So, so may I ask questions through the chair or Yes. Just comment. Well, it's comments. Yeah. Well, there's through the chair. I mean, we we've we've discovered some things about uh you know, from the past meeting we had with Suspanis bringing back his
business back into his name on the 17th of this month. He also has some cash advance loans that appeared uh on record for receivables at where? 77 West Main Street. Um there's a lot of tax leans
still on 77 West Main Street, Hillers Pizza, Inc. There's other there's an SBA loan. It's at Hiller's Pizza Inc. Um and we're just curious how this deal was structured because those things seem to be hanging out there
through the chair. That's the question. Thank you, Mr. Dion. You're welcome to answer these if you have any questions. Sure. Um I I purchased the assets of the business, essentially the the furniture, fixtures, and equipment, the interior from um Paul Mastriani, the landlord. Um
it is my understanding that a uh release was signed from the former owner's uh wife. Um and that the former lease was terminated. As I said four weeks ago at the meeting, I have never met the prior owners. I never had a meeting with them.
I never, to my knowledge, uh, exchanged anything with them. It was all done via the landlord of the property. Okay. So, so that begs kind of the questions of who really was running this deal from the beginning. So, we we led this to
believe there's a new start. Miller's Pizza goes away. the the the income and this flow around this deal goes away and yet he doesn't do anything with with the owner. It goes through the landlord which we don't know what was was agreed
to there because there's also a what would I call it a convenient lease departure for that giving him lenience for that departure. So we're we're it just brings a lot of questions about what kind of deal flow is going on here. It's it's very odd to us from the from
the coalition that somebody goes to buy a business and Mr. Dion shows up and the landlord goes here's your business and has nothing to do with the previous owner that has the business. I find that we find that very odd
and we want to make sure and that's one of the questions is in that dealing does any money flow back any future revenue or any continued revenue flow back to this family through Masterani or him and we don't know that because now now we know the deal is through Masteri and not
Mr. on that that raises questions for this and I think I think you know through this whole process it's been quite remarkable the amount of girrations have been going on to how to go back and forth with who owns what and who has what and who's doing what and I
think we need clarity for this so that's what that's the questions you you know with these um and I asked the question around the lease too is did you have a lease with them did you start a new lease or is it formally terminated or do you get an assigned lease from from Hillers?
I got a new lease from the landlord. So that was terminated. You have a new lease. Okay. And there's no additional agreements between you and Mrani for any revenue or anything like that going back to Hiller's Pizza? Not to my knowledge. Okay. And so what you know, can you
confirm like for us it's like this this September 17th rush to revenue exactly when the same time another loan appears on record for some reason? um before it opened. You know, you're you're an expert at at these restaurant tour. You
opened up Hopkinington 110 Grill. You come to this pizza place hastily and in less than two weeks you open. There's no mark from you. There's nothing changed. Same menu, same people, same same everything. And why did you do this?
So So keep it through the chair, please. Okay. Sorry. Well, he keeps looking this way. So I No, I I I I understand. I understand being polite in some of these. Nope. I totally get it. It's just formality. So, Mr. Dion, the floor is Yeah. The best answer I could give for
that is uh Paul Mastriani called me about an opportunity. As I stated last meeting, I uh met him 9 years ago around the time we opened the 110 Grill. He presented an opportunity. Um and I took it. Um the deal, as I said, was done
through him. Um I did not take out an SBA loan. Um, I paid for it personally. Um, I I can't really comment on uh the prior ownership's debts. I I'm not even aware of them. Everything that I started
was under a new LLC. Um, the menu is 99% the same. Uh, I did keep eight full-time employees. I paid them out of my own pocket while we were closed. uh some of the Hopkinson High School uh um I call them kids, I probably shouldn't,
teenagers came back to work there. Um I did change some interior decor, but the menu, in my opinion, uh works there. So, I wasn't willing to just change a menu because of the former owner's personal
issues. That wouldn't be a smart business decision for me. or it wouldn't be a smart business decision to let's just say invest a half a million dollars and buy all new equipment and change the menu because thus far the feedback that I've received from the public and being open for 18 days is everybody liked the
menu and they're happy to return under different ownership. So that was my decision as the business owner. Thank you. I last one. So, so as that business owner with the previous loans that are on that
business and they encumber your assets, doesn't that worry you? No. What if he defaults on that loan and they come after those assets? You didn't do any diligence around that? I I I would have to seek legal counsel on that question.
Okay. Yep. Thank you. Welcome. My name is Alyssa McGinty, 35 Parkwood. I'm here tonight to seek some clarification and some transparency. Since the transition of Hillers to
Crestston Company, there continue to be commercial activities and transactions that are inconsistent with a business that has been sold or is in dissolution. These activities include organizational changes, active leans, and indebtedness
in the name of Hiller's Pizza andor Mistress Manis. As recently as September 17th, a creditor filed paperwork evidencing loans made to Hiller's Pizza and Mr. Sismanis. And in connection with this loan, the assets and future
revenues of Hiller's Pizza were pledged as collateral. The address of Hiller's Pizza on these documents is listed as 77 West Main Street. I think it's obvious that these activities suggest that Hiller's Pizza continues to operate in some capacity
under the control of Mr. Sisman. And consequently, I think the obvious question is what is the nature of this transaction that transpired between Crust Company and Hillers? Is Crusten Company simply a shell or parent for
Hiller's Pizza? Are Hiller's Pizza andor the Sysmanis family or any affiliates thereof members of the Crust & Company LLC? I could go on because unfortunately the nature of my profession makes me acutely aware of the many ways this transaction
could have been structured to provide economic advantages for the Sisman family. But the bottom line is I think we need to ask what is the economic benefit still being derived by Mr. Sis Manis under this arrangement? A sale of Hiller's assets or by the
business itself would have triggered collection by Hiller and Sismanis' creditors, but that clearly has not occurred. At a minimum, allowing Hillers to continue so that Mr. Sismanis can keep his creditors at bay results in significant economic benefits for Mr.
Sismanis. I urge the select board to investigate the terms and conditions of this transaction between Hillers and Crust, their affiliates, and all related agreements, whether written or otherwise, to determine the full extent of any economic benefits that Sismanis
continues to receive as a result of this transaction. And I further request that you investigate any ulterior financial motives, whether written or otherwise, which would have led Mr. Dion or any other parties to partake in the scheme. I think it's clear that we can't rush to
applaud this transaction without some further transparency around it. Thank you. So before we continue, Elaine, like just for clarity, a lot of this stuff is talking about, you know, LLC structures, business agreements that
aren't typically come to the town. Like how how do we typically handle these types of things? because it it doesn't I I'm not you know one I don't pretend to be an expert around these things so I certainly um you know don't pretend to be um but
I'm just curious like is this within the scope of the select board's purview um it's uh I don't think it's within the scope of the hearing on opening before the license was issued um but when someone does apply for a license um we do check to make sure it's
a legitimate business. We check the um the Commonwealth's database, corporate database um such as whatever information is there to make sure that the business is organized. Um we don't usually go beyond that and it typically is not within the board's perview to
investigate those kinds of things. Okay. All right. So, we're going to have Welcome Slackboard. Hi, Marie Lascowski, 15 Lauren Drive. Ashlin Mass. Um just a few
points to what Elaine just spoke to. Um we are actually today speaking about the opening date of September 17th and its relevancy because that is the exact date that alone was actually um alone
transpired publicly uh the exact same day that Mr. Dion opened his business. A loan was taken out by Mr. Cis Manis. Um, it was it was became public on September
17th at 8:33 a.m. at the address of 77 77 West Main Street under the name Hiller's Pizza. So, I think it absolutely pertains to why Mr. Dion possibly could have opened on the 17th. I think is incredibly
relevant as to why we're here today. With that being said, first of all, I want to start by thanking you for the diligence that you've shown navigating these heartbreaking issues. As a parent in the community, we all thought that Hopington would be a safe place to build memories
without without our kids having to look over their shoulders. As a parent, it breaks me to think that teenagers must have feared a sum feared a summer or a part-time job. Yet that's the shadow that we continue to fight. Over the past
few months, I have witnessed number one, Cis Manis and his family maneuver to resurrect the business through entity shifts, paper shuffles, and a UCCC filings that seem designed to funnel funds and shield assets from his
crushing debt. Mr. Mr. M number two, Mr. master who ignored criminal activity on his property for two years, your new landlord, publicly defending this family
despite multiple convicted sex offenders in his circle and cut them a lenient lease except exit to that that allowed him to slip away penaltyfree. And third,
his friend, Mr. Dion, who rushes in with Hiller's 2.0. The same equipment, the same menu, the same staff, just a new coat of paint for a quote unquote fresh start. This rushed approval r raises real
questions about whether every detail was vetted given those close ties to the landlord. And here's the thing. I think it's time that we rebuild the trust so our kids know that we have their backs. The timelines don't add up, people. The
leans that linger and hidden ties demand that we own this community and therefore it's time that we start leading. Frankly, I think the board and the
community would agree that we are tired, bone tired of consistently changing narratives from everyone involved and excuses that bury the truth while families wait answers. To empower you to lead decisively and
reclaim Hopington's trust for our kids, we demand an independent third-party review not from town council of every document, including UCCC filings, remittance histories, leans, asset
transfers, leases, and side agreements. Produce them for public inspection immediately until the review clears the air. unmask the financial flow. Our community insists on it and as a parent,
I know this board does too. Thank you. I yield to the chair. Thank you. If it pleases the chair, may I provide some information to you? Sure. I just want to be clear for the public as to what I'm providing you if that's may if that's okay. Yep.
Okay. Um what I'm providing the select board this evening includes a statement of change where Mr. Sis Manis uh has reclaimed ownership of Hiller's Pizza as of September 5th,
2025 at 77 West Main Street, Hopington. Included in this packet are lean notices tax leans on Hiller's Pizza. Several of them with the largest being $68,96.80. Also in this packet
is a number of UCCC filings. One being the recentest, excuse me, the most recent from um September 17th, 2025, 8:33 a.m. Thank you.
Thank you. Thanks, Marie. Thank you. Thank you. Karen Crumb, 12 Joseph Road. I'm through the chair. Um, I wasn't expecting to hear all of this tonight. Um,
so I just looked some things up and I I just, you know, I understand that Mr. Dion said he had a longl lasting relationship with the landlord, Paul Mastriani. Um, I'm just
trusting that he for nine years never did meet his neighbor. Um, and never met the owners of Hillers. But it is absolutely crazy that Hillary's is still in business by paper by they they have that is their business. Hillary's
Pizza exists at 77 West Main Street. I mean there's no doubt. Um as Mr. Dion said, I think to answer some of the questions, he needs to seek legal counsel. I I mean we can maybe assume he didn't know any of this too. We have no idea.
But he sat here and heard everything you said. I understood the parameters. You could relisten to them. The meeting was taped. I understood everything. So I to say you didn't understand or things were unclear. Things were so they were so
clear. And that's that's what I'm focusing on is there was no ambiguity what the town was asking, what the board was asking. And the the fact is it was open before those things that were really really clear. Thank you. Thank you.
Anyone else like to speak? Okay. Anybody online? Anyone on the Zoom? Oh, there's no one on the Zoom. No. Okay. So, with that, I'll move to the board to start with kind of chair. I move that we close the public hearing.
Second. All right. We've got a motion and a second. We've heard from everyone, right? Yes. That that was everyone. Yeah. So, uh, we got to go roll call. Amy Amy Rbrush. Yes. Shidle. Sh. Yes. Brian her. Yes. Matt. Matt Ker. Yes.
