[music] evening and welcome to the Wednesday, November 29th, 2025 select board meeting at 7 p.m. at the Aponoquit Regional High School Library at 100 Howland Road in Lakeville. Is anyone else recording this
meeting besides Lake Cam? Seeing no one, uh, would like to go to the pledge of allegiance. Please stand. Pledge allegiance 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. [clears throat] >> Like to call to order the Lakeville Select Board. Starting at that end, >> Hunt present. >> Blanca here. >> Yandido [snorts] here.
>> Carvon here. >> All right. Our first item up for bids is uh meet with the Lakeville members of the Freetown Lakeville School Committee to appoint a member to fill the vacant position. I'd invite the
school committee members to come up and have a seat. >> [clears throat] >> Are they going to in session? Yeah. >> No, because they're not they're not in session. This is just the Lakeville members. Have any forum? >> No, it's all four of them. >> Okay.
>> Nope. >> Very good. >> It's only three. >> Oh, >> and the candidates or just the members? >> Just the members. [laughter] >> Don't worry. We'll get to you. We'll get to you for sure. That was like I don't know. [laughter]
We appreciate the eagerness. >> No, it's awesome. >> Uh, thank you very much for joining us today. So, as most of you know, we have a vacancy on the school committee and when that happens, we get both boards together to decide who is going to
represent Lakeville in the regional school committee. Um, we had four, correct, just four people or did we have any more that dropped out or >> one? One dropped out. >> One dropped out. So, we had four people interested in helping serve our
community. And you could all just wave to see if you're here. One, two, three. >> Three. >> Three. Y. Okay. Um, so I will invite them up in a minute, but I just wanted to give everyone a chance to express
what they are looking for um in their next committee member. I don't think we've done this before. I think it's just helpful. Um, we have new members uh on the board. Um, and we're trying to find our rhythm and our way on how we
want to add people into our our tight-knit community. And I think one step would be inviting everyone to come to the meeting. Um, and then giving a chance for the people on the committees that are appointing them to have a conversation and then allowing them to
tell a little bit about themselves if they'd like. So, I'd like to start with the school committee. Um, can you introduce yourself? Uh, we don't have name tags for you. Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you're looking for in a school committee member?
>> Yeah. Uh, Carolina Hernandez. Um, I think, uh, someone that represent, uh, Lakeville, uh, they represent the values of the of this community and also they have some
knowledge. um in the knowh how on on how the committee should function. Um I think uh someone that represent uh the interest of the children that
will be very important. >> Great. >> Uh hi Melinda Richards. Um, [snorts] I think [clears throat] we're looking for, um, someone who is really willing to collaborate with the group and, um, and work together. Um,
and, you know, be willing to show it. It there's a lot to to being on the school committee. So, be being willing to show up as much as your schedule will will allow. Um, does take a a good amount of your your extra time, especially in the
evenings. Um and yeah, just obviously somebody who is in looking to, you know, [snorts] make things better in the best interest of the students. >> Excellent. >> Hi, my name is Steve Sylvia. I'm the current vice chair of the school
committee. Um, I I am certainly looking for someone that's that's student and staff centered to support the school. Somebody who's invested in the community. Um, somebody who has great experience in life as a um member of the town, but also somebody that can make
difficult decisions. Um, obviously we have some some budget conversations coming up, but somebody who um has the ability to say no and make good decisions, but being mindful of keeping students in the center of everything. >> Mr. John, >> thank you.
>> Thank you. >> I'm looking to see if we have anybody uh that has had any involvement with the school committee in the past. Have they been watching meetings? Have they attended any meetings? Uh and then anybody that may have uh any
relationship with anyone on the board now on the meetings of the committee now. >> Got it. >> Mr. Blanca. >> Yeah. So, um I go a lot echo a lot of sentiments that's already been expressed here. Again, somebody who's dedicated um
um uh somebody who can contribute and help ensure that uh our budget, school budget is a sustainable budget. Anybody who's been following me know that that's something I've been focused on over the past few years starting with my experience on the finance committee. So,
again, that's uh important. at the same time balancing and ensuring that we still continue to offer the quality education that our students deserve. >> Excellent. Member Carbon. >> So um as Madame Chair has indicated that
this is um to fill a vacancy that we currently have um on our Lakeville U side of the of the table. And this vacancy um would be through the appointment would be through the next election which would be April. So, I
would be interested in understanding if the candidate that would be appointed would be interested um in running for the seat because we're we're [clears throat] finishing a term right now. So, that um come April it would be then a three-year seat at that
point if I'm if I'm not mistaken. >> Um so, that would be important to me. I'm I'm looking for somebody that is willing to ask um questions, open-ended questions um to try to drive an understanding. It is very complex as as
you had pointed out. Um there's a lot of moving parts here. Um you know, having served on that school committee um I understand and it took me years to get really grounded and founded. So, um, I would just think that through this this appointment, somebody that's willing to
engage and ask a lot of open-ended questions, obviously, you know, I I support the um everything that everybody else has said up to this point. Somebody that's willing to be, you know, supportive and our students and staff. And
so, yeah, that's that's it. >> Fantastic. And for me personally, um, all these ideas expressed are very, uh, relevant. Um, but a lot of what, um, Stephen said resonates with me as far as, you know, bringing that expertise,
being able to have hard conversations, being able to distinguish a want from a need. Um, and then being able to not know everything on the first day, but dig in as much as you possibly can. Um, we know everyone's not a school committee expert when they walk in the
door. It's very rare to find someone that's been on a school committee before. That's not the the level of expertise, but it is incumbent on whoever comes in to really get their own education and dive right in and be able to be a good partner with other people.
Otherwise, um, the oppositional [clears throat] strategy I I'd never see working on any board, committee, or commission. With that being said, I would like to invite the members to come up one by one to speak if they so desire. If you don't
want to, just say no thank you. No pressure whatsoever. Um, first person on the list is Derek Madios. >> Would you like to have a seat right there? >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> Would you introduce yourself and tell us a little about yourself and whatever
you'd like the boards to know? >> Sure. >> Uh, my name is Derek Maderas. Um, what am I going to say? Um, I work at, uh, South Coast Health. I'm a radiology, uh, PA. Um, been there for 6 years. Um, I'm from Taton originally, but, um, my wife's from Lakeville. Uh, we moved to
Lakeville in 2019, so lived there ever since. Uh, my son's a freshman at Old Colony. My daughter is very young, too. Uh, but obviously we'll be in the school system at some point. um my reason for showing interest and I'm as you said I'm
don't have a lot of knowledge on any type of school committee information but um I am eager and interested to learn um about you know it in general and I think it's an important aspect of um the community in general um especially going to the future u me personally having
obviously kids that are in the school and will be um and then potentially obviously grandkids and things like that hopefully in the future um somewhat got involved. I do help with um teaching soccer at um Freetown, the um Free Lake United. Um I've done that for a few
years now, so I do um try my best to to get involved within the community, but this seemed like a good opportunity to try to get involved even at a at a at a greater level. Um never personally been on it, but I'm definitely a person that works collaboratively every day with
doctors, nurses, um and co colleagues of mine. So, um I'm used to working on a team um and [snorts] I've helped you know run teams for like six years now obviously with the soccer um and helping in that way. >> Great. Is there anything [snorts] else
you'd like to add? >> I don't think so. I think I am very open-ended to working like I said with a team orientation you know team oriented um perspective and um you know I don't I can't think of anything else obviously
um I I have read a bunch of the the things about what the school committee involved um but uh it was kind of a newer thing to me and I I kind of dug into it a little bit but it was a short time frame so it wasn't like I had a ton of time especially with work and other obviously things like kids and stuff like that but um you know I'm pretty
dedicated when I come to something that I do want to do. So, great. Um, and I would be um obviously open to like seeing how the role is and my my plan would be to obviously continue and and run for it in April, I think you said. >> For the three-year term. >> Fantastic. [clears throat] Does anyone
want to ask any short questions? >> No. >> Thank you, Mr. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. and Kim Chamberlain. >> She dropped out. >> Oh, she's the one that dropped out.
Thank you. >> Becky Cushing, [snorts] [clears throat] >> could you introduce yourself for the record? >> Yes, absolutely. [laughter] I'm Becky Kushing. I'm I'm used to saving my street, so Sherwood Lane,
Lakeville. Um, nice to see you all. I think I know most of you just from being pretty active in the community if I haven't met you yet face to face. Great to meet you. Um, I prepared a few words if I can share those and then happy to field any questions. Um, so first I'd
just like to thank you all for the opportunity to interview and considering me for this open position on the school committee. I grew up in Lakeville and chose to return to Lakeville in 2009 to raise my family. I now have a sophomore and a senior here at Aponquip. I hold a
master's of arts and education and currently work in the technology field. Um, just to expand on that a little bit, kind of what you were saying about not necessarily knowing everything about the school committee right away. Um, I worked in higher ed right after grad
school and I now manage a lab information system. So, I took a pretty big pivot, but I was very self-taught and able to adjust. Um, throughout my children's time in the district, I've remained actively involved in volunteering and community support. I
have volunteered continuously with in the PTO and within the schools since my children started at Apanoquit. I currently serve I'm currently serving in my third year as the on the executive board as the president of the A Panquit Athletic Boosters Club. In addition, I
also served as a parent and community representative on the superintendent search committee and I was invited to join the capital committee [snorts] presentations as a member of the community. Also, um I make it a priority to stay informed by attending school committee meetings
whenever possible or watching a recorded session on Lake Cam just to keep active and engaged in what's going on. Um, I think everyone would agree that our nation, state, district are all navigating significant budgetary
challenges. In my professional role, I'm often asked to do less with more. Um, so I take pride in making thoughtful, creative decisions that help my team achieve strong outcomes even despite a lot of constraints.
