All right, I call this meeting to order for July 1st, 2025. The meeting of the Hopkins Select Board is being held both in person and remotely using the video conference platform, Zoom. All members participating in the meeting are present in the meeting room. 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 and we will start with the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under
God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Um, next we're going to move to public forum. So, each person will have two minutes to come up and speak at public forum. And please start by stating your name and address. Ed Harrow, 8 Spring Lane. Speaking first
as chair of the Open Space Preservation Commission, I wish to publicly thank Joe Regan for bringing a big pile of wood chips to the trail head for the Whiteall Conservation Area and Rob Pratt for
spreading the wood chips around the maple tree. The wood chip's job is to help protect the roots of the maple tree so that the dirt doesn't become compressed, which will impact the roots ability to do what roots are supposed to do. Secondly, speaking for myself, I
wish to thank the DPW and Mike Maner for getting the storm drain great at the bridge construction project on Fruits Street replaced after DOT seemingly couldn't do it for I'm not sure how many months ago it was that I noted it. What
it was was a parallel bar storm drain grate which traps bicycle wheels. So it has now been replaced with a proper cross type great and I thank them very much. Awesome. Thank you. I'm Mary Arnot. I live at 51 Teresa Road
here in this great town. I have a brief letter I'd like to read into record and a brief statement to make. And uh before I start, I want to say that this is no reflection on the services of the Department of Public Works. I hold them in high regard, but
it is regarding the billing system. So, I'll read that to you. Dear Select Board members, I am formally requesting that the Select Board of Hopington conduct a review of the town's Department of Public Works billing
practices to ensure that only water and you sewer usage on or after July 1st, 2025 build to each residential account is built at the approved rate effective for the fiscal year 2026.
and furthermore that the water and sewer usage prior to July 1st, 2025 is build at the approved rate for fiscal year 2025. As part of said review, I further
request that the select board direct the Department of Public Works for the town of Hopington to implement a billing system to prorrate water and sewer usage bills based on the approved rate at the date of the water and sewer usage.
Finally, I request a written response to my request and also that the findings of said review be published on the Hopkinington Town website to inform the town residents of the outcome and the select board's determinations for the
town's water and sewer usage and billing system. Sincerely, Mary Arnat. And I have a copy of the letter for each of you and one free lane. Thank you. Yep. Thank you, Mary.
And a brief statement is the reason I'm bringing this to your attention is that I um believe that the water and sewer rates that go into effect July 1st will be build at the higher rate for any
residential bills that are received after July 1st, even if the water usage was prior to the start of the fiscal year. So, as an example, I get my bill in August and my previous bill was
February of 2025. In my August bill, I believe it will be build from February through August at the higher rate that isn't approved until July 1 for the fiscal year 2026.
So for decades I think I may have been pe paying at higher rates than uh was approved at the time of my usage. Thank you. Thank you Mary. Anyone else in the room for public forum?
Anyone on Zoom? There's one person but no hands raised. Okay. All right. If that's it then I think we're going to move to the consent agenda. So, the select board will consider the
following consent agenda. Uh, minutes for the select board meeting on June 3rd, 2025 and to accept gifts. Uh, a donation of $500 from the Irvine Foundation and $100 from Jerome Rosari to the police department to be used
where needed and $500 from Glenn and Cynthia Dawson to be used for the police department sweet scoops program. Um, anyone want to pull anything out or make a motion? Move it as submitted.
Second. Got a motion in a second. Um any comments from anyone? Just like to say thank you to all those who donated. It's greatly appreciated. Um all in favor please say I. I. I. All opposed. That is
unanimous. Um next we're going to move to the director of land use confirmation. Um Elaine, would you like to introduce this one and have Mr. Gelich join us. Sure. Um I'm pleased to present John Gellch Galich for confirmation as director of
land use planning and permitting for the town of Hopkins. Uh John has served the town with dedication and distinction since 2019. First as principal planner and more recently as interim director. In these roles, he has led complex zoning and permitting processes, facilitated
inclusive public engagement, and managed both long range planning and day-to-day departmental operations with professionalism and skill. He brings more than 15 years of experience in the planning field, including prior work in both the public and private sectors. John is certified by the American
Institute of Certified Planners, holds a master's degree in urban and regional planning from Virginia Tech, and is a graduate of the MMA SUFFK certificate in local government leadership and management program. John is well regarded by his team and colleagues for his collaborative approach, technical expertise, and thoughtful leadership. He
has demonstrated a deep commitment to the values and goals of our community and I'm confident that his appointment will continue to advance Hopington's priorities in land use planning and permitting. So pleased to present John for your confirmation. Awesome. John, welcome. Um, as Lane said, you've been a
great asset to this town. So, first, you have anything you'd like to share with the board or the town? No, I'm just uh really excited to get started in this role and um, you know, get a principal planner on board and get some more planning work done in town. Awesome. Any comments or thoughts from the board? Amy? Um, yeah, I was able to work with
John when I was on the planning board and the design review board. So, I really appreciated his work and I'm glad he's able to move up to the next position. Shadow. Yeah, similar. I work with John while I was in the planning board um during that time. I found him very
professional and uh um expert and willing to really help out the residents as well as our planning activities. And I see you've been doing this as an interim. So, thank you for stepping up and looking forward to your journey. Brian, I think it's a great uh opportunity for the town and for John.
So, I'm really excited about this uh promotion. Uh I do have one question. Have you ever attended a Virginia Tech football game? A Virginia Tech football. Yeah. So, you know, enter Sandman. Absolutely. Oh my gosh. Played at my wedding.