Joe Clark. Yes. So, that um having heard the present parties, you know, we will now conclude that concludes the public hearing. And so now the board will deliberate. Um, you know, thank you for coming up. Um, so who would like to start? Brian, you want to start? Thoughts?
Uh, yeah. I I it's disappointing to hear some of these things that have been uh raised this evening uh in that they certainly don't uh lend to the public perception of what
we're trying to fix here uh as a community and certainly in that spot. Um it does sound a little odd to me as a business person that does a lot of what these folks were talking about on a daily basis with other entities. Um,
that said, I don't know what we as a board can do about that directly other than take it into account as we weigh the infraction that we do know took place. Right. So, but I don't know if that can truly guide us and be another
decision we're going to make about we believe that Peter still is getting cash from Mr. Dion somehow through Paul Mastriani and yada yada ya. I don't know. But um it is frustrating that we still have this quagmire that we we're
trying to get past the community. Uh a lot of people have been hurt by what's going on over there and this is not helping the process. I don't believe that if again I don't I don't even know if we can weigh in on stuff like that, but I would like to think if it was that
clandestine that they would be really careful about when they open this thing because then they're all they're going to open up this can of worms if they didn't do it. and this this all this other stuff would be going on. So, um it's unfortunate that it's happened this way. Um but we do need to try and find a
path forward. I don't think that path forward includes us creating some kind of um uh investigation of all these business issues that were raised. Um but if others want to seek other means to do that investigation, they're certainly
within her right. Thank you, Brian. Shadow. Yeah. No, it's um uh I think concerning to hear all the um points that was made tonight and we've been hearing it on uh
various fronts in the past. Uh and that said, looking at these documents and others and hearing all the concerns, it's not honestly very clear how they are all connected. However, it does show
that there are potential questions that uh can be asked and are being asked and because it has been escalated so many times and because we want to make sure that we listen to our residents and do
the best for our children, our kids, our residents for the safety and employer employee safety even though it was in the past and we learned from Mr. Dion that he repeatedly said he has nothing to do with the previous entity or the
business or the persons. I do think that we do have now an obligation to have some sort of validation or checkin into the documents and the concerns that's
being raised independently. I am not sure however how much perview and legal authority select board may or may not have. However, I do think that part of our job is to go with our uh
legal obligation, our overall um executive and policy duty, but part of it is also to reflect on uh residents concerns and uh even if it turns out to be true or not true to move forward um
with actions that that may um be the right thing to do to uncover or or just to understand the concerns at the root cause level. So I
would I would be in favor of looking at the options how we can tie these together some of the questions some of the concerns that's being made and I hope nothing you know comes out to be wrong
except that you know the previous owner still has been trying to do something on their own and that doesn't have legal um you know standing eventually For example, the lean and all those can come, but it may not, you know, be a
legal uh legally viable document to use that even uh address that the previous owner is doing. I don't know. But obviously there are things that's um happening to raise this question. So I
would request to explore options with the legal council in terms of our perview and our authority and then look for options how we can have an independent review of these things. Not necessarily you know aara investigation
but factf finding and connecting the dots to validate what the concerns we are hearing are true or not even at a preliminary level. So based on that um understanding we may decide for a thorough or deeper investigation should
it require you know more cost or more um authoritative assignment that would be on that front and I think part of or the original scope of today's hearing is also to look at um the uh compliance
issue that has brought us and I take Few things from that. One is I've been saying it in the past too that we do need to look at the process thoroughly and I as much as I want to promote business and economic activities. We just had our budget hearing uh first
time a little bit a while ago and we're looking at very big gap uh now and coming up even bigger. So we definitely want to encourage business, encourage economic activities so we can start to balance our um budget as well as quality of people's lives with better facilities
and restaurants. So I'm in favor of that and the objective again should be that how can we make our process more transparent more um uh um businessfriendly but at the same time compliant to all the concerns that would
ensure the safety and security of our community our residents and everyone so that is I think a dire need that we need to look at some process engineering on that and I also take into account Mr. Dion saying that it has been confusing um at times. So that is also something I
have heard in the past. So we definitely want to look at that, vet it out, embolden it, strengthen it as well as make it u as much business friendly as possible. That's number two. And number three, in terms of this particular miscompliance, I would look for uh you
know, I think the confusion itself in and of itself is in my view not sufficient for um non-compliance and especially I think we repeatedly was pretty clear on what are the next steps in terms of uh before opening that and I
fully appreciate there could be misunderstanding or other confusion you may have experienced through the process but at the same time we need to put in uh our kind of uh legal and executive
hat and I would recommend for some punitive action to reflect the non-compliant or to reflect our um our um due diligence and respect for the compliance for others going forward in
future. Those are my three key points I wanted to make and the last one I would hear from everyone how you would want to go. I definitely want to make it because it's the first time and it's new restaurants and all the good things Mr. Dion has done for our town with the
other um u establishments in the past. Take it into account. But something to have as a message for non-compliance would be appropriate in my view. Thank you. Shard Amy. Yeah, I've started to lose my train of thought here, but um
I agree with or echo Mr. Hurst's comments about um yeah, that's unfortunate that it opened before um everything was all the ducks were in a row and everything was finalized because we were really hoping to have a fresh start, new opening with everything going right by the books. Um and then new
information has been brought forward that is not necessarily related to Mr. Dion, but it cast a shadow. Um let's see. Um, so I think we kind of have to separate the two things that we're having a hearing on a particular thing about them opening before they had their
uh license and then a remedy of the list of choices down there. And I do I do agree that they opened before they had their license. I think that's not in question. And the remedy I'm not sure which one. I think certainly not the more severe ones, not a suspension or
revocation, but um and then I think we definitely want to improve our process going forward. If the process is confusing to up to applicants, we certainly want to improve that. Uh I think we want to also tighten up uh how often we do the Corey checks and the Sori checks and possibly um you know
other checks that we might want to do when new businesses when businesses either renew or come to us for new licenses. I think we really that process needs to be tightened up and clarified. um going forward, which is not really a subject for tonight. But yeah, it was really disappointing that they opened without the license um because it causes
this problem that we have here. And yeah, I guess just separately, we might want to see if we can look into this. One thing I think is the case, but I'm not positive. I believe 77 West Main Street is the address for the entire building. So it doesn't necessarily mean the units
assuming the pizza place has a unit number and sweet number. the sweet number. Yeah. So, I mean, we don't know if Mr. Msriani is letting um this manuses receive their mail at that address, although not directly at the pizza place anymore. Um yeah, and I I just don't know what to
make of it without um more information and research about this new information that we've received. I think that's all I have. Thanks, Amy. Matt. Oh, many things. Uh number one, I want to start by thanking the four of you. This information would not have come to
light had we not taken the shortcut that we took last time. I appreciate that multiple of you chose to use the word unfortunate. This is not an unfortunate event. This is a known and potential deliberate outcome when we choose to not follow the process prior to licensing. When you take shortcuts in life, you are often likely to fall because you have
chosen not to walk the scheduled path. That's why they are shortcuts and not the scheduled path. With all that said, I'm struggling to hear both Brian and Amy's perspective that the issues with the financial and the overall structure of loan and ownership are outside our purview. Folks, it's my understanding
here, we are the licensing board for this. We issue the VIC. The in the character of ownership and the nature of finance are relevant to to assessing the business that we are ultimately issuing a license to. The entire reason this business was available is because we the
board and the town writ large decided the previous ownership and the issues surrounding them had reached a point of distaste. To s to suggest that we are not allowed to consider overall distaste, appearance of impropriy, character or information presented as
part of the vic process is borderline farcical and potentially gaslighty. I don't like that we went that way. I ultimately would like to echo Vice Chairman's comments here, but a little more strongly. I do think we need to look into this. The message from the town was clear. We did not want to be in
business with the Sisman family anymore based on what we had heard, the concerns that we had, and the information that was brought to the board. I'm obviously not there in person and I'm not all that smart of a guy, but it sounded like we were just presented information construing what could be heard as like a
daisy chain of subleted debt such that debt owned by one person is essentially being paid in a potential exact amount by the second party. That certainly seems a lot like we are potentially having pass through payments back to a business entity that we very much made clear we did not want to see operating
in this town. I don't think it is just enough to say that something needs to be done and we need to review the process. To my colleagues on the board, we are the something that is done. We are the process. Let's take an action here. Miss Lazarus, once Cher Clark has had a
chance to speak, I would very much like a review of what our penalties are here. While I understand that this is a first time offense, I am having a hard time seeing it as boys will be boys as it is being framed by some of the other members of the board. I view this pretty seriously given that one of the reasons
that my colleagues chose to expedite this Vic license was that the individual was known to town. He was doing business here, had done business here, and knew the process. Now that the process has not gone well, I hear the process is complicated and difficult to follow.
You'll you'll pardon me if I'm struggling to square up the dissonance of those statements. So in general and in conclusion here, I strongly push back on the notion that we cannot be considering the finances and character of the information of the owners and the overall structures of the businesses. I do agree that that's not information
that is directly part of our purview at the point of initial VIC license review. Gang, we've had enough smoke that we can literally see the fire. I don't think we need to ask if there is a fire coming from the smoke. There's a fire. Let's do something about it. Yeah. Um, so just to be clear and everyone if
they didn't know this, but we have four choices a bird as a board. Take no action. Impo impose a fine not less than $500 or not more than $1,000 for a first-time offense. Suspend the license or revoke the license. So, um, you know,
I I'll share my thoughts quickly and then I just want to hear what everyone's recommendation is, you know, before we hear a motion. But, you know, I I I think two things. you know, this new information is very concerning. Um, you know, a lot of discussion has been around the overall VIC license process.
Um, we're going to be reviewing that in two weeks from tonight. Like that's going to be an open discussion between the board. Uh, we recognize there's a lot that we need to do. Um, and you know, like we'll probably make some changes. I'd be shocked if we didn't.
Um, I think, you know, for this specifically, you know, I I I want to be clear, the board did not take a shortcut on this one. We conditionally approved things and and the intent there was that, you know, the board meets every
two weeks. We were trying to help a new business owner, you know, get in business 10, 11, 12 days early. Um, I do not think it was unclear. We've done this before for a reason. um you know especi and we've never had issues. So it
it's more than just unfortunate. Um and you know going back to it you know I think the thing that I'm going to fall back on is we review all of these licenses in December you know for renewal. Um, with this new information,
I I think my thought right now is I absolutely would move to impose a fine of $1,000 today um to give us time to actually vet through this information over the next two months while we do our review um so that we can have more information to make educated decisions
in the future. That would be my opinion. So, uh I'll look for the rest of the board to just share what you think your the motion should be. Elaine, what are your thoughts about our responsibilities and our ability to investigate uh all these other sort of
business terms and conditions? I mean, I sat here that night. I looked at Paul Mastriani. I said, "Is this a normal lease?" And he looked at his lawyer. His lawyer said, "Yes." And she answered the question. She was sitting right over there. So, I think we did the kind of things we would typically do in a board meeting for a license, right? So, if
they lied to us, then that's a problem. But what is our what is our opportunity or can we actually do some of the things that some have suggested we do in terms of investigating this? Yeah, it depends I think on what kind of level of investigation the board is interested in and who would do that
information I mean who would do that investigation. Is it a m matter of looking things up, you know, online that which is easy or is it a matter of going and interviewing people and uh seeking out additional documents um you
know kind of like a almost like a police investigation. I mean so it depends on what kind of level of investigation you're thinking about and what the purpose of it. Do you think that this veicular license issue grants us the opportunity to do
that by law? I know what we want to do, but by law, are we creating a risk for the town by doing this? Are we going to get sued for sticking our nose where it doesn't belong? It's always possible. Um, and the statute is limited on common vict,
right? So, I think there's certain things we can do and I think there's certain things that are if it's not spelled out, I don't know if it's there. We should find that out before we make a decision about what we're going to do for an investigation. I have no problem looking into this if we can look into this and understand it better. And I
would assume that the landlord would cooperate in that given that he sat here and told us there was nothing funny going on. Right. Um with that, I support the motion that Mr. Clark is suggesting about thousand fines that this doesn't happen again.