So um when I was thinking about coming to the interview and how I would answer and what I would say I thought well I am I consider myself really student focused. So I actually brought something to share. I won't read everything out loud, but [clears throat] um I asked,
you know, a group of um people in the community that I know kind of to read the mission statement to their kids and ask them hopefully why, but that they think that I would be a good person um for this position in the interim. And
then to answer your question, I would definitely I think this is a great time for me to see if it's a good fit and for the community to see if they like me in this position, too. So, um, I'll share these and then if anyone has any questions, >> share away.
>> Okay. Again, it's just I shared the mission with some students and just asked them to make comments on if they thought I would be somebody that would be [snorts] fit for this role. [clears throat] >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Silent reading time for a minute every [laughter] camera. I printed out. >> Yeah, sure. I'll take I'll take [laughter] >> I'll take one. Thanks. >> I do. >> Okay. >> We can share. >> No, you can have yours. I
>> have money. Thank you so much. All right. Thank you very much. I think everyone's had time to read. I really appreciate the extra homework on that. That was very that was very thoughtful. >> Um and now we have Lauren. Is it vegan?
>> Yep. I said it right. >> Lauren, welcome. >> Thank you. >> Hi everybody. >> Hello. >> How are you? Thanks for having me. [laughter] >> Thanks. >> Um, so I'm not originally from Lakeville. >> Could you just introduce yourself?
>> Yeah, sorry. I am Lauren Vegan. Um, I am a Lakeville resident. Uh, I live over [clears throat] by Baldi's. Um, we've been here since about 2017. Um any other introductory information you want me to kind of hit. Okay, perfect. >> Anything you feel is relevant? >> Yeah, sure. So, I did prepare a few
things too um just that you can learn a little bit more about me kind of in a where my ethos is I guess on this but then also I'll tell I'll share a little bit about kind of what I do for work. Um so, you know, when I was kind of sitting down and thinking about this why I wanted to do this, I felt compelled. I
felt called. I have three young kids, six, four, and two. So, um I have one who is currently in the system and in the district and then two on the way. So, um I don't know really any of you now, but I will I [laughter] will um you'll you'll you'll see me quite a bit.
Um I'm originally from Michigan, so I um would like to think that I bring an outside perspective. Um but I have been here long enough now to have some friends. I'm on the PTO. Uh, you know, I I find if if I feel like there's an opportunity to help, that's where I feel
called to come in. [clears throat] Um, I uh our our kids are swimmers, so I rose my hand and said I'd love to be part of the pool subcommittee, so currently on that. We just were in our meeting earlier. Um, but I I really, you know, it comes down to I think that
stability and long-term success of the public schools is essential. And for me long-term is my kids decisions made today and and in the next few years are going to be decisions that are going to affect my children. [clears throat]
So it it you know being new to here and and kind of wanting to be part of solutions and part of conversations and how things are going. Um I felt like it was an important time for me to raise my hand and say I'd love to help. If you need some help, I'd love to help. Um like I said, my family's part of this
community. Um, and I I really it's not just about my family, though. This is such a personal thing to everybody. And that's what makes school board committees so important is everybody has kind of an idea of how it should be done. And I think one of the most
important parts of boards, advisory committees, any sort of public service is listening and being part of the engagement. Um, so I do work uh quite a bit down in DC. I've been part of federal advisory committees down there. So I feel equipped and and uh familiar
with public engagement, you know, outside exposure. Um not for any political party. It's not a political thing. It's just I've been part I'm in the maritime industry. So um the the kind of all the conversations about maritimemies and you know ship building and all of that. That's that's really
non-party driven. That's just general conversations that I've been a part of and fortunate to be part of where you have really difficult topics come up. I I I feel like I am I've been equipped and I've I've learned the skills to
navigate how to ask questions, how to listen to everybody to make sure that ultimate decisions are made in a way that accounts for concerns and accounts for different opportun different things that are coming up that are always part of it. that like I said going back to
school board is so personal to so many community members in Lakeville and Freetown that [clears throat] it's so essential that there is that engagement piece. Um I I do work I'm I'm a maritime attorney. I also teach at uh Mass Maritime Academy and their graduate
level programs. I teach organizational behavior which is a lot of kind of psychological uh business um and how to like kind of manage uh and navigate uh different personalities and and how it works in the workplace in a professional environment. Um I also teach strategic planning. So that's an another area that
I have had a lot of training in but then also can then teach. Um I teach down at Roger Williams School of Law. So I teach law of the sea. Um so I teach law students. I teach masters students in uh at Mass Maritime the emergency management program, the facilities management program and the uh maritime
business program. I also teach uh for Endeott College. They have an MBA program. Um I swear I'm not that busy. They don't run that often. Um but they they have a maritime program uh MBA program on maritime economics. Um but I say all that to say that, you know, I work in complex regulatory areas and
complex policy areas and that experience has really taught me how to navigate, like I said, these difficult topics. um ask practical questions, ask know how to ask questions so that they have a a point and a purpose and that they're helping to guide to the next step. Um and work collaboratively. I mean that it
just you don't get asked back if you don't work collaboratively in the federal space certainly on on these advisory committees. Um and I've been fortunate to to you know return on on uh the ones that I've worked on. Um, but I feel like those skills translate directly to really thoughtful, steady,
potential helping of of decisions that are made at the schoolboard level for school governance. Um, I value transparency, responsible planning, uh, making decisions that reflect both what the students need and then where we will be going, right? So, not just in the
immediate, but making sure that it also makes sense for the longer term. Um, I'm a very positive person. I feel like I'm just a nice normal person uh that's happy to raise their hand to help. Um but I you know I I felt like I would I would be [sighs and gasps] um
I would be upset if I hadn't raised my hand to say I'd love to help if you if you need the help. If if I can serve the the community in this way, I would love to be part of it. >> Fantastic. Yeah. >> Does anyone have any questions? Any follow-ups? >> I just um thank you for sharing your
background. Sure. >> Impressive. Oh, well thanks. [laughter] Like I said, I swear I'm not that busy. It's all logistics and I'm a I'm a logistics attorney. I'm a supply chain attorney. So, thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Thanks. So, um
how do you just choose one? Yeah. >> So, we're very lucky to have like three people coming forward and being able to um all fit the needs of what we're looking for. Um, and we can only do one. And because we can only do one, um, we
have other committees and commissions for the other two people. If you don't get on, we do have a lots of openings all the time as people transition to different parts of their their life and go through it. >> May I
make a motion to appoint Laura Beacon to Freetown Lakeville School Committee for the term to expire on April 1, 2026. Second. A motion and a second. >> Any discussion? Can we put another nomination out? Can we dual or we have
to vote on the one we have in front of us? I believe >> I think >> I think you can get the nominations. >> The rules of order. >> I think you can get the nominations and then um you can >> have a runoff nomination
>> pretty much. any context here? >> Um I we can probably definitely do that. Yeah, >> it's up to the board. >> Open the floor up for nominations. >> Okay, open the floor up for nominations. And did you have a nomination? >> Um yeah, I
>> it's a it's a tough one. I know that we we've extended other comm committees before with all the people that joined, but I know we only have one seat, but I would >> the IT committee to get everyone in. Um, I'd like to make a nomination um for to
appoint Becky Cushing um through the term. Do I have a second? >> I second that nomination. >> All right. So, [clears throat] we've got two nominations on the floor. Is there a third nomination? >> Okay. [snorts] So, we've got two nominations on the floor. And do we want
to do a show of hands? I'm trying to I haven't done this one before with the the multiple nominations. Do we do a show of hands? Do >> the first one. First first nomination, show of hands in support of nominee. >> Can we do a roll call vote?
>> We sure can. >> So this is for I want to say your name, right? And Lauren [laughter] >> Lauren Vegan. Roll call. >> Hi.
>> Start down there. Sorry. Paul. >> Yes. What was your order? >> No. >> No. >> I'm planka. I >> need no caroni. No.
>> One, two, three. Even numbers. No. Okay. So, >> four nos, three yeses. >> Four nos, three yeses. Next. >> Next nomination. >> Oh, wait. You were >> I voted. Was your vote? >> I voted an A.
>> Okay. >> Becky Kushing. >> No. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Planka. No. >> Yes. Yes. What a tight race. This is just a drive. Thank you very much. Uh Becky, uh
congratulations. And uh Lauren, I'd love to get your number and have some conversations. [laughter] >> I I was thinking the same exact thing. >> Oh, sorry. I just want to thank anyone who expresses interest and puts themselves out there. It's it's
appreciated on many levels. Um the the ability to call to serve and and caring about our students in the community and the school system is appreciated. So, thank you to everyone interested. >> I agree. And it's stressful also. It's like I've been up there um on both ends
where being chosen and being not chosen. Um but another opportunity walks in the door the right after. It's it's that commitment to serve that's the important thing and you know I'm not joking about your number. [laughter] >> Thank you all so much. I really
appreciate your time. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. I don't think we have anything else to do for this. So record the vote for Becky. >> Do it later. >> Yeah. I I just have a process question. Yes. Does the candidate at one have to go get
>> Yes. >> sworn in prior to the next meeting? >> Okay. >> Yeah, they'll get they'll get all their >> So, the clerk will reach out. >> Yeah, the clerk reaches out actually. >> Yeah. >> Right. Reaches out. >> That can I just get them to sign? >> Yes, you can get them to sign it now so you don't have to wait.
