Good de good evening everyone. Uh I call the meeting to order. This meeting of the Hopkins Select Board is being held both in person and remotely using the video conference platform Zoom. Select board member Brian Herur will be participating remotely and all other members of the select board will be present for this meeting at town hall
room 215 216 in person. At this time I will ensure that that select board member participating remotely can be heard. Brian, can you hear us? Brian, you out there. Might have to come back to that. Um, the public has the option of attending in person here at town hall or
via Zoom. Can >> you hear me? >> Now we can. >> We can, Brian. >> Thanks, Brian. >> I can't hear you. Hang on one sec, please. >> Here at town hall or via Zoom using the link post in this meeting's agenda. This meeting is being recorded. All votes will be taken by roll call vote. We will
start. We will 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. >> Mr. Chair, can you hear me now? >> Yes, we've been able to hear you, Brian. Okay. Yeah, I I couldn't hear you folks. Uh I'll be driving so we won't be able to see any uh agenda or packet info or anything as I'm driving. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Thanks. >> Um next we will move to public forum. Each person will have up to two minutes to speak at public forum. Please start by stating your name and your address. Um and so right before we do, you know, I want to say a few things. You know, one, first of all, we had a typo. Um
tonight it only had public form going till 6:10. it is the 15 minutes that we've been doing. Um, so that was just an oversight. Um, but I wanted to just kind of, you know, remind everyone when we started doing the 15 minutes, it's there's a lot that we need to cover in these meetings, especially this time of
year as we're only weeks away from town meeting. Um, and that allows us to, you know, move through the agenda. um as we've done uh multiple times, if people did not get a chance to speak during that 15 minutes, we will come back to it at the end of the meeting's agenda
items. Um you know, and and really just in general, I want to remind people like, you know, we we hear what people are saying at public forum. Um I understand that there's a lot there can be a lot of frustration around certain things uh especially around like the
timing of things and you know how quickly or not we can actually make changes in this town. Um but we do hear you and and if public forum doesn't seem to be getting it done for you know we all welcome email as an option as well to follow up with us directly as a
board. Um, and then, you know, really like the last thing I'll say on it is most of all, the only thing I look for is for everyone to be respectful of one another. We are neighbors. Uh, I don't expect everyone to get along or be friends or or share the same opinions,
but we do need to treat each other with respect when when we're in this meeting. Uh, so with that, I will say that uh is there anyone in the room who would like to come up and speak this evening? Welcome. Thank you. Good evening. Kevin Narbone, 14 Hillrest Drive in Hopington.
Uh just wanted to speak how deeply disgusted I was with the victims not giving their time by Shadu in the last uh on April 7th. Um you guys are public servants. I
understand there are situations that play out, but for a victim to come in here and speak is really important for them to go through that process. It's important for us as a community to go through that process with them. But on April 7th, the board held that public
forum when the chair announced it was over. Several people in the room, Joe, you're probably mentioning this just preluding coming in finally asked for a vote to extend time and they didn't. Is it what Boy was the one who asked? No vote was taken. The board moved to
consent agenda. Shadul voted it down. Lynn Keith stood up. She was a woman who contacted the Huffington Police Department in April 2022 to report a man had raped her as a child was volunteering at a church in Hopping. She waited four months for for a response.
Lynn tried to speak, was not allowed. Within one minute, Brian of the other chair had reached over and looked at Lance to call the police. This only adds fuel to a victim's fire. The wrong response.
Three officers were dispatched within five minutes. The woman who waited four months for the HPD to respond saw a response by the part of the the police department much quicker. And you did this in front of some victims. This was outrageous and wrong.
I was watching the meeting from my kitchen. Later that same evening, Lynn was allowed to speak. She apologized profusely. Again, you mentioned, Joe, that we're all in the community together. Let's work together as a community to get stronger. This board
should reflect on the disrespect on April 7th, and I, as a community member, taxpayer in town are just so disheartened by those victims that weren't allowed to speak. Thank you. >> Thank you. Who else would like to come speak?
Welcome, >> welcome click uh 143 Clinton Street and thank you for having uh this time uh allotted uh as a public forum. Um I am holding
a copy of the town flag. I am also holding a list of all the Hopkin residents that uh were in many of the wars of the revolutionary
time of our country. We don't have time to discuss either of these, but I'm here tonight because I'd like you to consider a point that I'd like to make about um the uh
parade request that you have on your agenda for later in the meeting for the July 4th town parade. I'm suggesting that the revolutionary veterans would have appreciated and
those who have come since then will appreciate you considering a theme of happy and patriotic uh response during that parade. I as a citizen of Hopkin wish that the
board and also I promote a theme to be said. Hopington celebrates America's birthday as this July 4th is being recognized at the 250th anniversary of America. Thank
you. >> Thank you. >> Who else would like to come up and speak? Welcome Johnowski Disney long drive as so we've been here
now almost over 250 days and um everything we present here and we've come here and presented is nothing more than your record. The select boards, the town manager record, the HPDs, town councils, it's not any of our words.
It's your words. It's your documents. That's all we've ever brought into this room. But for this institution, it's like I've said before, the truth apparently is offensive and we don't understand why. We get statements back that are like halftruths. We get told as conspiracy policies created to to try to
limit, you know, what's being released. You know, we gave demand letters in person to you. They never got publicized in your agenda packet. Yet, you published a letter about weed control. We want to know why. When public
request, public record requests go in, the town blocks and delays and instead of wanting us, it's just to seek the truth. Your actions are always to limit to expose to the community. And several of you ran on a campaign of transparency. And when we come to these meetings, your
record gets exposed. And the only response is to ignore, misinform, and make noise. But there's some on this board. They object. They abstain. They want to learn more. And every time they do, other members squash them right on TV, right on the camera,
right on HC cam, being told in plain sight of everyone, and I quote this, "You don't understand how things are done here." In other words, they acted appropriately. Apparently, it's all in the record. It's all in your own voices. It's all in your own documents. I
encourage you the community to go look at that record for themselves. It's available to you for free. All you have to do is go ask and you can pull these records up. Go request them yourselves. If you want to see it summarized, you we have a Facebook page. You can go to Demand of Truth Hopington. It's there. You can go read it there. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Who else would like to come speak? >> Uh do you want to check to see if we have anyone on Zoom? >> There are people on Zoom, but no hands are raised. >> For anyone out there on Zoom, if if you'd like to speak, you know, raise
your hand or please chime in. Right. With that, uh, we will move on. Uh, tonight we're we're moving on to the consent agenda. Select board will consider the following consent agenda, uh, minutes. Board will consider approving the minutes of March 31st,
2026 meeting. The board will consider approving the following parade permit applications. The board will consider reviewing and approving a parade permit application for the Independence Day parade on July 4th, 2026 with a rain date of July 5th, 2026 submitted by Mike Whan for the Veterans Celebration Committee. The parade would start at 11
11:00 a.m. and begin and end at the town common. Road closures are requested. Uh, the board will consider reviewing and approving a parade permit application for the Pride Parade being organized by the Hopkins Center for the Arts to be held on June 20th, 2026 from 1 to 4 p.m. The event will start and end at Marathon
Way. And there are no road closures requested. Um, the board will consider reviewing and approving a parade permit application for the Jimmy Fund Walk scheduled to be held on October 4th, 2026. There are no road closures requested. The walk will take place along the Boston Marathon Course
starting at the Marathon start line and ending at Ashland Townline. Uh the board will also consider accepting the following gifts. One $250 donation from the Hopin and Garden Club to the Hopington Public Library for the seed library expenses. $390 donation on behalf of Marie Lucking
to the Hopington Public Library for the purchase of books. uh $25 donation to the ambulance fund from Mavis Oly and $50 from Susan and Kevin Muse uh in memory of Arty Pine. The board will consider confirming the town manager's appointment of David Nordstrom as a
part-time dishwasher at the senior center. And lastly, the board will consider accepting the resignation of Ron Foys from the zoning advisory committee. Um with that, I will look to the board. Do we want to break anything out? I don't um I guess I was going to say it
seems like the people from the Fourth of July parade are here. I don't know if we need to speak to them or >> I I'd like to welcome them up if they came. I I mean we've got three parade permits and we always like to kind of give an opportunity for someone to come up and speak. So we'll go right down the list. Uh would someone from the Independence Day parade like to come up
and just say hello and talk about the parade permit? >> Welcome Mike. All right. I'm Mike Whan. uh 262 Wood Street. You have my application uh that I submitted on behalf of the Veterans Celebration Committee, which you have authorized
um them to sponsor uh this um revitalized parade here in town. Um there are um several members of the community have already stepped forward and are interested in being on a committee uh you know to make this
parade work. Um, and I'm I'm sure it's probably going to be done well. And the only thing different from it really aside from it being a Fourth of July uh 250th celebration was um
different than the Horribles parade. We want to be more positive and uh more celebratory uh than and and not so much uh negative political um floats, that kind of a thing. Um I've already um talked with
the park department and have reserved the gazebo for that day and the town common um will of course work with the police on that day if you approve this to make everything work. It's going to be the same route as the horos parade
over the years. And uh we I look forward to every organization in town um club, sport, team, um business, um even the board of selectmen want to enter a
uh quote. So >> wait, does this does this parade have water balloons or not this year? Huh? It might be the highlight of the parade. >> If we allowed water balloons, it would certainly crowd, >> right? So, uh the two main uh reasons
why we're here is because of Amy and Jim. They're heads of their political parties and they really are the ones who are the spearhead of this whole um venture and uh they basically will be the ones uh along with um other
volunteers running the parade. Perfect. Okay. Well, appreciate you coming up and saying a few words. Board, do we have any questions for Mike? >> Thank you for organizing and getting all the paperwork in order, and we appreciate you dressing up for the evening. >> Good. Good. So, first kudos to the two
town parties for getting together and finding a collaborative solution. This didn't go the way that we wanted last year. I love hearing that the two sides have come together and we have found something that we can unite on. I thought it was interesting when the when the miss was speaking earlier and it
really got to me about the slogan is sitting up in town right now. It's the start of something great and you're talking about revolutionary history in the country and it being the start of something great. I really see how the motif fits with our community and I really am impressed and a little bit
humbled by what you have done to turn something that was causing community division into community alignment and collaboration. Truly, we really appreciate this one. Thank you. >> Good. Okay, Brian, thoughts or questions? I'm >> all set. Thank you. Nice. Nice to see
you, Mike. >> Yep. >> I'm good as well. >> We're good. >> Appreciate you coming up. >> Yeah. So, just as I since I'm here in front of this large TV audience, I would like to spread the word. Uh, anybody in town wants to participate or has any
questions, uh, you can get a hold of me. uh Vassuda I'm sure will be glad to supply anybody's uh email if they want to uh be part of this or just has a question. >> Love that. >> All right. >> Awesome. Thank you.
>> Um do we have anyone here on behalf of the Pride Parade? >> Ellie. >> Hello. So, Kelly Girl from the Hopkinson Center for the Arts, we are partnering once again with the Freedom team to uh host
the Pride Parade, and we uh have requested to move it this year to the common. Uh we will be having the same activities that we've had in the past, some vendors, some food trucks, some uh bouncy house, um some wonderful colorful
uh activities to happen. And so, we'll be parading around the common. We don't need to shut down the roads because uh we can do the sidewalks there and really hoping for a big brass band. We're working on it, but trying to figure out uh activities to make it a a fun day.
>> Perfect. >> Questions for Kelly? >> I know, but I'm interested to see how it works on the uh new location. I think it'll be good. Great. >> I will be there with rainbows. I'm very excited. >> Excellent. >> Brian, >> I'm all set. Thanks.
>> Yeah. No questions. I think this is exciting. >> Thanks, Kelly. >> Thank you. >> And then lastly, uh, the Jimmy Funwalk. Is anyone here speak on behalf of that? >> Anyone on Zoom as well? >> There are people on Zoom, but they I don't know if they're from the Jimmy
Walk. >> Okay. >> Um, I mean, with with that, I think, you know, looking through some of these things, Elaine, I I think we had all the necessary paperwork in place for the applications when they came through. Um, was everything complete? Are we missing anything?
>> No, everything is complete. >> Perfect. All right. So, with that, I will look for a motion here for the consent agenda. >> I move to approve the consent agenda. >> Second. >> Got a motion and a second. Any final thoughts.
Uh, this will be roll call. >> Amy, yes. >> Matt Kisner, yes. >> Brian. >> Brian her. Yes. >> And Joe Clark. Yes. Uh, next, moving on, select board will consider permitting a bonfire on field one and two of the middle school for an
event to be held on June 12th, 2026 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. to commemorate the start of the senior year for the class of 2027. Massachusetts general law regarding ceremonial bonfire states chapter 111 section 142H allows the select board to authorize the fire department to issue not more than one permit per year for a ceremonial
bonfire. The bonfire must mark the observance of a significant municipal, state, or national event and must be con must be under continuous fire department supervision. The primer can only be issued to a municipal department, civic, fraternal, or veterans organization within the city or town. Only untreated
wood may be burned and the bonfire cannot exceed 12 hours in duration. So, I see we've already been joined. Welcome. >> Welcome Karen and Gail. >> I'm Karen Crumb 12 Joseph Road. Just a um through the chair. So, I'm representing the two designated class
parents for the class of 2027, and I'm part of a group of parents assisting with all events for the current junior class through their graduation. So, tonight I'm asking for your approval for a bonf fire permit. Um, Gail Ober has
joined me as she spearheaded last year's first annual bonfire for the class of 2026, um, which I volunteered at. This bonfire is scheduled to take place on Friday, June 12th for two and a half hours. Fields one and two at the middle school.
Um the significance of the event for this class is it commemorates the start of their senior year as the seniors will be like out of there already. So they'll officially be calling themselves seniors. Um attached to the agenda, you should see support from fire chief Gary
Dohy and Tim Person's um director of facilities for Hopkins and public schools. The um two things I'll note though is there's no rain date for the event. So if it does rain, this will be inside the high school gym and cafeteria. And it is designated on the forms, but
if there's a critical drought, we will not have a bonfire, but we'll still have food and games. Um Chief Doherty will let us know if there's a critical drought, which will be um determined by state guidelines. >> Perfect.
Do you have any thoughts or >> No, it was just very successful last year being our first year. Um, it was awesome. It was a great night for the students. It really bonded them, brought them together. Um, Mr. Bishop was there.
All of the assistant principles were there. Um, and it was just it was supported by Gary and by Tim and it was just amazing event. So I support that you we keep it going as sort of a yearly thing.
>> Yeah. I remember hearing how successful it was last year. So was excited to see it back on the agenda and stuff. So I'll look to the board questions, comments, Amy. >> No, I appreciate that the fire chief will keep an eye on the um you know the risk of brush fire. So but otherwise it looks like it's in order.
>> All right. So I was crotchety about the car parade. This, on the other hand, feels like a really creative use of school grounds and resources. I rather love the notion of the catharsis of burning and starting a new. It feels very pagan to me, which I'm always going to be in support of. I don't know if the
fire chief is on the line. The one just generic admin question I had because this had the language about it being once a year for the ceremonial permit. I just generically wanted to understand like how often is this requested? This feels like a wonderful reason to do it,
but I don't want to make the decision with blinders. Is this a request that we routinely get? We obviously gave it to them last year. >> I don't think I do either, but I at least want to hear from Elaine or from Gary. >> And I don't think um Gary wasn't able to make it tonight. >> Um so I don't think he's on the phone or
on Zoom. >> I've got his I've got through the chair. I've got his notes here. I don't have any concerns from a fire perspective. I really just want to understand logistically if this is a requested service. If it is, I would want to better understand. If it's not, that's okay. >> We've not had any other requests in the last few years. >> Poetic. I don't have any other comments.
Thank you for being creative and finding a way to do something for the kids to make it special. >> Good. >> Brian, any thoughts? >> It sounds like we're following state law as we should and uh it sounds like the fire department will be there and maintain uh a safe place for everyone.
I'm all set. Thanks. >> Yeah, I know we talked before we have all the permit requirements are in place. the fire chief. He couldn't make it tonight as you alluded to, but he said he was very supportive. Um, so yeah, I'm I'm excited for this. So, thank you both for coming up.
>> You're welcome to come. We'll send an official invite, but yeah. >> Yes. >> Uh, with that, I will look for a motion from the board. >> I move to authorize the fire department to issue a permit for a ceremonial bonfire for the class of 2027 on 12 June 2026. >> Second.
>> We've got a motion and a second. Any further thoughts? I'd prefer no effiges, especially if we're going to come, but I'm not going to be a stickler about it. Please don't burn any pictures or icons of us if you can get away with it. >> Not allowed. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Roll call. Amy. >> Amy Erbush. Yes.