Um thank you. I I think I um I would resonate and I mentioned it to you that we should look at what's in our purview and based on that uh I am in favor of doing some more analysis and call it a pseudo uh first round preliminary
investigation or better understanding of what exactly happened. uh and if we are not at any legal risk for doing that, I would recommend on uh exploring that and we can have that discussion or that
decision in subsequent session uh based on your response and we should probably scope it like you mentioned we can uh and again I think it we may not have the authority to make legal actions beyond the ve license but
as a concern concerned um administration or town uh group of officials and leaders. I I think we can always initiate any investigation or analysis in our um from the town administration
front on what's happening in a particular business where we are hearing concerns from the residents. But again, I we should vet that out and then uh I would like to hear from you uh in the next meeting perhaps and we can all collectively decide on that. And as for
the this particular one, I I'm in favor of um the punitive damage of punitive um u penalty of $1,000. I think it sends the right message and based on what happened again I explained it in the
past that we are looking at in favor of building our new economic development front line and u how we can make our business u our town more business friendly and attractive but not at the cost of you know uh non-compliance or
any additional risk or any type of safety and security risk on our employees and our town residents. That's uh for sure and also absolutely we cannot uh uh allow non-compliance
given the clarity and what we have given. So I am in favor of that uh penalty to send the message and to establish our uh authoritative line on this. So those are the two I I think we probably can um I would recommend to
move forward tonight. Thanks Amy. Yeah. No, I agree with the maximum fine of $1,000 as proposed and I think we'll and we'll have an opportunity uh to learn more from our town council about what our our options regarding investigation and what what what our role would be and um and then we'll have
another opportunity to review it at the renewal period at the end of um in December. Matt, I'm comfortable with the fine here as well. It won't surprise you to hear I was leaning a little more stringently, but I think Chairman Clark, you've made
a rather compelling path forward here, but I do want to distinguish here my understanding. This group has already taken in as part of the overall hiller's discussion external information that was presented to it. And at least in my case, it was certainly part of my decision-making because it was presented
to the board and the town at large. I would like us to sort of acknowledge that we've already set the precedent that character and external information can be considered as part of license to operate in this town and certainly as part of this business. Whether or not we the board are legally empowered to
create this investigation versus whether we the board are legally empowered to receive information from the town and assess character, financial structure, and overall nature of business owner. I view those as being mutually exclusive and I would appreciate if we talked about them as such because I believe they're getting blurred here and I do
not believe they should be or need to be. They're separate issues. Mr. Chair, I move to impose a fine of $1,000 as a first offense within a six-month period against the common vict. There's a motion and a second. We'll go roll call. Amy Amy Ritter Bush. Yes.
Chidel man. Yes. Brian her. Yes. Matt, yes. Joe Clark, yes. All right. Um, and that ends our public hearing session on this. Mr. Dion, thank you for coming tonight. Thank you. Thank you.
All right. Um, moving on. Uh, the select board will consider a planner proposal to make Church Street a one-way southbound from Main Street to Church Place per the Main Street Quarter Plans and Library Expansion project approval. Um Elaine, you want to just introduce this one? Sure.
So, as part of the uh Main Street corridor project, um the um change of a portion of Church Street to oneway uh was um put on the plans. Um and that came about through um public forum process when that uh project was
originally proposed and it also came from the um approval process from the library expansion. So um on the plan it shows Church Street becoming one way from Main Street to Church Place in a southbound direction. So entering from Main Street and heading toward um the
Maple Street end of Church Street. Um and so um in advance of um this coming to the board for a vote, um I sent each of the uh property owners uh on Church Street a letter and invited them to a couple of open houses that Dave Del Toro
and I uh held last week. Um for one of the uh open houses we had one library employee come and for the other we had no nobody coming. Um we did receive an email from the funeral home indicating that they are supportive of the change uh that they avoid that uh initial
section of Church Street already. Um and they are um able to divert their their funeral processions to cemeteries in Hopkin around to avoid that that area. Uh we also heard from um St. John's Church uh that they're okay with the
change as well. Perfect. And Dave Del Toro should be on Zoom if there are any questions about the from an engineering standpoint. Yeah, he is on Zoom. Is he out there? Mhm. Okay. Um Amy, do you want to start with comments, questions? Yeah, I know. I remember this discussion
from back when the library was um was going to be built and um you know, I live very close to the area too and I've spoken to some of the neighbors. I went to one of the um one of the library workshops and was I think I was the only resident there or one of the librarians came too. But um yeah, I think this
makes sense and the neighbors I talked to seemed comfortable with it as long as it wasn't going to be the whole length of Church Street but just from Main Street to Church Place. So I think this is it is very congestive whenever I've driven there. So I agree with the change. Yeah, I could the same. I think it makes sense and uh given the feedback and
others um I'm okay with that. Brian. Uh, this this has been in the conversation in the plans for a long time and I think it makes perfect sense. I support it. Matt. Matt, you still with us?
Yeah. Yes. Uh, maybe Mr. Kner stepped away. Um, I I support this as well. Um, so I think we need a motion for this and we just Mr. Manan just walked away. Correct. I just want to add it won't happen immediately. There's a process we go
through and signage will be put in place and so forth. So, it won't happen immediately. Okay. Should I go ahead and make the motion since it's not controversial? Okay. I think so. I move to designate Church Street as a one-way street southbound from Main Street to Church Place. Second with a comment.
All right. There's a motion and a second. Uh, roll call. Can I just comment real quick? This will be a change. This will create a little bit of angst for some in town. We will likely hear about it. That's okay. But this has been in the plan for a long time. So, we
can't, you know, then have a public hearing or something else because we changed the direction of of Church Street. But I do think that this makes sense, but we will hear from some Matt. Yep. I see you're back. I don't know. It looked like you walked away. Um, we just shared our
Yeah, no, no worries. We just shared our comments. the the four of us were in favor of this. So, I want to give you the chance to share your thoughts. I am as well, but I did want to ask if there was any concern from those who live particularly on Church Place
because that this does change the usage of that artery in a slightly different way and that is a tiny street as it intersects back to Hayden in the town common. I would have some general concerns about flow of traffic and increase of traffic on a sleepy street that already doesn't have sidewalks if
my memory serves me. Have we heard from any of Butters and are there any concerns about the redirection of traffic flow? I was going to say fun fact, there's no addresses on Church Street, but Church Place. Yeah, there's backyards. There is a sidewalk there. There's there's one driveway I know of,
but the address is Hayden Row, but it's a Hayden Row address. Yep. So Elaine any to Matt's question any uh no issues do you hear you hear that Matt? Okay. So as always I'll echo the same message to the community. I'm always going to ask the question on your behalf
but if you haven't asked it yourselves I can't represent a concern any louder than that. So if there are nothing from the utters I have no further concerns. 300 foot of Butters received the notice. Right. So it would have been the people on just anyone who owns property uh fronting um Church Street. Church Street. And that includes people
on the corner of Church Place and Church Street. Okay. Okay. So, we had a motion and a second. Uh, we'll do roll call. Matt, we'll start with you. Yes. Amy, yes. Shidel. Yes. Brian. Brian. Hurry. Yes. Joe Clark. Yes. All right. That is
unanimous and carries. All right. Next, we are moving on to the Pine Island. In accordance with the town's general bylaws, chapter 174, streets and sidewalks, article six, temporary repairs on private ways, the
select board will review the report of the depart director of public works and determine whether identified repairs, reconstructions, or improvements are required for the public health or safety, the protection of the environment, and the public convenience and necessity. And if it is so determined, the select board may approve
the project and determine the funding source, which is proposed to be the highway department operating budget. The estimated cost of the repairs is $474.73. DPW director Carrie Reid will also review the plans pertaining to the resident sand salt pile that has been
located at 66 Fruit Street. Carrie, would you like to join us? Welcome. Hello. Carrie Reid, director of public works. Um, so you pretty much summed it up. So, Pine Island Road is not publicly accepted. Um, we do get a lot of
requests. Um, for those of you who are not familiar, it is, um, within the limits of Hopkin. It's one you have to drive through Milford to get to. It's along the lake. Um, it's partially paved and it's partially dirt road. So, we do get a lot of requests um for different
things and improvements, but in accordance with our bylaw since it's not publicly accepted, um we have a lot of limitations on what we can do. And um we have to come before this board to do any of that.
Perfect. And before we go to the board, what would your recommendation be here? this particular one, they're asking for some repair of some potholes and um repair of a burm. Um so it's consistent with what we do for other roads. So if
you approve it, then yeah, I recommend that we do it. But um I do have concerns with the overall road and I would love at some point to get a little bit more clarification on that because many of the butters have concerns, but that's a different story for a different day. But
um I've explained it and we've reached out to the butters through letters previously and so they asked for this work to be done within the confines of what we're allowed to do under the bylaws and I recommend it. Okay. Thanks Gary. Um manager's office thoughts, comments? Yeah, I think it'd be great if we can make some minor repairs and definitely
consider, you know, how to manage this road in the future. All right, Amy, you want to start with questions? Uh yeah. No, it's a small amount and I agree that we should probably go ahead and do that. But I did want to ask what the process would be. It sounds like the road is in great disrepair and to become
a public road, it would have to be upgraded significantly at the resident's expense owner's expense or I would say to before I would recommend it be publicly accepted, it should be upgraded to a better standard. Um,
we as a town have the ability to decide how that would be paid for by betterments or town meeting could pay for it all. Mhm. Um, so there's different options for the actual cost of it, but yes, I would recommend that we wouldn't accept it as is, right? It's not up to standards at the
moment. Okay. But there'd be a variety of ways of potentially funding that at some point in the future. Okay. Shadow. Uh, yeah, I am okay with this um repair and paying from the town. I think that makes sense given the number and the
benefit. Uh, and I would like to understand for the full um uh what do we call it? the adoption of the street by the uh town in terms of what it makes sense, what uh the arguments would be
and what the cost would be. So that's probably a discussion for another day, but I'm okay with this. Brian, I'm all set. Thanks, Matt. Yeah, thanks to the chair. Carrie, can you clarify whether this is a private road or is this an unaccepted public
road? There's no such thing as an unaccepted public road. It's either publicly accepted or not. So, in default, it's private. Um, you know what I'm trying to ask, though, like is if if the road would hypothetically be accepted, this would
be a public road. It would not be intended to be a private way. If it was accepted, it would become a public road. There's no requirement that a public road has to meet subdivision stands or anything like that. So it could be accepted even as a dirt road if the town wanted to take responsibility
for it, but it hasn't been yet. So the reason I'm asking such a pedantic question is I wanted to kind of understand the nuance of the unaccepted road. Uh Miss Lazarus, is there any potential legal exposure for us in terms of because it's an unaccepted road and we're saying we're not obligated to maintain it because it's unaccepted, but
these are likely constituents who are still doing things like paying taxes in the town and enjoying our services. If we were to decline to maintain the road, would there ultimately be exposure to us from a legal perspective such that a taxpayer in town could challenge why we were not maintaining given that they
were paying taxes? I not a lawyer, so I can't answer a legal question. Um, but I can say that was proposed is consistent with the bylaw uh that was adopted under the statutory uh abilities that we have. And so what is proposed is something that is
legal and we and we do elsewhere, right? Yes. Yeah. I'm not against paving the road, gang. What I'm trying to understand is our exposure to the other parts of town that are going to realize that there is an apparatus by which you can come to the select board and highlight that your unaccepted road needs repairs. It will
shock you to hear that I am thinking about this in terms of what it might cost the town as a financial expenditure. So, I would like to get a little bit of clarity on that. Elaine maybe is a future action item to town council just to better understand what our exposure is because as someone who allegedly also lives at the end of a
potentially unaccepted road, I've also found it pretty curious that I pay taxes for things but that we hide behind it on the other side. With that said, this is an incredibly small amount of money that I fully support. But Carrie, we need to come back here and have a more mature discussion about what in the name of goodness the actual pavement management
plan for the town because we just cannot keep doing this one at a time. And that's not a criticism of you. That is an indictment of us not giving you the funds you need to do the job you've requested to do. Mr. Chair, I move that the we authorize the Department of Public Works to perform temporary repairs on Pine Island
Road as outlined in the memorandum from the director of public works dated September 29th, 2025. Repairs shall be paid by the town. Second that. All right, we have a motion and a second. Roll call. Brian. Brian. Her. Yes. Sherman. Yes. Amy Redbush. Yes.
