Welcome to the select board meeting March 9th, 2026. It is 6:34 p.m. Let's get started. Pledge of Allegiance, please. >> I 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. >> Accept. >> Okay. >> All right. So, uh we'll read the mail and then we'll get
started with a joint meeting with the planning board. Welcome and thank you for coming. Uh we'll be discussing um and possibly voting on the appointment to fill a vacancy on the planning board uh with the appointee to serve until the May 9th, 2026 town election.
Uh Ben, you guys get to go home, I think. >> Yay. >> We'll stay here. Uh we'll have department board updates and requests um regarding the ban and an affordable housing trust um discussion followed by public input and members updates
appointments um for LCTV a select board discussion on the annual report cover contest sale of the Orchard House town council citizen petition assistance policy followed by the town administrator assistant town administrator updates on the select um
the uh town meeting survey results and anything else that uh comes up. I guess we'll approve minutes and then we'll be done. >> We get started with the mail. >> Absolutely. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
So I've uh let everyone know of uh there are some appointments that are available um by the select board and different boards and committees and those are the agricultural commission committee for the exploitation of real estate tax relief for seniors, economic development
committee, master plan implementation committee, per municipal building committee, personnel advisory committee, zoning board of appeals. one position that is appointed by the town administrator. There's an opening of the affordable housing trust. Uh and there's
an appointment um by the select board and planning board uh joint member uh that Adam chairwoman just just announced that will be on tonight's agenda for the planning board. And last but not least, there's an appointment by Littleton Electric, Light and Water Department for
their finance committee. Um, okay. Sign up to receive public notifications for the town of Littleton. Scan the QR code on the screen to register or go to www.ittletonmma.org/subscribe. Community impacts, public safety activity, transportation issues, town
meeting changes, town events, public health concerns. Stay informed. DPW um hopefully we won't need this anymore for a little while. DPW seeking snowplow contractors for the 2526 winter season. Packets available at the DPW office at
39A Road on the DPW website or call 978-5402670 for information. Rates begin at one at $100 an hour and up to $153 per hour depending on the equipment. Incentive sign on bonus of up to of $1,000.
Need ice melt sand mix? Get a bucket delivered for free. Sand for seniors through Littleton Elder and Human Services. Comes from an agent. If uh if it's if it's necessary, please call 978-540-2470. And we're moving on to the select board
office hours. and um Wednesday, March 25th, a Wednesday, April 22nd, Wednesday, May 27th, and Wednesday, June 24th. All from all of those dates from 4
to 6:00 p.m. Uh hosted by Mr. Rambaka. And uh here we have uh a notification from the ABCC um advisory uh regarding non-consentual drugging occurring at bars, clubs, and other licensed premises. We have uh
received this and we have distributed amongst all the people in the town, all the entities in town that have a liquor license. Lisa did that um as soon as she received it. Here we've got some gift acceptance forms. um from digital uh federal credit
union uh in the amount of $1,000 for the for fire services for the town for the Littleton Fire Department. Thank you very much. Uh another one uh for the Littleton Fire Department uh of Taka of Littleton, $1,000 donation for the fire
services for the town. Thank you very much. And a third one from Brenda McGertie. uh $52 a donation for the fire services for the for the town for the Littleton Fire Department. Thank you very much. And uh gift acceptance form from the
town clerk from LWD in the amount of $16,400. Uh it is for the grant for the shed uh payment for the uh election shed. um in which uh they were K LWD was kind
enough to uh to provide that those funds uh for and I believe the uh the tech will be building it I believe so. Um, and here we have a gift acceptance form
for from uh, uh, for Liz for EHS. Uh, the partying gift uh, the party offering the gift, it's the Mass Associate of Council on Aging in the amount of $250 for uh, physical fitness classes.
And here we have a notification in regards to the certification for uh chapter 90 appropriation from the governor's office. And you can see for FY27 it's in the amount of $612,82522 as a uh point of information. FY25's
aotment was $397,562 and FY26 was $615,510. And that's it. Madam Chair, Mr. Chairman, are you all in session? >> Uh, yes. um planning board's here with you to talk about
the first um issue was implied in your introduction is whether we have an appointment. >> Um when we look at it, we have a meeting March 19th. We will have a meeting in April and then that's it until after the
election. Um, anyone who's appointed will not be able to vote on any matter on any hearing disposition that has been opened before their appointment. Um, it doesn't
mean there couldn't be a contribution, but if I think my board has varying views on whether we need this appointment, I'm going to invite them to speak. C can I
ask a CL? Yeah. I thought >> you couldn't participate in a hearing if there were already two meetings on the hearing, not if the hearing was open. It's >> you can't miss more than one meeting, >> right? >> So, if there's already been two meetings, you can't. But
>> I don't know. I that's I'm repeating what Martin told me. >> And there's a difference between a hearing and a meeting, too. Yeah, we've had someformational meetings that of course would be open for review, but we've also opened a hearing for the next
site plan review for 550 King, >> right? So, I know you had one hear one meeting with the residentials, but you haven't had >> had two. I don't know, Mark. >> So, that that's that's my question, right? Because >> because if they can still vote on that,
then it makes sense. If they can't, then maybe it doesn't, right? >> Yes. >> But but my reading of the bylaw was that they could if they've only missed one meeting, not >> which >> I just go by what what Marin Martin told
me. She's not unfortunately she's gone. >> And I'll I'll start cuz I told Jeff I would. It's one meeting. We don't really need to appoint somebody for one meeting. We can get through April. May's the election. um if there's three or four people
running it doesn't make sense to get one person. So I'm happy that there people running that's I think that's great. It should be another playing field by 21. So that's that's my question rest.
I hadn't considered that when Mark has made his that there would be an advantage to the person appointed um and during the election and apparently at this point three of the four people
have pulled papers I think to run. So I I've as of today I mean I looked I looked um you had Mr. more who was recent. >> So that's one of the >> right >> those you were talking about I think are
you >> miss uh who pulled >> yes Miss Bloomstein she she she pulled papers >> and then someone told me that Peter Scott pulled >> not as of today. Okay, this the question remains, does that give does appointing
either one of those two people give an unfair advantage during an election? >> Um, I'll say that I'm a little um surprised that this is even under question. I wasn't informed of that ahead of time and a citation would have
been helpful. We could have talked to the council on their opinion. Um, so this is I'll say it's a little disappointing that this is the first time I'm hearing that this appointment >> is not something that the planning board is consider is considering. You know,
>> I that's what Mark said. >> I don't know. You know, let's hear from the other members. Carol. >> Um, yeah, I was also looking at there's only um I think we only have two posted meetings until the election that an
interim person at this point doesn't make any sense uh for having their opinions expressed for two meetings and then uh you know and then if they are running for the thing I'm I'm reluctant to appoint them given that there's a you know possibly multiple people running
for the position but they give them some kind of advantage for it of which were then down left to whoever chose not to run and then we're only talking for two months. To me, it just doesn't make it doesn't really serve any value to the planning board. Nothing that we have coming up on our agenda requires, you
know, a five vote. Everything can be voted um within the uh within the members that are currently, you know, currently on the board there. So, my my opinion at this point is is that um I don't think we need to do this appointment. If this was six months to
the election or eight months where we'd have a lot of business before the board and and more um activity, to me that would make more sense, but given how close to the election, I'm not seeing it further.
>> Well, I understand your the reasoning over there. Um, I think that having an additional voice would be beneficial and I am happy to have a number.
>> How do you feel about the unfair advantage of appointing someone who is running? >> I don't think I don't think it's much of an advantage. I think, you know, having been on the board for 2 months and not
having much of a record um isn't much of an advantage. >> Okay. I was I came to the board being appointed by you guys. Um, at that point it was January
and uh there was a specific issue that the planning board needed to take care of at that town meeting. Um, so anyway, so I'm I uh you
know I invite comments from you guys. I think that you can see that we're ambivalent. I mean, I like I So, a couple things for me. I um I just confirmed with the town clerk, we had one person pull papers and she's here today. >> Okay.
>> Okay. So, I look at it more as if you're committed I I I wouldn't appoint someone if they said they weren't going to run. >> Oh, interesting. >> To me, for >> for this short period of time, if you had six months of business, >> Yeah. >> a little bit more, but when you just said two meetings, I look at it more as
you're giving someone the opportunity to hit the ground running. Mhm. >> Um where you have one, what how much time do we have to pull papers now? You're coming down to a week. You have to turn them in in two weeks. So we next week you've got to have your papers pulled by and we don't have anybody
that's done that yet besides one one individual. So >> Oh, one person has turned them in. >> No, one person has pulled papers. >> People have their attention. >> And what are we talking That's why I'm saying what are we talking about? We're talking about someone's going to pull last second. >> Yeah.
>> I mean, who is that person? Um, right now we have someone that's an individual here that's shown interest and seems committed and and I I look at it more as this is someone that you could hit the ground running and learn a little bit of experience in how the board works procedurally and things like that before
town meeting. So that's >> that's fair. What any other comments? >> Yeah, I jump in. >> Y >> um I I respected what you're saying, Gary, but those are the rules of the game. you get to pull papers up to such and such a date, then you get to pull them in by turn them in by the following
Tuesday. So, um I wouldn't see that as an advantage. Um I think the fact that um there there isn't going to be any matter before them um you guys have one meeting that uh this person would um be able to
contribute at and if someone wants to hit the ground running, they could be showing up at these meet, you know, any meetings that planning board has or hearings um to to do just that. And um you know, every everybody's going to bring something different to the table. And I think that just kind of open it
up. If someone decides to pull later than another person, I don't think that's a specific greater commitment for someone that, you know, is going to do it. A lot goes on in people's lives and they just might not have gotten there to do it. A couple of people have expressed interest in pulling papers. So, um I
kind of concur with um Mark and Daryl and think that it's it's I don't think it's gonna be fruitful to bring somebody on board and it's certainly a board where there's a reason it's 5 years. It takes you about 5 years to kind of get your legs under your own. It's it's a it's a um it's a
challenging board and there's a lot of information and you guys learn something new at every meeting, I'm sure. But um I don't think this one meeting is going to give uh someone that that runway that you're speaking to.
>> All right. If I may just respond. So on let's just say on the 22nd of March, I think papers have to be turned by the 23rd. Is that >> the following Tuesday? >> Have to be returned by the 23rd. So say on the 22nd this board was to meet and we're in the same situation and we still
had one person that pulled papers for the planning board. Would you feel differently? I guess that's what I would ask the planning. >> Yes, I would feel if you if you wait if you hold this off until the 22nd and only one person then I guess I I would agree >> that would that change your mind? >> Probably.
>> Yeah. At that point, if there's only going to be one person, >> it only would help the board at that at that, >> right? But I mean, while while it's open for people to pull papers and and it's until it's definitive that there's only one person running, >> I don't I'd have to wait to that date.
So when do you meet again? >> 19th. >> You meet. Okay. So you can meet right before that. >> Um >> yeah, that I mean I I'll go with my first statement. What I believe makes sense. It's because what we have in front of us right now is showing we have
such trouble getting volunteers. Anyway, we have an individ individual that has shown interest um in the long-term appointment and >> but they haven't turned their papers in either. Just like Steve Moore hadn't turned his papers in either. Pulling papers does not mean returning papers. >> No, we have the individual here today
that can be asked that question. Are you going to turn your papers? That was part of this. >> But what's before us is nobody returned their papers. >> That's true. But they've expressed enough interest to pull their papers. >> So,
>> yeah, I Yeah, I'm done. I I understand what you said. >> I took >> I don't think that um attending one meeting is going to give anybody an advantage in the election. I don't think that the voters in this town weigh that super heavily. And I would I think if
someone is interested in running, even even just to the point of pulling papers, go ahead and appoint them. If they only attend one meeting, it's one more meeting that they would attend if they win. And if they don't win, you know, they they wasted three hours of their life.
So I I don't see a downside is what I'm saying. >> That's optimistic. >> Yeah. >> That's my opinion. So I think if we were deciding not to appoint this position, we should have decided before we posted that the position was open and accepting applications. We've been this position
has been we've we advertised it for a month basically and now we're going to say because it's too close we're not going to do it. Well then we should have not advertised it. So and and they would be missing two meetings and if my and if
you guys open any hearings in one of these meetings and and they were elected then then there's the question of what they'd be able to do or not. So um I'm in I think since we advertised it as as
a position that we were going to fill were kind of obligated to fill it. >> Well and we have two candidates here today. Correct. Yeah. >> Two of the three. >> Two of the three. And the third pulled is not going to >> Well, there were four. >> Oh, there were. Okay.