It's the coolest thing on the planet. Well, my wife and I entered our wedding, too. Great. Awesome. That's good. No. Uh, John, I the board the rest of the board has stated, you know, great grateful on behalf of the town. We're lucky and, you know, congratulations to you. So, I will look for a motion from
the board. I move the motion to appoint John as the director of uh planning. Is that director of land use planning and permitting? All I move to confirm the town manager's appointment of John Gage as director of land use planning
and permitting. Second. There's a motion and a second. All in favor? I I. All opposed. It's unanimous. Congratulations, John. Thank you. Good luck, John. Thank you. All right. Next, we're going to look at
the approval of the disposition of 28 Null Road. Um, Elaine, would you like to introduce this one, please? I'd like to have Lance talk about this one. Lance, the point person on this project. Great. Um, as some of you may recall, back in February, we had Jack Nean come before
the board to talk about this property. Um, it's a lot the town acquired, um, you know, more than 10 years ago. It was approved for disposition at town meeting around 2013, I believe. It was a tax-taking parcel. Um, it's one that the affordable housing trust fund board
identified as a potential for development as a single family affordable unit. Um, so that was what was presented to the board back in February. And now at this point, we have prepared an RFP working with uh legal counsel and uh we'd like to, you know, request the board's approval of that RFP
and permission to uh advertise the disposition. Perfect. Thank you, Lance. Um any questions or thoughts from the board? Brian, you want to start with this one? Yeah, that'd be great. So, disposition of 28 Null Road, meaning remove it from
the single family affordable or add it to the single family affordable? uh meaning to uh you know uh sell off the parcel essentially but you know not to sell it off in the traditional way. This will be um you know the way the RFP is written this will be uh sold to a nonprofit for development as a single
family home affordable deeded as an affordable home. Correct. Okay. So in parallel to that and not specific to 28 Null Road uh and Elaine we've seen this a couple of times from Mr. McNamera and others in the neighborhood. Uh I'm trying to remember the street address.
Baker Lane area. Sorry. Baker Lane area. Yeah, we have a couple of afford houses deemed affordable in a neighborhood, single family homes in, as my it's my understanding, total disrepair. And I think they're tied up with some mortgage
issues and um uh foreclosures, things along those lines. How can we prevent this one from kind of landing in that same place someday, perhaps? I mean, I hope it never does, but we have two that we can't really do a whole lot with right now, as I understand it. Um, and
I'd hate to see this become a third someday. Yeah, it can happen that an owner of an affordable unit can go into foreclosure just like anyone else. Um, in the case of uh Baker and Oliver, um, there was a condition, I think, in many
of the deed writers that the town and the state had to approve mortgages and sometimes some of those did not go through that process. But I think the state has learned a lot and we have learned a lot over the years to really follow those those mortgages as closely as we can. Is there anything we can do
now on those other two properties as we consider this one? Is there any action we can take as a town? Can we buy those back or something? I don't know. Yeah, we just have to wait for the foreclosure process to complete itself. And so, uh, the town and the state have signed, um,
uh, settlement agreements with both, uh, entities, um, although one of them has been transferred to another mortgage company so that it remains affordable as it ends up in that process hopefully. So, our goal is that it remains an affordable unit, but we can't make them go through the process any faster than
they do. While they are vacant, can we go over there and just clean up the land or anything? Can we do some work there just to make it less of an eyesore for all the other neighbors? I mean, it's impacting their property values if they were to try to sell or something. Yeah, the town can't enter onto the private property to do the maintenance. Um,
neighbors may do that from time to time already. I don't know. But yeah, the town can't send a contractor or DPW there to do the maintenance. Okay. Thanks. I'm also Chido. Uh I'm happy to see that we are working
towards affordable housing you know having new affordable housing um through this process and something I heard and I was talking to the affordable housing a couple of years ago it takes time so I'm happy to see this moving forward um few
questions one is I was uh having the same questions that Mr. her uh prop or was asking on that line. Um it's been 10 years on those properties but the foreclosure is taking so long or there is something that something else that's
happening and we just have to wait it out. I'm trying to understand a little more along the same line. What can we do to remediate? What can we do to get it back or basically put it into use for the same reason that we originally allocated it for? Yeah, it is the
foreclosure process. I mean they um the mortgage companies are pursuing that with the owners. Okay. It has to follow take its own time. And for this particular one there is um uh one question I think it's stated that it'll be funded through the
affordable housing fund. Is that going to be sufficient or what are we expecting? Yeah. So the way that the RFP is written is similar to um uh other projects. Uh we built we took the RFP from Westboro off a similar project where their uh affordable housing board
uh funded approximately 30 up to 33% of the construction cost. Um so that that's something that the affordable housing trust board has uh voted on and approved and allocated the funding up to a certain dollar amount. Um so it is you
know part of that um process is to fund the construction of the affordable through through 33% of those funds plus the sale price and um you know the cost of the developer which will be a nonprofit. Okay. Thank you. Yep. I have no other
question. Amy, no I don't think I have any questions or comments. I'm happy for this to move forward and I hope somebody will bid on it and we can get it built. Um, Elaine, I had one question. When we were talking about the other two properties, you were mentioning the the hope was that they maintain
affordability. Is that at risk when they go through the foreclosure process? It is at risk. And so that's why both the state and the town wanted to enter into an agreement with the mortgage companies that to try to preserve that as affordable if possible. Yep. So, anything else we should be thinking out
about beyond this one like for to future proof these scenarios? Yeah. the the dew writer that will be placed on the unit will be something that's provided by the state and so we'll have to work with them to make sure it contains everything that the town is looking for. Okay, perfect.