Matt. Matt. Joe Clark. Yes. All right. Carrie. Thank you. Thanks, Carrie. Appreciate you sticking around today. Thank you, Carrie. All right. There's one other item that um she can address with you now, and that's the resident sand installed pile. Oh, yes. That was on the future agenda items
list. Yep. um to some degree. I I I don't have any additional information as DBW director, but um the water and sewer advisory board um provided some feedback from you and the select board had it as a future
agenda request. So um I believe there recommendation is um in your packet. It's basically, you know, we don't have we haven't been able to find a viable spot that's not in the water resources overlay protection district that would
meet the um the needs of the town. So, what we're proposing and what we continue to propose is that we could provide this service at the DBW at request um to support like the sand for seniors program, which we have. um the sand and salt pile from what I
understand was really intended for our most vulnerable um constituents. So, we continue to offer that and we continue to provide that program through the fire department and the senior center that that actually also helps them because they can identify folks that might be in need. Um they can do some assessments,
you know, it gets them to do some community uh outreach. So, we would continue to work with them for that. But it there would not be for this winter a publicly available where you can come at your own um time and leisure and pick up sand and salt provided by the town.
So So it would be at the DPW site um closer to town like on deep on Wood Street, not as far as Fruit Street. Exactly. It would be Wood Street behind the gate, not open to the public. Okay. But people could request it through the senior center or other services. Okay.
Okay. Um, no, nothing particular. I think that all makes sense. Brian, all set. Matt, hey, this was a me topic. As you may recall, I got salty about this. Brian, you enjoyed the pun in real time. Carrie, thank you so much for coming
back on this one. I appreciate that we didn't let go. As you noted, I view this as a service that is disproportionately utilized by some of the more vulnerable members of our community or in my case as a member of the community who has realized they don't have sand or salt before a major storm. What I would like
to do here, and I know that this is mixed messaging for me, Carrie, I understand that you haven't been able to find a suitable location in the water overlay where you are now. I would very much like to hear from either you or water and soore a capital request for what it would look like to build an
actual suitable facility for this. I think there is going to be more than enough town support for the service it provides to build an adequate space for this moving forward. And I don't think you're going to ask me to build you the Porsche of salt pile storage. I think this is something that we can get done whether it's this year or next. I'd at
least like to present that option to the town and have the conversation. When we talk about tightening the belt, tightening the belt is not taking away services from our vulnerable constituents. Tightening the belt is getting rid of elective things to make sure we continue to provide for our vulnerable constituents. So, I do want to challenge you a little bit there to
give us something and make it hard for us to make that decision. We're asking you for something. Help us spend some money. I can help you spend money. I do have one follow-up question. Uh K I remember in last year the year before uh
there were concerns uh from some of the residents uh in the u quality of the water and we did went about testing the water um to see that you know nothing was sipping in that uh contaminated the
water and we we did the testing I think the result was okay and I I think this service is definitely important and I support it and we do want to continue to it and at that time also we talked about trying to find another location for doing that. So I think this is a good
conversation to have but at the same time when we do this uh we should keep that in mind that at some point maybe in the middle of the winter or some sometime should we go back and test the water just to make sure that uh the contamination is not happening as a
precaution and should there anything that's becomes um you know dominant at that time we should look for remediation but this service is important the water quality is similarly important. My understanding is where we deposit it, it
can seep into the water system. So if I am hearing you correctly, your concerns are about salt intrusion or increased connectivity as a result of salt at our wells. Right. I I think we have a sufficient enough um sampling protocols now. It's
never been an issue. I don't think it'll be an issue. I don't recommend doing additional sampling. I really don't think it's enough of a risk. Um there's other areas in town where that might be that um are not managed by the DPW, but honestly I think it would be a little
bit of overkill. I even think that moving it was overkill, but um it was not incon, you know, consistent with the uh the water resources overlay district rules and regulations, whatever the correct long terminology is. So we
will be in compliance. But I don't think I'm I'm not concerned about salt intrusion at well six. No, that's good to hear. Yeah, just be cognizant of that. I don't remember was it last year or the year before Ken Wise Mental uh made repeated requests and then we did one time, right? But you
don't think we need to? I do not. Thank you. All right. I'm good. I have no further questions. I'm comfortable with this. Thank you, Carrie. Thank you. All right. Um, next the select board will hear an update on the construction of a pickle ball paddle club at 124 East
Main Street and their interest in a TIFF tax increment finance agreement with the town. The select board will consider authorizing the town manager and the legal team to negotiate tiff agreement. TIF agreements require town meeting approval. Lane. Uh, so thank you. Um, Yv Galper I
believe should be on Zoom. Uh, and he is the, uh, owner and developer of the new pickle ball facility on East Main Street. Um, he has sent the town a letter of intent, uh, to, um, negotiate a tax increment financing agreement with the town. Um, such agreements are are
negotiated and then uh, the board has to approve it at some point and then it ultimately goes to town meeting for a vote. Uh so it's the beginning of a process and as part of this process we always ask our uh potential um businesses if they will um fund town
council's um work in this process. So Mr. Galper has um agreed to fund our legal costs through this process and we've both signed an agreement that they will be responsible for reimbursing the town for its legal costs in this effort.
So, um I think uh if you'd like to hear about his business, he's ready to talk about his business and what he what he's constructing and how many jobs he'll bring to the community. Perfect. Yeah, we'll start there. Can you hear us out there? He's just coming on. Yeah. Okay.
I I can Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Welcome. Oh, thank you. So, first of all, I want to apologize for not coming in person. And I just had a design review board uh like a couple hours ago and I didn't know how long that will go and when my
time slot would be um a loted for uh this specific meeting. So apologies for that. Um so I'm building a pickle ball and padell club um at 124 East Main Street. Uh I'm sure you all know what
pickle ball is. Um many might not know what Padell is. Badell is another wrecky sport and basically what pickle ball is doing in US Badell is doing in the rest of the world. It's the fastest growing sport in the world and it's just coming to us. Okay. So it
creates a really amazing opportunity to attract players and uh tournaments and leagues and to town of Hton. It's going to be an amazing facility. Unlike many other
clubs, my club will have uh 19 courts altogether unlike you know others that have four or six maybe eight. Um the other thing is that my club is built the ground up unlike many other clubs that
are occupying uh bad bat that went out of business. So it that was not suited specifically for those. So the ceiling is low, the columns are not in the right places. This club is specifically designed for these two sports and it
creates an amazing opportunity for the community as well both from employment perspective and participation perspective. As you know both of these sports pickle ball and padell are the sports that are very social by nature and that's why they became so both of
them became so uh popular during pandemic but also uh both of these sports uh people can play from like six or seven year old until like 87 year old. Um I'm uh very passionate about uh these
sports. I'm a competitive player and I'm a coach in both sports and uh uh this is my passion really uh project I left corporate world and I decided to dedicated the rest of my life doing something for the community and to bring
joy to the community uh while building a meaningful business. So um as uh um a business of that scale so 19 courts 25,000 square foot uh facility uh that's going to be indoor and outdoor courts.
Uh you can imagine that it will require a number of uh people to to staff uh this facility. So in the first year I imagine that there will be six to eight full-time um employees and uh with the
goal to increase that number to 10 to 14 in the coming years once um I have the opportunity to build membership and programming. Um I'm uh um building relationships with uh a number of
communities u and nonprofit organizations. For example, uh I'm supporting 26.2 Foundation. Uh we're discussing how to build fundraising events. I'm actually sponsoring YMCA and Hington uh center of
arts pickle ball tournament that is happening in uh uh less than two weeks. Um so I'm I'm I'm being a member of the community and I want to build a community. I want to bring value
and joy to the community. I'm also uh starting to develop relationships with high school of presenting opportunities to build varsity programs uh for pickle ball and padell especially pickle ball because uh this sport is becoming
a very important sport in many colleges who start to give scholarships. Uh this will become an important sport for high schools because uh as colleges starting to give scholarships, high schools are starting to build varsity teams to attract talent. Uh so having the
facility next door like this is going to be amazing. Uh another unique piece about uh about my club is that um I got inspired by 26.2 foundation that is building or will be building uh marathon hall of fame
across the street pretty much from my facility. uh I will be building Pickle Ball and Padel Hall of Fame and I started collecting uh you know vast uh number of various signed hands-ed battles and memorabilia from elite
players and I will be uh sharing history and innovation of sport that will attract uh people from you know uh further away not just the local community. So I imagine that this will
enable me to run uh significant events the number of courts that I have uh on the podel side. Um so you understand kind of where we are in the development of this sport. In Massachusetts there are currently seven courts publicly
available seven courts. In Spain for comparison there are over 20,000 courts. Okay. So there is massive opportunity here and having a center like this in Hington is going to be amazing I think. Uh now in terms of the land itself
interestingly enough it was part of this piece of land that uh Roy McDow bought many years ago from Western Nurseries and that is the very last piece of land that he owned. Everything else got developed with legacy farms and
neighboring fair estates. I saw at least seven or eight different designs um of that specific lot um different ideas kind of were planned but everybody in the end bailed out because of two
specific challenges with this land. One challenge is that third about third of this piece of land is wetlands and about quarter of the remaining piece of land is a vast leeching field like commercialgrade football fields size
leech field that uh needed to be built and connected to the p to the private wastewater treatment plant in order to support this community that uh Mr. McDow created and uh helped build. So it was really really challenging to find a
buyer for that land and that's why this piece of land stayed vacant for many many years and I just took a risk and decided to see if I can build the business of my dream and uh um
uh and and and bring value and joy to the community. So, um you can imagine that the building like this cost a lot of money and to and and it has a massive upfront
cost which escalated actually during the last you know 12 18 months with uh u increased materials, increased labor, now tariffs and uh um at the beginning first few years uh it will be operating
under full capacity obviously because the membership needs time to be built and uh uh that is one of the reasons why I'm seeking for support in the form of uh uh tax increment um
uh finance and tiff uh because it will be very challenging for me to uh have all these expenses up front and uh pay the SBA loan that uh um I received to build this project and uh to pay full
tax u especially in the initial years right so with all of that I um I I also the other piece that I would like to share is that I I'm I'm applying for economic development incentive program ADIP and uh uh they are very supportive
of the program one thing that they asked is the support from the town and uh uh we did get a letter of support from the town, but they asked if uh um if the town could support the project with
TIFF. This would definitely show that uh the local community would benefit from the uh uh project, which I believe it will, and they are more likely to support me with um ADIC as well. So, uh
this is doubly important for the project and for the company to for the club to to be um uh to to apply for TIFF and hopefully uh get support uh because it will also lead
to the support from uh from the state. Happy to address any questions or you know answer any concerns. Okay. Well, thank you for the overview. I I think it's a very exciting opportunity for for you obviously, but also the town. Um, so I I guess, you
know, my first thought is, you know, Elaine, this type of agreement is, you know, new to me. I'm sure it's, you know, new to some people in town. Can you just walk us through the town's history with these types of agreements before we ask questions? Sure. We have had um agreements before.