>> Okay. Who's not here in attendance? Okay. Mr. Scott, I believe, was okay. >> Yeah. I I just don't Yeah, we're we're in I was going to say low-key. We're not even in a low-key crisis in terms of uh
residents um you know, being able or being willing to fill positions. And I just don't think that advertising for 30 days, I mean, we knew what the 30-day deadline was 30 days ago, um I don't think that advertising for a position and then deciding at the last minute
that actually no, you know, we're not going to do this, um is is keeping good faith with um the folks who have taken the time to express their interest. And so I would be in favor of moving forward.
Mark and Daryl. >> Well, the only thing I'm was going to say is the only reason we said this a month ago was to to do what we were legally bound to do. We have a vacancy selected rabbit. I don't think we honestly we never really discussed it as
a board before this because I don't know if we ever honestly thought that we were going to appoint somebody. I think the understanding is we only had a couple meetings and we all just talked about amongst ourselves that it wasn't really worth it. to to do it. Um
I I don't know how you can pick between two people and say one's not going to have an advantage. So somebody's already on the board. Most people come, they look at the ballot, it's not for the same company. I I get that part of it. It's going to be somebody that some people are already on
the bill. Just keep that. I I I just don't I don't see the advantage of one meeting to make that kind of decision. That's all I'm trying to say. It's clearly we're talking about a meeting. >> Two meetings. You have two meetings scheduled before the election. >> Yes. >> So, just to be clear, it's not one, it's
two. And you can argue that two doesn't matter, but it is two. It's not one. Okay. Well, we have 20 meetings a year. Two meetings is not insurmountable. And I don't understand what's going to change in two meetings. There are the school board members that have occurred everything so far for the past 8 to 10
months. One more meeting, one more person who may not be able to. The Muller rule is specifically states one meeting. You can only miss one meeting. >> Okay. They've already missed one meeting. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, they can't do anything. We have an informal discussion coming up on the 19th. So, it's an informal
discussion. We have a meeting that's already been posted. We already had one meeting. They can't they can't do anything with it. So, it's really we can miss no more than one meeting. It doesn't say you can miss you can miss a meeting. You've had a meeting. So if you
the point is we're talking about one meeting here. That's all we're talking about. You're going to make a decision between two candidates for that. We don't even think we need most of us on this floor don't think we need second person a fifth person.
So do you believe that the issue will be closed off before the election is the the residential hearing that's open? It depends on. >> So if it's not closed out before the election and you've had other meetings then and we appoint someone, they
wouldn't be able to vote. >> Well, first of all, >> if we appoint them, they could vote. >> You know, we can get into hypotheticals, but in this particular hearing, it's not really important who gets picked because
uh that particular issue needs three votes. Um, it doesn't need all four, doesn't you know. So, there's that. But, but I want to get back to >> No, no, but they wouldn't be able to vote, >> right? If if if the hearing for the
residential goes until May and we don't appoint someone tonight, whoever is elected in May, >> they would not be able >> cannot ever vote. If we appoint someone tonight and they're the one that gets elected, they can vote. >> They've missed one meeting. So, this is
what I suggest. Everyone's had a chance to say something. Let's just put it to a vote. I don't know how this works. >> Yeah. >> Is it all is it nine of us or >> it's joint? It's a joint. >> Yeah. So,
>> so uh I just want to make a final point um regarding you know putting your thumb on the scale so to speak. I don't understand how following the law and following our clear guidelines for how to do this is
somehow biased. But deciding not to do it is is is you know preserving >> yeah that I think that issue is being confused with what will happen next about who we appoint and that's that discussion happens do you appoint the
person who's here and you know filing or not >> true and I'm not addressing that point okay >> I'm addressing the point that you know that I think Mr. from what Nari is making which is that to a point anybody for any reason at this point is um
creating a bias towards that person in the election and everybody had 30 days to put their papers in or their you know on this everybody's had plenty of time to pull their papers if that's what they wanted
to do but what we were planning to do tonight was following the guidelines >> why don't you ask The two people that are here, whether they think there's a bias, one of them gets elected over there. >> I don't care what they say. >> It doesn't matter.
>> It doesn't matter. >> That I mean, this is a procedurally a law that's procedurally everybody. >> We're not doing anything that we're not supposed to do here. >> I'd be one. >> I know, but >> yeah. So, so why are we making such if it was a select board, we would do the
same thing. If it was any of the statutory boards, we would do the same thing. So I appoint someone. >> So I I we bottom line is we put this out. We put this on the agenda. Applicants applied and applicants are here to be heard. And I I I just think
that's procedurally I think we should follow through with that. >> So Jeeoff, are you proposing that we first vote on whether to make an appointment? Is that what you're proposing? >> Yeah. because that's what we've been discussing and I think that people have varying opinions but I I particularly am
swayed by the fact that it's advertised and and uh people have followed our things. So I think we should vote on that and then we can go to who gets um appointed. >> Okay,
>> let's do it. >> Garrett, do you want to make a motion? >> So just a point of order. Is this one vote or is it two votes? >> Well, a vote for our board and >> I believe it's one vote with nine nine people voting.
>> I think that's what we've done in the past when we had joint appointments. >> I we've done it both ways. >> Okay. Well, then that's entirely possible. >> And maybe I'm wrong. Maybe take a vote on whether we do it or not. >> I think because we could be split >> two bodies. If we vote as a body on
whether to move forward with the appointment, that's tricky. Okay. >> So, I think >> you want to do two different votes. >> Yes. I want to do two votes. First, whether we should move forward with an appointment and then who to appoint. >> Okay. I'll make a motion to move forward
um with the appointment of the vacant planning board seat uh the temporary appointment for the planning board seat that to that will run until the elections on May 7th.
Second. >> Moved. Then we each moved by Gary, seconded by >> Matthew. >> Matthew. >> All those in favor? >> I roll call, please. >> Do I do roll call? We have roll call just to
>> please. >> Yeah, Chuck. Um, my gut is to say no, but uh the point that it's been posted I'm going to vote yes. >> Gary, >> yes. >> Matthew, >> yes. >> Yes. >> No.
>> Okay. >> No. >> And I'm a yes. >> And yes. >> Bartlet's a yes. And I'm a yes. >> There was a reason you put me. >> Seven yays, two nays. >> Okay. All right. Motion carries.
Next, uh, we move on to who? >> Uh, and you guys are the ones making the appointments. I, you know, we've all gotten the >> It's still >> It's a joint appointment. >> Oh, I know, but I don't know the process. I see. >> Yeah.
>> I think hearing from the candidates Yep. is a good start. Okay. >> Are they in order here? in the uh first posted is the first in the agenda packet is Peter Scott. >> Mr. Scott is here.
>> Mr. Scott is not here. Next is Margot Bloomstein. I guess if you have a anything prepared or you want to say anything to start, go ahead and then maybe we'll do some questions. >> Sounds good. >> Yeah, have a seat.
>> Thank you very much for um I guess for the opportunity to apply for this position and um for this position to be evaluated for the board at this point um for this appointment. Um,
as you probably saw in my application, I'm I'm not a developer. I'm not an architect. Um, I'm somebody that has worked with a builder to to build to design and build a custom home. And I grew up in a house where my parents were
pulling plans and figuring out how it would situate on the land and building a home. I'm a brand and and content strategy consultant. So that means for for 25 years I've worked with organizations across the country as well as across the
world locally with Harvard and TUS um Fidelity, Timberland, Puma, Sally May, Jensen, others to help them clarify their communication goals and then engage their target audiences primarily online. But so much of my work focuses
on figuring out if you're some sort of entity, corporate or government or otherwise or nonprofit, and you're trying to engage with an audience, how do you preserve what is kind of true about yourself. It's kind of like the what it says over the entrance to the the temple in Deli, Nathan, know
thyself, but also how do you meet the needs of your constituents, your audience, in this case, your residents. And so I help people and the organizations with which they they want to coexist,
understand each other and build trust and better communicate. And I think that idea of of clear communication and building trust through transparency, those are are common threads across my consulting, teaching, writing, um, as
well as volunteer work. Locally, I volunteer with Girl Scout Troop uh 64187. I hope to organize activities as a fourth grade classroom parent. Um as well as I serve on the Russell Street School Advisory Council. Um I'm also on
the advisory council for Carnegie Melon University School of Design and um and then I'm also an adjunct lecturer at Bentley University and a graduate program lecturer in um in a university program based in Austria. I've lived in Littleton since 2014.
Uh before that in l I went to school in Pittsburgh and my roots are in upstate New York in a town three hours west of here. Um that is also of revolutionary era uh but smaller than Littleton. Here in Littleton I love the variety that we
have. I love the thoughtfully developed mix of accessible retail as well as the wide open spaces. Um, whenever my parents come out to visit from that little town that's just a bit smaller than than Littleton, they always rave about like, "Oh, we've got all these
supermarkets close to us cuz we did not have that back home." But also miles of hiking trails um and revolutionary era landmarks. I don't know if they know as much about those. Uh, but also our spectacular library and that it's all within 10 minutes of each other.
I see the planning board as an opportunity to plan for and continue to manage sustainable economic growth in our area to continue to meet the res the the needs of residents now as well as thoughtfully into the future. um with
sort of just enough, not too much. Whether that applies to to parking structures, the asphalt that we're bringing in, big businesses, small businesses, and entrepreneurial opportunities and bylaws and constraints. I believe in the the opportunity that guard rails and
guidelines give us for for governance and growth. I think our planning board has has a lot of power to shape the future of our community and a lot of responsibility to do it in an economically sustainable,
environmentally friendly and userfriendly way. That that last portion has been something that has been bugging me a lot over the past couple years as I've attended planning board meetings or as a resident just watch things coming out of our planning board. And I'm not
approaching this out of like spite or like, oh, I wish they did this differently, but feeling that I can contribute in a way even just over the next couple of months. Um, not in the context of votes, but I know that there's more than just voting, too.
There's also the discussion and the research that that goes into that. I want to see us embrace those responsibilities for community outreach and better communication. I mean, we talk about transparency and it's it's
such a buzzword in marketing circles or really in anything involving people. And I wonder, well, what can we do to better operationalize transparency to bring more people in so that they're aware of what's going on in not just our planning board, but in their planning board, in
our community's planning board. I want to make sure that we embrace those responsibilities for outreach and communication. If we're granting waiverss to developers, I want to ensure that residents see equal or greater benefits. I want somebody on the board
that thinks in terms of user research and has the humility to guard their knowledge with the expertise of others and can cultivate more open communication so that our community shows up not just when they're like angry about something that they've kind
of heard in rumors that may or may not be going it down, but so that they continue to show up to hold our board and all of our boards in the community accountable to the residents that elect them and hopefully we increase the participation rate at those elections
too. So I think of this as a case of civic stewardship and responsibility and I'm eager to contribute and collaborate to better serve our town. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. And you have been
at many of our recent meetings where you have also >> Thank you. We want to start with Q&A with Margot or do we want to see if wants to speak first? How you typically do it? >> Go ahead. Goes both ways. She's here
now. So >> old guy on the board. >> All right. So um does anybody on our side on our board have questions? This is a weird sort of red. What questions can I answer?
>> What's the status of the turning your papers? I mean, I noticed that you pulled them a while ago, but you still haven't turned. >> Um, yeah, I think I pulled them about a week or week. No, it was just about a week ago. Um, and there's room for 64 signatures between the two sheets and
I've gotten 32 I hit this afternoon. So, I'm hoping to finish it up over the next few days. >> Did you bring them with you? >> I did. Yeah. >> Okay, good. >> Not a town hall. >> Not a town hall. >> Feels a little conflict. Interesting. I would say just that they check the
signatures and the addresses so make sure everyone's legible and >> I've gotten the printed names next to them too. That's what yeah >> Diane gave me lots of good wisdom on that. >> Any questions? >> Do you have time to do this improve?