Um any other comments or thoughts from the board? If not, I'll look for a motion. I move to declare the property at 28 Null Road, formerly 0 N Road, parcel L351000,
available for disposition as a single family affordable housing unit as described in the request for proposals dated July 1, 2025, which may be modified by the town manager and the town council as they deem necessary and
to authorize the town manager to conduct the procurement process. is as described in MGLC 30B and the town's bylaws. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second and uh any last comments?
All those in favor? I. Any opposed? That is unanimous and it carries. All right. Next, we are going to move on to I believe uh board and committee appointments. So, I think let me go back through. We
had a list of several that um plenty of applicants with open spaces. Correct. They're all uncontested. All uncontested this time. Yeah. So, sorry to the chair. None of these are contested, I think. Right. Yeah,
that's what we were just confirming. So, um I mean at first if anyone's here for one of those board appointments that they'd like to come up and introduce themselves to the town, we'll we'll give that we'll give that option and there is one on Zoom as well. Okay,
we'll come back to the Zoom. Yep. Yep. Bruce, I'm uh applying actually for the the trails committee. Um, I'd applied for the sustainable green as well, although I think I will withdraw that. Having thought a little bit more, I
think I want to get involved with the committee as a volunteer first and uh focus a little bit more on the trails committee now. Um, and uh, my second time applying, I've gotten a little bit more involved with some of the folks in town, working uh, you know, through the trails club. Um, and I' I'd basically
like to get to the next area, which is, you know, the implementation of of the plans um, planning rather. and then implementation of those plans and linking up some of the trails and I'd like to start learning the nuts and bolts of that. So, uh, adequate time now. We're new in town. I'm sort of
transitioning into retirement. So, I'd like to find a way to use that time. Uh, that's valuable to the town and good for me. Awesome. Reconideration. Yeah. No, we appreciate you coming. Does the board have any comments or questions? No. Just
thank you for stepping forward. Yep. Hi, good evening. My name is Jack Buckley. I'm on the trails committee and we're applying. It's been it's been an interesting I think four months. I think it strikes me how much work the people on the trails committee actually do. I
would say parathetically I live on Oliver Lane next to one of those houses you were talking about. Perfect. And actually the bank does pay someone to cut the lawn. I'm sorry. The bank pays someone to cut the lawn. Oh, okay.
But no maintenance sometimes twice a week. That's good to know. Does anyone have any questions for Mr. Buckley or thoughts? No, same. Appreciate you coming and taking the time out of your night. Thanks a lot. Anyone else in the room? If not, we'll
go to Zoom. Yeah. So, David Frerieded from applied for the Trails Committee. He's on Zoom. Hi, David. Can you hear us on Zoom? Uh yes. Can you hear me? We can. Yes. Um welcome if you heard us. You know, this is an uncontested seat, but you know,
you made the time to zoom in, so we wanted to give you the opportunity to speak. Uh no, I just this I've been on the trails committee similar to Jack for the last uh four or five months. It's it has been a lot of a lot of work and it's
been a lot of fun uh seeing how the the trails are planned and and executed. So, I'd love to help contribute to that going forward. Awesome. Thank you, David. Anyone have any comments or thoughts for David? All good. No question. Thank you, David.
Perfect. Um so, I don't think we have anyone else on Zoom. So, then I think we'll look to for a motion for these appointments. Mr. Chair, I move to appoint the following individuals to the boards and committees listed to the terms identified. John Coutinho to the board
of appeals to a term expiring 6:30 2030. Michael Dimasio and Nancy Richards Kavanaaugh to the commission of on disability to terms expiring 6:30 2028. Melissa Reos, James Cerillo, and Ed
Harrow to the Conservation Commission to terms expiring 6:30 2028. Jeffrey Goldweber and Stacy Schmidt to the Council on Aging as full members to terms expiring on 6:30 2028. And Patrick
Maguan to the Council on Aging as an associate member to a term expiring on 6:30 2028. Tab Cadlik to an atlarge position on the marathon committee to a term expiring 6:30 2028.
Joseph Bennett police department Gary Dherty fire department Tim Pson school department and Mike Mansir public works department as department leazos to on the marathon committee to terms expiring 6:30 2026.
Patricia Sinakle to the personnel committee to a term expiring 6:30 2028. David Frerieded, Jack Buckley, and Andrew Pruz to the Trails Committee to terms expiring on 6:30 2028.
Aditya Singh to the Water and Sewer Advisory Board to a term expiring on 6:30 2028. Arini Jay Raman as a full member of the youth commission to a term expiring on 6:30 2028 moving from high
school representative. I'll second that so you don't have to read it again. Um perfect. I want to thank everyone that applied um for these positions. You know it's takes a lot of time and effort so it does not go um
unnoticed. So we got a motion and a second. All those in favor? I I And I'm gonna abstain because I've occasionally helped one of the people on the list with website design. So, yeah. So, I'll just abstain. All right. So, we've got um three, four, and one abstension. Uh
so, that carries. Thank you everyone that that came tonight, took the time out of your evening. All right, moving on. believe next is
our MWA permitting update. One moment. Uh we actually have some more appointments associated uh for the motions here. Oh, sorry I missed Oh, these are the contested ones for labor councils. Next, if you read these scripted motions. Okay. And we also just
to note we received a letter yesterday. So we've edited keeper of the lockup appointment. Okay. Okay. Gotcha. Forgotten to do that in the past. All right. So we have labor council, keeper of the lockup, and the constable. Correct. And then town manager
appointments. And the town manager's what? 15 appointments. Correct. Okay. All right. So for the labor council, um Elaine, do you want to introduce this one? Because we talked about, you know, reviewing
council that was on the other side of the of the department, right? So this any any thoughts or feedback you'd like to give? Right. So the town has issued an RFQ for uh general town council services and the board has expressed an interest
in doing similar for labor council but we didn't advise doing it at the same time. Okay. This appointment is for the for the fiscal year coming up and then the board can consider it options at that time. Okay. Um from the board any thoughts or
comments? Amy, you want to start? I don't I'm comfortable making the appointment tonight. Okay. I'm sorry. I guess I'm not clear with Nick's position. What are we doing there? We're going to So, we've issued an RFQ for general town council services. That's
right. Um and then so I don't advise doing them both at the same time. So, you're advising we don't do both at the same time to have somebody around. Perhaps the next year we do a labor council. Okay. Yeah. But they have different functions, right? Yeah.