We um the most recent one was with Lyan uh on South Street. Uh we actually have two agreements with them for their two different facilities. Um and so basically um what it is um is it's a uh property tax incentive that applies to
the incremental value of what's created. So there's the base value of the building before the project and then the the value afterwards and that it smooths out the increase in the taxes uh throughout those years of the agreement. Um, so they can be five-year agreements
up to 20-year agreement. Um, and that's it's negotiated um between the two parties as to, you know, how fast that that escalates up through the years. But it's it's intended to allow the business to to get going uh without that immediate jump to the new uh tax rate
for the property tax increase right at the very beginning. Evens it out. And tonight, we'd just be authorizing you to negotiate, then we'll come back to us and then eventually to town meeting. That's correct. Right. Yes. Okay. So, I'm comfortable with moving forward. You're comfortable? Yes. And obviously, what's your recommendation?
Yeah, I think it's uh definitely something that we could um negotiate um and bring to the board to see if it's something you feel is worth worthwhile to the community. Okay. Chad. Yeah. I know I'm excited and happy to hear um new business coming and
especially the nature of this goes very well with our town character and it'll um become another vibrant facility uh potentially for the town residents uh adding to the quality of life and amenities. So, I'm really excited and
I'm in favor of, you know, um having Elaine negotiate the TIF agreements and uh hopefully others follow and I know that um pickle ball has been super popular and we have we can't build enough courts so this will certainly add
to the residents demand and hopefully you'll get to build more or bring your friends to build more. One quick question I had just out of curiosity because I'm um have been at advocating and would like to continue to advocate for economic development. Mr. Galpar,
what interested you um in our town? Um well, I I think it's an amazing town and uh uh there were a few factors. One factor, frankly speaking, is proximity to the place where I live. Uh I live only 25 minutes away in Wayland. Uh, I
couldn't travel for two hours. Uh, it's a very very nice town. I I love Hockington. I love the surrounding area. It's an affluent community that would definitely uh appreciate the uh facility like this,
Pickle Ball and Podell. And I also will have golf simulator and uh, you know, bunch of other amenities. So, you know, building um a premier facility to build a premier facility, I I was looking for a premier spot and I couldn't actually
find a better spot than right on the marathon route, right on the main street of uh you know, such a such a great town. That's great to hear. Thank you for uh choosing our town and tell your friends
and other business owners as well. Thank you. Of course. Thank you. Uh couple of thoughts and thanks for coming in this evening. Uh we appreciate the opportunity to take a look at this. Um you mentioned the number of jobs. I think the tiff is in the at the state
level in the do is tied to the number of jobs created as well. Is that true? Uh it used to be um there was a lot more restriction on number of jobs and so forth and that has uh basically kind of fallen away from the program somewhat. Okay. So it's less stringent. Yes.
Got it. cuz I I think he mentioned it there was going to be 14 jobs. Did I hear that? I think max. Yeah. So, I know when we did So, so my my experience with TIFFs over the years has been I think a little bit mixed. Uh sometimes they have worked well, sometimes they have not. Uh we've had a couple times where we had to go after
people to honor the tiff when they left town. Um so, I'm not suggesting that would happen here. Um, but they're that and we want to make sure when we negotiate we have mechanisms in place that everybody's accountable to deliver what they say they're going to deliver. That's fair and reasonable thing to do.
It's just business 101, but we didn't necessarily do that in the past. So, I'd like to make sure that that's the case. Uh, secondly, um, we're, you know, talking about pickle ball and the other game, which sounds very interesting, and I try to play a little pickle ball myself, but I'm not quite getting it
yet. Um, we have an invest we have invested here in town in pickle ball courts uh at our public facility on Fruit Street. So, I would I don't know if you've spoken with the parks and recck department or not. I mean, you're going to come to town. It'll be a different
type of club, obviously, a private club, but it will be a competitor quote unquote to what we have invested in at the community level already. So, I would encourage a dialogue with parks and wreck. don't think it'll be a problem, but let's just make sure if we're all in the same business together that we all
work together and understand what everyone's goals are. So, I'd encourage you to get with the parks and recck team and chat with them a little bit. Um, other than that, I'm fine. I think I'm sorry. May I respond to this comment?
Sure. Thank you. Uh, it's it's a very fair point. Um I uh um I'm actually in the continuous conversation with Park and Rack and I had numerous conversation with John and we have mutual support.
Now I actually do not see it as a competition. Uh there's going to be a number of people who would be interested to take advantage of free courts, free publicly available courts. Uh and it's going to be serving that population which is
great. It's awesome. I totally support towns creating opportunities for uh people to to play pickle ball. It's um you know staying active and social and happy and joyful and so forth, building connections and friendship, but uh it's
not we we live we live in New England, right? We don't live in Hawaii, for example, where you have uh beautiful weather year round. Here we have snow, we have wind, we have rain. Uh so we have humid so not everybody also um
so people c can't play every day of the year on publicly available courts because they are outdoors also there is no lighting so they can't play in the evening also um it it lacks um publicly available courts not only in Hawin but
generally speaking lack organization it doesn't provide enough tournaments leagues um open place and so forth. So by and large it's either you know clinics the town offers or it's uh you need to bring
your own foresome and you play right. So I will offer opportunity to join the community right. So I see it as a very very different thing a year round uh rather than you know fair weather and
I think with the popularity of pickle ball and mind you uh 14% last year of Americans play pickle ball right at least once. So uh um there is much bigger demand than the publicly
available courts that um we have in Hopkins or surrounding towns. Great. I'm glad you're talking to the parks for both the club and the and the courts. I'm glad you're talking to the parks and recck team and our colleagues on parks and recck commission. Thank you. Um and
I'm fine with going ahead and trying to negotiate this. Uh but we have had some mixed results over the years. So let's just be aware of that and move ahead. Thank you, Matt. Yeah, a couple thoughts. Mr. Galper, first my apologies for not getting back to you. It's been an eventful month in
month in my life as evidenced by my absence tonight. Just a few a few quick thoughts in general. So, number one, I'm in I'm very much in favor of the development at the outset. One of the things that's consistently highlighted to us by places like Mass Bio Council,
when we think about economic development in town, we are missing many services that higherend knowledge workers are looking for. Athletic clubs, athletic facilities, gymnasiums, things like that are consistently cited to us as something that are in our sister
communities but are not in our community. And when these smaller biotechs, businesses, etc., uh pickle ball clubs, if you will, are making these decisions. I think they are looking around at the inflow of customers to the business and they're making their decisions accordingly. So,
from a long-term strategic and economic development perspective, I could see a lot of reasons for us to support this. It does fit a growing need as Mr. Delper described it. I do see a synergistic benefit with the investment we've already made. The kids learn on the free court and you decide to go check out the
club and pursue your skills further. That's just the pipeline of athletics for me. My concerns are much more. One, I would really like to hear from both our CFO and our economic development officer what their recommendations and thoughts are around the tiff. I'd actually like
to understand the financial impact of what it means to the town and what it potentially costs the taxpayer to go this way. That doesn't mean I'm opposed to it, but it does mean I don't want to have the conversation in abstraction. I do want to echo Brian's comments as well about ensuring that we have mechanisms
in place to not chase. I don't think that's an issue here, but you plan for failure to ensure your success. And then last but not least, and Mr. Galper, this is somewhat personal, but I can tell you it's a very real concern. I live on the dead end that happens to a butt legacy
farms. And in that space, I can tell you every single person, excuse me, on my street and on my neighboring street has had water in their basement except me and the other guy at the end of the year. We are incredibly high on the water table and there is significant concern amongst my constituents and my
direct neighbors about the impact of what you're going to do from a wetlands and leechfield perspective. So I'll very much be looking forward to hearing what your plan is for mitigating those concerns for the abutters because they've been very loud and clear to me to say nothing of my own personal interest in this. There is some fear
that the development of Hopkin is, no pun intended, going to leave them underwater. Thank you, Matt. I I I appreciate your uh linguistic ability to uh to use puns um
and and and your uh critical thinking. So, um I I it's not the first time that I heard about the plotting and uh um as a matter of fact uh during the first meeting that I had with uh uh
zoning board of appeals, there was uh uh one of the neighbors who came on that meeting trying to uh convince the board to stop the project because of flooding specifically. and they said because of all this impervious coverage it will
create more flooding. Okay. Um I uh asked him to bear with me and to meet with me uh personally in uh uh 10 days or so which we did. We met he actually brought two more uh abotterers uh his
neighbors and I presented presented them a storm water management plan like 94 page paper uh like report that was created by a civil engineer to uh mitigate specifically uh storm water uh
runoff and uh it would basically my request was to make it better than what it is right now. Okay, even with all this impervious coverage that led into a very elaborate cons kind of plan of uh uh storm water
management system that uh addresses one year storm, 10ear storm, 100year storm and apocalyptical what is called Noah event, right? Like storms that we've never seen here,
right? and it's going to cost me north of $300,000 to install that uh storm water management system, which I gladly will do to prevent flooding from um Mr. Gulper, just just in the interest of time here, what I think I'm hearing to to save us all, you're in conversations
with the abutters in the community, and it sounds like you're robustly addressing the concern I have voiced. I continue to be largely in support of the overall initiative. I really do want to hear from the CFO and from our economic development officer about what the dollars and cents are. But in terms of at least sending a positive message
about beginning negotiations and starting to put the P's and Q's together, I think it's a great idea and I appreciate you both choosing our community and the clear level of engagement you have demonstrated on both the question I have asked and the question Brian asked about parks and wreck. It's not often somebody comes
before this board and is asked multiple questions and is able to demonstrate the depth of knowledge you have about the people in town and the players involved. Speaks very well of you and how serious you're taking this. All right. Thank you. Just to clarify one other point, Elaine,
uh this is u today or tonight what we are deciding is to give you the authority to have the discussion and uh draw up a proposal with potential T offering. uh but eventually it'll go through the planning board should there be establishments built and what are the
water and other impacts um that can be analyzed at that time and eventually you'll come back with the proposal and we'll look at the financial um benefits cost benefit analysis and all those at that point is that so chair I think they are going through
the planning board process already right under construction it's under construction this is just the tiff agreement so I think and and I think we've already heard like Again, thank thank you for joining us. I've heard multiple board members say they're comfortable with authorizing the town manager to move forward.