>> Thank you for the clarification. >> Thank you very much, >> Derek. It was nice to meet you. >> Hey, thank you. I haven't yet. >> Derek, I expect to see your name on a ballot running. >> Oh, I'll be Derek. I'll be calling you
for something. [laughter] >> All right, we're going to move on to the select board announcements. >> Madame Vice Chair, would you be so kind to read the select board [music] announcements? Okay. So, the um select board
announcements for this evening. Um we still have some >> Can you move out, guys? Can you move out so we can hear? >> Hello. >> They need you to move out. >> We need you to move out so we can hear the meeting. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> So, speaking of um current committee
commission vacancies, um we are still looking to fill out our our playing card here or our dance cards. Um the we looking for an associate member for our zoning board of appeals. We're looking for a member for the board
of registars. We have two vacancies on the cable TV advisory committee. [snorts] One vacancy on the communications and community outreach committee and an atlarge member for the zoning bylaw review advisory committee. So if
and I know again I say this all the time you've been thinking about it um as we saw this evening we had some um interest. So um just reach out to us um our select board office and uh you're in
letter of interest and um get to come and get appointed. Uh so any of these the details on these positions can be found on the town's Facebook page or the town's website at lakevillemma.org. or under news.
We also have announcements for our second annual Snow Person Jubilee which is um scheduled for Sunday, Saturday, December 13th at 200
p.m. at the Ted Williams. Correct. Yes. >> Town the old town hall. Okay. I probably just missed that here. Um there are still some snowmen um available, I'm guessing. So for a $25 donation, which
all the proceeds um are for the animal shelter um Lakeville Animal Shelter. So for $25, you can get yourself a um snow person. How much did we raise last year? >> I want to say it was like $600. How much
did we >> last year? match. >> Yes. >> Nice. >> So, it was a great great fundraising event. Um, and then we have our Lakeville Country uh
Lakeville [snorts] Country Christmas Stroll scheduled for the same time um the same day, Saturday, December 13th from 12 to 2 at Ted Williams camp. See, I knew there was something at Ted Williams. Um there is a a scheduled rain date for Sunday, December 14th. So, um,
all this information I believe is on our website >> should be, >> um, for more information. Um, also in the packet, and I'm not going to run through each of these, but there are some upcoming Lakeville Council on Aging events. Um, so that will also be up on
the website and, um, you know, take a look because I know that the, you know, the COA doors are pretty much open for um, you know, anybody that's that's interested. So, um there's also a survey, uh a trash
survey, um not trash talk, it was trash survey. So, if you wouldn't mind, m [laughter] I will I will take this. So, we sent a survey out to the residents um that are currently getting collections um and I
know there's been a lot of chitchat about collections in um in social media and then in person wherever I go about getting uh reliable trash service in town. Um this is not about the transfer station. This is about collecting uh
street side trash service and the interests of the people of Lakeville um receiving trash service from the town for a fee instead of through other private contractors because we think we can negotiate a better rate and that's
all it's about. Um so if you would please answer the survey and give us some idea if there's some interest in this we would really appreciate it. Um, I for one think it could be really great for the town. Um, and I think it could be good for the town's people, but I
know people um are conflating it with the transfer station. It's not about the transfer station. This is about just about curbside pickup. All right. Thank you. Um, just a couple of other things. Um, Veterans Day, um, you know, we had our ceremony, uh, last week. I believe
um, member Candido, member Plunker, um, attended and on our behalf. So, thank you very much for that. Also, the Council on Aging um held their veterans annual vet veterans breakfast. Um so, that's all I have. I don't know if
there's anybody else. >> Member Pona, would you like to speak about the Veterans Day and our parking spots? >> Oh, uh yeah. So proud to announce that in collaboration with our VSO and town administrator, we have we and up highway
supervisor, uh, Frank Monise, um, we've installed four veterans reserved parking signs at the town hall, COA, police station, >> police station, and the library are soon to come. >> Oh, they're coming.
>> Yeah, they're coming. >> They're on their way. >> They're on their way. [laughter] >> Uh, yeah. So I'm really excited that and again the um Veterans Day breakfast hosted by the COA was a fan phenomenal event well attended. So very pleased to be able to support that. So thank you.
>> Yeah. Thank you. >> Great job. All right. Um now we are going to move on to Andrew not have you >> town administrator's report. Yep. There you go. >> Thank you. Just a few quick things. Um
if anyone didn't know, we had an election yesterday. Um the old colony project failed across the district. Um in Lakeville it was 424 nos to 400 uh 424 yeses to 478 nos. Um and then it was 488 for the debt exclusion and 411.
>> Can you explain that? Can you explain that out there? How >> smart the people of Lakeville are because they got the whole premise about the debt exclusion versus operating. >> Yeah. So, um it was about a $2 million, I would say, debt payment yearly, um
which would have had to come out of some sort of revenue source. Um for us, a $2 million hit on top of everything else would decimate town services. >> So, the smartest way to fund that is through a tax increase, a debt exclusion. >> Um
I surprised it happened, but Wakefield passed the debt exclusion and said no to the project. >> Yep. But that's it. That's the way you you do it for future votes because we don't want it to come out of an operating budget if it comes back again. It has to come out of a borrowing item.
Otherwise, it has to be paid yearly out of the operating budget. And that would that's the equivalent of the entire fire department or um you know, treasurer, collector, and assessors like that. It's a huge chunk. Um, so making sure even if
you're not voting it that we're keeping this town safe, um, the town budget safe out anyways. >> And it's it's really is like it might might happen again, but it was a once in a-lifetime election, I would say, to have a dual election like that on two different ballots. So, I think the town
clerk and assistant town clerk >> did a phenomenal job. Election workers, >> especially with mail out, having to do mail out ballots and how confusing it was. And I know there's, you know, some back and forth and and and stuff, but it all was really at the end of the day less confusing than it could have been
um here. >> Yeah. Yeah. Was a smoothly run operation for what it was. >> Much much appreciation goes out to all the hardworking people for any of the elections and the town meetings and all of those things as well. >> Yeah. Right. Um and then the only other
one I have is the Ted Williams um parking lot. Finally got paved today. Um it's about 90 spots give or take. Um that was funded through the opera federal funding program >> and it's fully done in drainage and all of those things or they still have to work on the drainage.
>> So the drainage is done. Um the lot's been paved. It's going to be striped next week and then there's going to be fencing and signs installed in the weeks to come. >> So >> that that is a huge improvement um for anyone that's ever had to walk over there at night and tripped over
everything possible. Yeah, it's a great improvement. Great job by Frank and his team. >> Thank you to our DPW director and everyone involved in that. >> That's all I have for today. >> All right. Does anyone have any questions regarding anything on the TA
list? Nothing. Uh then we will move on to the minutes of October 21, 2025 and any non-ministerial corrections? And I'll make a motion to approve the
select board um and wage and personnel meeting minutes [snorts] of October 21st, 2025. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. >> I can do >> Carboni. I
um item discussion and possible vote um on the FY27 budget message priorities. Uh the goal of this meeting is to determine the select board priorities. Um you know what? I'm going to let you
read this off, Andrew. Um, I'm going to let you read this off. >> Okay. Um, so I I'll read off of this and then I'll kind of get into the memo. >> Um, so the goal of this meeting is to determine the select board's priorities and overall budget message for town administration and departments for
fiscal 27 budget submissions. Um there was a tenative meeting uh scheduled for the town administration to meet with department heads to discuss this guidance and overall logistical process for budget submissions. Um has been discussed previously, fiscal 27 will be a difficult year due to a number of
issues. Um which can be found outlined in the attached budget priorities memorandum. In order for a balanced budget to be presented at the 2026 annual town meeting, it is clear that some difficult decisions will need to be made. um if there are any clear priorities or items that the select
board would like to see within the budget or highlighted or whatever, this would be the opportune time to do so. Um and then I can kind of go through the memorandum itself. Um, so this is
generally the time of year, um, you're probably all probably aware of it, where we sit down and go over what do we want to see funded or highlighted or to go after. Um, in good years, this is when you add positions or you do big
initiatives. Um, in tough years, it's where you prioritize where you want to see funding or where you want to see funding not be cut. Um, so that's where this the point of this is. Um, we don't necessarily have to have the final guidance tonight. Um, we can have it
another night if you want to think about it. Um, so the first step of the budget process has been the capital plan. We received requests from departments on October 3rd. Um, we have a meeting
scheduled for this coming Monday to go over requests and I am recommending 1.2 two uh million worth of um funding requests to be approved at this time. Um that's from a variety of sources. Free
cash about 857,000, retained earnings 25,000 and then other sources um which is grant funding, it's CPA funding, it's uh density growth bonus funding um of 381,720. Um, so the big one of the so I'll go
through some of the the systemic issues I guess Wakefield has faced in the last couple years. The big one is new growth has fallen off I would say a cliff in the last three years. >> I think maybe three years ago we were around the 600 mark. Um I have in the
report 163,000. Our interimm assessor has since gone back and I guess whack some trees and got us some more personal property and it's going to be around 200,000. [laughter] Um >> so the money trees helping a little bit I guess I should say.
>> And can you compare that to like say 2020? >> Uh I'd have to go back but I would say it was probably in the 700 800,000. >> Yeah. So, just in case anyone wants to know, like we we've dipped down significantly in our new growth. So, um
>> last year was 250,000. So, we're 50,000 off >> even last year. >> Um because a lot a lot of people see a lot of these big projects kind of being filed and floated, >> but they haven't come to fruition. >> Haven't come to fruition. And then even
if they got the permit tonight, it's like years off before they construct and we actually start seeing the revenues. Um, so I I'm not an expert on when these projects are going to go in and a lot of it's market driven, but I'm thinking fiscal 28 or 29 at the earliest. Um,
>> which we wouldn't see for the year after. >> Yeah, exactly. Um, some of these projects include the Lakeville Hospital, Rocky Woods, Lakeville Country Club. Um, there's other ones that always in the shadows waiting to be filed. Um, train station, Holland Road. Um so I put down
some of the balances in the memo. Uh our free cash right now after town meeting is 1.7 two uh million. Stabilization is healthy. Um I would say the select board and finance committee and town meeting
has been diligent in putting away money away over the years. So general stabilization is 2.4. Um then our capital stabilization which is this is kind of rare for a town this size is also 2.4 million. Um so there's going to be leftover free
cash at the end of hopefully this capital budget cycle. Um I've done that in case of any emergencies through this budget cycle if we need to fund anything with one time monies >> which isn't advisable not advisable >> but we can only cut so much
>> really. Um, so it's just there just in case. Um, I would probably advise, um, if we don't use onetime money on anything, probably putting more money away towards OPED and both of these stabilization accounts. >> Um, some of the challenges.