Okay. If we continue this one, the next opportunity would be next year, too. Yes. Because this would be a one-year appointment. One year. I believe we continually do these one years for both of them. It's always an annual appointment. So, I I I agree with her point of not doing both at once, you
know, one thing at a time. So, I'm fine with that. It's a lot to transition. Yeah. Possibly transition. So, I will look for a motion for this. I move to appoint Merrick Okonell as labor
council to a term expiring 6:30 2026. Second. Got a motion and a second. Um all those in favor? I. Any opposed? It's unanimous and carries.
Next, uh, for keeper of the lockup, we'll look for a motion to appoint Lieutenant Aaron O'Neal as the keeper of the lockup to a term expiring 6:3026. Elaine, could you again explain what this just is for everyone listening at at home? This is something we haven't done before. Um, it's part of the police
department's accreditation. Uh, they're required to appoint an annual an annual appointment for a keeper of the lockup. It's an obscure statute, but it's out there and they're required to required to appoint someone So J, what what does the role mean? Actually, uh, it's
largely ceremonial, if you will. There's no specific duties. Their big key to the cell, the ultimate key. And the big key on the black ring is really from 1740. Yeah. So I I mean my my comments, my thoughts are
if this is for accreditation, it's important, something that we need to sign. Anyone else on the board have any comments? Brian, all set. Chidel. Okay. Yeah. Amy, all set. All right. So, I'll look for a motion. I move to appoint Lieutenant Aaron O'Neal as the keeper of
the lockup to a term expiring 6:30 2026. Second. Motion and a second. All those in favor? I I. All opposed. That is unanimous and carries. Uh, next we will look for a motion to
appoint John Pollock as the constipal to a term expiring 6:3028. Um, anyone have any comments or thoughts? Elaine, this is a reappointment. Um, so this is one of the non-elected constables.
Mr. Chair, I move to appoint John Pollock as constable to a term expiring 6:3028. Second. Got a motion and a second. All those in favor? I I. Any opposed? That is unanimous and carries.
All right. Now, on to the town manager appointments. We're going to look to move to confirm the town manager's appointment for the following individuals to the positions listed to terms expiring 6:3026. Elizabeth Jeff is inspector of animals.
William Proctor is animal control officer. Ed Harrow as fence viewer. Charles Dbritz as plumbing and gas inspector. Peter Zareski as assistant plumbing and gas inspector. Dan Hunt as assistant plumbing and gas inspector. Kevin Beret as wiring inspector. Kevin
Beret also as person to cut wires in case of fire. Jonathan Shepard as assistant wiring inspector. Lewis Sakin as sealer of weights and measures. John Palmer as public weigher. Janne Adams is public weigher. Jamie Wright is public
weigher. Colleen Roy is public wayer. and Thomas J. McIntyre is public wayer. Mr. Chair, I need to break out if we could please numbers 7, eight, and nine. 7, eight, and nine. So, you making a motion. Oh, I'd like to we could act on the others and then 789.
I'm going to recuse. Okay. So, I think we need a motion for that and then a second. Right. Mr. Chair, I move that we appoint all uh individuals listed in the agenda for this evening except for Kevin Uh, as the wiring inspector, Kevin Brett
is a person to cut wire and Jonathan Shepard. I'd like to break those out and I'll recuse. Second. Okay, we've got a motion and a second. Any comments from the board? I only need to recuse because those folks can sometimes inspect the work that Select Energy does. Perfect.
All right, so we have a motion and a second. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? So that's unanimous for 1 through six and 10 through 15. Mr. has recused himself.
So I'd make a motion to um approve confirm the town manager's appointment of item of the following individuals. The positions listed to terms expiring 6:3026. Kevin Beret is wiring inspector. Kevin Beret is the person to cut wires in case of fire and Jonathan Shepard as assistant wiring inspector. Second.
Okay, we've got a motion and a second. All Yep. Questions? I wanted to ask it um before which is these are all paid positions and are on budget cuz they are only one year. How does that work?
Uh so the uh paid positions are one through nine excuse me 10 um and they are um uh Liz Jeff and Bill Proctor are paid um through the budget process. The
others are paid the defense viewer, sorry, is not a paid position either. Um, the others are paid by inspection and that's paid by the applicants involving fund and um that's why this is it goes year-over-year
extension. Correct. It's either uh the nature of the position or a statutory requirement. Got it. Thank you. Okay. And they're not full-time jobs either. They It's a small amount, right? Pardon me. They're not full-time jobs. these business. Correct. Yeah. None of them
are fulltime, right? Um we still have a motion in a second. So all those in favor? I I Any opposed? That unanimously carries. Mr. Hur has rejoined us.