>> That's an excellent question. So, um, that's a question I've been discussing with with my my family back there a lot as well. So, um, right now where I am in my career, uh, as a consultant, my clients kind of eb and flow. Over the
past year, I was kind of building up in some areas and then my main client is going to be wrapping up um, very shortly. And um, over the past year, I've been trying to kind of focus more on community involvement. And this is what I see as kind of the next
opportunity around that. But that's a question that I've been asking. I mean, I I got together with Gary for coffee and I was like, tell me what that's like time commitment and whatnot. And um >> yeah, >> shouldn't ask him. >> Yeah. >> I mean, I think your words were, you can
give it eight hours a week, you can give it 40 hours a week, and it varies for people. And I think that um >> I want to make sure doing this that I can do it well. Um, not to not to be all Emerson close to conquered here, but um, so I view
this as, as you're just saying, like somebody that moves into or uh, runs for election, if elected, it would be great if they have got this time to kind of hit the ground running and all. I view this as an opportunity to to start building up knowledge. It definitely seems like early on in in kind of your
engagement with the board, I'd imagine that you're giving it a lot more time a week. One of the things that we have um had on our list this year and it was actually a pet um project of Anna's was
although nothing was accomplished was to um onboard potential members because there has been no onboarding in the past. I don't know what you guys do but um and you know and we and and what what that
means I don't know but you know, we need to make a even if it's just a simple this is how we do it type thing. Um, but anyway, so I that strikes close to one of our goals is, you know, getting
people up and running. >> Still have a few months. >> Yeah. Um I would say um I have appreciated um your online presence recently um that you've been really clear and um about what's happening and
trying to um you know engage residents who might not otherwise be engaged and encouraging them to attend meetings, encouraging them to you know look at um look at the websites, look at the look at the materials. Um and I thought you applied a very even hand
um even though you were clearly coming from a certain point of view, but you know, it's easy to get carried away, especially online. Um and um so I appreciated that very much. >> Thank you. >> What um prompted you to come to the planning board meeting? Is there a
specific project that you were concerned about or interested in? >> Um I think learning more about the 550 King Street development. Um, I think especially with regard to like I
I will be honest and say I'm somebody that voted for it because I loved the ideas that were starting to come to light around like 2021. Um, when Mr. uh Mr. Lubaly spoke at at one of our meetings and said uh he saw it as a
place for small business, small entrepreneurs, other small shops. And I admit I heard that and thought another small coffee shop. and um and then knowing that we need to bring more affordable housing and just more housing in general into Littleton and seeing it
as this residential um opportunity with small businesses supporting it and um and at the time I did not know that much about the form-based code. I've been learning more and more about that, but seeing that as kind of the vision for it
and then seeing the plans developed that felt like, wait, it's it's less about those small businesses now. It's a lot of big businesses. And then when I attended a meeting in this room several months ago where they described it as a midsize lifestyle development and um I
have a cousin >> I think it was I'm glad you said that because there were more words on that. I think it was a super regional supergiz lifestyle development >> bracketed by exciting on both ends and um I have a cousin-in-law who is a mall
developer in the Midwest and so I heard that and I was like that's a mall in Littleton and uh they stood there hear very excitedly the team and said how there would be an anthropology in a Sephora and whatnot and I mean I'm somebody I I like anthropology and Sephora but I was like that's that's not
what we were promised. I don't know how I feel about that. And then as I was digging in more, it didn't feel right. Um, so I wanted to see like where the constructive opportunities were to shift it to meet the needs of the town, um,
the diverse array of residents that are here, uh, and still meet some of the needs of the developer that wants to invest in our town, too. So, that was what drew me to it. Thank you. Where do you view the role of the
planning board is on versus the developer on these things like you don't get to pick whether this is Sephora or not. He does. >> Right. >> Right. You don't get to pick whether there's a market basket or anything where >> or a Toyota dealership. >> Yeah. I
>> I mean there's only one member in this room that was on that board. So >> where do you where do you view I mean do you where do you view the planning board and where do you view where you hope to influence and
>> I view the planning board as first working for the residents of Littleton and that means that if the people on the planning board maybe all have um maybe similar economic or demographic
background it's our respons responsibility to go out and cultivate that input. Um to reduce friction between residents and the board that is representing their interests and open up more lines of communication to find out
like what is going to to meet your needs. I think we take in that kind of input um and balance it with what we know is necessary from state guidance and um and
regulations coming down. Um what we see is like the overall economic future and development needs of the town especially around transportation especially around environmental concerns. um to be able to
make good decisions on behalf of the of the residents. And I think that goes into how we how we choose to engage with developers because yes, you're right. We can't tell them to my knowledge so far. Um we can't tell
them here's what you have to do, but we can tell them well these are the bylaws with which you have to comply if you're going to be bringing in these sort of retailers. they have to comply with with this sort of guidance around their signage and whatnot, billboards, etc. Um, so I think we can put those rules in
place, but we we also need to hold them to those rules. Um, so I see us serving as the advocate for residents with
that long-term broader vision in mind. Thank you. >> Does my board have any questions? >> Yeah, I I'm um my family says I'm the one of the worst communicators in the world. So, um I'm kind of interested in
what you see the planning board being able to do to increase communication. is live in the there's no newspaper in town and they're they're I'm a newspaper kind of a person. So I don't know what to do next.
>> That that that is totally fair. So I would say if your family is saying that you're one of the worst communicators, that's that's a good first step because they're they're telling you, hey, we need not to use you as an object lesson here. It doesn't get awkward at all there, but they're saying this is what
we need to be different. And I think if our town is saying and I've heard from a lot of people as I've been collecting these signatures like we don't have that newspaper anymore and like we can get some things through the town but not enough. And I think when people are
expressing here's my need that means that they're still they're still open to more more input. Um, when I look at communication holistically, I think the the three main pillars to building trust with an audience, I shouldn't say an
audience cuz it implies that it's like one too many, but to build trust with with the other people around you are voice, volume, and vulnerability. And I think voice comes down to how we can speak in a more consistent manner so
that people can come to expect that all right when they're using this sort of language maybe it's legal ease I don't need to like go into a lot of detail there but oh when things are being explained in this way this is uh the information to which I most need to pay attention. I've
heard like some push back on how well our town and maybe our government as a whole does with triaging information, but um at the federal level, the US plain language act requires that even town government speak in a way that is
accessible to people with an eighth grade reading level. You know, it's things like shorter sentences, speaking an active voice, that kind of stuff. >> So, that's about speaking in a consistent voice. volume refers to the level of detail that we offer. That is
not always consistent and accessible to people. I think especially when we're sharing things like um like 550 King Street or what's happening around like MBTA and whatnot. So I think people don't always know like how to get into that information. And then that third
pillar, vulnerability, I think that's where we we embrace the opportunity to say we don't always know what everyone needs. So, here's how we're opening up additional avenues to solicit input and talk with with residents
because not all not all town meetings, not all board meetings are accessible to everyone. But I think the onus is on us to say, okay, we we need to get input. What do we have to do for it? >> And I would say, you know, you'd mentioned we had coffee. It was when you
know Marggo's been one of the my the neighbors that the neighbor I should say that whenever things come up in town either construction or hot topic things I get a text it's usually several pages of you know interest and wants to
understand and constantly looking for knowledge and um and why things are a certain way and how we how we can change things. So, um, when I found out, uh, she was interested in running for the not the temporary necessarily, but the actual finding board position, we
decided to have coffee. And much of the what we heard here today, I I heard um across the table at Kimell. So, I was I was fascinated. I I think you'd make a great a great member of the planning board. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You had to go outside of Littleton to
have a that's kind of annexed. >> It's getting a little close, too. I We got to find another place. >> Yeah. >> Hopefully there will be some other places. >> Yeah. And I just have to, you know, I love your um
talk about uh you know, your overall communication talk, but we have been and it's very frustrating. Maybe if you come on the board, you would have some ideas. We have been looked in the eyes and said, "I have never heard about this." when they had
been mailed a certified letter, you know, telling them what it what was going on. So, it's a tough it's a tough thing. I mean, it's worth it to know, >> you know, working on and trying, but it's not obvious what to do. So,
>> yeah, that repetition definitely helps and engaging through multiple, >> you know, other people talking and Yeah. >> So, anyway, >> thank you. Actually, can I ask just one just one more of a comment just to a followup. Um, you said >> and we I think we all subscribe to this.
We want to make the best decision for Littleton. You the best decision for the most residents. Um, and sometimes it's not necessarily our opinion, >> but we, you know, read the room >> and we realize that this is what this is what the residents want. So, how
comfortable you are you kind of making the decision on behalf of the town even if even if it's alternate to what you think. >> Can I add to your question just a little bit? Sure. Because >> by the time you ask a couple of different people, you are going to end up with conflicting opinions about what
is the best direction forward which is something we face all the time there. So I think factor that in with with the comment there that we don't have 100% consensus on what is best ever ever there and and you and your approach to
making the hard call about which way the decision has to go consistent with what you're asking there. Sorry to jump on your question there but I was going to ask you much better Joe than I do. >> I use shorter sentences.
Um, I think a lot of that comes down to looking more longterm. Um, maybe it's the like if you're, you know, out on the road or something, you can't just be
like getting that like object fixation of like I'm going there, there, there, but thinking where am I going? Kind of like that long-term path to sort of set your course. And I guess that's how I look at a lot of decision-m whether I've heard conflicting perspectives from
people around me or or even in my own head and heart where I'm like I can see the value of both of these. Usually the um the things that decide that that really drive my vision are what is going to
make this a positive outcome in the long term and how can we kind of think in terms of like the like as long a term horizon as possible. Um, I know that was one of the questions that I had when I sat down
with Gary. Like, have there been times that like you you vote in on something where you're like, "This is what's best for the town, but it's not really with my gut." Um, and and I guess I don't I see the the
challenge in that. Um, I don't have a problem, I guess, embracing that challenge. Uh yeah, I guess the decision-m process for me is looking at like what will be the best outcome on like the longest
timeline because I mean maybe I'm a resident here for another we'll say modern medicine's really good another 50 plus years. Um, but I want to think of what do I want little things to be like for the people that we hope to
attract and the people that will be growing up here then? What do I want to be better about it even if I may not necessarily reap those benefits and what do I want to preserve about it? >> Thank you. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Next, uh Steve Moore is the next in the packet. Um but Mr. Moore rescended his application. Um he gave notice to the town clerk this morning. So we have Mike Zelden. Come have a seat. Mike, just for novelty
sake, I should have put you first with your last name starting with C. >> That would require a total readjustment. I actually came partly prepared >> for about >> two minutes. >> Okay.
because I had served on the master plan preparation then its implementation and then as luck would have it I was elected to the board of health when I consider the town went through a trial
by fire and I believe strongly in trial by fire it's the best experience I can recommend it all to all of you who've never experienced being at least part of the focus is of a trial by fire
except when there's a pandemic. The only thing that may come close to it, I never experienced it, but I did talk to people who have a trial by fire. Fortunately for me, I was able to meet and this is a long time ago which dates me of course, but I did have an
opportunity mainly through my ex-wife at the time to have some long conversations with the folks who were trying to go to the moon. And I was pleased to be and also dismayed to discover that due to
technical limitations at the time. Um the landing was done by a human landing a a machine that no one was sure it was going to work in that environment. And I asked the question of both of them when they returned and they looked at me and they said it's trial by fire.
In other words, until they actually did it, who knows? Uh I don't consider being on the planning board fit into that quite but that pretty well summarizes my resume uh which I didn't supply. I just gave the
the offices and appointments that the few that I have served on time. I'm here tonight because I want to give something back to the community. Uh I don't anticipate I didn't anticipate any trial by fire as a result of that. Um, however, I was very surprised when an
opportunity came up that meant that I could not serve on the planning board uh for any length of time. I'm certainly be happy to if you decide to have someone temporary because very frankly it would make it easier for me to ask
questions of whoever comes up without a vote. It not that doesn't mean anything to me. It's not my main motive here. Let me just read you the stimulus for this and it comes from actually the onboarding section of actually comes
from the state. It's the part of your onboarding reading that you take. Now I'm just going to read to you what comes right out and it comes in a document which describes what is the purpose of the planning board. Now I found this informative. This is my second time
going over it. The first time was when we did the implementation uh try to what was in the master plan get it done with a group one of one of whom is sitting right here. He's part of was part of the team was always good to
see them still around. Here's what here's what the purpose is according to what's officially out there for the benefit of the town of Littleton Massachusetts and to keep our town a good place in which to live and work. preserve its historic rural character
and its agricultural open land and for the purposes stated in chapters 4A, 40B, and 41 of the general laws as amended and under the authority thereof of article 89 of the amendments to the constitution. The use of land,
buildings, and structures in this town is hereby regulated as herein provided. What pops out at me at the beginning and still pops out at me is the purpose of the planning board which is to among other things preser just to repeat
preserve its historic preserve its historic rural character and its agricultural open land and for the purposes stated in 484B and 41 all of which call the planning board to do it best as can build as many houses of
different sorts as you can. So the planning board has been put in a position due to economic, legal and other restrictions of being as it were not necessarily powerless to do this but
have to ask the question if they're not powerless what is the consequence of what is been the consequence and the consequence has been I think from my point of view reactionary you can only do what's as I think it's been said here already what's
presented to you. Maybe the time has come in view of what Littleton is emerging to be because it's still unclear to me after all these years that we don't have a self-felt identity. It's not just due to the planning board
or the select board or anyone else. It's not a criticism. There is a large city known as Los Angeles where I double dare anyone to find out what does what's really LA? Well, we're in the same category. What's really little? It's rather startling to
be compared to that megalopouloolis, but it's close. But you ask anyone in the LA area, who are you? And you'll get not just because you had different different characteristics from each of them, but if you go to New York, you get a very different answer. You go to Boston,
you're sure it's going to get a different answer. And if you go to Harvard, Mass, you get a different I mean, I go on and on, but I think you get the drift. And it's reflected also in the fact that during one of the many efforts to develop business or more
importantly residences and and uh businesses to support the economic foundation of the town. People say what do you want it to look like? Thus the origins by the way of form-based code. They'll talk to us about a street in Actton. And I've never understood it
personally exactly what it was about that street at Actton because yes, it looks like Actton, but I hope no one hears from Actton or feels allegiance, but we're not that shabby. So the so part of the part of the reason that I
was was interested in joining the board until the other assignment made his appearance is I would have the time to really think about and work with the other members whoever they would be to try to identify what is it we're trying
to do here given the limitations of the board that's put upon the board both legally and otherwise. Where does the leadership come for breaking the point? Do we have a chance? And if we don't have a chance, what is our al
alternatives? What's what is going to be? Going from spot to spot to spot to spot. Going from development to development development may not be the way to go. There's got to be a concept somewhere that says this is
who we want to be. This is where we're going to put our resources and our talents. Unfortunately, I can't be part of that discussion in a way I would feel empowered, but I don't feel necessary to be empowered to participate in that
discussion because one thing about this board and most of the boards and frankly the people in town is people here are open for discussion. The only time I've ever heard anyone, shall we say, not push back, but I've
only heard it in the environment of fear and I wouldn't call it ignorance, but some information, especially about viruses, can't be known by everybody, especially ones when you understand at least they're invisible to our eyes. We can't
see them. So, it's an unseen terror. So that has to be un that one is understandable but what we're dealing with here is right in front of us. So I'll be happy to answer any of your questions. >> Do you want to go first?