>> Can we use it to pay down some debt service? >> We could. We could. There's ways of doing that. We actually did that last year with an interest payment. Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Just trying to figure a way to long-term stretch out the dollars of the budget
>> to get us over the next three year. >> I think we have like a $300,000 mandatory principal payment this year we have to make. >> Yeah, it's not mandatory and it's to be determined because final borrowing hasn't been done yet, but it's it's going to be in that ballpark. I went a little high to be on the safe side and
>> um so some some of the challenges there [clears throat] it's across every town I think probably in America it's health insurance >> it's every small town >> every small town it's retirement um just costs are increasing um so it's tough to in a small town like us to
>> pay for stuff out of our two and a half% and new growth when it's not high >> um so I think at this point I would turn it over to the select board maybe Mike first to kind of get the priorities and I would say any big action we take
would have to be started pretty soon. So, uh, the holidays happen and most people kind of hibernate, I guess, for lack of a better term. People go on vacation and stuff. So, any big action, we have to really go into action now. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah, I concur. I mean, we're getting late in the season. Um, budget season's here. Um, so if there's any appetite for an override, operational override or anything like that, the windows closing and we know we're going into a lean year as Andrew said. So,
>> um, >> and I know that we've been able to flex into our departments and cut to the bone in our departments and the concern is the school budget. >> Yeah. >> As as it comes in. >> And I I will just speak frankly and and
and empathetically. I'm very surprised that the school has not come up with a plan to address an override as it is going to be unlikely that we're going to be able to fund their budget without decimating
our budget. Um, so I'm I'm expecting a conversation to happen and I think if it's not happening organically, we need to bring some people into the fold and have that conversation. And I'd like to have that conversation at the very
beginning of the year. >> Um, and not delay any longer. um if that is going to be the conversation that we need to have about the school budget in particular and what their plan is to address the shortfalls that they're going to see. >> Madam Chair, I concur 100%. [snorts]
Should we do that a little earlier? They are by January they're going to be >> they're off for December if I'm remembering. I think >> school committee. >> Yeah. Is that was that the I remember the cadence that used to be like off for December. So there might be a little
>> even so if we put in a request would shouldn't they honor our request and call a meeting? >> Can it be the first week of December? >> We can certainly try >> and invite them to one of our meetings even better >> to discuss um jointly planning because if they're coming to us with these
numbers that you know if you've if you've heard seen any transcripts and or had any conversation >> these numbers are unsustainable for us. >> Absolutely. And we need to be very clear upfront on what it is that we can do and
what it is that we can't do. >> Absolutely. >> There's been some big uh I guess kind of overarching stuff going on. Old Colony. >> Um I'll speak frankly, it's tough to bring up an override and sync another another project. >> Yep.
>> Um they have teacher negotiations, so they don't really know their they can probably ballpark their number, but they don't know it. They don't know a hard number yet. >> Yeah. >> We're in the middle, as you know, of >> the early stages of negotiating the next three-year contract,
>> which is a very big concern. >> Exactly. >> Um, for me personally, the town um, >> and it's never about what people are worth. You can never pay people what they're worth. That's that's that's not what it is. It's working within the
confines of a 2 and a half% budget which m Massachusetts dictates. >> So back when I started being involved um with the town on finance committee um it was 51 the school was 51%ish
of the budget. Um this school in particular, not all schools. Um and then it moved up to 52 53 54. It's 58% of the budget now. So when you're thinking of that piece of the pie and how that fits
together, the school continues to take a bigger piece of the pie, not because they're not doing anything right or anything like that. It's just they have the most employees and that makes all in the aggregate and it makes all the difference in the world. We just have to find a way to either work with them or
find other solutions and and the override conversation has to be on the table just to be I never like to have a have something not be discussed. Um and I know it's unpopular. Um but I know it also has gone on in at least 10
surrounding communities in the last year and a half for the conversation. Mike and I talked to our compatriots, I guess, across all southeastern Mass and beyond. I think any part of any com any conversation with an override inevitably
what happens if it fails. Um, and so it's a lot of work to get to do this and overrides I think the stats like they they pass 17% of the time. >> Oh yeah. >> So it's a lot of work. Um, it's pretty much if we were doing one, it's pretty much all I would focus on. >> Yep.
>> To be honest with you. So, it throws out a lot of uh priorities out the window. Um, and then we got to, as we saw yesterday, that the town's residents didn't want to pay for >> Y and and >> a big project. So, >> however they feel is how they feel.
>> Um, but we just have to educate them to I think a lot of people are old enough in this town to remember um when we had no police force. >> Um, when the state police had to actually run the police force in town. Um, not saying that as a as a scare
tactic, but [snorts] there are cuts that will have to happen if it passes at town meeting and we can't and we don't pass the budget as a board. we don't accept it but it t passes a town meeting um that it forces
us into a situation and that's why talking about it realistically upfront with all the stakeholders way ahead of time >> is the only way to proceed with any type of confidence. >> Now that said um Emily, Mike, myself,
Lacy, we can find ways to prioritize certain things. We can make a new position that takes two people or we can do tricks and there's tricks and trades. >> We like tricks. We like tricks and and you know my thoughts on crossf functional
>> people like and being able to be that support for more than one area >> and and using leveraging technology um >> in in in a way that helps smooth the transition and and getting rid of manual
um parsing tasks that can be done by technology. anything we can do to continue to tighten the belt a little bit. And then I know that you guys have been doing your work on the study um on you know the needs assessment on the town in general and do we have anywhere
where we need to grow? Do do we have anywhere where we could just shift someone from one position into another? Do we have a support person that could support more than one team? So those are the discussions just for me personally that I think should be a priority. Another one, I'd really like for us to
take a very close look at our contracts, our contracts, our service contracts, our IT contracts. I I I've said it before, I feel like there's a little room to push back on those contracts. I'd rather be paying people than
contracts if if it came down to it. Um, you know, I rather do everything we can to support the people that work for us. But some of these contracts just keep growing at 8 10 12% per year. And maybe
we need to vet and look at some other some other providers of that service even if it even if it ends up climbing up after 3 years um to get that one-year foot in the door type of scenario where they give us a good discount for the for the first two or three years and then
they they put it back up. We need that type of strategy. That's where we're at. I'm going to let the other members speak. >> And Madam Chair, I I agree that was a very difficult time back in '94 when we were laid off for 3 months and the
police department was down to seven members and the state police came in at night uh to cover the to cover the shifts. And I I hate to think about going through that type of >> austerity again. >> Austerity. Yeah. >> Yeah. I appreciate that that talking
about it and then living through it are two very different things >> Panka could have said better than what you said what regarding >> I use a lot of words though I used a lot of words >> brilliant [laughter] madam chair no and and I I agree wherever we could look and I have a lot of faith in town
administrator and finance director they will go through and they will look to see where we can trim a little bit more off I know there wasn't a lot left to trim I've been looking at these budgets for we've been trimming for the last, you know, four years. >> I hope the residents realize there's just not a lot of fat. I mean, my fin
experience looking at these budgets for years, it just is not a lot to trim, a lot of excess to trim, unfortunately. >> Lakeville does not, and this is my opinion, obviously, does not have a spending problem. It has a revenue problem. >> Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. No, for me, um,
you know, thinking about priorities, it's it's about, um, not cutting staff and services to the to the residents. So, um, I think we all feel that way, but, um, I'm just throwing it out on for the record in whatever creative ways we
can maintain that. I I'm open. I think that's probably the worst thing the worst thing I can imagine as far as far as you know having to go through the the layoffs and any of those things and I know they went through it in [snorts]
29 and 2010. Um yeah, for like all across the town, correct? I seem to remember town offices not being immune from that as well. And I know I know the schools certainly weren't. Yeah, but that's the absolute
worst um for continuity, for services um and for the people in children of Lakeville. >> So, I'll try to schedule the the joint meeting. >> No pressure, though. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> But, um >> there's a little pressure. >> Feels like there's a lot of pressure.
[laughter] Um, but I would say we're Mike and I and Emily and Lacy, we're going to dig down and uh try to pull some tricks and do the best we can to narrow the gap >> to zero. So >> much appreciated all the work. >> Um, Madam Chair, so there was a request
from a town administrator if we wanted to provide inputs now, >> we can we can send some later as [snorts] well. >> Okay, question one. Question two, um, does that finance director need to do a little bit more analysis and maybe offer
some additional recommendations to the board? >> So, I did you mention, did I understand you correctly? Did you say something to that effect? >> So, we're we're we're starting to dig into what our options are, >> what we're going to recommend during budget season. Um, my goal this meeting
is to say, is there anything I'm just going to use Mike just because he's here. Do we want to keep the finance director? I think of course we do but like is there something that you like we have to keep we have to add we have to take out >> that's what this >> you know for any vacancy and and all
that that's a really good time to make those analysis just for the fact that >> we're not impacting an actual job we're just impacting a potential physician >> so you know making sure that aligns and we don't create >> weird architecture while we're trying to
do it as well. Yeah. >> Um I did notice the capital expenditures committee is supposed to meet on um Monday, November 24th. >> Mhm. >> Did Did we appoint a new capital expenditures committee? >> I think we did. I can't remember.