>> Matt Kisner. Yes. >> Brian. >> Brian her. Yes. >> And Joe Clark. Yes. >> Thank you very much. >> Thanks for coming tonight. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Look forward to it. Uh next, the board will hear an update and consider adopting the draft zero emissions vehicle first policy. Um, so
our friends from the sustainable green committee here and Julia of course. Welcome everyone. It's good to have you all back. >> Thank you. Good to see you. >> This is mostly Julia's show actually. >> Yeah. But everyone's up here for
questions. So if any come up, feel free to ask. Yes. Um, so I'm just waiting for >> Okay. Perfect. Um, so today we've brought back the ZEV policy. Um, so thank you for making the time for this.
Um, next slide, please. So the walkthrough of today will just be going through a climate update. So giving you an update on climate leaders or progress in that, an overview and background of the V of EVs again, and then diving back into the ZV policy and
a couple changes that have been made there. >> Mr. Chair, I'm sorry if I could uh just jump in for a sec. I need to recuse myself. I'll mute my phone. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Brian. Noted. >> Okay. >> Uh next slide, please.
>> Okay. Perfect. So, um this is currently the checklist we have for climate leaders, which is a state program. Currently, Hopington is a green community. Climate leaders is a separate program that we would be applying for. So any of the bullets that have checks
on them are bullets that we have completed, including the specialized energy code. Thanks to these two and the rest of the sustainable green committee, we were able to pass that at the 2024 town meeting. We passed the net zero resolution at the 2023 town meeting. We
have our local body and we're a green community in good standing. The um objectives that are left are to adopt this zero emission vehicle first policy. We've spoken to the police, fire, DPW, and facilities, and they're all in support of this. And we also have to
create a municipal decarbonization roadmap. And we have applied for state technical assistance to do that. Next slide, please. So, going into a little bit of why it's important for us to level up from green communities to climate leaders. Um,
there is so much money right now that's available at the state level, including a $1.15 million grant for renewable applications and programming. This would fund things such as heat pumps, solar, battery storage, and other clean technologies that we are planning to
implement both at the existing high school and middle school, but also other buildings such as the senior center and our town hall and the upcoming center schools. So, we have several projects in the pipeline that we will want to have long-term cost savings for both the town
and taxpayers. Next slide, please. Next slide. So, going a little bit into the benefits of EVs. This is a chart showing the fuel comparison between um the four types of vehicles identified in
the zero emissions vehicle policy. So, as you can see, battery electric vehicles save so much money when it comes to annual fuel cost. They also avoid 13,000 metric tons of CO2 per year and would save the town
$175,000 a year um in operating costs. Next slide, please. This is also a slide showing the overall maintenance and fuel um savings of EVs
versus gas vehicles. So NRDC shows that the maintenance costs are around 40 to 70% less costly and in a state where currently fuel costs are I'm sure you know if you drive extremely expensive um electricity is a little bit less
volatile, more consistent and with the implementation of solar we would be able to drive down costs even further for our operating budget. Um, we were able to do a power options fleet analysis a couple years ago and that showed that as I
stated earlier, we'd be saving around $175,000 a year with $4.5 million in savings by 2050. Um, below is just an example of what a replacement would look like. So, currently we have a Ford Explorer for
our police fleet. If we were to switch that over to the Chevy Blazer LT, we'd have fuel savings of$,596 and then annual maintenance savings because you're not doing things like expensive engine operations for 946.
Next slide, please. So, this is a chart showing what would happen if we were to switch things over and switch our vehicles over consistently from now to 2050. And so I know that the chart is a little bit difficult to see, but um some of the key
points are that um if we were to switch over to be these, our annual average savings would be 500,000 sorry 500,000 um by 2050. And the upfront investment required to
transition Hopington's entire fleet is 12 million. that includes 7.5 million for the vehicles um and then additional costs for infrastructure. But due to the lower costs of um maintenance, the town
can expect to see cumulative savings of 4.5 million by 2050. Next slide, please. So, this is just a slide. Um Nicole here has collected some really amazing data on increased EV adoption across town. So
this is demonstrating that residents support this across town. We see that 963 residents in town drive EVs, 307 drive plug-in hybrids, and 1,61 drive hybrids
>> and growing every year. >> Yes. Uh next slide, please. So speaking a little bit to charging infrastructure because that of course is an important step for us to be able to transition our fleet. We currently have
charging um applications in for the mass of it program which I'll speak to a little bit later at the police station at DPW 2535 Main Street and the high school. Um rebates exist at the state
level. So, um, governmentowned locations are covered up to 100% um, in terms of hardware and installation up to $50,000 per street address. Um, any other location the agency funds up to 80%. So,
um, we are aided by state funding there. Um, we also have a revolving fund that is in the works of being set up. So any revenue made from public chargers would be reinvested into adding additional chargers. Next slide please.
Okay. So let's get into the actual policy itself. So um there is a prioritization schedule. So the first priority is electric vehicles. The second plug-in hybrids, then hybrids,
then whatever the most fuelefficient option is. So I want to make it clear that this policy does not rule out gas vehicles. We want to ensure that we are addressing department budgets, their needs, and the part the charging infrastructure that's in place. There's
also a list of exemptions for vehicles. So this is the portion of the policy that we have edited. um any ambulances, fire trucks, public work vehicles, and any vehicles with emergency response capabilities, as well as vehicles that
are over 8,500 lb will be exempt from the policy. I also want to note that we currently do have a sustainable vehicle policy where if a department is no longer using a vehicle, they can pass that down to another department. We can still do that with this policy. We just want to make sure that the vehicle
that's being replaced is more sustainable um and fuel efficient than the vehicle being replaced. Next slide. So this I already spoke a little bit to ZV does not mean we only have to purchase EVs. We want to make sure that
it is a vehicle that the department can use and fits their needs at the time. Next slide. Um speaking a little bit to state policies. So, um, California has adopted
a rule that they will no longer be, um, selling gas vehicles. Massachusetts has decided to follow California's lead by facilitating the end of, uh, nonzero emission vehicles by 2035.
So currently that's not the policy, but um it's important for us to get ahead of that and start transitioning our vehicles so that we're not caught in a place where a we don't have the infrastructure and b do not have the experience with these vehicles. So this
is something that's coming down the pipeline from the state level. Next slide. Um so how do we move forward? Um I think the first step is adopting this policy and um working collaboratively with
departments to understand their budgets, the functions of the vehicles that currently exist on the market and understanding what charging needs there are for each department. Um the plan is to prioritize administrative vehicles and facilities vehicles and in doing so
securing climate leaders funding to be able to implement more of the infrastructure needed to advance this policy. Next slide, please. I think that was just a thank you slide. So, thank you all for um listening to the presentation and for being
supportive of the town's climate initiatives. >> Perfect. Thank you. Um I'll just kind of go right to the board for thoughts, questions. You want to start? >> Um yeah, I appreciate the presentation. We've had it before and it sounds like it's more in order. all the departments have been talking about it and
understand which vehicles will be exempt and which um which which ones will be prioritized. So it sounds like everything is in order now and I'm happy to support this policy. The have a question you mentioned it it might cost 12 million to um to get this all implemented but that's not the first
year right. >> No, no, no. That's the lifetime. Yes. To >> check. Good. >> Keeping in mind that most of those costs would be incurred anyways as you replace those vehicles over time. Yeah, >> heavy. I'm focused on the numbers here
as well. So, I'm torn. This feels like really good policy to me and it is very clearly reflective of the will of the community and the direction the town has consistently gone. Perhaps I have an outdated memory here, but in my time on capital, there was a consistent conversation with police in particular
about the inadequacy of EVs. They were being noted as requiring increased maintenance and while there was not an increased cost, there was an increased downtime and that there was a lower life cycle on the vehicles, requiring more frequent replacement. It's not clear to me the analysis you've presented is
reflective of the reality that these vehicles right now need to be replaced more often and they cost more to buy upfront. At least this is the feedback that was given to me by our chief of police. So, I can't speak for the other departments, but at least generically for police, I'd like to reframe that concern and understand from your
perspective if information has changed. >> Yeah, thanks for asking that question. So, the current vehicles that are at concern are hybrid vehicles. And so, we've spoken to the chief about it and he understands that the vehicles that we are proposing are EVs. They don't have the same engine problems that hybrids
do. And so, a these EVs would have a longer life cycle and so would not need to be replaced as frequently. and also would not have the same maintenance issues as seen in one of these charts. >> Yep, I saw the 40 to 70% decrease life cycle here.
>> I'm I'm continuing to hear you, but it sounds to me like there is more here going on. We're still opting into what from my perspective is an evolving technology. And while I can appreciate that there is a lot of state prioritization and this reflects green here, I'm really concerned about putting
a policy in place that kind of puts a thumb on the scale. You mentioned the vehicle replacement program. That was kind of a laughingstock of a conversation about two, three meetings ago where I learned all about the great chain of awful that ends with somebody getting a car that they absolutely don't want to drive that was bad for owners
ago. We have problems in town. I can see where this aligns with our interest. I don't know that I'm entirely comfortable voting on this because it's not entirely clear to me that all of the cost to ownership is projectable or forecastable. I'm also not entirely aligned with your proposal on using funds from the Chargers explicitly for
the sustainability of the Chargers. Not everybody in town is going to want to support these, but their taxpayer money is starting to go towards them. I would much prefer to see that going back into the general fund. If you need more money for Chargers, you're welcome to make the case, but what enriches the community should enrich the community. I continue
to be really concerned about how subspicy we are getting with the notion of these supplemental funds. So, I'm happy to hear more, but I'll be honest, I'm not comfortable supporting this one tonight. >> I just want to respond and say that they wouldn't be supplemental funds because
they would be paying for the charging of the vehicles, which we already pay for the gas fueling of vehicles. And so, >> so we're not going to get into a back and forth here. My statement was purely about the cost of continuing to reinvest for new chargers. That money could be
further allocated elsewhere. You were proposing putting it in a box. I don't like boxes. Thank you, >> Joe. >> Yeah. Can I ask like a little different question because um I think the problem that that I had when we previously discussed this was
>> really like and it's great like you know the big fire trucks, DPW trucks, those are all like obvious things that aren't a good fit for EVs. Um but you know, you talked about the challenges with hybrid and and challenges with maintaining them, cost associated with that. And so
the recommendation I thought was full EV, correct? >> Sorry, what was that? >> The recommendation for like the is full EV. >> Yes, that's the prioritization. So it would start with full EVs and then plug-in hybrids. Hybrids and then gas vehicles. >> Okay. Um and so the one thing that I
thought there might have been like an exception made at some point, but for I'm thinking strictly of like cop cars, which basically are on 24/7, >> and I felt like the EVs were not a good fit for that. Is that has that changed? Is there an exception there? I thought
there might be >> there are exemptions built in for any vehicle with emergency response capabilities. Um that being said, it's the hope is that they follow the spirit of the policy, but there's also the criteria that goes into place um when
you're selecting the vehicle. One of which, you know, is the um the price up front. You know, you departments have budgets. There's um you know the charging capacity that we have. Um either of those could exempt them from getting an EV and switching down to a
hybrid for example. Um what slide was that that we had the uh >> the exemptions? >> Oh no, the one after it. Oh no, you added a couple since then. >> Yeah, that one. >> See? Um, so yeah, there's the department needs, there's the functions of the
vehicle, um, there's looking at the vehicles on the market and whether those match what the department needs. Um, it's looking at the adequate uh, charging. >> Sorry, could we get that slide back on the screen because we can't see it. Oh, yeah, sure. It is the last slide. >> Yeah,
>> sorry, Ben. >> So, in essence, what I'm trying to say is this doesn't force the department to get an EV. it um it it requires them to think about it, but it doesn't force them to do it. If it doesn't meet their needs, they go down the list to the next most efficient vehicle, which in the end
might still be a gas car >> for the foreseeable future. >> Okay. All right. That that's a big difference because I felt like we were here, you know, multiple months ago and that at the time it seemed that it was a requirement and, you know, I had a problem with that one specifically. >> Yeah. I think that was a misunderstanding at the time, but since
multiple dis uh discussions with the police on those points. >> Yeah. Um, there have been I know there's 35 towns or mun municipalities in Massachusetts that are now climate leaders. So, by definition, there's at least 35 towns. I know there's a few
more that have passed this policy. And we modeled our policy very similar to what other towns have adopted where this exemption language is um either the same or taking pieces from from what different towns have. So, it's it's aligned with what's acceptable to become
a climate leader. And um we aren't we wouldn't be the first town doing this. This has become a growing trend in many of our our peer towns. >> Yep. No, and thank you for the clarification. Just I want to make sure like I'm fully understanding it. And
then I know we talked about I think you said the investment was around 12 million to turn over the entire fleet. >> Seven and a half you said was like the vehicles themselves which to your point you know you incur we would incur that cost over time. So there's like you know
what are we looking at $4.5 million and that's you said infrastructure is that charging stations >> that's the char the cost of electricity as well um the charging yes >> it's the cost of the electricity as well >> that takes into cost everything from fuel infrastructure um and then the
vehicles >> so it's comparing what you know would have been gas usage with you know now electric usage >> okay yeah that that's very helpful um and just in you I think I only saw one number up there from the grants because I think it's what you guys are doing is
like the best thing for the town. You're looking at how can we get additional funding from the state, you know, government to, you know, pay off for whatever we can. Um, and I think I saw something like 1.15 million. Is that would could that go towards the infrastructure for the chargers or was that for I know that was around like
solar and heat pumps. I I just want to make sure I'm understanding. So, um I believe there have been towns that have used it for charging infrastructure. Um usually the charging just doesn't cost that much. And so we would want to apply
for those grants for larger projects such as the schools. >> We know that the schools plan to bring forward next year and the following year um new HVAC systems for the high school and the middle school. and their leading option because it's cost- effective is
ground source heat pumps. Well, that is one of the perfect kinds of projects to apply for this type of grant. So, we know that's coming. That project is coming either way if we have access to this kind of grant funding because we're a climate leader. Of course, we'd have to apply for it and be selected, but but
it gives us that opportunity to to access that that we don't have today. >> Okay. >> And so then like Elaine, I'll kind of look to you. So, you know, I'm I'm kind right now I'm kind of focused on the 4 and a half for like chargers and the infrastructure. That's something that
would theoretically have to go to town meeting like how like what's the plan right now for >> making that investment? >> I think they're they're uh invested in this program with from the state which will give us some free charging. Um and there's additional grants and other
opportunities that we can apply for. >> We don't have any funding right now dedicated to purchasing chargers. So, um, we'll try to take advantage of grants and other needs. >> With the grants, the chargers going in this year are costing the town almost nothing. It's a great program.
>> And I also want to mention those numbers I provided, those were from a power options assessment. So, taking in the numbers during that time comparing gas versus electricity, for example. It also varies, you know, town by town and the amounts of grants that we can collect.
So, the numbers are variable. >> Yeah. But but the chargers that we have going in this year that um Julia has been working on, we have two going to the police two going to the police station, two going to DPW um at the high
school. So all of our schools will have chargers at them in town. Um so they're going to be kind of in strategic locations all throughout town. some dedicated for a municipal use, some open to the public, but those are all chargers that aren't some big capital
costs that we have through the grants. They're they're trivial costs to the town that then we'll have for the public charging. Um the town's not paying for the the cost of that charging for for the public that uses it. And in fact, we'll have a little bit of revenue that
can go back into the maintenance of those. So, um, so it doesn't have to be a huge upfront cost for something like the police station where they may need a DC fast charger if they are ready to start converting their fleet. That would be a bigger cost, but then we can look at some of the other funding
opportunities that that would be available through the state. >> Gotcha. Okay. I think I have a technical question. Lots of coulds for me. I'm going to ask a naive question and I apologize. One of the things we've been discussing on the water side is expansion of population, availability of
utility. We are talking what I would understand generically as an enhancement of the expected use of electricity in the town. From an overall grid and availability perspective, are there any other supplemental concerns and costs we should be considering? I don't want to risk brown outs for the sake of meeting
our sustainable green goals. Can you talk to me about how you've analyzed and built this in as well, please? to that point. Um, we're talking about maybe what 20 vehicles I think over time that are required to follow this policy. So
grid perspective, it's not a load. >> I'm not just thinking about the vehicles at large through the chair. What I am thinking about is the raw consistent draw in the town grid over time. Ideally, as you have noted, there will be people using the chargers commercially. I'm trying to understand
what the potential impact to the broader community is of the vision that you are articulating. I want to make sure there are not potential supplemental infrastructure costs independent from the installation of the chargers which you have been very poignant and articulate about not costing us
anything. I'm sniffing for hidden costs. >> So, we had our consultant at Charge Point come and do an assessment. And at all of the locations that we're currently putting chargers in, there are no updates that are needed.
Occasionally, you need a voltage increase. To do that, there are costs that sometimes Eversource covers. And I want to say that that has been taken into consideration when looking at the long-term cost savings that EVs provide.