So next, the select board will move to authorize the posting of the human resources generalist position. um open up for comments or motions. Elaine, would you like to start? I think on the agenda it's the MWR permitting. Oh, is that separate from the appointments? Right. Because there's no
motion associated with it's an update or discussion. Okay. I'm sorry. We're on to number seven. Yeah, we're moving on. I thought that was part of again. I thought that was part of the annual appointments with
those motions. So yeah, I guess Mr. Her recuses himself again. So for this, I believe we have the DPW here with us and the W the water sewer advisory board joining us for this as well through the chair.
Uh no there this is just a brief update um that the uh DPW director wanted to give in regard to various topics um you know including MWA permitting um but also um a lot of other challenges the department is facing. So this is because this wasn't part of an ongoing
discussion we thought it might be just at this time is sufficient and more efficient just to have Carrie present these items and uh the board certainly is part of these discussions and we talked about them last meeting so they're aware of a lot of this. Carrie, welcome. Thank you. Um, so Carrie Reed,
director of public works here by myself. Um, so for a little bit of update, um, first, hopefully you all have seen the outreach about the public uh, the water restrictions. So, we have normal water restrictions. The state has downgraded
the drought status, but our wells continue to have issues c catching up and keeping up with the demand. And this is not uncommon. This has been happening in other communities also. the water restrictions if you go through other towns. So, this is not nearly just a Hopington issue, but we are experiencing that. When we had that hot spell last
week, we reached water demands of 1.7 million gallons per day, which was higher than we could keep up with, which is very significant. So, we are re-emphasizing um that the current water restrictions include no lawn mo uh lawn watering and no non-essential use. It
only applies to those who are on the municipal water. Um, so if you have a private well, it does not apply, but we encourage folks to continue with water restrictions um because it does help all of us and just reemphasize that we appreciate the community's support and so any outreach that you can do to that
effect would be super helpful. So that's the first update I had. Um, in terms of the MW connection project, we thought it would be helpful to go over some of the key things that have been happening. So on May 30th, the town staff met with the
South Bar select board chair and their staff to discuss the current status of the intermunicipal agreement. On June 3rd, the town manager sent a letter to the office of water resources to request a water needs forecast. Um so that was, you know, an official request.
On June 25th, last week, the water and sewer advisory board met. Um they had a presentation from PAR, who's a consultant that has been doing the design work. So they received an update that was a public meeting so all the information is publicly available for those who want to um look over it. I think the independent did an article on
that that was helpful. And then June 27th um the consultant PAR reached out after followup with all this to the water resources commission and the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office to request a joint scoping
session so that we can continue to move forward with the permitting on this project. So that's where we currently stand now. The next steps for this project would be to continue the permitting which would include an updated alternative analysis. So we hear a lot about, you know, what else have we
looked at? What else sources we've looked at? So that will include parts of that, answer a lot of the questions that the state agencies may have and that um the public may have. And this is all with the state agencies. The permitting with the MWR itself is the very last step. So, we'd have to get all the
permits approved through the state agencies before we can move forward. Um, simultaneously, we can continue moving forward and working on the IMA with Southboro. Um, because that will need to be finalized before we can go in to design, final design and work out those terms. And we also need to finalize and
determine and finalize the location of the pump station. Some of the permitting is uh tied to that location um because that's one of the Yeah. So that's where we stand with that. I don't know if I want to open up to questions before I move on to other water topics or would you guys like to
Yeah, we'll pause here. You covered a lot. So I'll let I'll let the rest of the board ask some questions quick. Shel, you want to start? Yeah, I I heard you mentioned 1.7 million is what we reach we have reached now and we don't have enough through the wells to support that. Right.
Correct. 1.7 million gallons per day was the peak that we saw during that heat wave. Um, so the wells can keep up. The challenge is that we can't refill like the storage tanks. So if we had an emergency, we wouldn't have enough water. Like really with the peak demand,
um, we have major concerns with being able to uh, respond to emergency response. Like would we have enough water if there were a fire? And would we have enough water if one of the wells had so many issues or something went down? Like Yeah. Yeah. And to understand the numbers. So with the restrictions,
where did it uh fall to? on usage. Uh 1.7 million was the demand, but with the restrictions, it went down to what? 1.7 million was what the customers were pulling from the water system. So the restrictions on a daily
basis, we're trying to operate around 1 million gallons per day. So it almost when we see these peak fluctuations in the summer, it can almost double our use. Yeah. So 1 million is our comfort level to some extent. To some extent. I'm not the water and sewer manager. I'm
not the expert on this, but um for me, I feel more comfortable with that. Um that's more typical of what we see in a regular basis. Right. Yeah. And then um the reason I'm also asking that is uh when we're looking at the MW, what is our current estimation and ask for um
the uh volume the volume from the aqueduct? So that's actually like two different questions. So like um the what we've presented so far from PAR,
our engineer for the maximum water need that we think the town would need based on current uses and future projected uses and other um strategic goals of the town is 2.7 million gallons per day. And then we'll work with the