>> I believe it's you. >> Damn it. >> It's you. It's you. [laughter] It's you and um >> Mike Smith is on there. Um >> uh no, they so the the town moderator picked two different people. >> Okay. Okay. >> Yep. All right. >> Or he was on there. He was.
>> He was. Yes. He's not current. >> He was. All right. >> Yep. >> Guess that's me then. >> Yeah. Yep. >> Good times. Good times. All right. Very good. >> That's not a final one, by the way. That's just an introductory meeting. So,
no final decisions. >> All right. Perfect. And does everyone look at the budget calendar? Is everyone familiar with everything that we're doing? Tax classification hearing, etc., etc. If so, we can move on to the other after
I fully answer your question. Um, so if you would be so kind as to send out some suggestions on some areas to the board members, they can respond to you individually. >> Absolutely. >> But not together. >> Mhm.
>> Very good. All right. On to the next, guys. Um, I'm gonna welcome up. There he is. [laughter] Oh, I just >> You can You can stay, too.
>> I'll stay. Yeah. >> Thank you so much. Appreciate your time, especially as it's >> following that conversation. I don't know if I want to say >> fix it all nicely. All right, we're going to try. >> All right. Can you introduce um either
one of you, can you introduce um this job position and give me a little context? >> Sure. Um we just got notification last week that our treasurer collector has
resigned. Uh she'll be leaving us in January. Very sad about that. Um, so what we have done is we looked at the posting. It was from like 2021. So I had went in and I looked at Mass General Law
and the treasurer collector responsibilities and anything that wasn't in the previous job description, I just updated to add into year. >> Perfect. >> So me and Mike had sat down, gone through it, made the changes. I'm hoping yours printed in red. >> Mhm.
>> Okay. So those are those are just the additions. So because he is the finance director and we >> um do you like Lorraine more than me? >> She got the special. >> She got the special. >> No, I can give you my >> No, that's okay.
>> Okay. Um so previously it reported to the town administrator because we have the finance director. I changed the super U reports to finance director >> and that's right in line with what we have been saying for um having a finance director.
>> Yep. [snorts] Uh on the first paragraph it's at the very end it says maintains custody of the municipality's financial documents including insurance policies, fidelity bonds, deeds, etc. That was the piece that was in the uh treasurer collector
responsibilities under Mass General Law. The next bullet point, the maintain a cash book. Um, that was also a point that I added coming out of the responsibilities below that negotiate all borrowing, prepare necessary documents and notes and report the same to the finance
director. That's an addition. >> Excuse me, ma'am. Chair, I cannot follow because my document does not reflect any changes. >> So, we have just the old document. >> There should be a supplemental version. Oh, sorry. Supplemental version on the top.
And there it is. There it is. >> There it is. >> I withdraw my snucky comments. [laughter] >> Is yours red now? >> It's red now. >> Comment comments withdrawn. Snark [laughter] not withdrawn. >> But you're supposed to eat.
Um, and then on the following page, I don't know why the words are a little mixed up, but it says, "When budgets are submitted, report to the finance director." There should be an R. The amount of debt and interest due in the
next fiscal year. I have no idea why underneath it says Maine. That is not going to be there. Um, and those are all of the changes or I should say additions that we had put in. >> All right. So, question for you. Is this
job a department head any longer? Because you can't be a department head reporting to a department head. >> Throwing it out there. >> Was that the intent? because we are flowing it
>> to the department head or are we having subd department head department heads like I don't want to make it any more complicated I just want to get clarity on that for the for the role >> I was thinking more of it would be a department head um and it would report
to another department head um I've seen that in other places >> I have I saw it in Foxboro as well >> yeah I mean our ultimate long-term goal is to come back and do a special act of some kind, but that's just not ready for >> Okay. So, department head reporting to a
director. >> Yeah, that's actually how I reported previously. >> Yep. >> So, >> just want to >> make that abundantly clear. And that is the same for the assessor position then as well. >> I that's the one that would have to
statutoily be a special act because they're currently they report to the board of assessors. Not technically to me. No, but they report dotted line. >> Yeah, like a dotted line to Mike. >> Yep. >> Okay. Sorry to hijack.
>> Does anyone have any questions? Oh, um, is this an increase in salary? >> Uh, actually it's not. We started at the same wage that it was hired in 2021, but it can have a
>> Oh, no. I'm not asking for that. I just wanted to throw it up there. [laughter] >> Same same range from 2021. >> Thank you. >> So, are we looking for a motion? >> Yes, we will look for a motion. >> Good question. Don't we don't we usually have a salary range when I've seen these
in the past is a range. >> Does it have that little plus or minus next to it? Um >> yeah, but isn't it normally like you'd see 75 to 85? >> We actually don't have a range right now within the town. Typically the hiring rate is whatever the last person left
as. So we started to create the range. So if it was the range it would be this 85 to what the current is making now which is >> 95 97ish. Yeah. >> Okay. So the right and that's what I was looking for. This is lowest starting
salary. >> I think I think it can be called out though in specific to not move it past a certain point. I have no problem. And that's kind of what I'm looking at. >> If you would like to make a motion and make your change or you could make it
like 80 to 90. That's >> kind of what I'm thinking. Okay. So, I'd like to make a motion to uh adjust the wage salary to a range of 80,000 to 90,000 annually. >> Second.
Any further discussion discuss discussion? Roll call. >> I log I >> carbon I >> and >> and I'll make a motion to approve the um presented uh job description for the
treasurer collector position um including the the range and um suggestions as presented. >> [snorts] >> Do I have a second? Motion is second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. >> I plug I do I.
>> Carbon I. >> Now I have a question. Now as this role is rolling up now under the financial director, is there an opportunity in the current architecture to make some
changes? just having some support changes. >> Yeah, there's always room. >> Okay. >> Depending on circumstances. >> Okay. Just keep it in mind. Keep it as part of the options. Appreciate everyone being open-minded. Um [snorts]
>> moving on to you. >> Oh, you get to go now. >> She's leaving. >> Lucky. Um discussion possible vote on town council request for legal services document. So, um, after we
submitted the RFP, I got a call from KP Law. Um, and I had said there was some enhancements that could be done in some of the services that they provide. Um, and one of them
was, uh, their billing practices. >> And, um, I didn't ask them to do anything. I just told them what what we had discussed at our meeting about the the billing not being really reflective and it's hard to trace and all of those things. So, they came back um and they
sent Andrew a message about that they're going to fix that and um something that they thought would be helpful um going forward and that would be the request for legal services document. >> More papers.
>> More paper. More paper. We would probably put this on a form somewhere >> soon to be an electronic form. >> I like Florida. Yes, it's coming. >> I'm I'm I know you've got this. I know you've got this. Um but this will help keep track with the processes.
>> So we're following a process on the select board, >> but the other boards and committees may just call >> Yep. >> KP Law. >> Yes. >> They sometimes reach out to Andrew. Most of the time they do, but there's there's sometimes like a informal understanding that they can and then
>> Yeah, we just want to formalize. >> It really should be formalized and I should approve every single request. >> This will be required for all boards and committees. >> Correct. Yeah. >> Okay. Good. >> Yeah. >> Good. >> I thought it was a good suggestion and >> I agree. >> Put it on. >> Yep. >> All right. Do I have a motion?
>> Yep. We'll have a motion um to approve the request for legal ser services document as presented. >> Seconded. >> Motion a second. Any further discussion hearing? None. Roll call. >> I look I
>> can do carbon. Um, let me take this out of order and move to the Christmas stroll event by item number five, discussion and possible vote to use the select board
gift account for the Lakeville Stroll event. Um, as you heard in our select board announcements, there is an event um being held at Ted Williams camp on December 13th, which is the Christmas stroll. This is the first time this
event will be happening. We had a snow person event last year, but it didn't have a Christmas stroll component to it. Um the police chief has reviewed the event and is re recommending a police detail in order to secure and properly flow traffic around the event. Cost of the
detail is $258. The request um is for $258 to be spent out of the select board gift account for this purpose. So it's not a explicitly town
sponsored event. Um but it does bring out residents uh for the benefit of the community um and it could be a recurring annual event. So thoughts on this? The select board
gift account is actually [cough] the only thing we use it for is plants and stuff around town and um doing like the buckets around town. um any type of um work on like the veterans monument and
stuff like that and for employee appreciation. That's what we've traditionally used it for. I don't know that there's anything else that has been used for um we did have like at one time we appropriated money in a EAP program,
but we were using some of those. And for those at home, an EAPO program is a referral service um for uh for our employees, but we ended up putting that as a separate budget line. >> I know we've talked in the past of renaming this from the select board
gifts and grants to the employee um um the employee appreciation fund, which would probably be the the right name >> for it going forward. Um, but the request is in conflict with how we deal with other
boards, committees, and commissions. And so we've had the Lakeville Arts um committee years ago. Yeah. Arts Council ask us to pay for um some things out of our budget before. And I I want to say
there's another board committee and commission that's that came to us in the last couple years and asked for something and >> sure >> and we did not approve it. So this isn't just an approval for this.
>> This in my opinion would open up approvals for other events. Um >> I think we have $2,000 left in this account. >> I believe it's about seven eight 7 to8,000 7 to eight. So we after >> we used we only used about 2,000 for the
employee appreciation event. It was hanging around 10 before that. >> Yeah. So it's got about four years of employee appreciation events plus or minus. >> It was one of my creative budgeting things I'm going to try to do. >> Very creative. >> Yep. >> Yeah. But Madam Chair, if I can So I I
made a note on this when I was reviewing it. So, if you go to to the next agenda item, which is um seven, there's a a a letter here from the chief Perkins that talks about the cost of the officers.
So, I wasn't sure how the detail arrived at the 258. >> I do not know um >> based on it's if you go I think it's like the third page in here um or the fourth page, but there's a >> 516 each. Wait. End for five. I think
we'll need a detail at each end for 516. So 1,032. >> Where are you? I don't even know what you're looking at. >> This one. >> The one before it. >> Oh, this one's Melissa Turkot. Okay. Two detail offers officers equals 496.