>> It sounded like your question was about the town overall rather than the municipal fleet. or am I misunderstanding? >> I so through the chair and I'm I'm doing a poor job. I apologize, gang. I'm trying to generically ask you're overall increasing the draw of a utility in town. The availability of the utility is
a fixed resource. If we increase consumption, we either need to provide more increase voltage etc. I was trying to understand if you were baking that consideration and the broader uptick in infrastructure we might need to support this bigger picture adoption downstream. We have not historically been good at
considering pass through cost. that is not feedback for you >> to that. Um, yeah, power options did an analysis of that for the municipal sites that would be covered by this policy. Um, I do know there are state level programs that are doing huge analyses and I try to be somewhat aware of those,
but it's hard to follow along with everything. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, it's very >> Yeah. Um, my last question, so charges that are going in this year, are those showing up on K's budget? They're not included in anyone's budget
>> because it would be a grant or this grant program. >> They're covered through the Mass EV program. >> Okay. >> That's why we're saying it's costing nothing. >> That money comes in before we even start the project or Right. I'm just And again, I apologize. Like I'm trying to make sure I understand like we're going through a revised budget tonight just
like two and a half weeks before town meeting. So this >> it's not a reimburseable grant. So we would just pay whatever's um out of pocket per se. Um, part of that money is coming out of the municipal aggregation bud budget.
>> Okay. Okay. All right. I I think I am good. >> Again, I appreciate you taking all the questions. It's um it's very helpful. So, and and all the work that you guys have done in general.
>> Thanks, Joe. So, thank you all. >> So, are we looking for a vote tonight? Because >> that's that's up to us. Yeah. Yeah. So, I I'm going to I'm going to look to the board for a motion. >> I'd be happy to make the motion to approve the zero first admission vehicle
policy ased. >> Um I'm going to second that. So, you guys can have a seat. We'll we'll continue discussing as a board. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you guys for coming up. >> Um so, yeah, just kind of thoughts between us. I know there's only three of us tonight discussing this, but
>> yeah, I mean, do we have We don't have the slideshow on our own, do we? Like I can't I saw it when on the screen. >> No, we don't. >> Okay. There was a long list of vehicles that are exempted and I want to make sure we were looking at that. Like anything that carries emergency equipment, fire, police. Um and then um
it sounded to me like all the department heads had reviewed and are comfortable with it now and they weren't comfortable with it last time we reviewed it. So is that fire police, DPW? Do they have the most vehicles? >> That's my understanding. >> Okay. >> It feels too ethereal to me, Joe.
There's too many woulds, coulds, hopes, grants, maybe grants. We just had the Senate state president and Representative D. Rosa here not two meetings ago talking to us about the absolute yo-yo that is the state and federal funding process right now. I agree. This is absolutely a goal for the
community. It's something I absolutely want to support. It is an elective capital expense while we are facing a significant budget deficit coming up. I can appreciate the framing that this will save money in the long term. Too much of this feels intangible at the moment. I support the policy, but there
is too much ambiguity in the allocations here, especially this close to town meeting. I'd really like to see this come back with that hammered further out. I don't think I can support it at this time because I don't know that I can explain it. >> This is not coming to town meeting, is it? Or
>> no, then I definitely can't support it. >> So, um, you know, Elaine Lance, I'm I'm looking for feedback from the town manager's office on on this cuz, um, I think it's come a long ways. I think the exceptions I have a lot more confidence in this than I did previously just to
understand the exception process better. Um and and I think I'm still like a little shaky on more so like if we're sounds like we're already going ahead with chargers but to clarify was that grants we've already received or we're expecting to receive because that
>> so I think um we're expecting to receive them but we have not received them at this point. Um, and I think the the important part is what the way they describe the decision hierarchy, decision tree that's um that's made, you know, looking at EVs first, but that doesn't mean it meets the needs or that
there's the budget for it. >> So, just keep going down the list and then getting what you can afford and what what works for your department. So, I think that helps a lot uh with implementation of this policy because things will change over time. >> Yeah. So, and I apologize everyone, I'm
I'm struggling a little bit. I'm a little slow tonight with this, but um so right now, what's the process for some of these new chargers to be put in? Like like what what does that go through inside of town hall and in the town? I just want to understand that better. And
if you and Julie, you can come up and join us. I'd love to just walk you through please. >> So um we're also very very conscious of you know additional costs to the town. So it just starts with an assessment with power uh charge point, sorry. So,
we had them come with their subcontractor and they took a load. They took a look at the electrical load, if there would be any infrastructure updates that had to be made. And then, um, the following 2 days, what they did is sent us a quote, including what the
rebates would look like. And so, the next process would be us signing off saying, "Okay, please go apply for these rebates on our behalf." Um the next step is the application being in process with mass EVP. So say Mass EVIP says we don't
approve of this project then we just don't move forward. We're not locked into any contract. Um if we get the green light from Mass EVIP and uh we get the grants that we applied for then we would move forward with zero cost incurred to the town.
>> Perfect. And at that point, we have no cost incurred. And like from a decision process, because there's no cost incurred, it just goes through Julia's office, your office. Again, I'm just trying to understand. >> It's just a pass through. >> Yeah. So, I, you know, of course, speak to the department heads, make sure that
they're okay with the locations of the chargers and that it makes sense with their department's needs. Um, and then we go through with it. >> Okay. I said we're not going to buy any ves unless we have a place to charge them. So it's a >> chicken and egg. Yeah.
>> So then all right. Okay. I thank you. This was very helpful because it because it sounds like, you know, there is a lot that has to be done before anything moves forward. This opens us up to more grants, more funding. Um but we still need to go through a process. Um but it
doesn't necessarily go to the residents at town meeting. It goes it would work through town hall. Um, okay. All right. I I think I'm in a better spot with this. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Um, I mean, for me, that was a big one.
I I I wanted to know like what the process was, how it gets approved, like where the costs come from. Understanding that like the rebate would kind of come in first makes me feel a little bit better about it. And then we can't really do the EVs unless we have the charging stations. So, there's some
dominoes there. And you know um so I think from my standpoint you know I I was kind of struggling with this but knowing that you know the way this would the workflow would be knowing that this would open us up to some grants on like the heat pumps the solar stuff with the
schools. I I think I I think I'm more comfortable with this now than I was. So >> the school committee chair has comments if you're willing to entertain them. >> Welcome. Yeah. >> Sorry. I just wanted to point out that the school committee on our capital budget going forward to town meeting this year.
We do have an EV ban um that's going through as a replacement for our special needs van for 18 to 22 program and it's going to need a place to charge >> but as of right now we don't have a place to charge >> we don't have a municipal place. There
are places to charge but they're not owned by the town but not close to the building. >> Yeah. So that that seems a little >> but through the chair here we go again. Why is this being purchased and approved before we've had the conversation here and made the change. I continue to not
understand the intersectionality of the moving parts here. They're ultimately welcome to purchase what they want to purchase, but if they're looking for town infrastructure support, we should be acknowledging the support of that policy and its implementation here. >> I I'm sorry. I support this policy, but
it feels really complex and it does not feel fully baked and discussible at the moment and I am concerned about the process by which it has been brought here. Frankly, I would have enjoyed the opportunity to have had a private conversation about this, seeing the material first and been a little more educated. This is a really complicated
proposal to believe that we can be outwardly digesting in what is supposed to be 10 minutes in an open forum. >> So, so >> I'm a no. You can call the vote when you want. >> Yeah. No, I I I just think it's No, this is an important discussion and I think the big thing for me is, you know,
approval of this policy like we aren't required to do anything right away. Correct. Correct. >> But it does create bureaucracy and complexity in response and we begin a series of hopeful and aspirational revolving doors. We literally had the Senate President and Reparosa here
explaining to us not to count on state funding, not to count on federal funding. And here we are. Amy, any thoughts? >> No. I think like Matt said, we can move to a vote. >> All right, I will look for a vote. Roll call. >> Amy, yes.
>> At Kisner, no. >> Um, we're going to do Joe Clark. Yes. So, thank thank you guys for coming tonight. Appreciate all the back and forth. >> Does that count if we don't have three? >> We're still a majority. >> Okay. Quum. >> All right. Um, so now the board will
move on and hear an update from John Evans, superintendent of schools, Kefir Regional Technical School on enrollment aortionment and the MSBA process. So John, welcome. >> Thanks for your patience, John. >> Good evening everyone. Thank you for having me. John, excuse me. I don't have
much of a voice, but I do have information to share about KEFtech. Um, I'd like to begin by acknowledging and expressing my appreciation to Superintendent Bishop and the staff from Hopkin Public Schools for their ongoing support of families who are considering
our form of education and in particular to the middle school staff who helped to coordinate all the eighth graders coming to make an informed decision about high school. So, in terms of my um presentation, I did submit background material. I don't know if you want me to go through the presentation or just
speak through a couple of points. happy to do either. >> Whatever you'd prefer to do. >> Um it it might be helpful if it was possible to get the PowerPoint on screen. There's only about 40. >> We've got it up. >> Oh, yeah. It's kind of tough for you. It's behind. >> No, it's that's great. Thank you, IT
Wizard. Okay. So, if we can go to the next slide. >> So, just to let um the select board know that across the state there has been a regulatory change for career and technical school admissions. That is a pretty substantial change to what we've done before, which used to be a
merit-based system where we looked at attendance, grades, discipline, sending school recommendations, and an interview. That has changed for all schools in Massachusetts. And in any school where there are more applications than seats, that school district needs
to do a lottery. There are some weights built into the lottery, but quite honestly, they're not very high bars to reach. Um, so every student who lives in a community and is becoming a ninth grader has the ability to get one entry in the lottery. There is an opportunity
for three additional entries to increase the chances of being selected. Those are for a lack of major discipline, a lack of significant unexcused absences, and an expression of interest that could be um exhibited through an interview. So
the vast majority of our applicants had four entries in the lottery. Next slide please. So with this um dramatic change, we had some concerns at Keith Tech about what
would happen for our five communities, one of which is a city that has a substantial number of applications, well over 400 for our 9th grade class, and Hopington is our smallest community. We had a concern that if all entries just
went into the lottery and were pulled, that could result in some significant challenges. So, we wanted to put in uh we worked with the dees and our legal council to try to put in a portionment which are dedicated seats for each of
our member communities. The reason we wanted to do this is to avoid a surge in enrollment for our one city of Framingham and to avoid limited access for our other member communities like Hopkin by having aortioned seats that
would also ensure stability and predictability in our budget by having some predictability in our numbers especially as we approach an MSBA project. We thought that predictability in addition to the benefit of students would be appealing from a financial
perspective. So next slide please. So the calculation that we implemented is based on 3 years of enrollment and the percentage from each community. So we looked at the last three October 1's.
We did a calculation for the percentage that came from each of our communities and we applied it to a seat count. What that resulted in for the town of Hopkin are eight seats out of 233 spots for the
class of 2030. So again, that's eight seats in the freshman class and that if that stayed stable could result in 32 um seats over the four years. So, in terms of some of the details for Hopkin, because we did our lottery just
about a month ago, we had 21 applications from the town of Hopkin, one came in after the lottery deadline and 20 were included in the lottery. We selected eight entries as our aortionment um would indicate. Three of
those um families or students said thank you but no thank you um and declined. So, we moved on to the next three in the list. So we currently have offered admissions to 11 of our 21 applicants and 10 of them remain on our waiting
list. So that um in contrast to Framingham uh just on the other end of the spectrum where we had well over 400 applications we had 172 seats. So the percentages do uh sort of match up in that regard with Hopington being the
smallest. For the next slide please. I just wanted to indicate for the town of Hopkin there has been some concern expressed about why just eight seats but I do want to there is a mathematical answer to that question but also looking back at the last 10 years of Hopkin
enrollment the average is 25.5 and we have never actually had 32 students during that time so there's potential here for that with our current aortionment and as a last comment on aortionment um the way our lottery actually worked It was pretty amazing
and actually quite frankly pretty intense because it happened immediately. It wasn't like drawing. It was just all the numbers came out. We were able to look through our computer program at what would have happened if we did not have a portionment built in. And what we
discovered for this year is that Hopkin instead of having eight seats would have had six um two students doesn't sound like a lot but it's a 25% less if we didn't implement aortionment. So that was our best effort to um try to have
representation for our small member communities in response to a regulatory change that quite frankly we weren't advocating for but we're trying to work with. So that um concludes my overall information for you and I would be happy to answer any questions you have about
this or anything to do with keep. >> Perfect. John, you know, thank you for the time coming in tonight walking us through that. It's very helpful. It's certainly not something that, you know, at least I'll speak for myself that we we think about every day and, you know, I've known numerous people to go through keft over the years. So, it's very
helpful. Um, so I'll just kind of open up to the board thoughts, questions. Amy, >> yeah, I will echo what Joe said that I really appreciate the presentation and in explaining the complexity of the lottery system versus the aortionment um, and how they work together. Um, and it sounds like this a good this is a good solution and I presume like over
time if we had more people from Hington wanting to go as we grow you might the portionment might change and you might reevaluate every so often. >> Yep. There is definitely potential. It will still be based on the enrollment for each years with a look back. Um there is a little bit of nuance that
once we start the school year, if we have a program that isn't subscribed and we open up applications for a later time, if that bumps up a kid or two from a member community, there usually aren't that much. It could bump up the percentage and as a result the aortionment going forward, but it
actually I think will implement some stability um as we pursue the MSBA project we hope to seek approval for in 2028 before we go to bond. the amount paid for the unreimbured expense will be based on three years of percentage
enrollment. So we sort of wanted to use the same language in aortionment that we use in capital cost and we hope that that stability and predictability would be appealing as we go into uh the unknown of a major project. >> Thank you. I have some good friends from Ashlin and Framingham that who've sent
their kids there and really enjoyed the program. So >> that's great. Thank you. I mean, we got to at least hold you briefly accountable for former chair Ted Stone and then we gave him to you on the school committee. So, I suppose you're suffering. Now, I I want to tell the people here it has been absolutely wonderful working with John. I had the
opportunity to go through and tour and just learn more about the story and I will after that loving Joe compliment both Mr. Tedstone and Mr. Sabine St. Pierre for the work that they are doing. I get quite a few updates about what's going on over there and I feel really connected. If you do get the chance,
folks, I recommend going over for lunch. It is the perfect way to see what they are doing over there. You're going to see kids who actually look excited to be at school and trying to learn something. When they engage with you, it's actually a jarring experience for a minute until you realize that it's authentic and
real. I think there is something special happening over there. And as we continue to evolve what it looks like to be successful and to thrive in 2026 and beyond, I think this is an absolutely wonderful resource for our community. So, thank you for being thoughtful and ensuring that there is a way for our children to continue to engage with it
and for being such an open partner as we think about your growth and ours. I really like working with you, sir. >> Very welcome. Thank you. >> Good. >> Brian, thoughts, questions? >> Yeah, I think uh I think we have to defer to John and his professional team
around this issue. Uh it sounds like it's well in hand and I appreciate the efforts to try and balance it out. It's a tough one, but uh I think Chief Tech does a great job on behalf of the all the communities it serves. Thanks. >> Yeah, I I have no additional thoughts or
questions. It was very helpful. So, thank you for bringing this to us, spending the time tonight, and kind of doing everything you guys are doing over there. So, >> thank you for having me and for the ongoing support. Have a good evening. >> Thank you, John. >> Thank you, sir. >> All right. Uh, next the board will
review and consider voting on a revised FY27 budget. Um, Kylo, would you like to join us? Welcome. So, Kylo, you or Lane, who would like to walk us through kind of what what's happened in the last two weeks?
>> I think has been living this more than anyone. >> Yep. So over the last two weeks, we recognized that we have a healthc care um health insurance increased that we were not projecting in our original
estimates. So we started at with our quotes at 24% increase. We were able to negotiate those down to 18%. But in our sources and uses, you'll see that we only um estimated about 9%. So
that left us with a 1.2 2 $1.3 million gap in our budget. So between the town departments and the school department, we scrambled over the past week to see where we could reduce our operating
budgets in a few days. We didn't have time to analyze. Um the school was able to cut some of their operating budgets by about 629,000 and the town was almost 300,000. So we
got to a point where we only are recommending $289,000 in free cash to offset the cap, which is substantial given where we were two weeks ago. So on
the town side, we made reductions in HR, DPW, fire, police, appropriation, reserves, town hall, and the holiday lights to equal that 300,000. And the school did something similar
across the board. So, um, the school committee did approve the reduction in their operating budget last week. We went through appropriations yesterday and again today and now we are um hoping that you all have looked at the revised
budgets and we'll do the same. >> Perfect. Um so thanks for the overview. Obviously, you know, I think it's important to reiterate for everyone like listening at home like this was not something we could have foreseen, right? We've been going through the budget, you know, meticulously for the last couple
of months. Um, and we typically get our estim like our insurance estimate around this time, right? It's, you know, right before town meeting. So, um, like you said, it came in what, 22 24% higher. It's now 18%. Um, so, you know, 1.3 million. It's it's
it's a problem. You know, I appreciate, you know, I saw how much work was going on in the background over the last two weeks between the different departments to work through and figure out a way to close this gap. Um, obviously, you know, 290,000 in free cash, it's it's not the
best case scenario, but I think it's um it's certainly a workable one. I I think, you know, we need to reiterate, especially like going into town meeting, you know, especially these last couple years, we fall on we fall back on free cash a lot, right? But there's uh we can't continue
to do that. This was obviously something, you know, doesn't seem like there was many options to do it. So >> going into next year, we know it's not going to improve. >> Yeah. >> So when we start our estimations or estimating our budget, we will forecast in accordingly.