Um, so I think at this point, you know, I think you said you'd come back to the board with a proposal before a town meeting. Like those are future steps. So I'd like in the interest of time, I'd like to hear a motion. Yep. I would move to authorize the town manager and the town legals council to
negotiate a tiff agreement with the Open Play Pickle Ball and Paddle Club. Thank you. We've got a motion and a second. Roll call. Matt Matt Kisner I Amy Amy Rbush yes yes Brian her yes and Joe Clark yes thank you thank you
again for your interest in this town we look forward to hearing more on the progress thank you thank you for your support evening y as well all right next the town town manager will review the town charter review process which occurs every 10 years process includes the appointment
of a charter review committee this fall yes so uh this is the here um where the town appoints a charter review committee. Um there was uh the charter was adopted you know almost 20 years ago. So there was a review at the 10 year and now it's leading up to the
20-year mark. Uh the charter itself identifies um who will serve on the committee. I mean who appoints the committee. Um and so um the process could start with appointments uh early in November and then typically um what
the first process did was have a couple of public hearings, interview a lot of people involved in government outside of government about what might be changed and then work toward either um amendments considered at an annual town meeting at a special um town meeting
within the annual which provides for a longer timeline or at a special town meeting in the fall next year. Um so the timeline that I've included in the packet is the shortest which is for the annual town meeting but there is the ability to have a longer process throughout 2026.
So um if um I've included in there a draft charge for the board to look at at this point board doesn't need to approve that at this point. we can review it again uh with any changes and um but as I said the charter itself identifies how the members are appointed and we would
advertise for interested people as we do for all appointments we seek volunteers perfect thank you for the overview I mean I think like you just said we don't need like a motion or anything tonight we need to look at this obviously we
don't do this often so it's a very important decision you know there a lot will go into this um you know both from the board, input from the the town department and then the residents. So, does anyone have any questions for Elaine? I do just have one comment before we began. I had been really interested in
this 10 years ago when we first were going to do this and I applied and I was really disappointed that nobody even contacted me to come interviewing you to be on the committee because of the strange appointing structure like each of the different boards met separately and appointed one person and then there was I don't know it just didn't seem
very public last time. I hope we can do it more publicly, have a centralized application place and that each board can be aware of who is appointing which person so that everyone gets a fair chance. Yeah, I think that each of the uh boards that appoint an individual person would have to do it at a public meeting and
then I think that the uh the committee that would as identified as the appointed committee would have to have a public meeting to make those appointments. Yeah, just have to notify people. It be nice if they notified the applicants when they would be discussing it. Yeah. Okay. Just my two cents.
Yep. Yeah, I think it's exciting and it's about time. So, uh all for it and let's um begin the process. I'm also thinking the same along with Amy that as much I mean it's obviously a transparent and open public process as much as we can
centralize it um the selection process it will give probably a quicker and fair chance for everyone's visibility. Brian, it's in the charter. It's part of what we do. It's a heavy lift. It's a big lift. Uh so I would make sure we plan
appropriately and dedicate resources and things of that nature. But uh u makes sense. It is a big time commitment. Yep. For members. Yeah. I think we need to address that as as it goes public with everything. Matt,
hey. a completely pedantic exercise that's highly word-based and has the potential to completely upend the philosophical direction of the town. I'm super excited and interested in this one. This has been on my radar for a while and I'm very much looking forward to being as much of a part of this as I
can convince the rest of you to allow me to be. I view this as one of the more important things we're going to do this year that does not immediately involve the direct governance and budgeting of the town. Real excited to work with you all on this. Perfect. Yeah, I have no additional
comments. So, we'll be hearing a lot about this as we move forward. So, thank you, Elaine. Um, with that, that brings us on to um consider selecting a law firm to provide town council services. Right.
So, Brian has just recused himself. [Applause] So I I think at our our last meeting, you know, we we left with um a few questions that we sent out to the three firms. Um KP Harrington Heap and me
Terman Costa. We got responses from all I think last week, right? Um the board's had a chance to review them. Do you can you walk us through like what we can share? You know, I I know I can talk through from feedback from my perspective, but just just from a level
set standpoint of how we're going to discuss this. I think as before, you can talk about what you heard at, um, at the meeting, what you've read in the proposals, um, and what you've received and the feedback since the last meeting that each provided. So, you can talk openly about all of that.
Specifics in the feedback that were given. Okay, perfect. So, I I will kind of open that up um to the board for thoughts. Matt, do you want you want to go first on this one? Yeah. So, I took a look at the answers
and I'll be honest, it didn't really change a lot of how I had these rank because I was very pleased by the answer that we received specifically from me, Terman, and Costa. So, the question we really had around them was around that conflict of interest knowing that they serve so many of our sister communities.
I think Amy rightly highlighted that one of the bigger things we're expecting to do in the coming future is the IMA with Southboro potentially as well as Ashlin and that that would be a direct conflict here for the town's benefit we actually requested additional information from the firms. One of the things that me
Torman and Costa told us is essentially because of the financial model that we are opting for and considering at the moment any supplemental counsel that we needed would essentially be deducted from their fee if there was a conflict of interest. So, I hope you hear that as it would not cost us additional money to
get supplemental counsel if a conflict arose. That for me was really the only concern about this group and that was the only reason that I had dinged them during our evaluation. Having that concern resolved just elevate them significantly above the other firms from
my perspective. though I would continue to be satisfied with KP law as well, but I do view them as a clear first and second respectively based on this updated information and the prior assessment. Thank you, Matt. you want to go?
Yeah. I liked the responses and um I I think uh I would echo what Matt said that all three seem to be uh very competent and qualified and u I made my previous comments on the ranking and I think with this new um or additional
information I am feeling more comfortable with KP law given that u they uh don't don't have direct conflict uh with the potential issues we may have with our other towns
who may be their clients. Uh but that said, MTC's response was pretty favorable as well and I liked their new financial model that they reflected on with that. But I'm just thinking for one year it sounds a little you know
complicated um with having another special counsel who they will pay and then uh they'll not charge for that work and work would be distributed should we have those uh discussions or IMAS going
in discussion. So I would um you know favor KP Law I think um overall uh for the for the choice I would go for Shadel Amy. Yeah. No, I appreciated the responses. I
I think though for me I'm still kind of where I was before. But I do think we just need to go ahead and make a decision tonight. So I think somebody should make a motion. We'll take a vote and we'll see. Okay. Where we land. All right. Thanks Amy. Um, so Elaine, I'll let you know your office chime in
after this, uh, as well, but my my thoughts, I kind of echo what everyone says. We got very, you know, reassuring, uh, responses from all three. I think, you know, both from the redaction policy standpoint, I felt like there was a lot of consistency there. And then specifically, you know, I'll I'll echo
what uh, Mr. Kner shared. You know, my one concern with MTC, which was my first choice, was the potential cost of having, you know, special counsel regarding the IMAS crystal clear that, you know, that that time will be kind of
deducted um from their costs. So, again, I think he said it perfectly, we won't pay anything more. Um, and then I combine that, you know, this is just, you know, my thought was like this is only a one-year term. I don't view it as like a, you know, it's just one year.
It's it's to give us the ability if we do move forward and it sounds like everyone's agreed that, you know, we would be changing to a different firm. Um, it gives us the ability to not feel locked in for long term. Um, and really when I compare both MTC and KP Law, I know both are, you know, great law
firms. Uh, I just looked at the fact that, you know, KP Law is more expensive and I worry about that concern on the budget. Um, and I know that, you know, with MTC, we could even use Harrington Heap, which has the same, um, or I
should say almost the same proposed hourly rate. So, I think cost would be very consistent if we went with that approach. So, that would be my recommendation. Um, so we would have some say in special counsel, which also has a background with Hopkin. I think there's value in that. Um, so yeah, my
recommendation would be MTC. Harrington Heap is special counsel for IMAS and Elaine I'm I'm happy to make a motion after Elaine shares her thoughts. So if it's a choice between KP Law and um and MTC um our MTC was was in our
ranking above KP Law and the answers that we received didn't change that. Okay. Um, yeah, I I I would make the motion then, you know, I'll take this one first. Like we said, we'll have a chance to vote and see where we end up, but I
move to appoint me, Toler, and Kasa's town council to a one-year term. Second. All right. We've got a motion and a second. So, we can discuss first if anyone has any comments. Um, but or we can just put it to a vote. So, I'll open the floor.
So, would this be with the provision that Harrington He would continue? They've already started the Southboro IMEA negotiations I think or they've they would continue with that or me Telman and Costa would I'm I'm very comfortable with amending that um motion to incorporate that if
that's I think that the appointment of town council is just a motion on its own and we don't need necessary necessarily a motion for special counsel okay we can choose special counsel depending on what it is throughout the year okay and we can make that choice
maybe Harrington he may be another firm. Okay. Through the chair. I prefer what Amy was suggesting and I the way we are discussing I like the model as I said and I think all three are pretty competent in my view. Uh and I think if we since we are looking at MTC as I said
MTC Kapilawa both are pretty competent and competitive in my mind. So I don't have any problem with uh having MTC being our choice but I would like to add that as a U amendment if we all agree that uh we would have uh when there is a
potential conflict of interest we'd have special counsel and since we have already vetted the three and since HIPP is potential option for that we also want to include that. So then to to kind of balance what Elaine said because it sounds like other small things can pop
up. I think the IMAS were our big thoughts. I would I would amend my motion. Um I would move to appoint me Toleranca as town council to a one-year term and uh with the preference of using Harrington Heap as our special counsel
on IMA negotiations. I'd second that. or ju just as a quick question, I wanted to ensure that we actually were able to make that request cuz ultimately we're talking about now requesting a continuity of services from a firm that will no longer have a contract with us
past the transition. I just don't want to be acting in a way in which we are assuming that they are saying yes, we're welcome to express a preference. They're obviously going to support us in transition activities because that's part of the existing contract and statement of work we have with them. We
should not assume that they're going to say yes. And I would be cautious about what we put in. Yeah, that's a good point, Matt. That's why I I said with, you know, our preference. Elaine, did did that amended motion sound in line with you? I think it'd be great to have some flexibility there. Um, so preference is
fine. Okay. So, all right. So, it sounds like that was accepted. You know, there was a there was a second on that. So, we'll just go to a vote and it's got to be roll call. me. Mira Bush. Yes.