>> Yep. And then there was a question here that B if it was a higher officer's overtime. >> Yep. It's $6.99. So, >> would you like to speak to how the number came up? >> Sure. I mean, um, as far as I know, uh,
we were told one detail would be 258 and two details would be the 516 and it is a based off of overtime for the highest paid police officer employee and they have a minimum of four hours. So, even though the event's only two hours,
they'd be billing it out as four hours. >> Okay. >> Or two. And we were told it was uh 516 for the two. And maybe that's what you're looking at where it shows the one on either end. >> Yeah. And then in the chief's
uh memo from October 20th, it says two detail officers equal 496, but then highest paid detail officer equals 699. Can you can you decode that for me? >> Yeah, I think there was confusion going back and forth. Um,
so the the kind of the history of my involvement has been um when I went to trunk retreat, I was kind of like white knuckling the whole time just because of the craziness. People uh driving like crazy. And then I think Matt, Chief
Perkins, had kind of the same thought. And so he saw an event, not necessarily somewhere, but in the same location, the potential for just stuff to happen. And so he had started to kind of brainstorm how many officers it would need. And I think there was probably a
miscommunication between myself, Colleen, and Matt. >> Okay. >> So I think the number is probably what >> the 690 up to the >> up to the 690. Yeah. >> Cuz he had told me one I think before and I just saw it was before this amount. So >> but [clears throat] we are looking at
for for two Oops. two detailed officers. Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. So would the request increase based on that or is is the request a portion of? >> So so at this point so let just a little history if I may real quick.
>> Absolutely. >> Um and Michelle McKron and Sus Baylor for the record. Um Madam Chair, uh we started meeting back February of 25. We met with a a number of people, the TA, uh fire chief, police chief, um the DPW
director. We had Nancy Lefave, myself, Sue. Um we and we did speak about a parade, natural parade. Um we got a quote for the details for $1,500 to do the precinct street. >> Mhm.
>> Uh we came before you guys in July and you wanted a different route because there was no sidewalks. >> So just knowing the cost of that parade originally asked the chief how much would that be? He said it would be $3,500 plus the overtime for planning
the event. So, we basically were like, "Okay, too much. Scrap the event." Um, we were speaking with Melissa, the fire chief, kind of came up with a a solution, what what we thought would be similar to the trunk or treat because
they don't have any costs associated with details for the trunk or treat only sort of a walking parade where we'd walk through the people would walk through this the floats rather than the floats going by the people. Um, so we were asked to come up with a a diagram. and
Melissa came up with something at first that looked like it would need the road closed. And then we said, "Well, what if we switch it to um instead of having the the Ted Williams camp driveway lined with floats, what if we just stick them into the parking lot area?" So, that's what
we, you know, we figured just stick it to the parking lot. Um I thought Melissa had spoken with the chief directly. I thought that we were able to use just the one detail for if we just use the parking lots, but at this point um because here we are, it's November and
we we don't know who's going to are we paying out of pocket. This is, you know, a free event. We have bunch of people donating uh different things. Uh hot chocolate, munchkins, Girl Scouts are involved, high school kids. It's not going to be a big event. It's not worth
taking hundreds of dollars out of the employee account at this point. because we we really haven't pushed to promote it either, not knowing whether we'd have to pay for it out of pocket or not, too. So, it's really um kind of left us in a pickle where >> you know it's going it would be a small
event besides those of us trying to volunteer and host the event. We have about three people who've signed up. >> So, for that reason, um you know, I think we're we're not looking to >> $600. It's just
>> it's not worth it. >> I mean, I'd put a donation can out there and take donations. >> I will be your first donation if you would like, but yes. >> Well, we talked about doing donation jar for uh pictures with Santa. [cough] We have somebody in Santa suit and then we'd use the the donation jar to pay for
pay back, >> but you know, hundreds of dollars is is a lot different than right >> you know what what >> maybe they're all like me and think, oh, outside that's awful. >> [laughter] >> No, I I think you got a hard It's hard to plan a parade in the winterish.
>> Well, we started last last February, so we were hoping to have plenty of time. And and just for information sake, I did reach out to eight different towns, um smaller rural local towns. I connected with six of them. Uh Rahobitth does a Memorial Day parade run by the veteran
service agent. Um they have a very organized way of doing it. They don't have a police detail. The highway department closes the road with barricades and signage and that's a free event. Uh Plimpmpton and that is on a town road, so not a state road. Uh
Plimpmpton, they do a Memorial Day parade. It's run by the assistant to the select board. It's on a town road. Police, DPW, fire, all on call that day. No extra money for detail. Built on into the yearly budget. [snorts] Um Main Street in Plimpown Plimpmpton is
shut down. Um, Dyton does a lights on festival for Christmas with a short parade hosted by the holiday committee which is six members. The town clerk does lead that committee. Um, it's not town sponsored. It's all donations volunteers. Um, it is on a town road.
Very short amount of time for the parade. Um, they did say the police detail is is donated time. Um, Rochester, I didn't speak with uh the DPW. I I left a voicemail, but they have a seven member committee. It's all volunteers, so there was no one to speak with
directly. The assistant, it was either this the assistant town clerk or ATA um that I spoke with said that she didn't believe there was a paid detail. Uh but the DPW does close the road, but I wanted to verify that. I'm not 100% on
that one. Um Pemroke run by town memorial committee, 10 members. They do a veteran they were doing veterans day memorial now just down to veterans day parade um headed by the veterans agent on route 38 36 in the center of town
they do less than a mile police fire are involved with planning and um the budget was about $2,700 for that parade but they >> Can I ask an awkward question? >> Did we ask if any of our police members would like to donate their time to it?
>> We did ask that. you [laughter] would told no. >> So, so DPW had it in their budget said that, you know, they could use time out of their budget. Uh, fire said they could do the same, but police said that they couldn't. So, this is just I mean some information for you all if you want
to try to get a town event like a parade going that maybe just to keep in mind when budget season comes around, maybe just ask that they keep a line open for some detail for a certain event like that because these are, you know, we do enhance you. We do want to enhance
community [clears throat] events and but it is hard when >> there's an expense. >> Yeah, there's an expense >> and we're trying to do a free event for the community. So, >> it's unfortunate. [laughter] >> Hi, would someone else like to speak? >> Hi, Melissa Turkot Parks Commission. So,
this the results of this dealing with um Chief Perkins, it's going to affect Lakeville Day and it's going to affect trunk or treat in the future because for Lakeville Day, we shut the road down. So that's two details. So that's at least $516. And trunk or treat, we could probably do
one detail, so that's $258 plus dollars. So it's money that I know you guys don't have the money. Parks also doesn't have that extra money to spend over $1,000 on events. We can't be the only ones to eat it. >> I do appreciate that perspective and I think we should address that
holistically and see, you know, what we can come up with, but I don't think we're going to solve it tonight. But I do appreciate the the perspective. I thought trunk or treat had one detail. They [clears throat] had not trunk or treat. We've always shut the road. So then when we've been going back and
forth with Chief Perkins, Chief Perkins is like, you can't shut the road without a detail. Yeah. >> So I'm like, I don't have that money to pay you. So it was either cancel trunk or treat two days before or go without a detail. And as Andrew [snorts] >> said, right, it was it was touchandgo.
Like people didn't care that there were kids all running around >> trick-or-treating. >> And that's and that's exactly and that's the exact reason that it's necessary, >> right? And I understand that necessity and when we Andrew and I spoke and Lacy um I assumed that was the issue. So I
was like all in. I'm like, "Yeah, you don't want people flying through the driveway. That's fine." So when I talked to Chief, he was like, "Oh, I think there's been a misunderstanding. It's a union issue, not a safety issue because the road has to be closed because it's in the union contract
because it's a what's it called? Uh >> public way. >> Yeah, I mean it's a public way and anytime you have like a big event like this, you got to have guys come on and they need to get paid >> more or less. >> I'd love to see all the details in that,
you know, make it make it simple for me. >> Speed bumps. [clears throat] Yeah, >> more speed bumps. >> Yeah, but if it's a union issue, speed bumps aren't going to fix this issue. >> Well, let's see what I don't think I'm going to be able to um >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. work anything here, but um I will
let the the board speak up, but um I think you're bringing to light an important issue about community events in town. Um but but I'm not sure what the solve is at this juncture. >> And I do want to just thank Andrew. He's
right. >> He's been very helpful and and supportive along the way. I know he really wanted to see an event just as much as we did. So, I appreciate you, Andrew, you know, even bringing this to the board. You know, if it's not even something that can be covered by the gift gift account, I do appreciate you
looking into that anyways because, you know, it would have been nice, >> but I think at this point we're we're just >> we're just gonna >> we're not going to be able to we'll continue with the snow person uh event, but um >> no want to say something besides me. >> It's just not okay. you know, $699 now
[laughter] is just not in the cards. So, >> I'm I'm [clears throat] 10 years out of a police contract, so I don't I don't know what they >> You want to volunteer your [laughter] time. >> I don't know what they read now. [cough] Um, but I certainly would have no issue with a temporary road closure for zero
dollars with zero offices for an event like this. I It's a >> Is it considered a road? It's Ted Williams camp driveway with parking lots. I don't know if it's officially called >> is it Ted Williams Drive or like
>> No, I don't know. It's just Ted Williams camp. >> So, the public way thing comes under invitees or licences, right? So, there's no the the camp is not while it's closed at night, people can drive through >> the camp. Uh it's maintained by the
town. >> It's it's not, you know, we don't >> ipso facto. It's a public way, >> but so are parking lots. They're also maintained at the town. So I don't know. Is it considered a road? Could could we close it like you said with DPW trucks
and barricades for a zero cost? I don't know. >> Yeah. I the where it gets me is the fact that you're not for profit. you understand if it's something like a triathlon that's going to make >> x number of thousands of dollars when they do it and things like that. This is
a this is to the benefit of the town at zero cost to the town and it they they're not looking to put money in their coffers. So I don't understand why something can't be done for a temporary closure. Um you can close roads with
notifications. I mean, you we see it. We see traffic shifted all the time with no detail officer. You know, if we look at the Candido Bridge, we we see that they've >> they've rerouted traffic there. >> There's no detail.