>> Perfect. Um yeah, I'll kind of look for the board thoughts, questions. Amy, do you want to start? >> Um yeah, I was on the call the other day when we did the budget update, budget advisory group, and then and so we had found that health insurance went up so much because we have so much utilization in town. And I was curious when I was
thinking about it, like I know the insurance that I have, you know, through a big company, they offer these programs that they will give you for free that are fact evidence-based and they can reduce your risk for more expensive things like um, you know, office workers obvious repetitive stress injuries and neck and back injuries. They have
programs that they'll offer you for free to reduce you the likelihood of having to have back surgery or something which would be very expensive. And I'm just curious if our providers offer things like that that would um reduce costs in the long run for people that they wouldn't have to have surgery for things. >> I don't know about um
>> our current provider. >> Yeah, but this insurance advisory council is supposed to start meeting on a regular basis. I'm sure that's something that they can start looking into. >> Okay, that would be great. And are we locked in for a year with this company or for three years or >> it's one year? >> It's a one year. >> Every year. And so our provider does
offer wellness benefits and so forth including gym membership um and other things as you described. So in the last couple of years when we've seen the costs going up, we've increased the wellness uh component of things and it it does some things but it it it's not enough.
>> Not enough. Okay. >> Well, it's it's good for people too. Yeah. Thanks. >> I'm really uncomfortable with this. I my understanding of existing town policy and the language that you you and I are working on crafting right now is that we
are explicitly trying to prevent the use of free cash for operational expense offset. I know you're doing this out of desperation, Kyla. I I pass no judgment. You're doing creative accounting, which is exactly what you've been asked to do, and thank God you were excellent at it. This is not sustainable, folks. I've
been harping up here for my entire term about the deficit we are facing next year and here we are again and we cannot find $300,000 in the budget to cut. Miss Lapier, what is the targeted deficit for last year or for next year as of now just as a ballpark? >> I think it's around 5 million.
>> So we're already looking at 5 million in the hole for next year acknowledging that we haven't even begun to forecast increase cost. Again emphasizing the changes at the state and federal level in budgeting and expected grants. Guys, this is going to continue to get worse. At some point, we actually have to do
something hard. I really take exception to the language used by the chair that there seems like there's nothing we can do. There's absolutely something we can do. You can say no. You can have less. There is a lesson that we teach all of our children and people in our life. I walk through the toy store with a
5-year-old. That little kid is grabby and he wants everything. He doesn't get everything because I can't afford it. He doesn't need it. And it's not good to get everything you want. This community has been getting everything it wanted for so long and it has forgotten what
the cost is that is associated with that gang. The cost is here. You stop me in the streets and you scream about the taxes and the cost of living here. This is how it happens right here. There is something you can do. You can advocate for us to cut the budget. You can say
enough is enough. Challenge us to be better. But we're not going to be if it's easy to just say yes. It is not easy for me to say yes. and I will not. You should expect better. Thank you, >> Brian.
>> Well, um this is not uh it's not necessarily a surprise to me. Um we've had healthc care expense issues come down to the wire like the night before town meeting. Uh uh many of the years I've been on the board. Uh I'm not surprised that there's a change. I'm not
surprised it wasn't an exact forecast. um you know the usage is something that gets figured out over time. So uh bottom line is I've seen this before uh to to Matt's point about the deficits in future years. If you go back 15 years ago and look at the documentation was
presented to town meeting 15 years ago. Every year in the future had deficits. We always have deficits in future years. Why? I don't know but it's just a thing. And we always figure out how to solve that problem. Um so I think the deficits while they're a concern uh that also is
not a new phenomenon and not and and it's not a new issue that we have to address as well. My question is so we on the town in town hall we reduced $300,000 of expenses and we're adding in
another 290 on top of that for about 600k contribution to resolve the issue. Is that a fair statement? >> Yes. And the schools were in around that same dollar figure as their contribution to resolve the issue. >> 630,000 from the school.
>> Okay. All right. I'm good. Thank you. >> Thanks, Brian. Um, yeah, I I I think, you know, for me, the big thing is, you know, as we go to town meeting, like we need to be conscious of everything that we vote on. you know, there's a lot of small things that get passed and
$200,000 here, $200,000 there make a difference. Um, so I think like as a board we need to, you know, and we're going through some of the town meeting articles tonight, but anything that has a dollar value, you know, to Matt's point, you know, we need to scrutinize
those things more. you know, I don't think we we came in with an idea of, you know, you know, providing services to the town and, you know, this forced some departments to cut some things on very short notice. So, we are cognizant of that. Um, but I think, you know, not
just the board, but every resident kind of needs to do their part when we get to town meeting to kind of reel in the rest of these expenses because we can't to just echo what Matt said, we can't continue doing this. It's it's unsustainable. Um >> both the town and school made some hard
decisions especially with the ads to staff. Um we have almost eliminated all of that. >> Yep. >> To the chair. I would want to recognize honestly the work both Kyloas are doing here. I'm I'm speaking harshly and I have my own perspective. I really do
want to acknowledge the collaboration hearing that the schools and the town came up with the exact number. I mean that's great teamwork. That is what we want the community to be doing. That is their expectation of us. I can have a different view on how we spend the money, but I can absolutely respect and recognize the teamwork here. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Um, so I will look for, you know, either a motion from the board if there's further comments. >> Make the motion. >> I move to approve the revised FY27 comprehensive budget. >> Second. >> A motion and a second. Any further
discussion, >> Mr. Chair? >> Yep. >> Uh, when do we have to take this vote? What's the latest day that we can take this? Well, today technically we don't have another meeting prior to annual town meeting. >> We could do it at the night of town meeting, I guess. >> What? >> We could do it at the night of town meeting.
>> Yeah, we could. You mean the morning of convene early, >> but staff will be more prepared if we do it tonight, I think. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I was just thinking Mr. Man's not uh in the meeting and I was hoping that all of us could weigh in on a I understand. Okay, I'm good. Thanks. >> Yeah, Brian.
>> Wanted confirmation that the appropriation committee has also voted on the budget. >> They did. They would be revised. Okay. >> Yes. >> Okay. Yeah. Again, I think we're all going to have to be a little bit more active at town meeting in talking
through some of these things. You know, I think considering the time constraints from when we found this out, how much work you guys did to actually coordinate in the background and get this done in in less than two weeks so that we could, you know, keep all these meetings. Um, >> four days. >> Exa. Exactly.
>> That's all. >> So, yeah. So, I I think it's it's let's put it to a vote. Let's, you know, be more vocal at town meeting about, you know, each and everything that impacts the budget. Um, so we had a motion and a second. So, we will go roll call. Amy
>> Amy Rush. Yes. >> Matt. >> Matt Kisner. No. >> Brian. >> Brian her. Yes. >> And Joe Clark. Yes. All right. Thank you, Kyla, for joining us tonight. >> Thank you, Kyle. >> Could I just add that um I agree with Matt that it's not sustainable. So next
year we will have to look at cutting some services. I don't think there's >> Yep. And through the chair the broader point I'm trying to make is that we always start from where last year's budget ended. The higher that number is the harder the conversation is. I appreciate you echoing. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. I I I mean also just from my
standpoint I think it's you know there's been things that we voted on in previous meetings for and I think those are worth you know reevaluating. >> Yep. >> You're 100% right. >> We don't have a ton of options. I think that getting that approved was, you know, the thing to give everyone the most amount of time.
>> Um, but there's there's more to be discussed. So, with that, we're going to move on and and now the select board will receive an update from the permanent building committee regarding Center School, Elwood School, and the Fruit Street garage. Welcome. Thank you.
As as the chairman mentioned, uh Dan McIntyre, chair of the permanent building committee, as you mentioned, I'm here to give you some background information on three articles that'll be at this year's town meeting. Uh two of them sponsored by the facilities
department for some study funds for Elmwood School, which we'll be inheriting from the school department soon. uh some study funds for the Fruit Street garage and u a CPC article for uh everyone's
favorite project uh center school. We can flip to the next slide. So most of what I'm going to show you tonight is from a 2024 presentation. I think most of you have seen it. I'm not Were you on the board, Matt? I can't
remember. No. and I'm tenuous when I read, so I'll listen along. >> Okay. So, I'm going to go through it pretty quick, but if you have any questions, uh, feel free to to jump in. >> Cheers. >> So, the permanent building committee kind of inherited center school from the
center school reuse committee who recommended that the town keep the center school property as a town asset. And it fell to the PBC to figure out what to put in center school. So we started our approach with a
comprehensive needs analysis. Uh we interviewed every department. Uh we talked to many of the committees. Uh we reviewed the master plan. Uh did public outreach forums and and spoke to the chamber of commerce about what to do
with center school. And then we took those needs and converted them into physical space. And what we realized was that the needs and some might say wants uh far exceeded the physical space we had at center
school. So we expanded our charge to look at all the major town properties uh this building, Fruit Street and Elmwood School and kind of doing a holistic planning approach to addressing our needs. Next slide.
So, these are the major needs that we came up with through our through our outreach. Uh, I'm sure you've seen all these before and you're aware of those. I just want to mention a couple of them. You'll see bullet items two and three, integrated prek and a life skills
program. Those were initially requested by the school uh department to try to get free up space at the schools and put it onto a town property. So we had planned for those in our initial evaluation.
Those two needs have been withdrawn by the school department although they haven't gone away. They may come back in the future. Uh the other bullet item is the facilities and storage and this is really related to uh Fruit Street. Every
single department that we interviewed had need for storage and that ranged from storage of boxes of paper to large bulk items to equipment and vehicles. Uh this is stuff that's not used very
often, but it needs to be protected and ready so when it is called into service, it's available. Next slide. So, as I mentioned, we took all that information and we did a master planning of the four sites
in town and came up with four different scenarios on how to uh space all these needs out. Uh, next slide. So option A is pretty much what the center school reuse committee uh came up
with and that is essentially a split of town hall between this building and center school. So we'll relieve some of the congestion in this building, send departments over to center school and uh and work it out that way. That still
leaves what to do with Elmwood School. So, one of the things was that it could be remain as is and used for additional programs. There's a perfectly fine gym over there that parks and recck would love to get into. There's plenty of room
over there that they can do for programming. So, there's that option. Uh the other option is just to uh demo the building and bank the land for future generations needs. uh cuz they're
not making land anymore and uh the town could be in need for land in future for needs that we don't even know about yet. And then the third option is just outright sell it and try to uh obtain some cash for it.
Uh with respect to Fruit Street under this scenario, uh we think Fruit Street is best suited for uh recreation and the storage needs. Uh so we were looking at a new gymnasium over there to replace the center school
gymnasium. Uh a new building for storage and uh and facilities department. And then of course the uh the affordable housing need which comes up in every need study uh was already planned for in the fruit street master plan. So we
didn't make any changes to that. So with respect to this planning, let me just mention that when we did this, we did this with blinders on. We just looked at what we needed to do to meet the needs uh without looking at other
things. But we know in the future we're going to have to take those blinders off and look at cost, look at taxes, look at debt. Um, so with respect to Fruit Street and the storage issue, uh, we were just planning on a new building
over there. Uh, but the article that Dave Del Toro was sponsoring at this town meeting, uh, we think is a more practical solution to upgrade the existing storage building over there, uh, before it deteriorates so much that it's unusable.
So, we support the I think it's $35,000 for a study over there to see what we can do to upgrade that particular building uh to meet that storage need. Uh, next slide. Option B would be to um expand this
current building with an addition out toward the back. Uh this came up as a comment in the public outreach. Uh we looked at it, but we found it's really not a practical solution. Uh it
gives us some more space, but doesn't really address all the space needs and it doesn't address the parking needs at all. So, we didn't spend a whole lot of time on this particular option. Uh next slide. This is um where we take all of the town
services and essentially build a new town hall at center school. Um that would require uh renovation of portions of the existing building and probably construction of new building to get the required space over there.
Um that fulfills the Senate School Reuse Committee's uh desire to keep the property. Uh but then we decide what to do with this particular building. Uh we had a few options for that. One is to move the school administration from their lease
space into this building. Uh that was another option that came up during the public outreach in an effort to save uh lease payments and and operating budget just to move the school administration into an existing building. Another
option would be to uh sell town hall. Uh and another option would be to renovate it for affordable housing. Uh we did meet with the housing authority. Uh and they certainly have interest in expanding their uh uh their availability
of housing, but again they don't they don't have any money to do it either. Uh Elmwood and Fruit Street would be essentially the same as I described on the other option. A uh finally the next next slide please.
The last option we looked at is the um Elmwood option which essentially moved Town Hall into Elmwood School. Uh that's a very large building. That's about 78,000 square ft. Um more than we
need to accommodate uh existing needs and future needs for town services. Uh it's 19 acres over there. So there's plenty of room to expand and and uh do whatever we want over there. That leaves again this building. Uh it
could be school administration, it could be sold, it could be affordable housing. Uh same as center school. Uh probably most likely uh thing for center school under that scenario would be to sell it.
And then uh Fruit Street was really just affordable housing because Elmwood school would be big enough to supply all our storage needs over at Elmwood as well. So that's real quickly. Those are the four scenarios we came up with.
Uh next slide. So, focusing on Elmwood, which is one of the articles that uh Dave Del Toro has at this town meeting for a study of what to do with Elwood once um the school moves out. Now, the permanent building
committee has already done some of the leg work on this one. Uh and we know that it's a it's a big expense to do anything in school. We're looking at at least $50 million to move town hall over there. So that's a that's a big chunk of money
that no one has an appetite to to spend. Uh next slide. Uh the PBC also looked at selling Elmwood and uh some of these numbers we came from the uh center school. As you
recall, we actually put the center school on the market. We hired an independent appraiser to come up with a the appraisal of that. We talked to real estate professionals to give us the valuation of what the highest and best use of that property was.
Uh and we came up with um three different scenarios for Elmwood School using the center school budget numbers. Currently, Elmwood is zoned for single family uh acre and a half zoning over there. So, we're looking at under current
zoning about 10 lots at about $100,000 per lot or an evaluation of about a million dollars if we sold it as is in order to uh reap the biggest benefit at Elmwood would be to reszone it for
multif family housing. We think reasonably the highest amount of units we get over there is about $142 which would result in about a value of about $11 million.
We also looked at a third option which is a lower density and and really density is going to relate directly to the value of the property. uh we came up with a density of 66 units uh based on the current density of the
other u multif family developments on Elmwood. There's Apple Apple Tree and Indian Hill uh they have a density of about 3 and a half to four units per acre. So we applied that to Elmwood and we came up with 66 units and a value of
a little over $5 million. But same thing's going to happen at Elmwood as it what we learned at center school. Uh when developers take a look at this, they're going to look at the demolition cost. They're going to look at the
hazardous materials. Uh just like center school, we've got about a million dollars of hazardous materials at Elwood that needs to be uh taken care of. Uh and these costs are going to be reflected in whatever bids we receive on that property. So, if we went with
multif family housing at 66 units, we think the town might might achieve $2 million from that. That's optimistic. Um, if you recall what we learned at center school was, uh, we only received two bids on that
property and none of them came close to our appraisals. So, the same thing may happen at Elmwood. Uh, next slide. Uh but we still think it's worth going through with this $75,000 request from the facilities department to refine
these options at Elwood School. Uh so the town can start to plan on that once the school leaves it. Otherwise, it's going to end up with center school where it's been going on for 10 plus years and nothing's happened on that one.
So, these are some of the things that um Dave is planning on doing with that money uh and probably with the assistance of the permanent building committee. Any any questions on those two articles before I move to center school? >> Okay.
>> I don't think so. >> Um Oh, I lost my slides. But, uh next slide. So last year we received $600,000 in funding from CPC to start on the architectural uh design of center
school. Uh so far we've uh we're 100% complete complete with the schematic design. We've done a schematic design cost estimate. Uh we've met with sustainable green committee. We've met with historic. Uh we're setting up a meeting with the
disability commission to talk to them as soon as we get a little more work done on the site. Uh and we've applied for a certificate appropriateness to the historic district commission for the demolition >> of the of the back part only. Correct. >> What's that? >> The back part only. Correct.
>> Of the back part. Yes. Thank you. The whole project is a renovation of the 1928 section. There's a there's a rendering of it there. uh the 1928 section. The exterior remains pretty much the same. We're putting a addition on the back which
will house an entrance lobby and the elevator shaft so we have access up to the second and third floors. Uh in addition to what the PBC's been doing, uh the town and the Hopkins
Center for the Arts has had a lot of activity going on there. We've uh submitted u u applications for earmark funding and some grants, the onetop grant and an earmark through Senator Marks and Warren's office.