>> Well, Mr. Zelden has been um at many meetings recently also and he has also spoken very eloquently about the matters before us. Uh as we can tell he can do that. uh and um his past work
um on the master plan and the farm-based code resulted it. It's really interesting because I live in the common and I when the sewer
um stuff came um to the four I really didn't want to support it unless there was some change to the zoning which ended up being based code and then I could support it. So in that
case, you know, uh a lot of different things in the town, a lot of wheels turning, a lot of it, you know, all all came together. So anyway, thank you for your service. >> Mr. Z, are you saying you're not going to pull papers and run for the permanent board?
>> In good conscience, it came. Is it the five-year thing? >> It's two years. >> Oh, two years. >> It's two. No, it has nothing to do with the two years is the same as five. Okay. Uh, of course there are other events in the world that do take longer. >> Of course, >> we're in the middle of one of them.
>> Okay. >> Any anyone else from my board? >> So, what what do you see is the you know, you talk about the challenges in general, you know, and and this longing for that people have for a time that
hasn't existed for quite some time in town. Right. I mean, when I I've been in this area for 40 plus years and coming into Littleton from down, you know, from Westford, it's always been two
industrial buildings and two huge parking lots. So, I don't know what this longing people have for time gone by is. I don't want to see those parking lots. So, we have opinions like that. We have opinions that you express other people.
How do you reconcile all of those? >> You well, you can't and you won't. Okay. It's not it's not reasonable. I think however I I'm not saying that that both of us may have looked at this problem
from a particular angle and I'm I've looked at it from a different point of view and that is that I'm not sure we're there yet. I don't know what's I don't know what's going to happen in the next 10 or 20 years. Uh I No, I won't go there. Okay. So, the other >> we'll just focus on the next couple of
years. >> Well, that's that's easy to work. Okay. So the the the the issue here is that because of grappling with how
difficult and complex it is for families with two breadwinners or one and children and basically the family life of the US or the single life of the US, the teenage life has gotten far more
difficult and complex especially at the rate at which so-called new technology is thrown at people and becomes available. A place like Littleton has the potential of offering something that most people at not most people many people yearn for
which is called a sense of open place where you don't have one building smack against the other. I'm not sure that's the best human condition yet. And I've been around for a while. So I know don't really know for sure what's the best condition.
However, I do know that lots of millions of people make compromises to live in very large cities next to each other. I've done all of that. So I see the charm. But Littleton, I think, is in a unique position because very frankly everything happens here so
slowly. the master plan, the old one, I'm glad to say the very old one which were about to get hopefully replaced. It there were things in there that took 20 years. There were items that were in front of
the town for 20 years before they even got to the start of the master plan. That's the the sewer system that the rudimentary one we got in place that was talked about 20 years ago. There's a consequence to putting in a
sewer that needs to be understood. And what do you do about that understanding has to do with do you want Littleton to be a place that attracts people who like space, open space, trees, roads that wind,
hiking. Is that what you want? Well, you have an array of forces working against you. I've just mentioned a few of them. Money, government regulations. I'm not against them, but there's a plan behind
government regulations that have to do with treasury issues, defense issues, and all the best. And it's very difficult for a town like Littleton to define its future. However, we're so slow that we have an abundance of wealth
here in terms of opportunity. I don't know the answer to the tools you use except that being told by on a consistent basis that you have to use space in a certain way and only this way or if you don't use this way funds will
be taken from you may not be the only way to persuade a town to do it. The other thing is to accept the town may have to face the fact and face its fate if it decides not to become a populated place. It's a
decision that the that the town has to make but it needs the leadership of someone like the select board, someone like the planning board. Those two boards I think carry the onus of one is one of them
lacks still the tools and the other one it's an enormous job. I'm not sure they can address it easily. So my answer is is that there's a uniqueness to Littleton. It has to be clearly identified, clearly understood and that should guide in my
view how the town wants to move forward. You can talk. The big problem is is being what I call mission creep where you start out one direction and next thing you know you've drifted off in a different way. And that's the only danger we face.
Thank you. >> Start. >> I'm good. >> Chuck, you got to have some >> take notes. >> I know all the mistakes you've made. So, come on. >> I know you do.
>> Gary, don't get started with me, okay? You know what you've done. >> I just want to echo Jeff and say, um, you know, >> I think we appreciate, um, all you have contributed to the town and, um, you always have a strong perspective and,
um, I've always appreciated that. >> Thank you. Thank you, man. Thank you guys. Thank you. Do we have >> Do you want to do a little >> Yeah. >> consensus gaining just to see if uh where where things are at? >> That's a good idea.
>> Yeah. Just to just one comment I'd like to put on the table that um we not bother um sorry bother we not consider Mr. Scott since he didn't wasn't here to present himself today that we've been at the the vote to the two candidates that um
presented themselves tonight >> was applied. >> Well, you can consider you can you could say his name. You can consider it. >> Yeah. >> I think I think we will have to treat that as a personal decision rather than as a official decision.
Um >> I'll jump in if you want to get things started. >> Um I think given that we we as a body have have collectively determined that we are going to appoint somebody for the remainder of till the election. Um and
by being as candid as he has been and Margot presenting herself as well as she did. Um, I would be putting my vote behind Marggo. I'm sorry, M. Rostein. >> Yeah. I, you know, I continue. I know I didn't get to say much, um, to Michael,
but I, you know, I think I met you, I was on finance committee well before CO, I think, and you, you came in, and you he would he would say things that um were at the time very frustrating to me.
you you made you made me think too much and I'd go home and I'd be like I I'd really have to think about some of the things you said and I I I truly learned to respect that from you. So I I want you to continue to do that because it's the ideas the thoughtprovoking part
of you is amazing and it should be heard. It should be continue to be heard. But um I I'll stand with what I I said before. I I am looking for a person that is going to continue seriously consider being on the board longer term. Um that
type of volunteerism is very difficult to find in town. So I would I would be voting for Margot as well. >> Um Mike, you and I have crossed paths way more times than I think we should have and I think it's because you're
everywhere, honestly. Um, and that's reflected in in all your um, volunteerism here for the town and I appreciate it and I and I think it's indicative that you stepped up and said, "Well, if you need somebody, I can be
that person." Um, and I we're lucky we're lucky that um, we have you and people like you here in Littleton. Um but again it's um because of um the consistency moving forward and um
obviously Margot is you know presented herself really well and um just from what I know about her I feel confident that um she can um handle what we'll be drinking from a fire hose.
Um and uh yeah so my vote would be for Margot. Um, it's it was really great hearing two articulate people who want to want to work with the board who have a point of view about
what the board needs to do and an opinion about it. It's unfortunately rare in this town, but I appreciate both of you and I you have my deep thanks for volunteering and I'll just I'll I'll echo that what the rest of the board said. I would prefer to go with somebody who's there for the long haul. No slight
on you, sir. Everyone has an opinion. Very few will step up. >> That's right. That's right. >> So, I appreciate both of you stepping up. Um, but just going on what the um Mark and Daryl were saying earlier that they didn't want someone for the
short term, I think he just based on that and the fact that Margot is willing to step up for the longer term. Um, I'm behind her. what you guys said, >> you know, and I would I would also say
the two people who spoke to us today, >> it was great. I mean, sometimes Littleton amazes you with the people. Well, Littleton is amazing with the people who live here and we're always, my wife and I always meeting people that, oh my god, you know, and but they
don't usually step forward to deal with this stuff. So, we're really fortunate to have two that would and I uh I I think because of the continuity, I would go with Margot. >> Well, I want to thank the two of you who come tonight and mentioned that I do
think it's out of form to apply for position and not come to the uh discussion with the select board on it. I think that automatically disqualifies you. I'm going to just state that on the record since you didn't want to talk about it beforehand. Uh
no, and and I've also appreciated uh your inputs during the meetings that uh that you both attended uh there, which again I think is another sign. It's one thing to sit home and watch a meeting on TV. I think it's another much more engaged uh level to come to meetings and
talk uh to us on it. Um recognizing that uh you know that um one of the two of you have pulled papers to continue I see it would be not in our best interest to just appoint somebody just for the two the two meetings that we're
going to have. So I would be moving towards >> I have to agree. Um I think it doesn't make sense to to have somebody for one meeting. If we're going to do this, we should go all out um and support somebody who wants to be there in the long run. I think you do a great job,
Mr. Z. I really do. Um it's just that we don't need short-term. We need somebody who wants to be involved with this. And I do want to thank Michael, for running. I saw you at our meetings. I uh listen to you and I know you didn't agree with everything I had to say or the board had
to say but I think you really you understand one aspect of the board that is very important and that's balance. You can I think you get the fact that it's a balancing act. We don't do what we all think is the right thing to do
what's best and that involves balance and I see that in you. I applaud you for that. I think you're going to be good. Well, what everybody is saying, >> well communicated. >> No, I appreciate you both coming here. I
think both of you would be great additions to the to the board, but I think that uh under the circumstances, choosing Marco is the is the is the better choice. Thank you. This will be a this will be a roll call vote. Move that select board
and the remaining members of the planning board vote pursuant to Mass General Law Chapter 41 section 11 to appoint Marggo Bloomstein to fill a vacancy on the planning board through May 9th, 2026 annual town election. >> Second.
>> Moved by Gary, seconded by Matthew Chuck. >> Chuck's eye. >> Gary. >> Gary's eye. >> Matthew. >> Matthew is I. >> Mark. >> Hi. >> Jeff. >> I. >> Daryl. >> Hi. Mark >> I >> and Bartlett and I'm also an I. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Margo.
Motion to town clerk sworn in sworn in. >> Planning board is sworn in. >> So he go to town clerk as soon as you can and get sworn in. That's it. >> He's not there now though. >> No conspiracies here. >> No conspiracies. >> Saw them speak. No conspiracies
to open >> it was yeah >> great to yourself this meeting >> so I can kind of >> thanks
no hazing >> you're not leaving you know >> you're not leaving >> are they closed they're closing Yeah, >> I don't think we finished. >> Thank you. Good luck. Thank you. Appreciate the kind words as a mentor.
>> Thanks for stepping up. >> Good luck. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Look forward to working with you. >> Likewise. >> All right. That leads us to number three on the agenda. Department board updates and requests. Treasur Collector vote to adopt the form of vote prescribed by
bond council relative to the approval of a bond anticipation note. >> Hello. >> Hello. There you are. Welcome. >> Thank you. >> Um we had our S&P um global rating issued on Friday, February 20th,
reaffirming our AAA bond rating. Um I will be posting that online. I have not yet. >> We went out to bid on Monday, March 2nd. There were seven biders for the ban. Um, the bid went to Truest Securities. The
net interest cost for the band is 2.28%. >> Go rob it. >> That's fascinating. >> Even the the physical adviser that we're on the phone with was like lowest he's seen. >> Yeah. >> And so great for us. The bids um the rates range from 2.54 to 2.28.