>> So, honored to have it named after her >> and and Ted Williams was actually um detourred off today because of the >> paving. >> Yeah. >> Um >> we actually had a detail off shown. There was a detail officer there.
>> Yeah. >> But it wasn't a safety concern per se of people that was prompting it. >> That was the conversation Melissa had. >> Yeah. No, it was a union >> cuz I was thinking it was safety related.
>> Conversation I had with Chief Perkins was the safety. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. Can we get all the >> facts bullet pointed? Um, and we meet again next week. Maybe we'll have another discussion. Yeah, >> I I appreciate all the things that you guys have gone through on it.
>> Any more board members discussion talking points? >> No. The only thing I would add is it sounds like maybe you need to form a committee and then solicit donations, >> right? And I think it would have to be
done as a friends of and we we really didn't. It's easier to get people to volunteer their time when it's not a full-time commitment, when it's not a committee that needs minutes, agendas, postings, all those things. So, >> remote. >> Great. >> But still, I don't think any of us really wants that sort of commit. We
wanted to to just have a grassroots sort of good old Christmas. >> Yeah. because none of us can I know Lacy was talking about doing a friends group, but you have to find somebody who's not involved with the town to be the head of the friends group >> and nobody has come forward yet. So, one
of us would have to leave our current positions in order to do that >> and that's just not something that's on the table right now. >> Member Caboni, did you have anything else to add? >> No, I think that we can find a solution. >> Yeah, let's let's let's not 11th hour
this and see what we can do. Um, >> so [laughter] we kind of need >> unless you unless the premise is because you you said you only had three people >> because we have really haven't advertised it because we've been in limbo for so long.
>> I mean, we have gone a certain extent, but not like we haven't really gone out to businesses and talked to them in person or done the flyers like we did with the snow people. Um, >> the high school's, you know, already involved. They've got kids that are >> a member in the audience that wants to say something. I can tell you have to
come up to a micro for a second. It got me thinking. >> Join the party. >> Join the party. Thanks, guys. Um, what about if you had a sponsor? >> You have to say who you are. I'm sorry. >> Let me get closer then. >> Talk. Um, in Tuppen Ronsky. Um, but
wondering about a sponsor, a business sponsor. >> So, we so we have been raising money with the snow person event that Drew started um to raise money for the animal shelter. So it just kind of feels like if we now start asking money from SP and we do in order to raise the money we
have to be nonprofit we have to be that friends of we can't >> so it's it's all sort of a >> okay and the deficit is $6.99 for funds >> it's up to $6.99
>> depends on which officer is doing the detail but it was was it 516 to 6.99 or >> Yeah I was So the madam chair the high number would be the overtime rate of the highest paid officer >> and it would be overtime pay if it is
related to the town if it's a town event >> but it's not a town >> but it's not a town event. So theoretically it should be um the base detail rate which I don't know if it's
62 64 somewhere there times >> four the 4hour minimum. >> It's like having a police chat GPT. [laughter] >> So yeah the low end was what you're saying was the 258 >> for the four hours >> for one
>> for one. That's for one and not being >> so we may not we may not need two. >> But what it was saying there was two. So that's what I'm just going. >> We'll go with two and if it's only one then you're good. >> All right. I'm going to table this um discussion. Um we're going to find out
some more information. See if anything's even plausible to work out. And yeah. And >> I mean I think it's easier to just tell the three people that unfortunately we're not moving forward with it. We'll still do the Jubilee, but [snorts]
um >> I mean to wait another week cuz here we are, you know, so close. >> I I respect that decision. I I think that's fine as well. Um but we should probably get clarity on this because this could this could impact our ability
to do counter going forward. the other agenda item right here for a one day. >> I hope they didn't pay a fee. >> No, no, he tried. I wouldn't want to. >> Thank you. >> Told him to [laughter] wait. >> Yeah. >> Smart thinking. >> Yeah. Okay. Well, we're uh sorry to
disappoint. So, um it >> is what it is. >> Yeah. But I mean, if maybe something can come about for, you know, maybe a policy or in the budgets for the next year, something that can be worked out, >> would the parks commission sponsor it?
pay for it. >> No, no, I'm just If it's a parks event, it's different. >> Well, it was parks. >> Yeah, they are. >> Yes. So, once the parade was nixed, then they came to me and said, "How can the parks help?" So, then I jumped in. We
jumped in and worked with Chief O'Brien and came up with the reverse parade idea where the floats stay still and the people move by. >> So, we are like sponsoring it. Where is the document that says you're
co-sponsoring it? >> The application has her also >> which we hadn't gotten to yet. Oh, okay. Cuz we're it's on the next agenda item. >> Right. Right. >> Because that's number >> and and therein lies the town event.
>> Yeah. So then that's what bumps up that rate. >> It's not that much. >> Gotcha. >> Okay. >> It's not that much. >> That's the caveat. Yep. >> Can we withdraw the packs? >> All right. Thank you very much. Sorry to >> That's okay. >> Yeah,
>> we get it. It's not easy to be in the middle. >> No, but um we should probably come up with something that's that's more comprehensive and more >> user friendly in the in the future. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> I do it. What do you do as select board? I cancel Christmas funky moments. >> That's how I like food. >> Um, >> it's called red tape. >> I know. >> So, so the next council holiday
calendar. >> Yeah, holiday calendar. And then one and two are we didn't add any new holidays this year? >> Nope. Same as >> Thanksgiving
and day after Thanksgiving and we do a full Christmas Eve and a Christmas day. >> Yep. >> Yes. >> And Okay. Oh, here it is. >> So, this hasn't materialally changed
since last year at all? >> No, I'm just there. >> Any questions on any of the holidays? or any of the days that they're being celebrated on. >> Hearing no discussion. I'll take a motion. >> So moved.
>> And I need second motion in a second. Any further discussion? >> Roll call. >> I I >> Candy do I. >> Carbon I. Um so we are going to table indefinitely. Um one and two >> the Christmas stroll
>> one and two and two >> which the booster >> the one day be gear license. Uh discussing possible vote to approve Ponit Boosters annual holiday wreath sale to be held Thanksgiving weekend at
the Old Town Howell building and parking lot and to grant the request to store the wreaths on Wednesday 11:2625 in the evening inside of the building [clears throat] >> the historic approved the
>> Okay. Was it was there a conversation with the um >> was it booster >> historic just to store it in there >> to um I did not ask them about storing it in there but there is no conflict with the with the space. I did not think
of that. >> Can we make any motion >> contingent on that on their approval because they might >> because they're the caretakers of the >> Right. I actually wasn't taking like that but yeah this is a change from last year too. >> Okay. Got it. Any other questions of any
other board members? Hearing none, I'll take a motion. >> So moved >> and we're going to make >> the motion contingent upon um just the >> historic commission's approval. >> Approval. Is this item number three?
>> This is item number three, appointments and licenses. Yep. >> We table I should have I shouldn't have rushed that. So my apologies. >> Tabled one and two. Um, I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> Basically, it was just to store the
wreaths inside, but to use the building is is obviously ours. So, >> okay. >> All right. >> Second. >> Seconded. >> Second. Motion to second. Any further discussion? >> Hearing none. >> I can't either. >> Carboni. I
>> discuss and possible vote. Was it the same? >> Yep. >> Yep. That's the same one. Yep. uh back page or >> Lakeville Arts Council um for the All That Glitters holiday shopping event to take place on December 5th and 6th at
Lon Pon Lodge and Ted Williams Camp for two sign placements requests and a community board sign request. >> So moved. [snorts] >> Seconded. >> Motion is second. Any further discussion?
>> Hearing none. Roll call. on I >> do I carbon I >> um appointments we have a few here uh discuss some possible vote to appoint Shelon Rodriguez as the shared services
health specialist with the term from October 1, 2025 through September 3025. >> There is 26 >> 26. Thank you. Um there is record here of the Fran Lawrence from the board of health memorializing
um the recommendation on October 15th. >> So moved. >> Second move. [snorts] >> Motion a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. >> Ide. >> Carboni. I >> discuss possible vote to appoint Carolyn Mullen to council on aging board to fill
the unexpired term through July 30th 2028. So moved. >> Seconded. >> Motion to second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. >> I love I >> do I carbon I
>> and discuss and possible vote to dwella Monty as an alternate council on the aging board. The aging board on the council on aging board with a time to uh term to expire on July 31, 2026. >> So moved. >> Seconded. >> Motion and second. Any further
discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. >> I plug I >> Candida I. >> Carboni. I >> and discuss possible vote to appoint Susan Espazito as an alternate on the council on aging board with a term to expire July 31, 2026. >> So moved.
>> Seconded. >> Motion a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. >> I plug I do I. Carbon. I Moving down to item number nine. Discuss possible vote to ratify the approval of
the request for public way license for the Mullen Hill Christian Academy Veterans Day 5K to be held on November 8th. >> Yes, that's right. You asked me to bring it back because it was under new business. >> Okay. So moved. >> Thank you. >> Seconded.
>> Motion in a second. Roll call. Hunt. I >> do I >> Cavoni I >> and our subcommittee updates. We'll start with Mr. Member Planka. >> Uh what's the first one? Old Gold Colony.