Uh we've finalizing the lease agreement with HCA so they can help uh with their fundraising and help pay for this. And uh once they have that signed lease, that's going to really kick off their whole fundraising um
campaign. So, I I can't take credit for any of this. Most of the heavy lifting of this went to Lance, uh Julia, who was here earlier, uh Dave Del Toro, and Kelly Grill at the uh HCA.
Next slide. So, I wanted to discuss this with you tonight. Uh this is the schematic design estimate that the architect came up with for the rehabilitation of the 1928 section section.
Uh I came to you last year with a $10 million budget estimate. Um coming tonight with an estimate of about $16.8 million. Now, we specifically set up our AE services contract to do a schematic
design phase before we go into a detailed design phase because we wanted to get uh this more accurate estimate than the budget estimate. So, when we go into the next detailed design phase, we know where we need to focus on to try to
bring those costs back down. Now, we've highlighted a couple of things in this smaller table below. Our budget estimate uh was carrying about $400,000 to repair the slate roof and do some other roofing work on the addition.
Uh it appears now that the slate roof is in worse condition than was anticipated and we now are budging a full replacement of that slate roof. We need to do a little more inspection on that. Um, there's some conflicting
data on that roof. It was the subject of a previous Tom Meeting article to replace it back in 2009, I believe. And like I say, there's some conflicting data on that. There's some data that shows it was replaced. There's some data that shows it wasn't replaced. Uh, but
our visual inspection shows that there's some issues with it. And we're going to spend a little more time on that. We're actually going to get uh somebody up on the roof to do a more detailed inspection of the slates uh to make sure we really need to replace the whole thing.
HVAC was another issue on the cost. It's more than double what we had budgeted for. Um some of that might be related to uh the all electric uh uh design that's currently incorporated into that. And as
I said, we met with the sustainable green committee. You know, they're all for that type of design, but we have directed our architect and mechanical engineer to go back and do a kind of a life cycle cost of both an all-electric option and kind of a flex option between
fossil fuel and electric. Uh the main concern in addition to initial capital cost is operating cost down the road. We think the electric might be very expensive uh for a 100-y old building that we can't really tighten up as well
as say the new marathon school. And then there's a few things that just weren't included in the initial budget because it's more of a gross budget and didn't get into that kind of details. But um you know, town planning
requirements require EV charging stations. Uh we've adopted the stretch code, so we need to uh pre-wire the building for solar. Uh the facilities department really would like to put a generator there so this can be an emergency shelter in the
future. And then um the whole electronic safety and security thing. Uh you know, that all adds up to a few hundred,000 that we need to uh evaluate to make sure we're actually going to put that in there.
So that's the that's the quick update. The article for Senate School at this town meeting is used to use CPC money, excuse me, use CPC money to demolish the 1950s and 1980s section.
uh that cleans up all the hazardous materials uh and makes the next phase when we do ever get to construction when the money's available for that uh there'll be rest less risk for the contractor knowing that the demo's done and it's a
clean site there's no hazardous materials there. So, we expect the next phase to be, you know, better bidding than uh than we hope if if they had to do the uh demo at that phase as well. So, we we'd like everybody's support to
uh do the demo now and get that taken care of. With that, I'll turn it over for questions. >> Um, thank you. So, a lot of information here. It's very helpful to see it all kind of laid out together from school to school.
Um, you know, obviously the incre like a 68% increase is on the estimate is very concerning. I don't think anyone foresaw that coming. Um, so I'll kind of look to the board. Amy, you want to start thoughts, questions? >> Sure. No, I appreciate all the new
updated information. Um, so I I think what I've heard in previous meetings before too that the tearing down of the back part really has to happen because of all the um hazardous materials and we just have to kind of do that regardless. But I just want to make sure that that wouldn't get knocked down and it would leave the other part of the building
open to the elements or that it could like if we say we couldn't afford to do the renovation for a while. >> You do the demolition the rest of the building will be protected. >> Yeah. Where the where the connection between the 1950s edition and the 1928
building um there'll be an open area there that we'll have to put in temporary cladding there to make it weathertight. >> So they will seal it for >> they will seal it. Okay. Thank you. And I think um I'm really glad that we're planning for Elmwood School now because I think we waited too long to start planning for Center school. So I I
support that small amount for the study to figure out what we can best do with Elmwood. And similarly for the Fruit Street because that's an area at Fruit Street. That building really is in rough shape. And I understand we need to >> to figure out what we can do. What are our options? >> And you're coming to historic district
about the slates I think next week, right? >> What was that? >> Are you coming to the historic district commission next week about the slates? Is it next week? >> I think so. >> Okay. Yep. >> All right. >> Good. >> Mhm. >> Matt, >> thank you. So, I will once again call
attention to future board agenda item H, planning discussion, strategic plan, open space, master plan. I am absolutely desperate to have all the different groups who are trying to iterate and develop in our town come and have a coherent singular conversation with the board. It is incredibly difficult to follow at peace meal. I share Joe's
concern and I'm impressed with his quick math on that 68%. That's obviously a wild expansion in costs. However, this is one where I don't actually feel like I'm allowed to have a lot of fiscal discipline. The community has made it abundantly clear a number of times at town meeting. They want the school to
stand up. They want to see it be repurposed. They want to see it be preserved on the common and they would really like it if it was used for community benefit. That's not how I would have done it, but I am elected and I represent them. I feel like their voice is uber clear on this. So, I appreciate the plan and that it's moving
forward. I'm concerned about the cost, but it feels well in line with what the intention of the community is on Elmwood. I really want to echo Amy's comments. I really appreciate that we are starting to have the conversation now. Where you caught my attention was when you started talking about it almost
like the administrative complex of the town or at least the potential for it to be. We lost that opportunity with legacy when we ultimately went the way we did with the land. And we're still scrambling to find an area where we can centralize and build out town services.
I really like that we are potentially thinking about this as a space that can not only be a centralization of town services, but a ready expansion both of the existing footprint as well as the space there. If I ever see that strategic open space plan, I think we could probably do some creative things
with those 19 acres. So, I would be in support of that. But I really do want to encourage you to be thinking big. I know we don't want to be doing capex projects here. The reality is there are a number of major town buildings and infrastructures that are not fit for purpose. We need to be thinking
creatively and conservatively from a finance perspective about how we address that. I think your solution there looks like an interesting one. I will look forward to hearing more. But I really do want to applaud you for asking a hard question early and being very creative and upfront that you are in solutions
and you are looking and listening to the community. I think it's a really good example of leadership and I appreciate the work you brought forward today. Confusing though it was. Thank you. And uh I'm committed to be next time I'm before you, I'm committed
to bring that 16.8 million number down. Uh, I don't want to give you the impression that it's ever going to get back to $10 million. Uh, but I'm committed to bringing in less than 16.8. So, thank you very much. >> I'm going to let Brian go see if Brian has any comments for you.
>> I'm sure he does. >> You're not off the hook that easily. >> Yeah. Uh, hey Dan, how you doing? >> Good. Good. >> Good. Um, yeah, I, you know, I I struggle with the center school process and the number increase. I'm not surprised being in the industry. Um,
you know, I do think we can still get this thing done uh through a private public venture uh where we preserve that building uh in its glory and still do something with the site that makes a private uh entity interested in working with us. Um, and I think we could
probably convince more people in town given where we are headed financially and given all the other expenses we've got coming at us here for several years. Otherwise, if we stay the course, okay, but we're just not going to have the money. So, it's only going to get worse
as time goes on, as it sits there idle. But, uh, I do appreciate the update and look forward to the discussion at town meeting. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Brian. >> Good. So, thank you. We appreciate it. We We'll be seeing you again. >> Too much of a rush to get out of here >> a little bit.
>> We were friendly. >> No, thank you. Um, all right. Yeah, it's great information. >> Moving on, the board will consider reviewing motions, taking positions on articles, and voting to sign the warrant. Select board will also consider discussing its town meeting presentations. Um, select board will
consider recommending acceptance of Lynen Street as a public way per article 33 >> through the chair. Since we're running late, would it be better to take the disclosure form next? I think there people are here for that, right? >> Those are all my neighbors on Lynden Street. >> Oh, okay. So, they're here for the town
meeting article. Okay. Unless is here. >> I I will echo Amy here if I can ask and indulge my neighbors here for another minute. I think this will be a relatively quick conversation. We're going to be on town meeting articles for a little bit. So, I would second I would second a motion to adjust and move to
the disclosure form. >> It's it's Joe's decision, I think, really. Right. Yeah. >> Yeah. I'm good. I'm good to do with that because I think we, you know, need to spend some time on the town meeting stuff. So, okay. Happy to move on to the financial interests related to concom. So instead, the board will consider
reviewing a financial interest disclosure form submitted by Melissa Ricos, the chair of the conservation commission to request a termination on whether she may participate in chair hearings for the conservation commission where her employer ty bond is providing engineering consulting services to the town's department of public works. board
will consider determining whether the interest is not so substantial as to deemed likely to affect the integrity of the services which the town may expect from Melissa Ricos. So Melissa, welcome. >> Hi, thank you. Melissa, 68 Ash Street, chair of the Huffington Conservation
Commission, been on the board for about 15 years. Um, and about a year and a half ago, I switched jobs and joined Tybon as an engineering consultant. Um, so this just came up because at one of
our last meetings, um, DPW presented, um, on the townwide maintenance plan that they that they had when I started at Tyen Bond, you know, obviously I'm I'm in the industry and that's one of the things why I'm interested on the board. Um, and I had told Tyenbond, I'm
not participating in any Hopington projects. I'm a resident. I'm on the board. Um, made that clear and it's a 600 person company. Um, so I just do a small portion of the work there and don't need to be involved in in those projects. Um, so it came up the last
meeting and I I called the ethics committee. Their direction was to either recuse myself um from the hearings or submit this form to the board if I felt you know I could act impartially um which would be my preference but you
know there are two options there so that's why I'm here tonight. >> Perfect. Well, welcome. You know, thank you for the overview. Um, I think, you know, before I go to the board, like Elaine, I think we've had some of these things like this come up before, right? It's, you know, historically we've we've
gone down that path. I think it's more than appropriate, like you said, it's it's a large company. It's not, you know, like there's five of you in in the company and everyone kind of touches every every project. So, um, like I'll just kind of open it up, see how everyone feels.
>> Yeah. So, I'm reading the form now. Um and so it looks like um so if let's see so sometimes you would recuse yourself if you had been working on the project correct work >> um I I very specifically do not work on
Hopington projects end of story or time bond um so I am just looking for this because time has a history of working with the DPW long before I joined their company um so I know time to time these projects will likely come up so I'm just
asking looking not for a particular project um more looking for the decision you know to be universal for any projects if that's amendable >> okay >> yeah I'd like Sorry Amy
>> go ahead >> I'd like to see you recuse uh both Brian and I routinely recuse up here Brian for solar I actually recused I think two sessions ago when a bulk chemical company was talking about doing work in town I work for Teada Pharmaceuticals I promise you a bulk chemical company is
not a competitor to teada pharmaceuticals. I didn't want to have the conversation. I didn't want any appearance of impropriety and I certainly didn't want to answer the conversation at work in a company of 600. While I can respect that you are not doing the work, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. And I don't think you should put yourself in a
position in which your personal enrichment being the success of the company large allows your decision-m to be called into question. And I want to be clear. I have seen no evidence to suggest your decision-making has been impacted or called into question. Please don't hear it as an accusation. I'm offering this to you as preventative
advice. When in doubt, recuse. The community always forgives when you are trying to avoid the appearance of impropriy. I think you can still be more effect more than effective. Mr. Her has shown you can be the chair of the select board while walking out on a major topic that the town routinely discusses on. I
don't think it impacted us or him. That would be my preference and perspective. >> Brian, >> yeah, I I I I agree with Matt. I think we you should be really careful here. I appreciate you coming forward and raising the question. Uh, thank you very
much for that. Um, but I'm in the solar development industry. Brian, we're losing you. I don't know if you're still in the car, but you hit a dead zone. >> And the second somebody says of course. >> Yeah, it looks like now. Sorry.
>> Yeah, you're going in and out a little bit, Brandon. >> Yep, we can hear you. >> Yeah, I think she should recuse for her own safety. >> Yeah, I think it's I think it's best that she recusees. I do it all the time as y'all know. And uh you know uh people
can form uh opinions and create perceptions and or misperceptions which are basically the same thing uh over almost anything these days and I just think it's really important that you recuse to avoid anything that could come up. Thank you. >> Yeah, that kind of makes sense. It's you
know I I agree with that. You know there's there's some concerns there and stuff and we don't want you in any position. Um, but we certainly appreciate all the work with the concom, right? And I love that, you know, you spent, what' you say, 15 years? >> Yeah. >> With the concom. >> Thank you.
>> Yeah. I mean, we just need we need more people that spend time like that volunteering in town. Um, so with that, I will look for a motion from the board. Well, the way it's filled out, I believe, is that um she's disclosing the
the conflict, but um it doesn't say whether or that she would necessarily recuse. Is that right? >> I I can still recuse. Yes, when I spoke to um the group, I can recuse myself. I just will make my board aware of that. It came up the other day because there
was a potential quorum issue. So, >> oh, >> I was thinking of it in in in that way. Um but you know obviously we all function in this in this realm and you know just be more proactive about making
sure when these are on the agenda um you know informing the board we need to be there um and be present. So >> perfect. >> That was the concern. >> Yeah. No, makes sense Elaine. So kind of what's the recommendation here on the
>> unsuggested motion but is there alternative? I mean, you could make a positive motion and then not vote in favor of it or you could just not act on it at all. >> I just think I would So, through the chair, I would suggest we don't act on it at all. I think we've given it incredibly clear guidance and it seems like we have an alignment here.
>> Well, I'm not sure if we've been incredibly clear, but so we I think we're very happy to have her still be the chair of the conservation commission. It's just that when her company, she would defer to the vice chair when um or recuse herself when needed. I recuse myself whenever
>> um Tybot is presenting on behalf of the town or in general. Yeah, >> I found that incredibly clear. >> So, are we kind of comfortable with like what that motion should look like then? >> So, we've received her disclosure and we're not going to vote on it. Is that >> So, in the on the form, that's the
determination sign. So that's what you'd be determining that the financial interest is not so substantial as to be deemed likely to affect the integrity of the services that are provided by by Miss ROS. Um so that's that's the motion that you would vote on if um if you're
acting on the request. >> And a no would essentially be through the chair. No would be us saying that we believe there is potential impact. >> Correct. >> All right. Right. So then >> and that but that the no would still allow her to chair the board and recuse herself >> only related >> only when needed. Yeah. >> Just want to be clear about that.
>> It's makes sense. >> Yes, that's my understanding. >> Okay. So then in that case through Joe I move to determine that the financial interest is not so substantial as to be deemed likely to affect the integrity of the services which the town may expect from Melissa Rico. >> Second. >> Got motion. A second. Do we have any
further discussion? >> No. >> Roll call. >> Amy Rush. No. I really appreciate you doing the chair work. >> No, thanks for taking >> this is a best practice and I hope people see it that way. Matt Kisner, no. >> Brian, >> Brian her, no.
>> And Joe Clark, no. Thank you for coming up doing this. We look forward to continuing your work on the concom. >> No, thank you all. >> So, thank you, Melissa. >> All right. Um, so moving on, we're going to go back
to the annual town meeting. um consider reviewing motions, taking positions on his articles, and voting to sign the warrant. Um I think in the interest of time, and we have some residents here, I know there's we got Lynen Street represented. Um so I I I'd love to kind
of start there so that we can help help with our with our neighbors here. >> Goons, I love you guys. >> It's like 10 houses on the street. This is like 20% of the population. Come on up, guys.
>> Yeah, >> come join us. >> In the event there are questions. Sorry, Joe. >> Yeah. >> So, um I I forget since I was not present last time. >> We had the we had the public hearing. Can you guys just kind of recap where we left with Lynen Street? >> I I'll take a I'll take a swing
>> because it's not a public hearing tonight. Correct. >> Yes. >> Correct. It's not. >> So, I'll take a swing, gang. Jump me ahead as you see fit. So, we had a discussion last time around what I would call the right of way. Essentially, the linen street is built on an old rail bed. In theory, the town has the ability
to take from 66 ft from the center. There was some obvious concern from the residents because that would essentially be West Main Street. So, the town the town had sent some drawings essentially that 66 ft was on there and I think it caused some churn with the residents about what it was going to look like.