>> So Wow. >> Um the premium is $88,145. Um, we will be using that to cover our closing costs and the balance will go to next year's interest, reducing our interest to 191,000 back to the taxpayers. A little more than that, but
round numbers. Okay. So, I have the signature pages here. I can pass you guys. >> And the total amount for the ban was >> uh the ban is 7,29,98. The first of May, >> right? Anybody have any questions or
concerns? just much lower than we thought. I mean, >> yeah, amazing. >> I thought we going to be high threes at best. >> Yeah, we asked always five, but >> take the win. Questions or concerns? >> That's awesome. >> Okay. >> All right. Move that the select board
vote to adopt the form of the vote prescribed by bond council, a copy of which is attached here too and made part hereof relative to the approval of a 7,29,898 bond anticipation note and dated March 16th, 2026 sold to Trust Securities
Inc., excuse me, that's truest securities inc. Don't know who I just gave that to. Truest Securities Inc. and maturing March 16th, 2027 at 2.288% net interest cost for the following
projects. Shaker Lane 99,74,151, which was voted on 10:25 2025 special town meeting article one. >> I'll second that. >> Moved by Gary, seconded by Matthew. All those in favor? I >> thank you.
>> Thank you. >> I used to have to read that whole that whole thing. >> I Yeah, I don't think it's fair. >> Just saying. You got off easy. >> All right. Next, we have uh the affordable housing trust discussion about 37 Shadic Street.
>> Thank you, Madam Chairwoman, members of the uh the select board. Um this was a suggestion uh from the chairwoman for the affordable housing trust and the vice chair. >> Just before you get started, there's actually a quorum of affordable housing trust members. >> So
>> we didn't post, did we? >> No. >> No. >> Okay. So you can't you can't debate >> deliberate. Excuse me. That's all. But >> just to be clear, >> yeah, you give individual comments, but they can't be deliberate. Deliberation
>> deliberation. Deliberate. >> Okay. Okay. >> And let us know if we're deliberating. Um, and this was uh this was a a discussion that was uh that was uh reintroduced uh with the vice chairman and myself in regards to any desire for
uh uh the deeply affordable senior housing to be closer uh to be here in uh at 37 Shadic Street and close proximity with the library and uh the center on Shadic
um instead of at what was potentially being proposed is going to 410 Great Road as part of the uh the uh larger project um with uh with Lei and um uh which uh so I then uh asked uh the
chairwoman and the vice chair to to meet with Tony and Marin and myself just to talk about the concept and uh the other thing And uh one of the things that did and I also did make the unofficial request of the affordable housing trust
to uh financially support the feasibility study for for this building. And um I had follow-up uh conversations with Marin and with Tony that in the event that we we are in a position uh
for that for that financial support and going down that road uh we want to be able to have the necessary uh presentations uh complete well in advance of let's say a special town
meeting in the fall. uh at which time pri long for prior to that we would like to be able to have as many uh input sessions as possible for public input sessions and uh as as in trying to educate the uh and answer any questions
of of the residents and um so this is uh and the chairwoman uh madame chair she uh said uh um it was it was an interesting um uh discuss discussion, a good discussion. We all
felt we had a good constructive con uh discussion, but they uh felt very strongly they would like to receive their direction from from the select board on uh and then if there is desire from the select board, they would then go back to the affordable housing trust
group as a whole and uh put it before the board before the affordable housing trust. >> That's where we are. >> Okay. from that the chair. >> You want to hear from the chair? Madam chair. >> Sure. >> Madam chair. Should I move over here?
>> Yeah, please. >> Hi, Maryanne here. I am the chair of the affordable housing trust and as our town administrator, Mr. Doug said, "We met a couple weeks ago and talked about or the request was made to fund a feasibility
study for this building for 37 Shadic Street for affordable housing." And it was a a good productive discussion. Um the request was for 250,000. Is that right? >> Yes. >> Okay. And what what Bartlett and I agreed was
that we wanted more assurances that this project would actually move forward before we committed that sum of money. So what what we knew was that the original town meeting where this was discussed, the town came out pretty
strongly against the idea of declaring this surplus. So, we don't want to spend that money and invest our time and resources to only come back and find out that it's not going to be available. On the flip side, we like the location. You know, it's a good it's a good
building. It's near the library. It's near the center on Chhattic Street, Town Sewer, all those good things. But we want to make sure that we're making good use of our our funds. >> Appreciate that. Yeah.
>> Any questions? How would that be deliberation? >> Thank you. >> Um so I I'll start. So speaking as a member of the select board, not of the affordable housing trust, I am completely in favor of moving forward
with both um the uh evaluation of this building and potentially turning it into senior affordable housing. My my concerns about it are really around the relationship of that project and 550 King Street and
Town Hall and specifically like how the mechanics of how Town Hall is built, whether we own it, how much we pay for it, and also whether the units in this building that are built take away
whether legally or just in spirit take away from the count of units in at 550. I don't want to sacrifice affordable units um because we granted the developer some extra here as it were. And I understand
that there's a lot of um legal language around when the units can come online for 550 and whether they can be moved to 410. And there have been a lot of discussions about it. It's still not 100% clear to me how this this project if it goes forward would impact all of
those units, those affordable units in the other. So, so I would be I would 100% support it, but I'd really want to be crystal clear about what the plan for affordable units of 550 and 410 is um
before we sign off on that and also town hall. And I I think the objection to the warrant article last year was that people didn't really understand where town hall was going to go and were worried it was going to be a boondoggle. We were going to give it to a developer and then have to spend millions and
millions or hundreds of millions of dollars to build town hall. So >> that's what I have to say. I think the other part of that and that was I I'm don't want to get in everybody's head but just listening to some of the public that talked to me also not knowing
there's still a part of town that wants to see town hall here in this whether it's in this building remodel and that was an issue that wasn't it was never presented what's that cost it's significant we know but not having that
I think um available to show you know what that looks like if you were to put a town hall, renovate this building, gut it completely, add on to it the footage we needed, upgrade it, that's the type of stuff I think having those numbers available to the town hall to show um
would if if we're look I'm kind of bouncing forward if we're looking for a vote. Those are the type of things that I think people are going to want to know because you can't, you know, if someone is kind of set in stone that they want, they don't want
this to move. Um, I think most logical people if you showed what the cost to that would be and what the cost is what we're moving into, you'd probably gain a lot of votes that way. Um, but it's just that people not knowing like why are we doing this? >> Mhm. >> Why are we doing this? We're perfect.
You know, everything's fine there. you know, there's a lot of that logic. Um, and the ones that don't think that way think, well, let's just fix the building they're in or how, you know, and that's kind of the I think we have to get through that um to advance
or we're going to be stuck in the same >> Yeah. >> You know, the same debate, I guess, if you will, on the town floor. the the the the funds uh request from the affordable housing trust will I will look at this property for that purpose. It's not
going to look at what is it going to cost for this to be a town hall, a refurbished town hall or or reduced version of a town hall because there's there's a lot more space here than we actually need as as a town hall. that's remaining for offices in regards to
um uh you know we are constantly um uh dealing with uh you know some um some mechanical issues, structural issues and things like that on on a on a on a on a consistent basis. Um so
getting uh so I just want to be perfectly clear those funds will not touch this building and say what it will it cost to redo this as a new town hall. It it is and this is strictly going based upon the vision that was that was
expressed to me two two and a half years ago of there was a there was a goal in place to the library moved out new building for the library 36 King Street the new senior center there was a vision for
that and there was also the vision of a relocation of a town hall that's the way it was explained to me multiple times from from from various ious people. Um, so I'm just trying to and I and when we were at the last town meeting this was
at and to Mr. Rambacha's credit uh it wasn't enough time. It was it was it was something that was uh uh just came down came down too quick. Uh if we it would be my recommendation we approach it as
if round two for the MBTA uh vote. It was a tremendous there was a much a lot there was a lot more out >> questions were answered. >> Exactly. There was something that was that was done multiple times. There would be a um a workshop. There would be
opportunities for questions and and concerns and um uh things of that nature. uh what uh Mr. Mr. Nord House was talking about is uh what
the vote of the the vote of the planning board allows the developer to that they can go offsite within within the town limits to be able to to build affordable housing and and hence the the focus on
why this would deeply affordable senior rental housing would be here. Uh there would continue to be the affordable units up there between >> the 10% or >> of correct of 410 and and 550. Uh there
is and as the project is is evolving it's it's changing uh and but you know but what what is looked upon coming down in the near future is is a mixed use at 410 as a mixed use with residential and uh and
commercial area. Uh and then so that is that point there is still and that's and that is a handful of ultimately compared to to the total project there would be a handful of units that would be constructed there of mix affordable and
market rated 410 because there are issues there with the amenities making sure that the amenities uh are are balanced with uh with the affordable units at 550 and the affordable units at 410. So, you can't
just throw all the affordable units. There were there have been real concerns about that in one cluster in one area. You have to make sure um there there is that opportunity to uh to spread it out. Uh and then there is still um a vast
number of units to be um uh to be built at 550 because this uh this first round of of units is 318 units, nine of which are affordable and the rest are market rate. And you have of the 44 commercial
of the 44 units above the retail that was just approved on Thursday, there were four affordable units there. So as as the project goes forward and it's gone and 410 has gone from a
completely all residential component of 286 units is what was what was what was approved there already that is being scaled back and retail is going in. So now you're going to have looking at um the mixture of of market and affordable
and then continue with that with that model uh with the next phase across 550 King Street after the first phase of 309 or 318 units are built. So, um that is where that is where uh that's the way I
understand it in regards to the affordable units coming away from 410 and being relocated here. It's it's it's part of that. >> So, that so units here would would count towards the inventory numbers.
>> Yes, sir. But it's not clear that the because they're there are some in 410 and some at 550. Some of those might move here. All of them might move here. Like will every unit here count towards his total? >> Yes. >> Okay. Okay.
>> Exactly. >> Okay. >> So, putting on my affordable housing trust hat. This is a great deal to spend $250,000 um to turn this into affordable units. putting on my town resident select board
hat. This feels like an end around town meeting. Um we were taking money that the affordable housing trust just happens to have in their account and spending it to do something that the town rejected at our last meeting
at the May 25 town meeting. Um, if we want to go forward with this, I would suggest we come up with either a warrant article for it or go and ask CPC for the $250,000 for the affordable housing trust to fund this and have town meeting
vote on it in May cuz otherwise it feels like an endound and it's we have a very good chance that affordable housing would spend the money say this is a perfect location and then town meeting turns around and says no again and we're out to 250. So, at least if we're going
to do this, we should get the town's approval before we do it. >> Yeah. >> So, Mark, you're saying um for May, you would just be requesting the $250,000 to even do this just to do the study. >> That's what Well, what we're requesting $250,000 from an account that affordable
has the money in it. >> That's separate, but >> and then from that, because that's kind of a preliminary thing, you're you're you're getting you're letting the town know we're doing this. We're doing the study >> and the town's supporting it. The town's voting to support it. We're not going to
a fund that we just happen to have money in that we can do it without the town approving. >> So, if I could just be clear that $250,000 is not coming out of the gate is costing. I mean, we would have to it would there would be proportioned. In
other words, there would be so much that would get us would have the feasibility study, would have the the drawings, the presentations, there' be that that would go to so much of that. That's not going to be the whole 250. So, so what you what that the 250 what
that would in include in the event it keeps it keeps going now you're looking at other you'd be looking at specifications to be written in regards to how how you want it it wants to be procured things of that things of other soft costs.