Shan, yes. Matt, Matt Kisner, yes. Joe Clark, yes. So, that is unanimous. All right. Thank you, everyone. I know this was a drawn out process. It was an important one. Um, so I'm glad we took the time to go through this. Thank you to Elaine and Lance for all your support
through that process and uh moving forward, of course. All right, that brings us to Can we get Can you see if Brian's down the hallway, Lance? we can welcome him back. And so next we'll consider discussing and
setting it our goals for FY26. So two weeks ago we you know talked about these. It was the end of a long meeting. So I think we had everyone kind of share their top two goals. And so I think tonight you know we can have a little bit more time for discussion. And you
know, I I think you know, my first question, Elaine, you know, typically when we've done goals in the past and we didn't do them last year, is there a number we should be settling on? What's what's kind of our um say the number has to be manageable? What you can reasonably be worked on
during the course of the year. Um so, you know, it may be three to five. Okay. I think three to five is fair. Um Amy stepped out so we can talk in a minute, but Brian, we were just saying, you know, we did the goals, you know, we all listed our top two and so we're
gonna kind of settle on three to five so that it's a manageable list. Yeah, mine could be combined into one for sure. I think three to five uh sounds reasonable. All right, let me I got to find where I wrote down kind of everyone's. Do we
It's in the packet. Yeah, I'm there as well. I think I would just like to have a conversation supplemental to what are the goals of the board for what are the goals of us as an individual. One of the things I frequently get asked in town and especially during the campaign was essentially like how do I know if the
board has been successful and how do I know that you're doing the things that you said you tell me what you want to be graded on. I do think some of this is incumbent on us to give the town criteria to evaluate our performance in the exact same way that we're going to evaluate the performance of the leaders
who report to us. So, I I'm I'm just trying to I I think I understand what you're looking for, Matt. I'm just not sure how to do that like inside the scope of the board. Like, this is the board's goals. I think
you're referring to individual goals, right? I I don't know. probably saying, yeah, this is me saying I'm comfortable having a generic discussion about what are the board's goals and I am asking essentially for a future agenda item such that each of us states what our individual pursuits and goals are for the year. It is a frequent point of
feedback and I think it is a diligence we can do to the community to talk about both what we are doing as a collective and what we as individuals are doing to advance town interest as well. They're mutually exclusive. Okay. All right. Gotcha. So, future agenda item, but you're in agreement
with the board's overall goals of three to five tonight. Yep. And I like where Brian's head is at in terms of like fiscal discipline, etc. Yeah. I I think, you know, if we look back and my packet's not floating now, but I think we there was a lot of overlapping goals, right? You know, I
think my top one was water. I wasn't alone. I think, you know, was it Shyuel that you had water as well? Strategic plan. And um Amy just stepped back in. and Amy. So, we're going to settle on about three to five. So, it's a manageable list and
my packet's not loading now. So, if someone would like to read through, you know, what you know, the 10 top choices were, we have some overlap. That should help narrow down the list and then we can discuss. Um, which page is that?
Page 44. One more. Yeah. Oh, there it is. Is that But I think it has it has some metrics, right? You can skip number one for me, which was develop a standardized basis and formula for setting water rates. I'll
continue to pursue that as my individual goal. I would like to suggest, however, that number two is considered as a board goal, which was suggesting an events committee for town held and sponsored events. That was around the discussion of like the horribles parade, who should
be getting lenture, etc. Number three was clean water is a human right, clean water. Four was a strategic plan for the town. And as Brian noted, five and six are kind of a blur in a good way, which is ensure a balanced budget and capital plan without override, balanced finances to minimize tax impacts.
Yeah, through the chair, looking at these, I think we already see some synergy and consolidation opportunities. Yeah. So we may discuss that and I see it consolidating to like four uh two are budget and tax related um combined and
two are water related but open for discussion. Yeah. So so Matt can you reiterate you said you had fine taking one as an individual. I'm looking at the first two just Yeah. But I'd like to at least challenge is the wrong word. Let's have a collaborative discussion around number
two. This was a pain point for us with the licensing around the horrible parade, but it's become clear just in general that there's some ambiguity and the volunteer nature of work that's done in town. Events like Touch a Truck, Polygard, these are all taking place largely using some town infrastructure,
but they're relying on the good nature and goodwill of volunteers and volunteer groups. I think a lot of the community at large thinks that those are funded by the town. The reality is they're not. We probably need a process to start vetting and better understanding how some of these events come together, how they're
approved, and if we're going to start potentially covering them under the town umbrella. We should be talking about funding them with town finances so we can have a more cleareyed conversation as part of the budgetary process, what it looks like to have these sorts of events in the community. I just want to
standardize it. So myself, I don't want to stop I I think a lot of groups in town I'm not interested in this goal for the group because I so many groups in town already do their own event. They have their own process. They're funding it. I don't want us to be become like supervising
all the different events of towns that already have sponsors. So I'm not sure I'm quite on board with this. Um the chair I was thinking the same that cultural committee has their own event set planning to the library foundation doing all that. We don't need to be on the way for and
so does park and deck and others. We don't need to be on the way for all of those. And I think for the particular events that um were in question, we already had added it to our agenda. I believe Amy mentioned it and we want to discuss it as a special topic that how
are we going to do the celebration for 4th of July next year and I'd be very supportive of doing something collaboratively from the town and from uh through our leadership as needed. I'm not sure if that is something we need as a call per se. Uh that's my my opinion,
but open to discuss as well. Ryan, I I think there's a lot of entities with a lot of different things going on in town and we are not the all- knowing, all powerful entity, you know, or board itself. There's others that have elected leaders that make their own decisions and uh we shouldn't be speaking on their
behalf in my view. So, but in terms of goals overall for the board, which is the real question here, I think the financial responsibility and fiscal conservative approach some wording of that nature makes sense. I think uh safe water and actions to uh ensure safe
water for the future makes sense. I think the third goal specific and around the charter review that is a very big lift uh for the town, for the team, and for the board if if we're really involved in it. Uh that would be a third one that I would think we could bring
these three. Um there's three of the five maybe. Yeah, would be my suggestion. Okay. So wait for the charter review, would that replace the strategic plan one or that in addition to Oh, right. No, we have the strategic plan, but charter review is definitely Yeah, I think
big item. I you know, they're kind of I think they're the same. They're similar in what they would do. So maybe you kind of blend them together and support both the strategic the strategic planning as well as the charter review process because they're kind of going to go hand in hand. Add to the same I like that. Yeah.
They they do but I'm cautious that we're essentially taking a goal to do something that we are required to do. Yeah. Sort of thing I get in trouble with in my management in my corporate world because they tell me I'm double dipping. I I I bad thing
if the you know resources and the actions all but open that's fine. I suppose I'm just pushing for more audacious goals than you all are. Understood. I mean I was looking at from the standpoint of we're going to we just talked about it's going to be an intense
process with the charter review. Um we're all locked into that. The town is locked into that process. From a goal standpoint I I don't think it needs to be added. I think we've got some good ones. You know, from the events thing, I think it would be hard to over start
getting the government involved in every event. I think we, you know, the 4th of July was a unique one. Um, and I think that deserves, you know, a special focus, you know, to bring the town together. Um, so, and that's a future agenda item. So,
I'm not sure that it needs a goal, but the rest, you know, I look at number one, it ties into number three, right? A standardized approach for water and sewer rates. I think that can be combined. Um, and then
you agree? Yep. So, that that would leave us with here and also if you look at number five and six, we can create a verbiage and set of metrics to go together as well. ensure balanced budget and capital plan without
need for overrides and balance finances to minimize taxes. Yeah. So, so that that would give us three three you know I would consider high priority items for the town and for the board to focus on. Um
so the two water items combine strategic plan with the uh big the big thing of this year which will be the charter review. Right. So 1, three, five, six, and then four. All these combined, we're looking at three now. Yeah. So five and six combined.
One and three combined. One and three combined. And then add charter review to number four. I'm fine either way. I think charter review already is an action plan. We can add it to the strategy. I I I disagreed with it, but if three of you thought it was
appropriate, I just thinking it's not a goal every year, but every 10 years, like it is something we have to do. Yeah. I could be fine with it as well. I I made the point that it's double dipping, but it is not like anathema to me. It is it is certainly relevant and it is a significant activity that we're going to undertake.
Yeah. And it wouldn't hurt because I think to Brand's point, they kind of goes hand in hand in many ways. Yeah. I mean, I I don't think you're going to go through the strategic plan for the town and not address it to some degrees, right? So, a sep like calling
it out as a goal. I I don't feel strongly. If we can either call it out, we don't call it out. I don't think it changes our goals and the approach that it seems like we're all in agreement on otherwise. I'm comfortable noting it as Amy has suggested. We're going to do the work and it is significant and I appreciate
her perspective that this is a once in a decade activity. It is a fair reflection of the priority we're going to put on it. Okay. So, so the the recommendation would be to combine one and three for an overall water goal that looks at also a
strategic, you know, for basis for setting the water and sewer rates because water is not free. That's for sure. Correct. Um four would be expanded upon with you know the language around the charter review and then five and six
would be com combined you know balanced budget you know conservative capital approach that minimizes tax impacts I like it did did we need I don't think we needed
a motion for this one correct we just needed to kind of do we vote it or we bring it back next time um you can vote or just could be by consensus. That's fine. We can um write them up for the next meeting. Okay. Okay. And we could affirm them. Okay. Yeah,
that would be good. All right. Matt, did you hear that? We're going to write them up. We'll, you know, look for a motion next time, but I think we're all in agreement. Yep. I'm in alignment as well. I just wanted to make a last point on item number two around the events committee. I'm fine letting the ball go on this
one. But I think it's fair to highlight in the five or so months that I've been on the board. My tenure has essentially been defined by systems that were supposed to be in place, processes that were supposed to be in place, and the way those were supposed to work. We've had a lot of supposed. They haven't
worked the way they're supposed to. I agree that the 4th of July is unique. There will be other supposed. I'm just so desperate to encourage us to not keep taking them as they come, but to be proactive about them. I don't have to die on this hill, but I really do want to start challenging us to think more
proactively as a board. I don't think you're dying on the hill. My only feedback would be that, you know, when you talk like the width of which you're talking about subjects, you know, that's why we have future agenda items. You know, we've obviously been very open to board members putting them
on. So, I think we individually can work on that. I don't know if collectively, you know, how we can do that efficiently. We're good. Okay. All right. Uh then we are good. We move on to the town manager report. Okay. Um for the Main Street Carter
project update, uh Verizon is on track to complete their work by the end of October. Verizon will be able to remove the remaining pole causing a West End conflict next week. Emorella will be mobilizing next week and start start working on the curb and sidewalk on the
west end. Emerllo's pavers are scheduled for the end of October to pave the top layer on the west end. Um other work such as um some manholes and curbing is being discussed for this year. Uh landscaping is scheduled to begin around October 20th and the banner pole in
front of town hall will be placed once wires are removed. That's that's the update as of today. So that's new information. That's great. Thank you for the progress on that. And then for the center school
project update, um David Del Toro, our town engineer facilities director, is going to be the owner's representative for the design portion of that project. Um there's been considerable coordination between town staff, legal council, and the permanent building committee and the CPC on this project.
Um proposals were evaluated in August. Um and uh GRLA has been uh tentatively selected as the most advantageous based on the outlined criteria for the design services. Um the final contract details are being negotiated.
Expect that contract to be executed shortly. Um a contract for an existing conditions survey has been awarded to JD Markinat and Associates and an RFP for the lease of center school is scheduled to be available tomorrow. Okay. So that project is underway.