So, I had some conversations with Director Reid, circling back and getting back to all of you here. Now, the town has absolutely no intention of widening the road. They would very much like to maintain it as it is if the town votes in favor of supporting the water main replacement project. Ultimately, that is
the driver for ripping up and repairing the roads, and that has benefits from a town safety perspective. We've gotten feedback about the fire hydrant and just general utility. There is also some drainage and culvert work that they want to do that would be part of this as well. So from a tou perspective it is an
acceptance of the street meaning the town agrees to maintain plow continue to provide services as part of that because it's associated with this project. There would be a repaving of the street and enhancement of the water man. I believe it is a fire hydrant install and an
upgrade and assumed ownership of the culvert. I'm going to defer to Elaine then to understand if we had any further concerns from a council perspective, but I think we ended the conversation last time with the town is ultimately always welcome to assert right of domain. We would have to have conversations about
what purchase of land would look like, but ultimately it's city hall usually wins when you fight city hall. Have I done a remotely decent job of summarizing this, Miss Lazarus? >> Yep. >> Poet. And I did reach out to town council um asking about the u the issues
that came up with regarding the taking becoming a public way. Uh so uh Jay Telman responded that because it's an old railroad this complicates the matter. Um ownership can be tricky if the title isn't clear and if that's the case then the process to gain title can be arduous. Uh just because it's an old
railroad and this happens everywhere. Uh he wouldn't want to engage in a taking unless the title is clear. If the land is to be donated, he recommends that a full title be done ideally by the owner, and some owners may have already done this in the past. Um, and a vote could require that, but it could also be required without a vote of town of the
select board or the town meeting. Uh, once town meeting votes to accept the way, there's 120 days to get everything done and filed at the registry. Um, so that clear title work would have to be done very quickly. Um and um if we don't think there's enough time for that um
then it would have to be another year perhaps. >> Okay. So I'm gonna through the chair I'm going to brave translation there. So it sounds like you're saying if the people of Lynen Street essentially donate what is the existing road to the town there is no cost to the town and no cost to them and it significantly lowers the bar
of complexity from a title and deed perspective. And to the people of Lynen Street, it sounds like this would be land that you might theoretically have some claim to, but has largely been your street the entire time I've known you. Hopefully, you would see it that way as well if we were to continue a further
conversation there. >> Got you. >> And um this one's already been in front of planning board, correct? >> Yes. Planning board uh recommends approval. >> And so we deferred Joe because we wanted to get clarity from the town council because that issue came up about title.
>> Perfect. Um, and this is not a public hearing, but I'd love to quickly hear just from all of you. You know, you made the time tonight. You're the residents. Love to hear your opinions quickly. Dave CP 8 Linda Street. I've lived on
Linda Street for about 25 26 years. The water line has been a problem for years. It's an old steel water line and it's very corroded inside. I've seen that water water line repaired probably at least 15 20 times. I don't drink the water because triple
filters and you'd be amazed how I change the filters every 3 months because the rust inside that water line. Not saying just when it comes down it's plastic pipe coming down Curtis, but it is a steel water line from Curtis to I'm the last house on the line and it it it
breaks all the time. It just needs to be repaired and I'm concerned about drinking it. I don't drink it. It's just a health issue. You know what I mean? because I don't it's just there's something going on that water line with the corrosion. That's my main concern and I'm glad it's only taken me 20 years
to get to this point and I appreciate it. You know the street needs to be repaired too and the drainage. I understand about the drainage and everything else. It makes perfect sense. So I'm all for it and I think the other neighbors are also. >> Anyone disagree with that?
>> Peter Mez at 10 Lynden Street. Yeah, that was a good point about the water. We don't have it. We're the last two and we're okay not extending it, but I don't know what the town would want to do. Um, the width of the road was the main issue that Kevin Olari brought up. I think he'd be happy to see that it's not going
to go 33 ft in each direction. In >> fact, the existing culver should remain. Maybe it needs cleaning up. It's only at the point in front of your house where it crosses under that you got to watch out. definitely is corroded andor broken because I have had flooding coming up from my lawn from that pipe underneath.
>> Yep. >> Like >> start doing your research on the water man replacement project gang because that needs to pass. >> Water man and the culvert that runs both above and below ground um on one side of the road. If both of those are taken
care of, definitely all for it. >> Perfect. Well, again, I appreciate you guys coming sticking around for a little while. I just wanted to while you made the time, we of course love to hear from you. >> I just have a question on um >> kind of the notification to residents because we represent a lot of the street
but we're not 100%. There are a couple two neighbors that aren't here. >> Um how is that communi will there be anything communicated to them specifically in writing or >> so you're all notified as potentially impacted butters is my understanding which is how we kind of got here to
begin with. >> Yeah. Everyone, every a butter was uh notified of the public hearing on April 7th. >> Yes. When and that's why most of us responded. So if it is accepted at town meeting as a public way is that it and sort of then the work will start some
additional communication but we'll start working on that the process right away. >> And I want to really emphasize to you again it is not the acceptance of it as a public way. It is the approval of the water main replacement project. There is absolutely no money for any of this work if that doesn't pass. I know that doesn't impact how the board is going to
discuss it here, but as people who will be concerned and trying to think about how to talk to your neighbors about this and why they should support it, I want you to understand these things are very linked. >> It's a water replacement project. That's what it's been from the beginning. >> Yes. >> But you us accepting the road and the
money to do that >> part and parcel. >> Y I understand. >> So if the water made project doesn't go ahead public way or not, it doesn't matter. >> Bingo. And through the chair, if I can, I just want to say thank you. And I want to really emphasize this to other residents. There are an awful lot of small historical back roads, not well
paved. This is how you move the select board. You show up, you sit here for 2 hours, and you make it clear your voice is going to be heard. I've also gotten a number of emails from these people, some of whom are not here. They have been very loud in a non-hostile way. They have made it clear they needed to be
engaged with. You're seeing what happens. Perfect. >> Thank you for your support, Matt. >> Thank you all. >> I just want >> Thank you. >> that we could go ahead and accept the road without the water main project if the vote of town meeting is an independent vote. >> Yeah. Yeah. We just won't have any money
to do anything. >> I got a quick question. If this doesn't pass, who is going to be responsible for repairing the the water line when it keeps breaking in fixing the road for if this I'm just asking if this does not
I'm just curious because right now they don't come down and pave and repair the road. I pave the road. I repair the road. You know, the potholes and everything else. I call it they don't come down. They come down Curtis because it's not accepted. I understand. >> Yeah. But in the future, if this does not pass, how would you in the plowing?
How do we address that? I'm just >> So, we got to lose our services. >> Do we have a clear answer for that? >> I mean, it's not a public way now, so it'll be continuing what occurs now. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Y >> I was just curious. >> Yep. That's a good question, dude. All
right. Um, well, I appreciate >> you. Get another year always, too. If there's comfortable, I would I would make a motion in support of article 33. >> A second. >> Got motion and a second. >> There's the we included it here, but
there's a vote to lay out the way. >> Oh, is the motion >> Oh, I sorry. I could only see what was on the screen above me. Look at the last meeting. >> Yeah. >> Thank you for making the time for them, Joe.
>> So, it's um to recommend that the annual town meeting vote to accept Lynen Street as and for public way and to authorize the select board to acquire by gift, purchase, or eminent domain any land or interest in land necessary for such laying out. >> Okay. So, move that. Second.
>> Okay. So, we've got a motion and a second. Um, any further discussion? Brian, you still out there? >> Yeah. Can you hear me? Okay, >> we can. Yes. >> Yeah. I'm sorry about this. Just tough right here. Um, so is Mr. Olirri satisfied with where we are right now?
That was my big concern last week. >> He >> Yeah, he's not here, Brian. We can only frame to you that the majority of the concern was that we were going to actually expand the road and try to take what was the full allowance. And we've
been trying to make it really clear our intention is just if everything is approved to repave the road as stands. No change to existing allocation. >> Okay. Thank you. I'm good. >> Okay. Um so then roll call. >> Amir Bush. Yes.
>> Patner. Yes. Brian. >> Brian her. Yes. >> And Joe Clark. Yes. Thank you all for making the time tonight. >> May 2nd, Saturday morning. >> Eyes. >> All right. >> Thanks, gang. >> Let's Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you for waiting.
>> All right. So, um, we did that one, you know, while we had residents in the room. I think, you know, a couple of these things we got to move through. Um, obviously Elaine and Lance, we had a discussion today around, um, you know, putting these on the consent agenda for
town meeting. I think there's a few. Were any of these ones on here on the consent agenda? I'm trying to recall. If I could just uh real quick, you know, one of the most important things we want to do tonight is the signing and
approving of the warrant for the 2026 annual town meeting. Um then I would maybe let's would it make sense to start there, Elaine, you think, and then get into the recommendations? I don't think at this point the board is considering removing any articles. um from town meetings. So that this is probably the
most important vote to take this evening. And then yes, we don't want to get the rest of the recommendations done uh to be included in the warrant motions document. However, if a decision isn't made on some of those recommendations, it could wait till town meeting theoretically. Ideally, it'd be good to get them done
tonight. >> Accomplish everything this evening. >> Yes. >> But the most important thing is >> posted before your next before you meet. >> Correct. So >> to see that motion. Yeah. So, I I neglected to put that in the script. I apologize.
>> That's on me. Um, so it's really just a motion to approve the warrant for the 2026 annual town meeting. >> Make a motion to approve the warrant >> and to sign. Yeah. >> 2026 annual town meeting and to and to sign the warrant. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Any discussion on
that? >> No. I think Ocielloa was the only one that we were kind of wobble on and we made a very real decision in your absence that we were going to say yes to ultimately give the opportunity to the community. I don't I don't think there's anything else that we were concerned about.
>> How about the fingerprint fingerprinting one? >> Uh >> I think we did vote on that last time. >> So once you vote to approve the warrant, the warrant is the warrant and it'll go and then we can talk about all the articles >> about like our recommendations there. >> Yeah. because I don't want to remove
that. To Brian's point, I don't want to remove that one from the warrant, but I absolutely still want to hear discussion on it. >> Yeah. I I I think, you know, my my opinion in general, especially considering the revised budget tonight is and and in the in the interest of time, we need to move forward with the
warrant, bring everything to town meeting. Um you know, we right after we do this, we can have discussions around whether we actually recommend things. Um and then we can continue that, you know, right at the beginning of town meeting, right? We we talked about that today as an option if we need to like we'll be
convened the second town meeting starts, but if the town is looking for, you know, an updated opinion from the select board, you know, we can do that pretty quickly at town meeting. So, I think between tonight, >> but I don't see any reason to take stuff off no tonight. It just doesn't make
sense. So, um I mean, we already have a motion and a second. Do we have any other thoughts against that? Because I'd like to put it to a vote. I'm good. >> Brian, >> I'm I'm good. >> Okay. Uh, roll call. Amy >> Amy Renbush. Yes. >> Matt Kisner. Yes. Brian.
>> Brian her. Yes. >> And Joe Clark. Yes. So, it's not on here, but we have approved and signed the warrant in the process of signing the warrant. So, now we can kind of go through some of those things. >> Some require our our motion on them,
right? Or our recommendation, right? Mhm. >> Does everyone listed on here on the motions article require select board recommendation? >> Is it >> uh Yes. So those should be the remaining >> that require it. >> Yep. They require it. >> I'm looking at this one. Do you see? Did
we get we got that one today? It has which one we already recommended and which one we haven't recommended or >> the matrix. >> The matrix. >> The matrix. >> I'm just I'm looking at the motion doc because the motion doc has the required racks in it. >> Hang on. matrix does have an updated um if it
helps it has the recommendations that have been made thus far from uh other committees and boards. >> All right. Do we want to go through that one? >> Okay. So, it looks like the first one number six, the FY27 operating budget requires our
>> Yep. >> recommendation. >> I we voted the revised budget but not the article. Is that >> Yep. It >> Okay. >> We We essentially voted on We essentially voted on this earlier. I wonder if there's a way to just go through and see which ones are easy yeses here and we can do a big yes on
ones that are just obvious and then have discussion on the rest. So like opex, we're definitely going to approve transfer to capital expense stabilization. >> That's a no action. So there's no money going into capital stabilization this year.
>> The litigation settlement I would be surprised to see us not recommend. So the lit litigation settlement update is we had the mediation this week um and a settlement was not reached. >> Oh well that's >> another couple of weeks for the lawyers to talk um and perhaps work something
out um so we could perhaps make the motion at town meeting or town meeting. >> So theoretically there there could be a settlement reached by then but as of right now it would be no action. >> That's correct. >> Correct. uh community preservation funds and
community preservation recommendations. Those are separate budget from the town. Our stance has pretty typically been we support those allocations. >> And again, please I'm not trying to speak for everybody. I'm trying to drive like a bundle. >> I'm looking for anyone to like if Matt's calling one out, if anyone has a
different opinion, I'd like to hear that right now. >> Please, cuz I'm trying to get to a big motion of can we do like nine yeses in >> I'm I'm with you. Okay. >> We're aligned. So, um I I agree. I don't see any issues with that. I think again more of this stuff is, you know, open
transparent discussion at town meeting around the impacts of everything that we approve. Um Amy, Brian. >> Yeah, Mr. Chair, if you would just be so kind to read out the ones you think are the easiest. Again, I can't be looking at my phone while trying. >> That's exactly what we're trying to do,
Brian. >> Brian, that's what we're calling out now. So we just went through community preservations fund funds and community preservation recommendations. >> Can you start again? Which one we're voting for? >> So right now operating budget >> right now I have FY27 OPEX transfer to
capex stabilization which Elaine says is nothing. Community preservation funds and community preservation recommendation. Those are the four I've got in there now. >> Okay. So the capital expense stabilization fund though wouldn't we recommend no action? >> Yes. >> That's a no action though. Ah
>> okay. So, we know what we're doing, but the other one is. So, yes. Yes. Yes. I guess if you're comfortable here. So, authorized lease of 148 Lumber Street. I'm just going to generically suggest that we took a pretty clear position last time that we're just sending the things to town meeting for
the town to have a discussion about. Are we comfortable just with the blanket yes right now on Lumber Street, Woody Island, and the easement? >> So, Lumber Street is the historic building, right? Yes. Yes. So, Lumber Street, a few years ago, Tom Meing voted
to authorize the sale of it. >> Yep. >> Um and now the historical commission is suggesting you might want to lease instead. >> Okay. And the Woody Island Road, a neighbor would like to purchase property that we don't need. >> Two neighbors. >> Okay. So, I'm happy to do all those together. >> Okay. And then the the eman >> 64 Grove Street.
>> Oh, that's for sidewalk, pridealk, and uh drainage. >> I don't see any issue there either. >> Okay. >> Anyone have concern with that? >> Okay. >> No. And then in theory, we I I'm of the opinion we kind of already voted last time on the acceptance of Oiello. I can
see that there are different things here, but my stance is that the four of us in your absence, Joe, made it clear that we thought that should just go to town meeting. >> We're voting whether we recommend approval or not. So, it's different to send it to town meeting recommending approval. >> Yeah, I I think we need more discussion
on that one because I'm totally comfortable with what you guys did from getting it on. >> I think that was the right thing. >> All right. Right. So, let me summarize real quick then. I moved I move to recommend approval of articles relating to the FY27 operating budget, community preservation funds, community
preservation recommendations, the to authorize the lease of 148 Lumber Street, the disposition of zero Woody Island, and to accept the easement at 64 Gro Street. >> Second. >> Okay, we got a motion and a second. Uh, further discussion here.
Roll call. Amy >> Amy Bush. Yes. >> Misnner. Yes. >> Brian. >> Brian. Brian her. Yes. >> Joe Clark. Yes. >> Okay. >> So, that kind of checks. >> Thank you for letting me drive a little there, sir. >> Do we um should we do for going back to
the capital expense stabilization for no action? Do we even need anything on that? Do we need to just like formalize it? >> Uh just a vote of no action. >> Anything else that requires a no action? Uh, were you going to do that on the um Costa brothers or were we going to wait until Seems like we might as well wait.
>> I might as well wait. I move to recommend no action for transfer to the capital expense stabilization fund. >> Second. >> Okay. Got a motion in a second. There's discussion. Amy >> Amy, yes. >> Misner, yes. >> Brian, >> Brian, yes. Yes.
>> Joe Clark. Yes. Okay. >> Okay. So I think that leaves capex opet one-time expense water and sewer and drainage improvements in OCL >> Hawthorne Lane as well. >> That was Yeah, I'm sorry. I was being too general. That was where I was going with the drainage improvements for
Hawthorne Lane. >> Um >> the citizen petition um for Hawthorne Lane area. >> Are we required to make a recommendation on that one? >> No, because it says no funding, non-binding. I >> I mean that's I'm reading the packet. I'm only as smart as what you have
handed me. I'm not even that smart. >> It's a non-binding question anyway. >> Right. So then we don't we don't need a recommendation. >> No. >> No. >> Someone would like to make a recommendation. Now would be a great
time to do it. >> I don't think so. I think we should just let the public non-binding have the discussion. >> I agree. I agree. Um so we're going to cross that one. So let's just start going through capital improvements. Um, who would like to start? I think, you
know, it's in in the wake of, you know, our new insurance driven deficit. Um, I mean, I I want to go through them and just I'm really lerary of
relitigating the CIC presentations that came to us and the recommendations that have already been made. I know why we're having the discussion, Joe. I just >> I'm This is me saying this. I want to respect that there is a process that has taken place and people have been and given us their opinion. >> Yeah,
>> I know this is tough. I use the restroom. >> Amy, Brian, thoughts around. >> So, capital improvements, that's a a large large group of things. Which article? So, this document doesn't have numbers and that makes it hard to have any. So, >> here's or so this one, the one that
we're supposed to vote on. I can if I know the name of >> Okay. Which >> is it one big? >> Is that a copy of the warrant? Can I actually get one? >> This is the warrant. Yeah. It doesn't include motions and the costs. >> Doesn't have the costs.