>> So if you wanted to write it for $100,000 or $50,000 my answer is still the same and I think it's important to have a scope of work. So this this $250,000 it just can't be wishy-washy. It has to be that we're going to look at
converting this to deeply affordable se senior housing, right? What does the relocation look like? Is that 250 because it's use if we use money from CPC relocating town hall someplace is not
under one of the three buckets that doesn't go into housing. So we wouldn't be able to use that money for that. But that's part of it. We need we need to know we need to know what the what the expense is going to be to relocate any of these offices elsewhere. We have to know what that looks like in order for
this to pass >> the residents sniff test. I I think that the scope of work is critical >> and um >> I would agree. I I would agree and I know that's that that adds a month and a half or two months to this uh discussion, but it it's um the last
thing you want to do is spend the money and then November and it not even the town's right where they were before and now no. This gives another look at it, a little more discussion. Um, and it's really um just seeing if the town's willingness to
we do we have the votes for them to even consider it. >> But I mean we could they could vote to spend the 250 and then not vote to >> in November they could still but at least >> Sure. But but but I'm saying like I think it feels like like the reason that they
the reason that the town voted it down was that there wasn't enough there wasn't any clarity on what we wanted to do or why. and that spending this money is generating that. >> That's where I am on this. I think I think the the prime the you know there
were a lot of concerns but I think the overarching concern at town meeting was there isn't enough there there >> and I don't know how we get this enough meat on the bone so to speak for this uh for town meeting to really be able to make an educated choice about moving
forward with this until we take some preliminary steps forward. Um I I just don't know what that looks like other than returning to town meeting with a if you give us this money then we will do this and then this other thing might
happen and then this and this and this and this and this like we need to we need to start somewhere in order for this to be able to have legs um a town meeting to for it to have a chance. Um and I think a feasibility study is a reasonable place to start. I
>> um I think as well that there you know to Gary's point about um well would this work as a town hall I think that was expressed a lot and I'm wondering if there's any synergy there if the town can put some um would be
able to put money towards this and have that included as the study in the study as part of the study and you know but we'll fund that part some way somehow. >> You mean if it was part it tied into
this discussion? Um it it presented that was presented in May as well. >> Well, or if there if if if someone's coming to do a feasibility study on senior housing, is there overlap of work when then they could also do a feasibility study on converting this to
permanent town offices? >> Right. So that when >> if maybe the same firm could do it and you know there's you know it's only one and a half times as expensive >> as doing them individually. >> Thank you. That's where I was going. >> If there's a feasibility study being done on the feasibility to determine how
this can be converted to deeply affordable senior rental. There's that piece of current residents if you will that need to be placed someplace else. And if we don't have the answer to that and that's not coming out
of that 250. So we now we have to spend what to do the feasibility on what's the right property to put town hall on. >> Well I mean yeah that that that is another related question and I don't have an answer. How do we determine let's say that we
>> decide that that this can get filled up. But but I mean we're asking all these questions and it doesn't get us any closer to resolving the issue. Like I I hear your objections but we got to start somewhere. >> It's not an objection. I just want answers because that's what the residents are asking. >> So if we started the other way around,
if we were saying, okay, well, if we need to know, you know, that before we do this, we would be saying, well, >> do we ask >> we need this before that? >> Do we ask town meeting for money to determine where to put town hall if we make this into senior affordable
housing? >> My objection is to using the affordable housing trust money without a vote of town meeting. >> Yeah, I understand. And like would you would you also object to us doing a feasibility study on moving town hall? >> You can write as long as we're asking
the town's the town's permission for the money that we're spending on this. We can I'm fine with whatever however you want to write the study. >> Yeah. >> But to go to the affordable housing trust and ask them for money is an endound meeting and I am opposing to that. If you want to write an article to
ask for however much money >> the town meeting vote wasn't at the town meeting vote. We never asked the town whether they wanted the affordable housing trust to fund a feasibility study. >> So, so ask them. >> It was about surplus. In order for us to be able to do whatever we wanted to do,
we as a board, you know, what what we'd be in control of what actions we could take for this building at that point. And either it was trust, lack of information, or just not a pallet for spending that kind of money. There's there's a number of factors. Different
people voted for different reasons, but it was overwhelming. >> If if we want to ask town meeting if they're willing for affordable housing trust to spend money on this, I'm fine with that. If we want to spend it out of capital stabilization or anything else, I'm fine with that, too. It's asking the affordable housing trust to spend money
>> without going to town meeting. It feels like an end around town meeting. >> I agree. >> I would agree with you. I I uh I still think no matter what we do, the question at the mic is going to be where's town hall going and what's it going to cost? It doesn't
>> Well, what are you doing? You don't even thought this through, you know, and I it just I don't want to Yeah. I >> But if we said we wanted to do a study on where to put town hall, the question would be, well, what are you gonna do with what what what are you gonna do with the building? >> Yeah.
And and would did did did did we go to did we go to town hall when we when we paid when the AHD paid 200 grand for the Brown Brown's woods? >> Yes. Cuz well kind of >> well it was it was it was no it was part of they we didn't say to the town would you like to spend affordable housing
trust money? >> It was part of the affordable housing trust. The affordable housing trust said they were contributing to the which gets voted on. >> It was part of the s same article >> that got voted on. Yeah. I don't know. It
>> I think >> it's the affordable housing trust money. I guess >> that's sort of where I am on that. >> You know, >> um I am tired of having this building fall apart
around us and paying tens of thousands of dollars. >> Well, you and I know that, but >> Well, let me finish, please. Yeah. >> So, you know, we're talking about, well, you know, we're rushing this, we're rushing this, and there's a, you know, what if the town isn't willing to pay for it? There is a cost to our delay,
and the cost is that the town doesn't get a vote on it because it's always an emergency. >> Shoot. You know, the uh fire panel's out. Well, we had to pay for it because it was an emergency. How many more emergencies are we going to let pass
waiting for perfection before you know it's equivalent to a feasibility study that would have gotten this you know off the ground and started >> about 10 fire panels is the answer. >> Yeah. But how many you know we already know we've got to replace what is it the
the smoke >> strobes and stuff and right that's behind it that's >> so >> compatibility >> I just want to make it clear that while we are while we are talking about not wanting to spend money without the town's approval we are spending money
without the town's full understanding and it's not nefarious and it's not um you know because we're trying to hide anything. It's because that's how emergencies funds get spent. But it is a real cost and we're making that choice
and I don't think it's the right choice. >> I I 100% agree with you. But I think going >> we should still wait and see how much else how many more things go >> but we should ask that. So we should be making the case to the town that we need money for some study or something for
this building. The fact that Affordable Housing Trust happens to have the money is not a good reason for us to ask them to spend it. If they didn't have the money, what would we be doing? >> No, but a good reason for us to to spend it is that we need to spend it in order to move the project forward. It has I
like I understand your objection and I I just don't agree with the end run. Like they didn't object to us doing a feasibility study on this building. They objected to us declaring it surplus and then immediately having full control over it. But we never asked him to do a feasibility study. So ask
>> no spurious argument like that's not what that's not what the vote was about. Therefore what we're asking to do now is an end run. >> So what the feasibility what the vote was about was whether or not >> this would be declared as surplus. Yeah. Under the cost control of the sele.
>> Sure. >> So the town said no. Mhm. >> And now we're saying, so we're going to do a feasibility study to do deeply affordable senior rental housing >> or or not. Or maybe we're going to do a feasibility study and decide, yeah,
you're the town was absolutely right. There's no way we can make this work, right? Like like the whole point is we're not we're not asking to turn it into affordable housing. We're asking to understand they told us no. We're asking to understand whether or not we can to give them the information. If we're
going to put it out, we did an RF >> I >> I if we're going to be at eventually if we determine that this is surplus and we want this to be deeply affordable, we're going to put an RFP or Q or some other
alphabet soup. >> And a developer is responsible for doing that work, not us. That's as a taxpayer. I would rather the burden be on the developer, not on the residents to determine if they can make this into
the that use. >> Marian, did you have something you wanted to add? >> Sue, I wanted to ask, is this open to input like for from us as residents, not affordable housing trust? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, just a
>> Sorry, do you mind going to the mic? LCTV will thank you a few steps. >> Thank you. So my thoughts and my perspective from having been at town meeting is that um the town sent us a clear message right that they weren't ready to declare this
surplus and I feel that by us focusing on how we would will use this building for deeply affordable senior housing. For me it feels like the car dragging the horse. We're kind of skipping over the obvious question of what's going to happen with the town offices. And I feel
like that like the transparency that we want with the town, I think that's the question they're going to ask. And I think they would rather focus the 250 on that on answering that question of what's going to happen with town offices instead of what happens when we vacate this building. So that was that was my
takeaway and I kind of supporting that feeling like an end run um with this with this investment. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah, I you know I would add you know what would help me in the decision-m process is if it w in front
of the voters I it won't happen but we went in front of the voters and said how many of you want deeply senior affordable housing here that solves the problem right out of the gate if people say we don't want it and I haven't got that answered yet I know that your board probably has much
more of the pulse you know what the need is presented from different surve surveys and studies, >> you want that, >> right? But does the community does community say we don't want deeply senior affordable housing there? That is another question that I I don't have the
answer to. And and I'm still stuck on no, we don't want that there. We want town hall there. I don't know if I still think that that's if that was headtohead. I still think people would put a town hall here. I I can't get over it. And unless you create a finance,
make this a truly financed decision where this is a slam dunk. We're putting town hall over, you know, on 550 or or wherever if we're minute cost compared to what it would cost here. That would drive I think this but
I >> How do we ask people to make that to to cast that vote without any facts? I I I can't I I could never I could I would never even cast my vote for that question.
>> Which would I rather? I mean, is is one $10 million and one $1, >> right? >> You know, are we talking about two senior afford affordable housing units or 200? >> I've heard the dollar I've heard the dollar remark, you know, 100 year lease for a dollar. >> Yeah, I've heard that. So, yeah, it
could be that. I don't know. >> Right. But I I just don't I I don't understand how we ask anybody to make a decision of that level of consequence. Do you want, you know, what do you want here
without facts to under underly that that decision? Yeah, please. >> Hi, Kristen Kazokus. Um, I have a couple of questions. First off is since the town meeting um with
that decision, what has the select board or anything in town happened to try to find some answers to the questions that you have? >> You're looking at it. >> It all cost It all costs money, right? >> It all costs money. Yeah. Well, and
after listening to um the folks that wanted to be on the planning board, it was brought up in the conversation that there seems to be a lack of vision in the town and there's a lot of reactionary things. And just listening
to your conversation after that, this is a prime example. And I would like to suggest um you know having been involved with the orchard working group where there was a lot of discussions that came about where some of these questions that
you're having about what the voters are actually thinking or what they may want to do or ideas that if there's an overall branch of let's not bring in the costs yet. Let's bring in what do you guys want from town
because regardless of the cost the you know the benefit of having affordable housing at this location that brings up some different benefits that might outweigh some of the costs and I think both of those need to be considered when making these decisions
and um so having some overall goals, thoughts, discussions, conversations Um because a lot of those things can be brought up ahead of time before these votes and figuring out specifically what
information do we really need because what are even the properties that we can be considering to move town hall and let people start thinking about these things because as over time from what I'm understanding a lot of things are
brought to vote and a lot of people don't even know in town what's exactly going on. They don't feel there's transparency. they don't feel trust. All these things are coming about because I don't think that there's a lot of conversations where the town people have the opportunity to have input where it's
specific in the case whether there's satellite meetings, whether there's specific group you guys appoint. Um, but I think that there needs to be an opportunity for there's these conversations so that we can start thinking about what you're thinking
about, what we're understanding, what actually needs to happen on your end. The whole thing about the count of the affordability numbers with the properties at 550 and um on Great Road, that's a lot another thing to consider
as well. And those are bigger pictures of an overall umbrella of what we as a town are moving towards because you're dealing with a lot of moving pieces here and there doesn't seem to be, you know, where's the the flowchart? Where's the
big plan? And I don't know if there's, you know, other things that are going on town like the sustainability committee. There's all these different people that are talking about different aspects of what the town needs, but it doesn't there's a bigger picture >> so that these conversations can come
about. Um, and I think that that came through with Shaker Lane. I know that was a little bit different because of um we were dealing with grant money that a lot of people were bringing up proposals or ideas or thoughts of what could be done but they're like no we can't consider that or if we go and consider
that then we're going to miss out on the money from the state so that a lot of people didn't have the opportunity we've got >> I'm going to push back on that. Oh well well there was a lot of opportunity
like years ago years ago before even yeah these >> things happened right I take your your point is well taken >> yeah I mean it's just you know so when there was a big push to inform everybody was going on um you know and I think that's the other thing I mean yes we as
town people um in town need to take responsibility and take accountability but there's a lot going on in our country um and what people are finding important right now um for some certainty
um and some thought from our community. This is this is where these conversations need to be happening. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> I agree about the vision and I guess I feel like >> this is the way to start figuring out a vision is like we're going to have to
spend money to do like we can't do the vision without information, >> right? Even those I mean even the orchard working group workshops cost money. I think >> we um we actually applied that was one of the five submissions to the state and
for for the feasibility study of and we were denied the one that >> Yes. Exactly. I I agree with all of that. I agree we should be spending money on this. I just don't agree that we should be spending the affordable housing trust money on it without a town meeting vote. Okay. If >> but is that how how is that our decision
and not EHT's decision? >> Um we're asking them to spend their money. >> Yes. >> On it >> and they are fully capable of saying no. I'm >> guessing guessing. >> Mark is saying he has a moral objection to ask. I mean I think it's wrong. You
don't ask. >> No, I don't. I think we should be asking. We went through all the budget sessions. We didn't This didn't come up on the capital plan. We didn't ask finance committee about it. We didn't ask anyone except affordable housing trust where we know they're sitting on
money that they could spend, right? We didn't come to all the other sources and have a way of going through town meeting for this. If it goes through town meeting on any through affordable housing trust asking for CPC or anything or its own article through capital
stabilization or the capital fund, I am fine with it. >> But going and asking them directly, I think is wrong. Now, let's assume that we spend the 250,000. And I know how these studies go. They're not going to say, "Oh, no. It's not
going to work there." So, it's going to happen here for $250,000. Yes, we already know that this is a good spot and it would probably work um with town sewer especially. So, then what?