So at at which can you can you just share at what point like what are the future steps in this because it's it's an extended RFP process, right? I think one of the steps is selecting a you know first and then now so the the um the designer um consultant
has been selected. Yep. Um and that will begin designing the building project. Cor correct but I thought as part of this did did I miss did we already select the public private partnership so the public private partnership that's the RFP that goes out tomorrow okay
just making sure yeah that's so it's a two-step process okay all right so design the design has been done and lease comes next okay so that will be out thank you for clarifying yeah that was confusing y
and thanks to Lance for all his work on these Um, an update on the uh, inspector general letter September 22nd and the action items there that are in there. Uh the town received a letter from the office of the inspector general on September 22nd with findings relative to
the actions of a former parks and recreation director uh between 2019 and 2023 regarding non-compliance with public procurement laws, internal controls relating to concession stand operations and state and town policies on cash handling. Uh parks and director
reports to the parks and recreation commission, an independently elected board. And the OIG recommended that the town take several actions, some of them within 30 days, some within 60 days, and some long-term. And so, uh, we have a town team that's working on executing all of those. Um, and so, um, I won't go
through them all, but, um, a meeting with the parks and recre recreation commission will hopefully be scheduled on Friday. Um, will the draftou that the had outlined. Um, other things that we're working on is there's updating our cash polic cash cash handling policy,
which is about a year old. Uh, it's good to review it every year anyway. So, that's great. Um, and then some of, uh, number two in their item about all of our contracts and agreements in writing is already our current practice. So, we'll be working off this list um, and meeting those timelines that are in the
letter, meeting or exceeding them. And uh so you know it's you know it's important to restore trust in what we do and trust in Parks and Recreation Commission and what they offer. Um so we're really working to to make
everything right. Awesome. And then finally um sorry sorry I I have absolutely have questions there. So through the chair Elaine, I I wanted to ask one of the recommendations that is in that report
or one of the items of concern that was noted was the reporting structure of the finances such that parks and recck did not report to the select board and that the authorizations were done by the parks and recck committee. Without giving my own commentary on that and deferring to what was in the IG report, I wanted to ask if you were concerned
that there are other departments in town, notably the library, which we are in the process of pushing to a similar model. Given that we have just had a breakdown of this nature highlighted by the state, do you have future concerns about continuing to maintain this model for parks and wreck as well as other departments in the town?
Well, that's something that could be considered as part of the charter review because it's the charter that outlines that. Um, but in any event, number six, I'm not entirely I know I'm not in the room. I'm not entirely sure why that's funny. This is a pretty significant issue in which the state o has given us
a report of significant mismanagement. I'm asking a question about the overall application and risk associated with the departments. I don't exactly think a laughing response is appropriate. Did I miss something virtually? I was going to say that number six of that letter requires or requests us to
also uh implementus with these other boards, which I will do. I would appreciate understanding what if any vulnerabilities you see as you go through that process and whether or not we will be doing retrospective audits given that we have once again discovered fire where the fire was suggesting there
was fire. Is there a question? Yes. I'm asking if we will be doing an audit of the other departments which are similarly structured to parks and wreck given that we have been shown that there was inadequate or inaccurate oversight during the period. Why would I believe this is isolated purely to parks and
wreck without confirming that for myself? Uh we have no um concerns with the other departments. They do not operate um the types of facilities that parks and wreck does and each of those other boards are very different in what they do. Pardon
my naivee, but prior to you requesting this report from the OIG, did you have concerns about parks and wreck? That is my concern. I certainly knew about uh what is at issue here in this letter. My point is that there was a period of
time in which you were not aware of what was going on at parks and wreck that ultimately led to this. That is not me stating you are accountable. That is me saying there was a period of time in which the activities of the department were unknown and caused this. I think it's very reasonable for me to be asking if this has occurred in other parts of
town and I'm not entirely sure why I'm being poo pooed for doing so through the chair. I just want to um add I I hear um Mr. Kner's concern. Uh I would like to hear are you are you proposing something uh Matt uh that is
not included in the process? uh I'm essentially asking for a similar report and audit as was done by OIG for the other departments that are similarly structured given that we have been provided information to suggest that we did not have adequate oversight.
So following up on that Elaine is there any other department that has the same structure and process that uh are similar so to Mr. prisoner's point could have the similar fallacy or vulnerability that we should look at
the board of health board of health. So is that something that we can look at or what do you suggest? But I think it's part of the charter review because that's how it's written in the charter. So yeah, that's correct.
Good point. Yeah, actually charter review would trigger a lot of new thoughts from that. So yeah, this is a good time to bring this up, but let's wait for the right time and process. But just just to close out his question. So are do you think it's reasonable to
do a review of the board of health now to just like we're asking two different questions. One, is the process moving forward? Hold on, Matt. Hold on. Is it the suggestion that we investigate the board of health's operations for potential violations of town and state
policy? I'm trying to ascert while I am aware that information was provided to you that led to the IG investigation into parks and wreck. Given that deficiencies in the structure and the oversight were reported to us, I'm not entirely sure
why we wouldn't do our due diligence here. That is not in any way, shape, or form meant to be a criticism of Mr. McAuliffe or the Department of Health, the board of health, or the oversight they have provided. This is me doing my diligence when I am confronted with a significant financial breakdown in the
town with which I am charged stewarding. Wouldn't it make sense for the board of health, the duly elected members of the board of health to commission some kind of investigation if that's what they wanted to do? They could. Could the chair should suggest that to them and see what they want to do? I
mean, they're colleagues elected just like we are. So, let's see what they think. And I'm fine with that, Brian. I just want to make sure we're taking an action here. I am not of the opinion it has to be us personally. I think we have to defer to them first for and foremost. I mean, we're almost suggesting something's going on, right? So, we
don't want to do that. Let's just ask them what they think. And I think the same would apply to what other boards are duly elected. Well, the select board, the school committee. Yeah. The school committee, parks and wreck, housing authority, library, library trustees. Well, the chair, I think uh Mr. made a
very good point. Do we trigger investigation just because or because there are ground for investigation or complaint that we haven't addressed? That is the question. I think the process due diligence makes sense but
individual investigation even though you know this was an unfortunate as well as unacceptable event or incident I don't know if that warrants investigation on all similar mechanisms just to be a future agenda
item to discuss if any other audits are needed maybe um at this time and there was an individual who did not comply with the regulations and I guess I don't know which other departments handle cash most I think probably most departments don't handle
cash through POS and yeah we do know which ones handle cash and just to understand do you think it was a personal issue or it was a process issue I think it's as outlined in the letter uh the person did not follow the law
and my understanding is this process is not uncommon in town administration circadian. No, it's it's not to be tolerated. Thank you. Okay. All right.
And then finally, uh, town department position vacancies. Um, there are a couple of vacancies that I'm asking, uh, the board to approve the posting of. The first is the benefits administrator administrator in the HR department. The assistant treasurer collector and
finance department and a police officer position which are will become vacant. And so you support all these and see them inside the operating budget post. All of these are budgeted. Okay.
Any questions from the board? We need a motion on this one. Hold on. Is the police position a new position or is it a backfill of desired attrition? There was a resignation. Thank you. I move to authorize the posting of the
benefits administrator, police officer, and the assistant treasurer collector positions. Second. All right. There's a motion and a second. So, we'll go roll call. Ryan Brian her. Yes. Sharan. Yes. You ready? Yes. Matt.
Matt Gner. Yes. Joe Clark. Yes. All right. That is unanimous. All right. Um liaison reports. Amy, would you like to start? Um I think the only one I jotted it down I have is that um CPC is having a grand
opening for the skate park on October 17th at 3 p.m. And I will not be able to go, but if anyone else is available, um it would be good to see. It was a CBC project that's now built. What date did you say? October 17th at 3, I think. though. Skate park is it?
Yeah. Yeah. Escape park at EMC Park 3 p.m. So I'm not home from work at that hour. I can usually make that. Okay. I'll try to make this. Okay. Friday.
Nothing else for me. Nothing else for me. Brian. Uh nothing at this time. Matt. Yeah. Quickly. The library maker space opened on Monday. So, if you want to see me struggle to learn how to sew a button and many others like me try to process
basic life skills, come down to the library maker space. I think it's a great spot for everybody to pick up a new skill, new and old. And I really appreciate that we are iterating and finding ways to make that space more accessible. Otherwise, on the DPW, I do just want to quickly note that while we are transitioning into the fall, and
it's hilarious to say this, we are still in a significant drought condition and are encouraging residents to conserve water as able. Last but not least, because I don't know that we'll have another meeting beforehand. Fire department has an open house scheduled for October 19th that the DPW will also
be attending. We encourage everybody to come, not the least of which because we'll be supporting the adopt a fire hydrant program. I hope some of you have seen this online, but there is a movement to go around and beautify the fire hydrants in our town in communities just like ours. So, we hope to see you there.
Thank you, Matt. Um, I have nothing else. So, I think we leaves us with future agenda items. Um, I think we talked about a few tonight. I know Amy, you just said discussing audits and other departments. Did you want to Oh, I think that was if Matt was open to
that idea. I don't know. is so we just talked about this. Is that going to be a future agenda item or we we also discussed having those boards start with start there? Can I generalize it, Joe? I would be
very comfortable as the person who is pushing this if Miss Lazarus would essentially bring us back a message from the relevant boards just confirming they've done a review based on the OIG report and they don't have any immediate cause for concern with immediate retrospective spending or existing procedures. That's at least good enough
that the governing bodies have come in and say we look backwards we're ready to move forward with you and we can say we did our diligence to check. Okay. I had a follow-up question quickly. For my understanding, how do we do our uh internal audits usually? Is that a
regular process period or far as a financial audit? For financial audit, we have an annual audit. Annual audit, right? And u would that cover these activities or it would need to be more covers some some things. Um as you say
there's I mean there's a financial audit then there's other audits of processes and procurement. So, we do have a uh procurement grants manager that is doing a great job in making sure that everyone um works with her on their procurement and make sure everyone complies with the
procurement law. Thank you. Regardless of what department they're in. Okay. Um I felt like there was an additional future item discussed tonight. Did you have a separate one?
Go ahead. It's the process one, but So, so that's already on for the VIC license process. I think I think that's coming on our next meeting. That's great. The next October meeting, correct? I believe it's the 21st.
Okay. Um, I'm just trying to think. I thought there was one other new item discussed earlier tonight. If anyone Okay. Doesn't come. So I had Joe during budget I had challenged a little bit around level
funding and wanting to see what such a process would look like from the other departments. Whether you want to hear that as a future action or it was just in the context of the budget discussion, I think it's meaningful that the chair of appropriations and myself were both making that message. I'd love to see us at least take an evaluation style action
even if it doesn't change what we do this year. Okay. So and that was, you know, level funded level funded evaluation versus level services. I like the topic. I'm just thinking wouldn't that be covered with next during the budget
budget discussion sessions? That's why I asked. I'm I'm essentially asking if it requires blowout given that it was an action we were looking for them to take. I think we're more than welcome to discuss it at the next meeting, but if we want there to be numbers and meaning behind it, we need to give the individuals involved time to
do the work. Okay. So chair, one thing I wanted to point out, we do have a big line uh um big queue of topics. Do we need to clean up a little bit or maybe prioritize at some point? I think we've got a couple of these
things are coming up on our I know we're prioritizing for our next meeting. So let's let's let's clean up next next meeting. And I think you can remove resident sand pile, right? We talked about that tonight. Yep. Okay. So then we'll we'll go through a
thorough review close out items for that one in two weeks. So with that, you know, we would move to I would look to move to executive session. Um and under that pursuant to master general law chapter 3A section 21A purpose 3 to
discuss strategy with respect to litigation, Costa Brothers Masonry Inc. versus Shereech in insurance company TBA Markel Shy and others Middle Sex Superior Court number 2281 CV03297
also pursuant to master law chapter 38 section 21A purpose 6 to consider the purchase exchange lease or value of real estate land at assessor's map R16-20-0 and 280 Cedar Street pursuant to Mass General Law Chapter 3A section 21A
purpose 3 to consider strategy with respect to negotiations with the dispatch union, to approve executive session minutes, to allow Elaine Lazarus, Lance Delp Pori, Brian Bertram, and Anthony Riley to participate in an executive session, and to not to convene in open session after
the conclusion of the executive session. So move. We've got a motion, second and a second. So it'll be roll call. Matt Matt Kisner, yes. Amy, Amy Rbush, yes. Sherman, yes. Brian her. Yes. Joe Clark.
Yes. All right. Thank you everyone. Good night. Good night.