>> Yeah. >> Can you just What article number is the capital? >> You were in the last packet. >> The article with the capital is article 13. >> Which one? 13. >> Yep. >> Okay. Thank you. And is that like a list of items?
>> Yes, it's an I. It has 32 items. >> Okay. >> 32. >> Correct. >> It's a lot of items. >> Okay. I'm just I'm just looking through. These were all presented to us, so I'm sure they're fine. I just wanted to make sure we know what we're voting on.
>> Yeah. I I I think we went through all of these. Um, you know, I I'm I'm kind of hesitant to go through them all again, knowing that most of these departments, you know, found cuts in their opex budget to kind
of make the deficit work. Um, >> and they seem to be all funded by free cash. Is that article 13? >> Uh, except for ambulance fund. >> Except for the ambulance fund. Okay. So, I'm happy to make a motion to approve uh the article 13 capital improvement.
Sorry. >> I'm happy to make a motion to Rebecca under approval of article 13 capital improvements which is a long list of >> second >> projects. >> Okay. So, we've got a motion in a second. Matt, while you were out, all we talked about was, you know, kind of the process like you said, everyone was seems to be in agreement with that.
Brian, do you have any different thoughts? >> No, I'm ready to vote. >> Okay, so we have a motion in a second. Amy, >> Amy Bush, yes. >> Misner, yes. >> Brian, >> Brian her. Yes. and Joe Clark. Yes. Okay. Um onetime expenses
>> 14%. >> So that one has a total of eight and and again these are all things that we have gone through. Um so it doesn't have all the details but
just to just to get a look of >> Yeah. So these are all projects not not a capital >> I already grilled them about this. >> These are all projects but not capital projects. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I'm I'm certainly comfortable. You know, I look at a couple of these next ones, too. It's I think we've gone through them.
We've discussed them, and I think it's critical for them to go to town meeting and be discussed at that point. Y >> I don't think I've heard anything to make me rethink any of them. So, look for a motion. >> I move to recommend approval of articles associated with onetime expenses, water
enterprise capital improvements, and store enterprise capital improvements. >> Second. >> Okay. Got a motion in a second. Uh Brian, did you hear that? Kind of, you know, per my comment, we threw in also the water enterprise capital improvements and the sewer enterprise capital improvements.
>> Did you catch that, Brian? >> Yeah, I'm good. Thank you. >> Okay. Um All right. So, we motion a second. Roll call. >> Amy Rbush. Yes. >> Misner. Yes. >> Brian. >> Brian her. Yes. >> And Joe Clark. Yes. All right. So, that
brings us to um we're holding off on Costa Brothers while they potentially do litigation. Uh it really brings us to Oiello Oello and >> Hawthorne. We said we were not going to make a recommendation in either way, right? We're not required to. >> Correct.
>> Yep. So then Oello and fingerprinting. >> Yep. So let's do them one at a time. Um I think it's important because there's there's multi like we we talked today there's multiple parts of the oiello one right and you know some things can be
accepted without you know driving you know a funding decision. Um, so I I think we should go through that quickly just so that the board, you know, is understanding and cuz cuz remind me what was it like? We
could have, you know, one like the first item accepted, but if the other ones were not, then might not have been I forget. Was it not binding? I I forget where we what we discussed. >> Uh, right. So I mean, Lane, unless you want to speak on it. No. >> Okay.
>> Uh, so yes. So, there's a lot of items here on this warrant as you can see. Um, I think there's eight total and he um right now Parker has broken those into three different motions, but to kind of fit the general context of those articles um basically you guys already
voted on the street acceptance of to lay out the OELA. So, that part's been handled. Uh there but the other motions uh in here that speak to allocation of funds for a couple of purposes. one being signs for private ways. Another
was for essentially a program to uh help accept future private ways towards public acceptance. Um so that's those are potential things you could weigh in on. The other is a bylaw change. He did um accept the select
board's recommendation to change the $1,000 instead of just eliminating the $1,000 limit to his motion now is uh$10,000. Um, >> sorry. Wait, did you say something changed from a thousand to 10,000? >> Yeah. So there you weren't here, Joe.
Um, so at the last meeting, I think it was discussed when they talked about this. There was some concern around Parker had proposed to just eliminate the $1,000 limit for repairs to private ways and just have it be open-ended. The board discussed maybe a $10,000 limit. Um, so
Parker in his submitted motion has uh gone with the board's previous suggestion of now recommending a 10,000 instead of just no limit. >> Okay. So, that's a general bylaw change. The board technically does not need to recommend on general bylaw changes, but
he did take that feedback. >> Is the only one we actually technically need to make a recommendation on whether or not we recommend conveyance. Uh so generally it's you know it's the allocation of funds. Um so he is the the warrant articles he's talking about appropriating funds for those purposes
for the private signs and for the project. Right now the motion he's submitted doesn't actually he's not actually asking for any funds but the way he wrote it was so that he could ask for funds. Um so but the way he's written it's somewhat it's non-binding. It's more of a statement of purpose the way he submitted the motion. So it
muddies the water. >> You've lost me. I see three things here. I see acceptance, accept conveyance of oiello, appropriate fundage for signing, appropriate funding to support a town program to evaluate. I'm shelving the other two. Where is the discussion or the or the article around acceptance of
conveyance or is it all just part of one article? >> Is are you talking about number five on like the warrant? >> So there's Yeah. So there's eight items on the warrant. There's three motions. Yeah. So, >> article 38, >> but but I think this is where the
confusion is cuz there's eight things on there, right? So, it's hard for us to distinguish like what the actual motions are. I know this does not have motions in there. >> So, there is a I did email earlier if you uh if you want to pull it up that
way. There is the up-to-date motions document. Um so, that if you have access to that. >> So, there's three separate motions. >> I'm able to get one too in the office if I need to. and to accept it as a public way one as um to amend the phrase a sum
not to exceed $1,000 to a sum not to exceed $10,000. >> That's the bylaw change. I guess the bylaw change >> appropriate funds from free cash to support a discretionary program for the evaluation and stab stabilization of private ways for acceptance.
>> Right. So in that motion three, he talks about I move the town appropriate funds of free cash, but he doesn't actually specify a dollar amount. Um, so it really is kind of a non-binding motion. So, >> and are we required to make a recommendation on >> No. No.
>> Yeah. Not unless he appropriates. >> Right. So, our discussion today was at the moderator's meeting was that if uh the petitioner at town meeting puts a dollar amount in here, you'll have to then convene a a quick meeting to formation. >> Right. >> Okay.
>> So, do that now without the dollar amount. >> Yeah. So I think I'd rather not recommend approval of any of these if it's not required right now. Um let but let town meeting discuss them all. >> So thus far uh CIC and planning board have recommended
disapproval of the article as a whole. >> Yeah. >> So >> that's where I am too. >> So yeah I'm I'm not okay with like recommending these. You know I think the rest of our boards and committees took the right approach. So from
fundamentally is it easier for us to say the motion as approving and then we make a vote right? It's not even required and I think we could >> Well, I think if we have an opinion on it, we should make a recommendation. >> Okay. >> Because you know, if if there's a motion
on the floor during town meeting, we would at least have something to fall back on and then move forward from. >> Okay. I move to recommended approvals of articles associated with acceptance of conveyance of zero oiello drive to the town to appropriate funding for signage at the entrances to private ways or
groups of private ways identifying such ways as private ways. and to appropriate funding to support a townwide program to evaluate private ways that are candidates for acceptance as public ways. >> Second. Okay. So, we we made the motion
as is. Now, again, just for clarity, I thought that was the easiest way for us to move forward. I'm not in approval like in recommendation for this, so I'm going to go no, but yep. Roll call. Amy, >> I think I'll abstain because I don't think we should do either way. Miser,
no. Brian >> Brian her no >> and Joe Clark no >> through the chair I do think there is a well-heard point from Mr. Hop though that we do need to come up with a long-term plan around these private ways. That part of this I don't want to move past. I just don't know that I'm ready to do it yet and I don't know that
we have the answer. >> Yeah, I think that's a very fair point. All right, so this moves us on to the civil fingerprinting for common vic license and I think we've had some discussion in the past about this. It has been a little while. I think there's a lot outstanding.
Um, so I, you know, I I don't know if it helps. Like I can share kind of my thoughts. I think, you know, I I I think this came from a really good idea and a really good point. Um, but it it started
to overstep the board's um like responsibilities in this and you know, in how they engage with the businesses in town. I think we I believe we got an update tonight from the Chamber of Commerce. Wasn't that one of our action items that we wanted to have? previous discussions on this. Um, and so I'm not
going to read the whole thing, but maybe just to capture um, you know, in general, they were opposed to it. I don't know if someone want to I can read some of the highlights, but to summarize it, there was opposition from the Chamber of Commerce, and I think
that's an important thing to recognize. Um, so I I don't know additional thoughts from the board here. I I want to thank the Chamber of Commerce and specifically Executive Director Mjo for responding to us here. This was I don't want to say I don't want to say it was
exactly what I was hoping for. This depth of response is what I was hoping for. I didn't have a particular opinion about how they might go. Very clear that they are representing to us that they view this as burdensome with narrow benefit. They view it as redundant. They view it as potentially being a disincentive to business. And the letter
highlights that there is relatively small statewide adoption given the risk level of our community and suggests that there may be further deletious impact to businesses. So overall, I think I'm summarizing here, but they make pretty clear that they would not be in support of this, but they remain adamantly committed to ensuring policies that
protect public safety. I hope that was a decent summary. >> Yep. I think that's fair. Um, does anyone want to make a motion? We can always discuss more. >> Is our recommendation required?
>> Uh, no. But you either sponsor someone will have to make a motion >> to either recommend or you can make a motion to dismiss. >> I mean, you can make a motion to tell me, you know. >> So, >> or dismiss.
>> Yeah. So, I'm I'm struggling a little bit because I don't think we have enough here to move forward. >> Correct. like with the discussion and I don't think town meeting is the right place to have this discussion. I think >> like I'm I'm kind of going back I know I'm kind of going backwards but like I'm not seeing the path forward here like
inside a town meeting discussion. So um like it like my gut is saying it would be something to dismiss but in the spirit of this whole thing it was to bring it to town meeting. So I'm I'm kind of challenged with this. So I will
look for the board for >> we've sort of already made through the chair Joe. We've sort of already made the decision to bring it to town meeting because we signed the warrant or we already voted to approve the warrant and this is a warrant article. >> So it's still going to be at town meeting. >> It's going no matter what we do at this point. That die is cast.
>> Y good point. >> You know town meeting can defeat your motion to dismiss. Disc. It's going. So, >> is it is it a motion to dismiss or is it a motion to take no action? >> Take no action. >> Yeah, I think it's a motion to take no
action, Brian. >> Yeah. So, I move that we take no action. >> I'll second that. Then just further discussion because it's this one's been back and forth. So, I just want to hear from everyone. just there's a huge amount of frustration in the committee
or in the community of not of being upset about what happened and wanting us to do more and not being able to have a back and forth discussion with us about it and I think that discussion needs to happen at town meeting and I do lean towards I think like that this is not necessarily the right solution but I want people to have a forum where they
can discuss it openly and the pros and cons and maybe through that we're going to get to some other solution that we can do for next year but so I'm not going to vote I'm not going to vote Yes to no action. So I guess it >> makes sense. >> Yep. So I'm on no action, but I largely
share Amy's views here and that I do want this to go. I do think it needs discussion. I share Joe's perspective that I don't think the policy is fleshed out well enough yet for us to potentially implement it realistically. I really want to hear the conversation at town meeting. I I need to get a sense
of the community's expectation and frankly anger versus the justifiable concern from the business community. I I don't know how to balance that and I share your thought Amy. The only way to balance it is to have them tell us. In general, I find myself aligned with the
perspective that the business community is taking. This feels a little bit ownorous and we have already made significant improvements to the VIC process and our understanding of it, the language around it and just the expectations therein. So, I would be in support of no action as well, but I will
follow the group. >> Brian? >> Uh, yeah. No, I'm good to vote. >> Okay. So, we will just do roll call. >> Was there a second? >> He seconded. >> I seconded it. >> So, the motion is for no action. So, I'm going to vote no on no action.
>> Misner. Yes. No action. >> Brian. >> Brian her. Brian her. Yes. and um Joe Clark. No, just to continue the conversation, Tom, I think I us recommending tie, right?
>> So, hold on. So, through the chair, >> you us saying no action versus recommending approval in no way, shape, or form changes whether or not this goes to town meeting or impacts the fact that it's going to be presented. We already made a vote earlier today in which we agreed to approve the warrant as
submitted. This is in theory an article on the warrant which means it has to be discussed. So you voting no here is just creating a 22 in which we don't have an align recommendation. It in no way changes whether this is going to town meeting will be presented to the community for review.
>> Is is that accurate? Cuz I'm I've confused myself >> because if it's not I don't understand correctly either. >> Yeah I'm no I'm asking because I I'm very confused right now. >> And I I it's okay to admit that. The issue is that some the select board needs to make a motion
>> and so u is your motion going to be to adopt the bylaw or to take no action on the bylaw change. >> Yep. >> So right now you have no motion. You have a motion. You have a vote to take no. Well, Shyu will be we'd have our
extra person if we we'll be here at the next >> I mean we could write this as the select board will make a motion at town meeting and leave it open-ended but you know it's this the conversation keeps circling so we'll know what's most productive for the board. >> I I think we owe it to the community to take a position and make it clear where we are to help frame the discussion.
>> You could wait for a full board and do it the night of town meeting before town meeting. >> Oh, sorry. The morning of the habit of risky. >> Don't wait for the night. Sorry. I I I think All right. I think I got myself
confused during that. I'm going to amend my vote to yes. >> Yes. On no action. >> Yes. On no action. >> Okay. >> To make it to make it clear and simple. >> Okay. >> Apologies for the confusion. >> No, this was brutal. >> Very confusing. Yes. >> Okay. >> Motion action.
>> All right. So, I think that co that covers all the annual town meeting. >> I was about to say the same thing with >> a minor adjustment. No, just from a technicality, uh, the board voted to, uh, approval of to rescend authorized but unissued debt article 4. Uh, that is
now a no action item. So, >> oh, which one? Article four. >> Yeah, that has since become no action. >> Okay. So, I would recommend that the board recommend no action on article 4. >> Second. >> Okay. There's a motion and a second. Any discussion around it?
>> No. Seems like clean up on our part. >> Okay. Amy. >> Amy. Yes. >> Mattner. Yes, >> Brian. >> Brian her. Yes. >> And Joe Clark. Yes. >> Thanks, Lance. >> Okay, so we everything we needed ahead of town
meeting. >> Okay, nicely done, gang. >> All right, so >> uh No, not quite. >> No. >> All right, >> uh the board uh board members need to make motions and presentations. Um so is there a yellow
>> motions and presentations >> um >> for anything board sponsored >> board sponsored and also there's uh two articles that are proposed by department heads who are non-residents. So if a board would make a motion on their
behalf be helpful. >> Okay. >> So I can just run through them. >> Yes please. We can actually uh circulate maybe a sign up thing online or whatever works because not everyone is here. >> How many are there that we have to um >> um
>> not too many? Well, >> there's five of us. >> Anything that you're everything that you're sponsoring um and then >> looks like about 11. >> On behalf of department heads, it's the fire alarm bylaw for the fire chief and the police department revolving for the town.
That's just a motion and then the department would take over for presentation. >> Gotcha. >> I like Colleen's suggestion of diving him up in the background. >> I was just going to say let's make Do you need a motion for us to do that? >> Nope. Nope. That's fine. >> Okay. Then I think unless anyone disagrees, Brian, Amy, >> no. And is maybe the chair could have
signed stage three presentations or >> Yeah, I was going to make similar suggestion. There's 11. We each do two and then somebody gets the odd one. >> Okay. and we'll assist with um writing anything that you need and preparing slides. >> Do you have a standard template or does the moderator have one that they'd like
us to be using? >> That's a great goal. >> But simple black and white best for >> visibility. Didn't and but didn't for as far as slides I know you offered town hall support in that um the moderators looking for them by the end of the week. Is that correct?