>> So, it then we say, "Hey, we figured out how to make this affordable. Now we just have to figure out where to move town hall and then we can go to the town and ask to declare this surplus, right? >> I mean, yeah. Then the next question would be town meeting will, you know, look, we either via the budget, you
know, to Mark's point, there's lots of different ways to do it, but you know, including a cost, the costs of a study for where to put town hall. >> I still think it's like Marian said, I think it's the cart before the horse. Yeah, I'm I'm still stuck on does the town want affordable, deeply affordable
senior housing here. And I that's the question I don't know. So that's why I have trouble spending the 250 because I can't get to that point. We haven't done enough studies with people to find out if they do you want town hall here or do you want deeply affordable housing? If
we can find land and a place to put town hall, would you you know th those are the >> the pieces. I think Kristen's point is an excellent one that we need we need some vision and we need some outreach. Um and that would answer a lot of
>> all the things that we're talking about we we wish we had and so I think that's probably what we need my suggestion would be that's what we need to do >> next steps. >> Yeah. >> So do you think that putting the article an article like Mark's suggestion is on Tom meeting would confuse people more?
It would raise more questions. >> Yes. Do you think we could ask the affordable housing trust to pay for MAPC to do public outreach on this and figure out what people want? >> Whether people want this? >> I think that is I do I would not view that as an end run. I think
>> I don't think they could how could the affordable housing trust ask that because that's not an affordable housing trust >> spending money on affordable housing. >> Yeah. I mean, Jim and I already talked about between this town meeting in November, there were going to be a bunch of cherettes and meetings with the
public to talk about the article in November. But that still to me a lot of times doesn't translate to town meeting. At the end of the day, people those people are still going to be asking questions that um the question that I just asked. Do you want senior deeply
affordable housing here? If we can find a place for them, that's And are you willing to spend $250,000 to get that started right now? >> I mean, we have to talk about vision. We we add our capital planning
>> over months. Um, we looking out 5 years, we looking out 10 years. And if if if we are having to relocate town offices, that's something that we have to look at when you know what debt is coming off. And right, >> we're trying to look at it. >> We're trying to look at if this is going
to be deeply affordable. >> Maybe this isn't the way. Maybe, you know, this isn't the way. But my god, we've got to we've got to start doing something other than this isn't whatever this is. Bring me a new rock, right? Bring me a different rock. Bring me a
bigger rock. Bring me a grayer rock. >> You know, >> I agree with you. >> We've got to move forward. So are we do we do we have some consensus that at least some sort of vision planning sessions like we had with the orchard is a reasonable step forward. >> So but what I mean we're talking about
just the disposition of this building. >> Yes. >> So >> and maybe we can't you know maybe a can't be involved in that right understood. Bartley you you had had your hand raised. I um
I think that you should go to town meeting and say, "We've got this building. It's half empty. It's falling apart. We need to figure out what to do with it. We need a feasibility study to determine if it's worth fixing as a town
hall or if it can be used as affordable housing or if it should be torn down." And I mean, it's your problem, but it's the town's problem. If you just put it that way and you ask for a feasibility study, um, and the $250,000
figure came from, um, it included a feasibility study and other work up through schematic design. So, you'd be asking for less than that.
Um, but I think just sort of putting it out there that you know the situation that you guys know that the building is empty, that it's falling apart, that it has to be reused or torn down
and, um, if it is used for housing, um, presumably the developer of that would pick up the construction cost. So that would take it off of your hands. Um, and that would just leave you with
the with the town hall problem. And I think that's solvable. If we're looking to pick up the right rock, I think we have to be doing something in parallel because I think that without us figuring out where we're going to put town offices,
I mean that frankly that financial decision is going to be one that the residents absolutely >> want to understand before they make a decision. >> I get that. But, you know, we've also heard a lot I there's no way I'm going to fund this feasibility study because I
know how that works. First you tell us we need a feasibility study and then we fund it and then you tell us we've put too much into this not to move forward on the project. >> Yeah. >> You know, we're we're going to have major headwinds either way. >> We also can't be we can't be presenting
things by saying this building's falling apart and just it's it's the same as the amputation communities. The first presentation wasn't wasn't solid because people felt like >> they were being held to the fire and being threatened. You have to do this or else. >> Yeah. Yeah, you're right. I
>> I think going for I'm just going to throw out random numbers here, but if the town wanted to kick in $50,000 for feasibility study and affordable housing, kicked in 50,000 to see if it 50,000 from the town side to say this is looking at it for a town hall, 50,000 from affordable housing, looking at it
for housing and putting warrant article out for the combination of those. I can get behind that, but I just to do it without going through town meeting just feels wrong. >> And can they both go here? >> Yeah.
>> I don't even know. I don't even know the answer to that question. That's what's crazy. >> You just said that town hall is going to be a lot smaller. Well, >> regardless what we do, we need to make sure we have a tight scope of work. >> Yes. >> Yes. I think I do think it makes sense to combine them into one study, though.
I Yeah. >> Town hall and and housing >> in parallel. >> Now it comes down to money, >> right? >> Um, so >> who's got money? You got some money? >> I can have my stipend.
>> Do we have money to attach to a warrant article for a feasibility study on this? >> No, because it's going to be more than $50,000 for this just for one just for >> What's your back of the envelope? 100. >> So if it's 50 from AHT and 50 from the
town, do we have 50 in the town? >> You mean 100 >> 100 per >> per side? >> Correct. >> Okay. Okay. >> Right. Is that's what is Bartlett would Bartland and I alluded to earlier. It's not the whole 250. There's a lot of soft
costs that are that are going to absorb that uh that 250. So back of the envelope is uh the um is 100 to to make the determination >> and and quite honestly if I can just
speak to the no conversations during capital planning or anything um that that's on me because here I'm looking at um this here's an opportunity yes uh with affordable housing trust having, you know, having
the available funds. Um, we need to do something about DPW. And I don't see town hall, the expense of of of of town hall moving in in in front of DPW. Quite honestly, I think that they they really need to
um we really need to focus focus on that. That is my that is my opinion. >> Well, you just crushed the then you just crushed this whole thing. >> Well, let me finish. Well, I did. Well, but I didn't. But you know what? There are I mean you there let's continue to
because this property won't be touched for let's say 5 years. We're going to be in it for for a while because you look at the low lowincome housing tax credits. That's a that's a two round situation.
So, and that's that is going to that's going to continue which gives us the ability to go and identify the location and quite honestly I mean as was explained to me when when I got here and maybe I should stop and tell me if I should stop reflecting back on the
conversations when I started is is is the fact of okay yeah in exchange for town hall then the developer will will build us a shell of a town hall but that's a shell and that and to finish
that shell off is 10 is is $20 million. >> Okay, thank you. So, it's it would be even more than that. Okay. So, plan B considering the the the the condition of what we're facing on a pretty consistent basis here. The fact of really looking
at the need for the deeply affordable senior housing, the location I think is ideal. You know, do we get into do we look at a long-term lease for a dollar a year if we if we sign something there? Turnkey situation,
you know, is that is that opportunity out there? Yeah, it is. But, you know, in the in the in the spirit of of transparency and everything, people will think that, oh, it's a sweetheart deal that, you know, Leoli, what's what's going on there? It's all done above
board by with with attorneys and procurement process and everything like that. >> Other communities have done it. There's there's there's models that we can follow. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, great point. So, >> and it's not gonna it's not a window that's going to be open forever. I I think we need to acknowledge that as
well. So it's so any acceleration or bringing this and not having it part of the budget process or anything you know you know as as the finance director can attest we had you
all saw the I mean we're throwing pennies around like sewer covers >> and and it's something that um you know and and the message I heard at town meeting was not yet give us a here before you come back. You know what?
This is too much. We got Shaker Lane coming down coming down the path. That vote has to And that's when it was $1,500 a year for the increase in taxes before uh before the select board and the finance committee got got together. And now it's it's it's half of that. And
uh and with commitments uh of of making sure that we put so much money in during the budget every single year. Well, and and we have deficit. We're going to have a deficit next year of $2.8 million next year. And then the year
after we're we're projecting a a deficit of $4.1 million. So, I'm just trying to get creative. We are just trying to get creative and and think outside the box and saying, you know what, let's let's let's see how how we can do
this. So, so if there's faults in the process, it's me. You can just point me. Point it at me. I I own it. >> So, if we want to ask for money at town meeting for affordable housing trust
through CPC, I'm fine with that. Right. And I just heard $100,000 to get started. If if it's possible to get it through CPC, I'm fine with that. But I don't think we should be asking affordable housing trust to spend money without town meeting approval. The fact that they
have the money is a historical thing that we just transferred all the money that was sitting in the CPC bucket to the affordable housing trust for them to spend. We quit doing that a few years ago, right? And the affordable housing trust just hasn't spent down all their
money, right? We did that because, you know, Mr. Venudi was very adamant that we affordable housing trust shouldn't be able to spend a million dollars without town meeting approval. Right? And now we're basically asking to spend 250,000 without town meeting approval. So let's follow what our
finance committee chair says and ask town meeting. If we ask town meeting, I'm 100% on board. The only way that passes a town meeting is if the select board and the affordable housing trust come in a
collaborative way and absolutely, you know, say because of all the boards that we went around to before um planning board, uh the COA, the affordable housing trust, they all voted unanimously to that, yeah, to come, you know, for the deeply affordable senior
housing here. the different boards and committees that that uh uh we met with >> to make this surplus. >> Yes, sir. Exactly. So, but you know, this only works if it's a unified voice of support to do this. That's it.
>> I'm perfectly I'm willing to support it, but not without town meeting. >> I understand that. That's that's the context of >> So, we're looking at a warrant article. Can Can we still get an application in front of CPC for approval?
Mr. CPC, >> different hat. >> Your third one >> the night. >> So you're asking me to ask CPC for 50 grand? >> 100. >> 100 grand. >> 100 grand. >> But then we still need another 100
grand. >> If we're going to do >> Well, only if we're going to do both of the the studies. >> Let's see how we done. Sorry, please go ahead. >> Can that still be done for May? >> Well, I'm trying to um
>> Yeah, >> I could ask for an additional $100,000. I think that um they'd look at me a little funny, >> but it's from the affordable housing budget, right? >> Well, yeah. I mean that that I don't
have to go to in front of the CPC to spend $100,000 out of the money that we have. I do that to go in front of town meeting. >> But what we're saying is >> because the CBC has already given it to us to spend as the as however we wish except except for going to Ben.
>> So So why are you saying go to the CPC? >> If we want to put a warrant article to spend 100,000 out of the affordable housing trust one time meeting, I'm fine with that too. If we don't get back in CPC, >> I think CPC would say spend the money you got first. >> Yeah, that's fine. Then if we want to put a warning article for affordable
housing trust has been under you trying to frame it through a vote >> as as long as it's flamed framed through a town meeting vote. >> Not if we're not also looking at >> I'm fine with that. >> Not if we're not going to take advantage of the efficiencies possible and look at the
>> possibility of using this as a town hall. >> Yeah, it has to be in parallel. So where is our money going to come from? That way I understand the feasibility to look at this bill >> and what's happening to the town hall >> cancelling your stipen >> the town hall money wouldn't come out of
the affordable housing trust can't >> can't >> it can't but it would be part of the same study though >> same study right we support the 100k if it if it's more comprehensive >> then insurance saying that 100 wouldn't be enough for both
>> yeah 100 would be would cover the housing se part of it but would not cover adding on. Where would the otherund come from? >> That's what we're trying to figure out. >> So are you talking about the feasibility going beyond looking at this building
and evaluating the big picture of where in the town you want to put in? >> No, just looking at this building both for both for affordable and for town hall and >> makes sense to me because that's a shared responsibility and >> well that's not even feasible and we can't even why do you look somewhere
else? We know that there's places. I mean, it feels like we're on a developer timeline. >> No, we're not. No, no. This is all this is all driven by me. No. >> Nope. Um, then we we have two weeks, correct, for
the warrant. >> Mhm. >> So, and I don't know if we can find the money to do this week. >> Two weeks. I guess we >> don't look at me. >> I knew I should.
You gota look at free cash. You got to look at how we use it >> because it's not a capital. >> I honestly I think just doing the I I know we say doing both of them parallel is ideal, but I think just getting the
town meeting vote on one of them tells you something. So, >> okay. Do you want to put our efforts toward that? >> I don't like adding things to budget. >> I don't like adding things to the budget, but I don't like wasting money on two studies when we could only pay for one and a half.