state agencies. they're going to permit somewhere less than that we assume. So, we still have to have those conversations. Oh, thank you. That's great insight and information. And so that essentially tells me that uh regardless of the PAS situation just for
the demand itself we do need the alternate source and cuz um our 1.7 million even the peak is not um cannot be accommodated with the eight wells we have today or the five in
operations. Thank you. Yeah, that's and that's an important point. I think we've talked about this a lot like the what the number is that we're going to ask for. Is it 2.7? Is it a little bit less than that? For months that has gone back and forth. Um my question is for the sake of permitting right and moving
this process along you just mentioned that you know 2.7 feels like the peak and then whatever we apply for the the state may come back and tell us a different number. So, do we need to really agree on the 2.7 right now or do we just need to move forward with that
as the peak and then wait for feedback from the state agencies because there's been a lot of back and forth around this. I agree with you. There has been a lot of back and forth. My recommendation on CPW director would be to move forward with 2.7. Why would we limit ourselves
with our initial ask? Um, but I acknowledge and they're not here right now that I do not think that the water and sewer advisory board is in agreement. Yep. No. And and so that's just it. So it's it's not that everyone's trying to
figure out what our true demand is, right? From a volume perspective, and I appreciate that effort, but from what what I've heard from, you know, several conversations is from a permitting aspect, and anyone jump in here if if I'm off base, but we need to move the
permit along and make the ask whether we ask for 2.7 or 2.5 or a different amount. it still needs to go to the state and the state helps dictate that based on a variety of factors and I just want everyone to be aware of that because I I think this board's focus
this year, one of the main ones is moving this water project along. So I think we just need to let everyone know like hey it might not end up being 2.7 but this is why we're starting with it and this is why we're moving forward with the process. Does anyone like any comments around that or disagree on that
idea and moving it forward uh through the chair? Um I think what you said is accurate. Uh and I, you know, I participate with all the water and sewer advisory board meetings as well. Um I think it's an important discussion that they're having around what a realistic future need might be
because when we do hear back from the state agencies that dictate these things, we're going to want to know what our minimum future need is, right? And it may not be 2.7. Realistically, maybe it's 2.1, maybe it's, you know, two. So, when we come back at the end of the day
and, you know, those answers we get from the state, we're going to want to know, you know, if they tell us, you know, a lesser amount, if that's sufficient for our future needs. So, that's why it's still we're we're still working through those numbers. You know, uh, we have John Gellich helping us with, you know, an evaluation, you know, of our f what
our future need look like. We have, um, the water forecasting we're doing with the state that Carrie just mentioned. So, we're kind of, you know, we're all kind of going through that process now to kind of get a better handle on what sort of that minimum future need might be for Hopington. 2.7 maybe maybe a
little higher than, you know, realistically we might actually need and that's the debate that's going on with the water and sewer advisory board. Perfect. Yeah. To the chair. Just two points or comments on that. one is that um I agree we definitely want to um you
know look at what's as um K was mentioning that there will be adjustments for push back or uh approval process going through the MWR or the water authority so it wouldn't hurt asking for a little more comfortable
level but that said um I think the whole process we need to think about and I'm sure there are bright minds behind it we can evaluate it when we get to that is um how are we forecasting these I mean having these all done and in action
would probably take 5 to 10 years and with the growth and all the water uh level challenges that we are seeing um 1.7 may soon become 2.5 2.7 who knows and with the growth also right there's
quite a few factors so it needs to be well thought out and calculated and forecasted accordingly so I'm I'm glad that's going on so we'll talk about that. The second thought is what are the options to adjust it within the contract. Do we have a clause that every certain years we get to revisit and uh
readjust our ask through MW or once we say 2.7 that is it for foreseeable or known future. Uh I can try to answer some of it. So
the MJWA will only charge us for the use and um so we only pay for what we use. So whether we use one gallon or a million gallons, we pay accordingly. The IMA that we're working through has another fee that we would pay to
Southboro um because they're as a we're wheeling the water through them. So they have a certain requirement to be able to provide us that capacity and so that fee um would be could be adjusted based on how we negotiate and
finish the negotiations with them. Um so I think that answers most of your question. Um it does on the fees side. I was more on the volume side. So say we hear back from the water commission and they say you get 2.1 million and say
hypothetically 7 years from now we are in need of 3 million. So do we go back to them and have an option to adjust that or what is the process and the legal kind of obligations on that? Anytime that you
are trying to increase your demand, you do have to go back and get the permits updated and the permits get revisited on a cycle anyway. So even if we kept the same demand, we would have to renew our permit on a regular basis anyway. So those yeah, every major change would be
another um permitting process with with the state. Understood. Thank you. And to your first comment before I hand it over to Amy, um I believe we're coming back for our next meeting is August 5th and we're going to have the results of Mr. Galsuch's, you know,
review and that that analysis of needs. So I think we'll have a better view in a couple of weeks of what our longer term plan looks like. So just everyone's aware of that. Amy, yeah, my main questions were I think you mentioned the PAR maximum water ser maximum water
need. Um is that the study that's going on now? Is it the engineer? No, we're going through the designs now. So, that is a study that they already conducted um an awareness analysis. I'm pretty sure it's available on our website. It's publicly available, but okay. I couldn't find it, so just I'll check back later.