>> No. >> Okay. >> I don't think very many of these lend themselves to that many slides. Some maps >> map. Yeah. >> Okay. So through the chair, if you could perhaps when you send this out to us, I would not be upset if a PowerPoint template made its way in there. I would
be very favorably viewed, >> please. >> And with that, there will be a consent agenda, but it's not determined yet. >> We have a tentative list. >> Okay. >> You can uh Matt, are you talking about making your own slides? It's like just
giving a template so you can make it or like do you want us to take a crack at it and then >> it's >> you want them to take a crack at it. >> Of course I do. >> I don't know how to do work. >> Just being clear. >> Okay. So, we were discussing who's going to present not who's going to make my apologies.
>> Yeah. No, just for that. >> Yeah. And then again, we'll email will circulate with, you know, a matrix for responsibilities. So, yep. I'll >> All right. I think you got so you guys have everything you need there. Um, did you want to run through the recommended
consent agenda? >> Uh, yeah, we can I can summarize some of the discussion from the consent. >> Yeah, just summarize. I don't think it needs a ton of discussion. I think every there was nothing strange that jumped out, but just so the board's aware what was discussed. >> Yeah. One second.
>> I have a numberful. >> Sure. If you want you can run through it that way. Those are the article numbers. >> Go through it that way. Um, so on the consent agenda, we have article 2 FY2026
supplemental appropriations. Uh, we have article 4, which is the resend authorized but unissued debt no action. Uh, that Oh, am I looking at the wrong slides? Because that's right. You have six here. Can't be six. No,
>> Mr. Chair, while Lance is looking at that, can I ask a quick question? >> Yes. Let me just >> We're talking about who's going to present the various articles and motions for the board. >> Uh, generally that that's been done by the chair in the past. I know sometimes some of the boards have shared that, but
most of the stuff we're talking about, there's nothing to present. It's just a motion and they take the vote. >> Like I don't want to make this into a 10 minutes per article thing. >> No. Correct. But I do think like last year if you remember we you know we convened you know for a few minutes
before town meeting that evening and you know you just made an op everyone had the option of you know introducing the motion. It was more that there wasn't really a presentation. So I think like you said in the spirit of making sure everyone has a chance to you know do
that. Um I'm fine either way. Like if no one wants to do that, I have no problem doing them. But I also am glad to share share the fun with everyone. >> Yeah, I think it's >> I think it's one thing to present the the motion. It's another thing to present a slide about a motion that no one cares about,
>> right? Let's not overstay our welcome at the mic. >> I I agree. No, no slides unless they're needed or just for backup if someone asks. >> Yeah, Brian, I think that was more specifically to board sponsored articles. Well, like Okay. >> One of ours is a like there's some land ones, so people will want to see the map
on the slide, I think. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And the ebike one may coordinate with others on that one. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. So, the consent agenda as it stands, unless the moderator chooses to amend, um is article 20, article two, uh
the supplemental appropriations, article four, resend authorized unissued debt. Article five, set salary of elected officials. Article 7, FY27, revolving fund spending limits. Article 8, PEG access and cable related funding. Article 9, transfer of OPED to the TR uh
trust fund. Article 10, transfer to the general stabilization fund. Article 11, transfer to capital expense, which is no action. Article 17 potentially um if it's no action, but that is yet to be determined. That's the cost of brothers
litigation. Uh, article 19, the community preservation funds. Article 26, the amend bylaw to establish revolving fund for municipal aggregation fund. Article 27, amend bylaw to establish revolving fund for municipable electric vehicle charging. And article
39, appoint trustees of the school fund. >> I'm strongly opposed to the inclusion of 26 and 27. You're going to get feedback about those minimally from me and I expect you'll hear from others. >> Any resident is allowed to uh pull any item from the consent agenda. I know, but I would advise not including it because I strongly suspect that you're
going to cause churn on it. That is not one that is going to evoke zero commentary. I think things that are on the consent agenda through the chair should be things that we believe have zero likelihood of generating engagement other than yes >> and is the moderator >> what were those three topics please? So
I think >> the two uh Matt is referring to is the uh the established revolving fund for municipal aggre municipal aggregation fund and the established revolving fund for a municipal electric vehicle charging. >> Yep. >> So we can convey that to the moderator
who will be sending the consent. >> Yeah. I mean you watch me do it here tonight. You can safely assume I'm going to do it in front of more people. I think it looks bad for us if anything is requested to be pulled out of the agenda. It slows time down. go as you see fit, but I'm being transparent. I will not let those go.
>> So, it's it's >> the moderator decision, not our go uncommented. >> All right. So, e either way, thank you. You've gotten some feedback. Yep. >> Um that will be passed along. So, I think it just helps though to give a you know almost a third of the articles, you
know, potentially are in there. A little bit less, you know, with some potential changes. Um cuz Lance, I think you said you were shooting for three hours on >> Yeah, I think we get done in three hours. >> You heard Westboro went 12 hours, right? >> Yeah, we're not Westper. We're better. >> We're better.
>> Um actually, did did we need to talk about um while we're together on this? You know, we had the idea of um I think there was some middle school events that afternoon that would, you know, make us potentially do a motion from the board on ending at a certain time.
>> Yep. So, uh, >> you want to discuss that tonight? >> Sure. There's a four, so the the room is only available until 4:00. Um, there's a pre-existing commitment on behalf of the school for that space. Um, we're hopeful that >> what >> all business can be accomplished within 7 hours.
>> What? >> So, we would um end at three so people could >> We can end at four this time. >> The four anticipates setup time. Okay. >> To the chair, how have we booked a room that was not available for this meeting?
We're not really sure, you know, how this happened. >> Guys, we look like clowns. >> So, there was a presscheduled event at the middle school. I >> I'm sure there is a justification. Here's how this looks in community. You literally can't schedule the one meeting
a year you are in charge of without creating a conflict, and you'd like me to trust you with $130 million. We got to be better than this. So, >> I don't think any of the town sports canceled either. So, it just it's a tough weekend just like it can be a
tough evening, too. >> It's embarrassing. >> So, um we can obviously make that now. We can wait till the night of, you know, I thought, you know, if we made if we made a motion on that now since it's it's it's a legitimate thing. It's not a theoretical one. It would just save us
some time in the night of town meeting. >> You guys agree with that? We're We're starting at 9:00 a.m. Correct. >> Correct. >> I would hope we're done before 4. >> Yep. >> And we have the room till 4. >> Yes. >> We got to be able to get it done. >> Yeah. And I'd rather use
>> that's two nights at least of a normal, you know, >> Tuesday. >> Yeah. So, so, so again, like as as a reminder, like this motion would be needed when we showed up. So, the idea of discussing it and doing the motion tonight would theoretically save us time
the morning of May 2nd. We actually don't have to make the motion the day of, but it's >> Yeah, >> I think it would be good to give people a goal of we got to finish >> by four. >> I I you're right. Sorry. We don't need to. I think it's been a best practice of the town at town meeting to do this when we have hard stops, whether it's, you
know, on a normal night and we say, "Hey, coming out the gates 11:00's the end." It's that same practice. We know we have a hard stop for a reason. >> Um, so yeah, I I'll look for a motion. If we don't want to make that motion, that's fine as well. through the chair. While we're still in
discussion, I would rather use the threat of the meeting running into a second day to encourage good behavior. >> That's fine, too. >> Oh, I'm not really hearing an appetite for a motion tonight, so I think we'll just hold off. >> Okay. And do we have if if it did have
to go past 4 p.m., what would be the next date available? >> We would have to discuss at town meeting. >> We discuss at town meeting. So I think >> I mean I I really hope like Brian said I think we can get it done before but >> last I heard from Evan Bishop is uh uh Monday potentially >> like a Monday evening instead.
>> Well Monday the next cut the following Monday >> could be two days from Saturday >> correct >> or a week from Okay. >> Right. So that could still be determined but >> Okay. I think we should be prepared with an answer in case. >> Yes. >> But hope I really think we can get it done before four >> three hours.
>> Well, let's hope. >> I'm going to keep putting it out there. All right. Um, so I think anything else in regards to town meeting that we should cover anything else on the list. >> Oh, we have two more motions on the
agenda. Um, not related to town meeting. Yeah, she's gonna do town. I'm >> going to the town manager report. Yeah, I just wanted to make sure was kind of >> Okay. Uh, so just an update um regarding the Ballards at 96 Main Street in the Main Street Corridor project
just lost my just lost my town manager report here. Um, uh, and a meeting on October 21st, 2025. My memo says 2026, but that would be the future. Um, the board reviewed a draft license agreement with the owner of 96
Main Street for the installation and maintenance of Ballards uh at 96 Main Street for safety reasons. Uh, the board voted to authorize the town manager to sign the agreement. Um, since then, the design and location has been finalized and the agreement was signed last week. Um, and those balls would be located
where we see the cones now across from the Pleasant Street intersection. So, those will be going in. Um second um there are some upcoming vacancies and or existing vacancies. Just lost the report
again. Um in uh first the IT department. So the IT department has had a vacancy since uh February 4th following a staff departure. Uh during that time the director uh worked with um town departments and other looked at other needs and identified an opportunity to
realign the responsibilities um in the in the department. And so the position has been updated and retitled as a senior support and applications technician. Previously this position did a lot of work with our GIS system that will now be outsourced to our current
vendor which we already have uh available to us. So this role will serve as the primary resource for enterprise application support and as a technical specialist bridging enduser support with application administration and supporting systems such as Munis,
Laserfish, OpenGV and Granicus. And this position is funded in both the 26 and 27 operating budgets. So they're looking for the ability to post that that position. >> Okay. And so then we'll uh be outsourcing support for the GIS system
the salary of the position, but it still fits within the budget. It seems like it's probably a little bit >> because we already have the vendor who supports the map. It's just that um they'll be doing more of the mapping for us that previously this person did a little bit of. >> Okay.
I move to authorize the posting of the senior support and applications technician for the IT department. >> Second. >> Got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Roll call. Amy >> yes. >> Kisner. Yes. >> Ryan.
>> Brian her. Yes. >> And Joe Clark. Yes. >> And then from the fire chief. Uh in looking ahead uh there will be upcoming uh retirements in the uh department of four firefighters. So he's looking to be proactive in starting the hiring process
uh advertising an open position to create a candidate list. So they do the hiring a little bit differently through a candidate list and a different process. Um and actually the the fire chief has the appointment authority as well as a strong chief. So he'll be ready to go once a retirement is
official with a list of people ready to to fill those vacancies. >> Okay. Through the chair. Thank you Elaine. That was going to be my question was is there any potential world in which we essentially have somebody waiting to retire and we have a new person on the books and it sounds like no. >> Yeah. The ability is to have be ready to go.
>> Okay. >> I move to authorize the posting of firefighter positions in anticipation of upcoming retirements. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Any further discussion? >> Amy. >> Amy. Yes. >> Matt Kisner. Yes. >> Brian. >> Brian her. Yes.
>> Joe Clark. Yes. And lastly, uh, at the last meeting, the board voted to, um, recommend the acceptance of Whisper Way as a public way. As part of that process, whether the way accepted or not, they need to convey an easement to the town to access the drainage system if they need to, the
detention basins if they need to. So, uh, we've worked with town council on the language of the easement. uh it's been signed by the developer and uh the board will then sign to accept the easement uh to convey that those easements to the town.
>> I move to accept the grant of easement for Whisper Way. >> Second >> motion and a second. Any final thoughts? Amy? >> Uh no. >> Sorry. We'll just go >> or just the vote. Amy Erdabus. Yes. >> Matt Ker. Yes. >> Brian. >> Brian her. Yes.
>> Joe Clark. Yes. >> All right. Thank you, Elaine. Um, liaison reports and board invites. You know, it's been a busy couple of weeks for some of these things. Anyone have anything new? >> Uh, through the chair, very quickly, I had the opportunity to have a discussion
with the youth and family services department last week. What an incredibly impressive group of people that is. They are like 0.01% of our budget and they are just doing good work all over the place. Had the opportunity to learn how much bigger youth and family services remitt actually is. you think of it one
way and you're not thinking about mental health. You aren't thinking about potentially financial insecurity needs in the community. That was actually my biggest takeaway was unfortunately learning almost 50% of our population is at risk of financial insecurity. That was not something that I really understood and it was pretty staggering
to see it on a chart. Same to hear almost 20% of our population doesn't speak English as a primary language. There's an awful lot of data living in that department that I think would be relevant to a lot of discussions that we have here and I'd really like to find a better way to try and tie some of the interesting sampling of information they
have about the community to the decisions we're making. They have quite a bit more insight into the services people are using and seeking than I think we understood or at least I understood. And thank you to Don and the team for taking the time. You are an incredibly impressive group of women. Thank you.
I >> remember it seems like there have been so many events. I want to acknowledge that several of us includes they had really nice weather and that was fun to see everybody. And then um >> thanks S. >> The marathon re ceremony is coming up on uh Thursday evening. I don't know if anyone else is going in Boston. I'm
afraid nobody from Hopkin will be there but anyway I always enjoy it. So, you know, >> and and then I guess we should add to our future that the Fourth of July parade now that we have approved that. >> Yes. >> Seems like we would just need to attend if not >> March.
>> Same with the Pride parade. >> Yes, I think that was already on our list. >> Okay. >> I can't find the invite. >> I'll be there. >> Brian, uh Lane did a nice job touching on the um ballards that are going to be going
in at Main Street Service. Um the the landscaping company for the corridor is going to be coming back to straighten out the trees that took a beating after being planted uh over the winter. So they'll all get cleaned up and realigned properly. And uh also want to thank the
DPW Carrie Reed and Elaine and everyone for helping get cleaned up for uh uh the marathon. They're going to be putting some mulch down in the new gardens across from the common as well. the stuff on the common they've already done uh just to make it look that much better for the eyes of the world when they come
here next week. Thank you. >> Awesome. Yeah, I think just that with the marathon, you know, just days away, you know, I attended the uh the quilt show kickoff. Elaine uh joined me. That was, you know, my first quilt show and
certainly um certainly uh it was it was very exciting to see all the work that goes into that and and it was kind of like an unofficial start to the marathon activities, right? I think and and as another reminder, you know, this this coming weekend, there's lots of stuff, the 100redyard dash for the kids. Uh a
lot will be going on downtown as we get ready for Monday. So, uh, a ton of people. You know, I'd be remiss if I, you know, started listing names because there's so many people that volunteer time for that to leading up to the big day. So, a lot of exciting stuff happening this weekend.
>> Mr. Chair, >> yes. >> Do we have the credentials lined up for the marathon? >> Has anyone heard anything from about that? >> Well, Daddy sent out the the sheet the sheet to fill out, right? >> Yep. >> I think those will be available at the end of this week, Brian.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Yeah. And then for the board, I decided to stay home because I'm on the wrong side of town for this. I'll see you next year. >> And on the subject of the marathon, I did one I went to theformational meeting hosted by the BAA for the residents of Maple Street, Church Street, and Price Street where the everything is changing
and they had a nice custom map for that area. So, that was good. I was actually the only one who attended, but but I got to see the interior renovations that they had done. I knew about the exterior because we had to approve those, but um the interior renovations are really nice, too. And then I admired the um the
winged feet exhibit on the common which is really nice and it's just everything's looking lovely. >> Cool. Um I know we touched on a few future board agenda items. We added in the Independence Day parade. Anyone have anything else? >> Yeah, I through the chair I want to
suggest removal of three. Uh item E, individual select board goals for FY26. I'm the one who added asked for this one to be added and it's the end of the FY. I will definitely come back and summarize how I think mine went, but that agenda item is no longer relevant. Item I, he tech aortionment. We had the
conversation with John tonight, and I'd like to suggest removal of item K. I believe we've had follow-up conversations here about the state of those refunds, the changes in software, this board verifying that there was public discussion here, that this board did respond, etc. So, just looking to do a little cleanup,
and then I'd be remiss if I didn't throw my weight around here a little bit. I've been asking for almost a month now to have the DPW and the water and sore advisory here. I'm asking loudly. We had another resident here tonight explaining that they cannot drink the water in the town. Enough is enough. I'm going to be
incredibly upset if I do not see that group here next time. That is May 5th. I expect a presentation and I expect a discussion about how we are to respond to this crisis in water quality and to the overall drought in the community. There has been an abject absence of
leadership. It's unacceptable. We have been working to schedule that. >> Thank you. >> Paul has said he is available on the 5th. He's working with the other board members. They're going to discuss it on April 22nd. >> Thank you. >> I think we could probably cross off the mass 250 celebration because we've
talked about that now at a couple meetings and I think we're aware the ones coming up. >> What about the center school RFP process update? >> Do we consider that to be essentially what we had tonight? I think that might count tonight. >> I'm comfortable >> over the threat lease.
>> Okay. >> So that's D, E, I, and K. I believe we agreed to strike. >> G >> G and G. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Um, with that, I'll look for a motion to adjurnn. >> I move to adjurnn.
>> Second. Get a motion in a second. Uh, roll call. >> Yes. >> Matt Kisner. Yes. >> Brian. >> Brian. Brian her. Yes. >> Joe Clark. Yes.