>> Uh yeah, so we did have a meeting um got it was back a couple weeks ago. Uh I believe it was on November 3rd if I recall. Uh that was our final
meeting before the vote uh where we got an update on the MSBA approval. Um it was a relatively short meeting and it was a lot a f you know few final an update on the final uh publicity
[snorts] u um events that they were doing prior uh to the uh vote. Uh so obviously everybody knows of the vote uh failed to carry among the five communities. Um so we are now waiting to reconvene to
discuss our next options. >> Okay. No date date to be >> determined. It's not been determined yet. >> All right. Fire station building committee. >> So we had a meeting uh last evening. Um my apologies to the public, but um it wasn't recorded um with Lake Cam, but um
we will have the minutes available for that. So, right now, we're just waiting um for some final uh sign offs um from natural heritage and um just making sure that things are recorded appropriately
um you know, conditions um site plan and we met the uh GC last last night. Um, so they're eager to get started and as soon as we know, I ask for at least a 72-hour
[laughter] notice so that I can um, you know, work with our office to get some, um, information out to the public that, um, we're going to be starting and we'll be working on, uh, the groundbreaking ceremony, trying to plan that, you know,
around the the time frame. So, we could this could be in the next four weeks. >> Mhm. Yeah, >> with golden shovels they do in the state. >> Yeah, [laughter] we'll have to borrow some. >> Do we have golden shovels? >> I got some spray paint. [laughter]
>> Always wanted to have a golden shovel. >> So, all right. Technology advisory subcommittee. >> Yes, we met Oh my gosh. When did we meet, Andrew? Um on the 10th. November 10th. I had to reschedule it because not allowed to meet on Veterans Day. Um so
we continued our discussion. on the remediating the vulnerabilities is reported in our open trust um audit that was done last fall that was done during executive session. Uh we also discussed um Andrew gave us an update on the town
website. Um updated the committee on some of the technology changes I'm trying to implement with uh um Microsoft applications for town employees. And there was a third thing. It was
website. Maybe that maybe I was thinking of the um >> minutes >> open trust. Everyone didn't review minutes of course. Right. >> Okay. >> Um have we reached a quorum with a communication outreach community and um subcommittee and um if we haven't
>> so been so yes um so tonight we through our announcements um you know we do have a vacancy. So if there is somebody out there that's interested in the communications um you know I would say that you know if we can at least give this
you know a couple more >> okay >> months and if not then we'll just dissolve it as a committee and I'll just move forward with >> working with the administration to >> well we had two two really great candidates tonight that want to get involved with the town.
>> I'm going to [laughter] I'm going to reach out. So, I would like to, you know, keep this going. But I know that I have been working with the administration >> um you know, just trying to I guess streamline and so if people have noticed, we we've
got more postings up on the website and >> Yep. >> Yep. [clears throat] It's it's incremental, but um when we get the new website, I think that'll be a game changer as far as how limited we are with our functionality. I think we're probably one of the last towns still
running on that version because they they don't push updates to us >> and I haven't seen it in probably 5 years for updates. >> No updates, no train. Uh you can't really call on >> Yeah, there's no service anymore. >> No service anymore. >> They just they you know >> they've abandoned >> Yes, pretty much. Pretty much. All
right. Town Hall building reuse subcommittee updates. >> Did we have a meeting? >> No, but we did get funded. >> We did get funded. the artic because I'm thinking I may have missed the meeting. [laughter] Um the article special town meeting on
the 12th did fund uh $25,000 uh to have the evaluation of the existing building uh get the layout done and so forth to give us a little bit more information for our next meeting. >> I'm excited.
>> Excellent. >> Excellent job. >> Economic development committee. >> Economic development committee. We met on Monday evening. Um so we finalized all of our questions uh for the surveys. There'll be uh two separate surveys, one for residents, one for businesses. So we
we went through it was a very productive but long meeting. Um but we identified all of our um questions. So um >> is this going to be a survey monkey? >> Yes, Emily is putting um everything together for us. Um it'll be Survey Monkey, but we also have vehicle in
which um residents can do it through via paper. >> Okay. >> And we'll [clears throat] we'll have that all outlined um at our next meeting how we're going to disseminate all of that. Uh we're looking to put it out in January. >> Okay. >> To get some feedback. So,
>> are we going to thinking of putting it out with any of our documents as part of it, like the town documents, or are we thinking of, you know, just going >> Yeah, we're just [clears throat] with a >> event. We're doing our thing. >> Okay. >> Um, also uh we we also decided that uh
we're going to host a um a business event, but we haven't picked the date yet, but where we can bring all our local businesses together. So, >> Lon Pond, >> we're going to we're going to work on the location. We haven't done any of that yet. So,
>> it was just a conversation and the committee's on board. >> Very cool. [snorts] >> Energy advisory committee. >> Energy advisory committee. Um Andrew, I don't know if you have any updates on that. um or I know you you guys met twice um so far since we've reconvened
and um there was some work being done [sighs and gasps] with some savings was it 174D >> 179D >> which is going to come back in front of the board at some point so because I
don't really understand it there's [laughter] there's energy geeks out there that are I am just amazed and just overwhelmed at the same time with all the talk about energy conservations and but if it if it's incentives and and
things that can save the town money and help our um environment, I'm in. Very good. 179D. I'll look it up. Look it up. All right. Um, we have some correspondents. One's from
the Buzzards Bay Coalition. So, every year, um, the Douglas family's Christmas tree farm, um, in Fair Haven, uh, offers a gift of a large tree to the farm for 20 towns in our Buzz Buzzards
Bay wershed. They're happy to arrange time for DPW crew to visit the farm or pick out the tree. I don't know that we've ever taken advantage of this. I don't think >> we haven't. >> Colleen and I went out there. Was it two weeks ago? >> Yeah. >> It's massive. Um trees from 10 to 50 ft.
We were thinking probably 10 ft. We're thinking >> we put a tree up last year at the pavilion. We're thinking about doing it with a real tree. Could we maybe tie it into the event that's going on and do a little Christmas tree lighting or >> That's what we were thinking. >> Yeah. >> Yeah,
>> that'd be wonderful. >> Um, please let me know how I can help. >> Yep. [snorts] >> Fantastic. Um, at the Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 meeting, the planning board voted unanimously to send a memo to the
select board advising them that David Lodge would serve as the planning board liaison for the Lakeville Country Club committee. Um, Lakeville Country Club. It's not a committee. >> It's not. I'm just going to committee up
there. Um, just discuss >> liaison. Um, and then Department of Telecommunications Cable notified that cable license with Verizon expires on 5428. Um, boy, they're really on top of it for
5428. Too bad they're not on top of it for other stuff, but yes. So, uh, we do know 5428 is the day. Is there any new business to come before the board tonight? U Madam Chair, if I may, I I think I may have mentioned at a prior
select board meeting that um with the request of a resident to look into a hometown heroes banner program similar to what Middle I think. Did I mention that? I thought I mentioned that at the board. >> I can't remember, but I know we've talked about it, but I don't know where it's
>> Yeah. So, unfortunately, Andrew had a meeting with Middle Gas, and they will not give us approval to install banners on their polls. >> What was the reason behind that? There's like five or six of them. Um, basically it's >> safety
>> maintenance, safety, things get hit. [clears throat] >> I know. He says they they don't do that in Middlear. They do it on uh ornamental poles in the downtown, >> right? They do it on their light poles and Bridgewater does do it on their
electric poles. Uh I believe they have Eversource and my assumption is that Eversource obviously allows them to do that. I know that Freetown has Eversource and Eversource allows them to put up their flags on their polls. So, surprisingly, I would have thought it'd be the other
way around. Eversource would say no and Middle Gas would say yes. >> I agree. Maybe we start a letterw writing campaign to Member Gas and Electric. >> I appreciate their rates, but [laughter] do >> Yeah, they keep their rates low by not putting flags on them. Um,
>> can we get a meeting? Um, I would like to grab another meeting. >> I would like with Middle Road Gas Electric >> just as a another >> I can schedule another one. I I I had it with the general manager. >> You did? >> Yeah. >> It's not Sandy anymore. >> No,
>> no, it's uh Ken Stone. >> Dreadful. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. No, they're they're they're good, but they were >> They're a great company. They do great things. Um, you know, when I look at neighborhood rates >> that we get compared to other people, I'm very thankful for them,
>> but >> I'd really like to find a way to work together on this. >> Yeah, I can uh >> So, let's push it back one more time. >> Yeah. >> Worst they can say is no again. >> Um, any old business to come before the
board? Announcements on the next select board meeting date? We have a November 25th. Um, and we're going to set the tax rate. We have one other item on that day besides tax rate related thing. >> Yeah, there's going to be um,
>> are you thinking the first one with the split tax rate? >> No, we were going to conversation about the split tax rate, which is always a popular one. And then did we have one more item? >> Yeah, we were going to approve uh, cannabis. >> Yeah, we have some HCA that >> um, approved. I wasn't going to add
anything on that agenda, but time is of the essence. So, just for the members here, um, for our December meetings, I really want to focus on clearing the decks and making sure if we had anything outstanding, you you bring it so we can
get rid of stuff and then we can start working on all the new stuff in January and kind of make it like our our new year. So, if we have anything outstanding or things that we haven't got resolved or things that should come back to the board, let's do that for
December. It'll be our housekeeping month. Um, I rather have meetings early in the month and then take the last three weeks off for families um and be respectful of everyone's time with their families and then come roaring back in January um with all the things we need
to do with everything else. But please find out if we can have a first week of December meeting with the school committee to discuss >> Yeah. >> budget prior to getting into a situation where um we're both not saying what
needs to be said. >> Right. >> Yep. >> Um any other items? If not, a motion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. >> Roll call. >> Hunt.
Thank you everyone and thank you for attending. I love having an audience. So it's so rare at at the end of the meeting that people are