Maybe I didn't put it up on the website, but um we definitely have that. Okay. And then the water forecast, that's something that the MW will help or then the water resources commission will help us with or that's part of that report. It's part of the permitting process. Um
so it's initiated through um what did I say the office of water resources which has staff in connection with the water resources commissions. There's a lot of conglomeration of different um staff from across different state agencies and is that that done or that's in
progress the the forecast? Uh Elaine I believe you said that they were going to reach back out to us for a meeting. Uh correct. So, we sent in a letter and they responded by saying that they'll be in touch for further discussions. So, when you have that, you'll bring that back to us. Okay, great. And then um I
think that's all I have to and the growth study had I we get a lot of questions about this online from various residents when they hear about the drought or they hear about having to reduce their water usage because nobody likes that. Um, but just so the more that I know you have a lot of stuff on your water department website, especially the PAS and everything, but
just we the more you can get up on there, the better, I think, because then when somebody asked me a question, I can just say it's right there. You can look at it. Yeah. And then, um, let's see. And then we have, I know, water and sewer plans for the whole town of which areas can
hook up or not, and that we've analyzed our capacity a long time ago, but we review those periodically. Correct. every so often we might look at it again and see what we can what we can do for capacity. Um like some streets just can't ever have water
or sewer because they don't have a connection right in the plan. Correct. um we do look at them periodically and then part of the overlap with the DBW and the planning um department is to look at where the needs are for the future, where we anticipate
things are, where buildable lots are um things like that to try to prioritize it and then yes, we're required to update the plans on a cyclical basis. Yep. Okay, I think those are all my questions, comments. Perfect. And so I just want to make one
more comment. um when we had the presentation at the water and sewer advisory board meeting and that I want to reemphasize um I thought our consultant made a really good point of saying you know whether you take one drop from MWA like an emergency overflow or you get all of your water from MWR the course the cost is not proportional
for building like it's going to cost something just to get those pipes into the ground and build a pump station we'll have to do that anyway so it's not like there's this huge cost savings if we change from 2.7 to 2.5 just the fact that we have to build this network to
get to that water source um which we'd have to do if we had to put in a new well and any of that stuff is going to be a significant cost. So it's not a proportional cost savings if we adjust that um water demand number and once we have it set up we will just pay on what we use. Correct. Yeah that's good to
know. Yeah I think that's why we need to meticulously plan covering all bases and risk factors as well as have enough buffer. So hopefully we'll get to that. Thank you. So you know I think I think the next big thing is you know August
5th we'll be back. We'll go through the plan and that'll go through the whole analysis of everything that was talked about taking into this longer term view of needs. Um, but in the meantime, what do you need from the board? Again, we won't be meeting until August 5th. So, from a permitting perspective, what do you need from the board tonight to kind
of help move things forward, if any? I don't think I need anything at this time from the board in the next month or so. Um, I think the biggest role the board will have is the IMA negotiations
with Southboro. Um, so continuing building that relationship and reviewing that and kind of deciding what we feel comfortable with and not will be the most helpful at least from my perspective because um the authority to sign an IMA rest with the select board
not with the DBW. Yeah. So when I was chair I worked on that. Are you working on that now? So, so we were going to we need to discuss that. So, Shidel has been the liaison. Um, but I want to go over I think the last meeting was May 2nd, May 30th. May 30th. May 30th. And
so, we had the town like a board member and then Southboro. Um, when's the next meeting for that? Do we have anything scheduled for to move that forward? Okay. So, is that um I think we should
schedule something. And at the meeting, um there was a um general feeling that we're um we're not far enough along in the permitting process to settle a lot of those issues that are remaining. Okay. So, we didn't feel there was a need to schedule something yet until we're a little
further along in the permitting and we have more concrete information about what needs to be in there. The chair, that makes sense, Elen. But they were um open to the negotiations and the terms that we were talking about. What was the general feeling?
So um so many things are up in the air with the design that we're not ready to discuss to anything and was there any kind of threshold at what level of the design should we re restart this conversation? Yeah, it's it's the
permitting process. We need to get further into it and hear from the state agencies as well. Thank you. All right. So, does that work? You know, this permitting process will move forward and the select board will be ready to work on the IMA, you know, when
that time comes. Yep. We'll kind of wait to hear from both of you on that. They need to go hand in hand. So, keep us posted and najas if we need to act on it sooner. Well, we felt it was good to have this conversation here, but um as we move
forward um you have since identified a DPW leaison and we have the water and sewer advisory board so we can work with them so we don't have to give like a presentation like this at every Yep. Nope. I but I I think you know part of this was it's important for this to be front and center for our board meetings
like you know I I think especially when we go once a month it should be talked about every meeting. Maybe once we get back to a normal flow in the fall, we can go to every other, but like this board is going to prioritize moving this water project forward. So, we appreciate you coming again.
Y I have one more thing to add before I um I wanted to point out that we discussed so it seemed like I shouldn't even say last year in May the town um childhood illness health department had a PAS forum. We thought that was really well attended and we still get a lot of
questions about that, a lot of concerns about PAS. So, we are proposing to give one in the fall. Um, as you pointed out like summer gets kind of crazy. We didn't think we'd get the same public participation. So, health department is leading this effort. DPW is just supporting it, but I thought this is a good opportunity to get that information out there that we do plan to have one in
the fall. The library has been a great partner and they volunteered to host it at their location and to give like follow-on workshops because there has been a lot of concern by the public about PAS environmental concerns and water and so we thought these were great ways to increase public engagement and outreach and give people multiple
opportunities to hear about this in case they don't watch these meetings. I I I think that's an excellent idea. I think the PAS thing last year at the senior center was very wellrun, great information session. So, as we get closer to that, we'll work with the town hall and anything we can all do to help
message that and get it out there. I think everyone will be supportive of that. Yeah, appreciate that. I think this is a great uh way to communicate and also spread the word and if you remember, we had a um warrant that we removed and we had the promise of
spreading the words more. So, this is a great step forward. Thank you. Any other questions? I'm good. Rest of the board. Um, I think I'm done with questions for uh Carrie, but um I'm just trying to clarify who which SLboard member will be negotiating with South Bar. We have not voted on that yet or We
have not voted on it. So, we'll decide. Can we put that on a future? Yeah, we'll have to do that for a future item. All right. Awesome. I appreciate the time. Thank you. Okay. So, I think that brings us to the town
manager report. Mr. Her has rejoined us. So, since I was out last week, uh, Lance will wrote the town manager report and we'll we'll do the town manager report. Do the assistant town manager report this time. Um, no, nothing real, uh, critical, no
major updates here. Uh, one thing, um, I did want to emphasize with the Main Street Corridor project, uh, Dave Del Toro wanted to let everyone know and get the word out that the work is scheduled to start mid July on the 26.2 to foundation's Bobby Gibb statue project that'll be located at the corner of
Hayden Row in Main Street. Um so that's you know something you've been working with Tim Kildof and he just want to make take this opportunity to put the word out there that construction will be starting soon. Um on top you know besides that Comcast is continuing to cut cut over services on track to
complete work mid July. AT&T on track to complete work mid July. contract our town fiber network scheduled to complete their work during the week of July 7th. Um Verizon on site the week of June 23rd with a focus on transferring lines to the new poles on the west end of the
project to prepare for the west end pole removal. No schedule provided uh to the town for the completion of their work. Um so those are the main street corridor project updates I have. Um any questions to the board? Amy, you want to start? No, just, you know, I really hope
they'll be on track to get their wires down by the end of July, but I I'll believe it when I see it. Um, yeah, but no other questions. Shadow, no questions. Just waiting for Brian, I'm on the corridor every day
talking to the detail officers and everything else. Everything Lance just said is accurate. We're getting there. Awesome. Yeah, no questions from me. Thank you for the update. Um, in addition, the only other item I have is uh town department position vacancies. We have three uh positions
that are uh one is currently vacant with the confirmation we just made this evening. The uh principal planner and the other two are soon to be vacant, the human resources generalist and the uh health services agent. Uh two employees, we're sad to see them go, but they've
moving on to new opportunities elsewhere and we wish them the best. So, we're going to ask the board uh if they're willing to authorize the advertisement of those three positions. Okay. We'll open it up to questions. What? Uh so, they are asking for a
motion today. Um but first, we're going to see if anyone has any questions. You can start. If so, uh are these in the current budget and are they replacement or new hire? Uh I don't want to try. Uh yes, I my understanding and the lane
probably answer is better is yes. These are all existing positions in the current budget. That's correct. Thank you, Ryan. Amy, I know I appreciate the explanation. They all seem needed and I think they should all be posted. Y and so obviously both of you are
supportive of this and recommend these hiring right away. All right. So then I will look for a motion. Do we have it here? I think they have to be three separate ones or can it be one? It could be one. Okay. I move to authorize the posting of the human resources generalist position and the
principal planner position and the health services agent position. Second. So we have a motion and a second. Any comments from the board? All those in favor? I I. Any opposed?
All right. That is unanimous and carries. Perfect. So that leads us to liaison reports and any additional board items. Amy, would you like to start here? Yeah, I actually don't think I have anything
since last time. It's been kind of quiet. Okay. Um, just some update. Uh, we had the pride parade. Amy and I joined from the select board and it was wonderful, very well participated and, uh, I think a great community event. So thank you to
the organizers for having that. Um and uh we also had the I also attended the scout troop 4 eagle um ceremony and it was also another wonderful event where uh we had two scouts Raghav Za Jiva
Nantam and Jib Gon who uh joined the ranks of Engle scouts and they did uh wonderful work. one raka built the stair training equipment for Greyhound France and Jay built the two bridges in Denin conservation land. So congratulations and thanks to them and it was a
wonderful evening. Excellent. Thank you Mr. Her. Nothing to add. Thanks. Okay. Um so I think we will move to future board items. I think we've talked I I think the big one for me is you know
August 5th we talked about the the planning analysis for water having DPW back having Mr. Gucha in here um and I believe we talked about one other thing this evening uh oh we have to pick the liaison for the IMA with Southro so but
we'll go down the rest of the board uh Brian uh Mr. Chair, I would suggest we strike item number four from the list. I think we've covered that uh or we're in the process of handling it, so I don't think we need it on there or is something we need to do in the future. We're already working on it. And then
uh item 11, what's that? We just did some vacancies now. I don't Oh, that was Mr. Kisner uh wondering how long it takes to fill some of them. Um that's fine. Whatever. Okay, I'm good. Thank you. I don't have
anything to add at this time. Okay, Amy, I think I would just note that um the FY26 slip goals, that is something we need to schedule to do because we didn't do them last year. The FY25 goals, I think we helps us focus. Okay. Yeah, I like adding that
is um does anyone remember if we have a full board for the August 5th meeting? What's that? Do we have a full board for the August 5th meeting? Does anyone know that they I think we have one person missing actually because I feel like that's something we should all be here
to do. Amy, I'll be on vacation but I can Yeah, I'll be on vacation. Okay. What was that? You can try on online, but it'll be in Europe, so timing will not work. Yeah, I I I think it's better for that if we're setting goals for the board. I'd rather us all be in person,
so that might have to wait a couple weeks, but um if you're fine with that, Amy, because I think it's I think we should all be together. Yeah. So, if I mean, like everybody had said, okay, to the 5th, but if not, that's fine. Perhaps a date in September. Y yeah,
we'll prioritize it for one of the first meetings back after summer. Sometimes we've even done it on a different night so it's um I don't know or even downstairs because it's a more casual thing I guess. Okay. Um so we can be face to face at a table or something.
Okay. That's just a thought. I am open to any of those suggestions. Um I think that covers the list. So I would look for a motion to adjurnn. So moved. I moved the motion to adjurnn.
Uh in a second. Okay, we've got a motion and a second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? It's unanimous. Thank you everyone for coming tonight. Have a good evening. Yeah, that's great. Right on time, Mr. Chair. Well done.