>> Yeah. >> But if we paid for if we did the affordable housing one, then why can't they use that information when they built the next one? >> That's true. >> We already have the and the same person because LLB
Yeah, >> I didn't know what he was doing. >> If if I may if I may through the if I may through the chair. >> Yes, >> madam chair. Is that an is that a warrant article that affordable housing trust would feel
comfortable sponsoring? >> Well, that your sense is that aged >> right exactly what it is just so I can respond intelligently. Um there was a the the the warrant article that we presented at
town meeting. It is sponsored by someone whether it be the the select board, Fincom or Conservation Commission. This would be one that would be sponsored by the Affordable Housing Trust. request at town meeting to spend $100,000 of your
money to do a feasibility study on 37 Shadic Street being the location for deeply for deeply senior affordable rental housing. >> So it's the exact >> it's the exact same thing. No, it it's
instead of a instead of us telling you yes, please spend the 250,000, you're asking town meeting to spend if it's okay for the affordable housing trust to spend. >> I thought that I thought we were also being a little more comprehensive and
not just looking at this as affordable housing, but looking at town offices. >> Well, we that's the whole thing in which we are our internal conversations. we would need to identify $100,000 for the town offices side. And what the
conversation is is now is okay that optimal that is that is the best combination but we just don't have the the resources to be able to do that. Um, so
maybe looking at just the just what was originally proposed going back to that idea and that being generated from the affordable housing trust to town meeting. >> Bartlet, do you understand what I'm saying? >> I think so. >> I'm back.
>> You're just asking town meeting to spend $100,000 of the >> of the affordable housing trust. >> Yes, sir. So it's not going to it's not money that they actually have to spend. They've already spent it cuz we have it now. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> So it's more
>> I mean I mean it's a gamble, you know, whether if this building gets used for housing, then it's a great deal for us. If it doesn't get used for housing, then we're out 100k. >> Correct. >> So it's a gamble. But I would I would >> I'd vote for to do that, but I don't
know what the rest of the board would say. But I think but I I think it would I think there would be a tremendous amount of credence if it it if it absolutely is done in a
in by the select board and the affordable housing trust >> in taking and you know supporting each other in doing that. I think I think that would go a long way because don't forget I mean at that last meeting at town meeting
only one person got up and spoke in favor aside from me and that was March. I you know I still can't speak in favor of it. I can't I I'm I'm going to tell you right now I we talked a little bit
of the cart before the horse. If I can get answered and if we have the money to do it, I would want to know what's it cost to put town hall here? What does that cost? What does it cost to stay here? What does it cost to build this campus out for a town hall?
Then when we have that answered, we can say, okay, let's do it's going to cost us a ridiculous amount of money. Town hall cannot be rebuilt here. We already know this building isn't going to work. that feasibility study's done then we can say okay now we start looking for
another place and putting do a feasibility to put deeply affordable >> so the fear so the fear factor of what what Bartlett had just expressed well we could spend $100,000 and end of the day we could be out $100,000 or it could be a great investment so you're
recommending to spend $100,000 to determine you know whether that is going to be the case for town offices and what is the cost going to be the feasibility is not it's it'll happen. I mean money
they can they can construct this into into town offices. You everybody here knows that um it's really a matter of what is in the best interest of of the town for the for the seniors and for town offices. So
whe whether either thing can fit and be the feasibility study can say yes senior housing can go there. Yes. Or a town hall can go there and this is what it would cost. >> So I >> just to one just to throw words into
Gary's mouth. I think Gary's saying that you'd rather have the town hall feasibility study before we do the affordable housing study. >> Well, I would I'd rather know if residents want a town hall here or not. If you were to say, >> how how do you suggest we get that? How do we do that? >> Do you want a town hall here or not?
>> But wait, literally, how do we ask that? Where, when, how >> town meeting >> that they would have to be article one. They vote it down. They they vote the affordable housing trust. >> I mean, what are they voting on? >> Non-binding referendum, >> right? >> It has to come with the cost. Would we
want to >> How can it come with the cost if we don't spend the money to find out what the cost is? >> That's a I think that's really Gary, you you you're not get past that like >> I don't know >> because we don't have a bucket of money. >> Well, we don't have or and we don't have
any idea what the what what it what the cost is of of doing it >> and how can we find out otherwise? >> I >> so as as purely affordable housing trust to answer the question um that you asked um >> I think that we would support the
$100,000 warrant for evaluating this for affordable housing. I think there is a bigger issue about the use of town offices, but if we look at it strictly with our blinders on as affordable housing trust, I think we have to support it. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. Can I ask a question? >> You can, but you need to state your name
and and your and your address. Sure, that'd be better. >> All right. Thank you. >> I'm on the finance team for my organization, so I feel for you. Um, Lyn Gonzalez 132 Road. um
CPC money. Can you guys ask for CPC money? Because And here's here's my thought. Let me let me say my whole thought. Why not do a feasibility study for town hall
that asks a company or organization to go out and do a feasibility study to say where in the town could the town hall go, including this building? And then how much would it cost for each of those locations? >> You can't do that with CPC money.
>> It has to be related to affordable housing or or one of the other buckets. >> Historic preservation. >> Yeah. Historical preservation. >> Right. >> Okay. >> And it doesn't it doesn't fit the bill. >> Yeah. Like just general municipal government doesn't count. >> I guess my only point is don't limit yourselves on the feasibility study of
the town hall. Expand it. like go out bigger and say where could it to to an organization where could it be and how much would it cost for each of those locations. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> We have we have done that as well. >> We have we have the DC >> we looked at the old DCU building. So we
have done some of that research already. >> Indian Hill music was town hall feasibility was done there. Town hall feasibility was done at DCU. So we there has been studies to see where it could go. space. >> What did those studies bring up?
>> They didn't think it >> didn't work. They didn't work. Either one of them didn't work. So, >> this was before I was on a >> throw me out of the way. >> I was on think I was on think so. So, I remember the the money behind it. But,
um, >> so next steps >> you're going to >> I've lost the plot a little bit, I guess. So, I think we're deciding whether or not we're going to ask the affordable housing trust to sponsor an article to sponsor a warrant article asking for money for a feasibility study
on this on 37 Shadic Street to convert it into affordable senior housing. >> Asking you to spend money. You don't actually have to ask for authorized to spend the money. >> I think the question is >> Gary has objections in as much as that's not the important question to answer.
The important question to answer is like what the hell are we going to do with town hall? >> Exactly. >> And I don't disagree with that. I just wish we would do something because because if we don't do this thing with the affordable housing trust, I guarantee you nothing's going to happen at this town meeting and we're going to wait another 6 months and nothing's going to happen until we decide to do
something. I just hate the bureaucracy. >> Don't you think Don't you think though that that if the vote is yes, we want you know >> go for it age then. >> Don't you think that answers your
question? Maybe not >> comprehensively but it gives you a lot to go on. >> It doesn't answer because I already know it. >> Oh, you're saying town the town saying >> if the town says I already know that >> we think >> this study is going to show that this will work for affordable housing. I already know. >> Yeah, we all know that. The question
isn't whether it's it's how much >> and and and what exactly how many units. >> It's the bureaucracy behind it that drives me nuts. >> So, yeah. I mean, I think I get it doesn't answer like which one, but it does give you that there's enough people
that think that this is a good idea to move forward with it >> in good faith. >> Okay. >> And not, you know, and not in an endrun sort of way or a >> undermining. >> All right. And we're immediately going to have to put money aside to start thinking >> well I mean >> town hall stuff
>> you were just saying to look at Robin was saying to look at free cash and I mean maybe we can do it right >> in tandem and if we are able to >> I yeah >> right >> we all know he's going to find us >> not this year
>> in the in the cushions. Robin in the cushions. >> I was just going to ask how the money tree was doing. >> All right. So we're going to I need a motion right to We're going to go with 100,000. >> No, I don't think that the affordable housing trust direction can uh propose
the article at their meeting >> if they so wish. >> It's the first step to get this. >> If this is anything other than a great idea, guys, I I'm hesitant. >> I was just going to give you one more idea like like what about what >> one is the affordable housing needed in
the in the town? >> Yes. >> Right. two, why not do a feasibility study from that aspect as well as far as like look out at the whole town, where could it go and how much would it cost including this book and make it more >> just bigger than what it is. That's all.
Just just thinking a little deeper. You want to spend 100 grand, get the company. >> It can go right on 550 or it can go on 410. >> Affordable housing is start independent >> the trust. Yeah, they they do that. >> We're looking at everything.
>> We have an RFP coming out. Right. >> Yes, that's >> so can can we present this as that we're confident that the select board will allow us to use this building
and you know whatever your problem is in getting emptying this building >> right >> that that's not our problem. If the vote if the vote comes back at positive at town meeting that that or that the the >> feasibility comes back >> the feasibility study comes back
positive for housing is it a go for us and you guys aren't going to stop us and say we're having second thoughts >> is this the select board's number one way of dealing with this property >> but all the other pieces have to work I I think we all support
affordable housing happening here as long as It's that can it can happen in it's the right thing for the town. We can find a place for the town hall. >> I mean we can do a straw poll, right? >> So would that be would would a senior
deeply affordable senior housing be your first choice for how to use this property? >> It all depends on >> provided it is financially feasible. >> Correct. Correct. Right. Feasible to relocate >> those that call this home.
You need a minute. You want me to ask Matthew? >> Yeah. I'm not sold on Matthew's gone conveniently. If >> we can find a new home. Sure. Okay. >> I This that would be my number one, you know, choice for how to dispose of
this property. >> On a different subject. If >> this building is declared surplus, >> does is that a public process where you you have send out for RFPs and there's no guarantee that that um
>> Levolei is >> correct >> going to grab hold of this building. >> Well, there are there are there is that in with public procurement. Yeah, >> there is also what we tried to do at town meeting was to forgo 30B
and that would that would take uh that would town meeting vote. Then that would have to go before the state for approval to forgo going going out for an RFP. >> Okay. and just have the the the
municipality do a contract with Lei to do the deeply affordable sea elements. >> We just can't pick them. It has to go through chapter 30. >> We can't just pick seven. >> Yes, you can. If you're foregoing 30B, you you can you can select you're the
developer and but and it has to get approval by the IG the AG and the only way that they will approve that is to make sure that the project is um is Davis Bacon wage rates. So it's
a union shop. That's when the approval will come in. So there are there are there is there is that way also. Yeah, you'll make Yeah, you'll make the public's eyes glaze over if you didn't talk about that, though. So, >> right. No,
>> I mean, I get the >> I also don't want it to be a surprise like what what what was you signing a a contract with him? >> No, he I mean, that is the >> We did a straw poll. Um, if it were
financially feasible, would using this property as deeply affordable senior housing be your first choice? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Does that does that answer the mail for you? >> All right. Thanks everybody.
>> You good? >> Thank you all. >> You good? Yeah. I >> really good discussion. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks. >> Thank you. Next. >> You're not here for any other board. >> Can I leave too?
>> Water meth. >> Suck it up. Got a cup. Been waiting to be appointed on. >> Oh jeez. Yeah. >> You got me something. Thank you. >> All set. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next on the agenda.
Next on the agenda is appointing Randy Martins to the Littleton Community Television Advisory Committee. >> Come on, Randy. >> Yeah. Is Randy Martins here? >> Yay. >> Come on up. >> Wow. >> Thanks for coming and thanks for
sticking around. No problem. >> Appreciate it. >> Um, thank you for putting your name forward for this. you will have anything you want to talk to us about about your interest in LCTV or >> No, I've been a resident um over at 174 Boss Street, been here for um since
about 2007. We bought the house and um and it's something I've been wanting to do for a long time and uh and I recently reached out to Mark and spoke with him and uh I saw the opportunity to possibly make an impact. So, >> wonderful. Thank you. Anybody have any questions? I will just say that um I met
uh Randy at the last LCTV um steering committee meeting last week. >> Um of course he couldn't talk. We we had him just sit there and listen, but no no I had to pick talk to you a little bit and your interest and a little bit your
experience. So um I think you'll be a great asset and a good contributing member to the team. So appreciate that. Thanks. >> Thank you for stepping up. >> Thank you. All right. >> There board you want to be on. We have
dipping my toe in the >> It's like a It's like quick It's like a tar pit though. >> Chuck also. >> Well, just thanks. Appreciate it. >> Uh I'll just make a note that there is a letter here from uh the um LCTV advisory
board member um stating that there was a 60 vote to recommend um your appointment. I'll take a motion. Okay. I don't have them. Oh, it's up there. All right. Move that the select board
vote to approve Randy Martins's to the Littleton Community Television Advisory Committee for a term expiring June 30th, 2027. >> Second. >> Moved by Gary, seconded by Matthew. All those in favor? I. >> Thank you. Please get sworn in. Happy to
be part of the easy stuff. >> Yeah, Randy, thanks. Thanks for hanging around. That was I know that was tough. >> Thank you. >> Cheers. >> Thank you. >> I What did I skip? >> Quick input. >> I'll get to it. >> I want a poor Randy to be able to go home if you wanted. You
>> did, right? >> All right. >> Oh, Randy, don't forget to get sworn in at the cler. >> Yeah. So, tomorrow or before our next meeting. >> All right. Public input and members updates. Let's start with public input, please. Anyone? Buer. Ber.
Yeah. Okay. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Gonzalez 132 Road. Um, I know that you guys are discussing a warrant article to come up for a vote of the town to do surplus for the Orchard
House um at Nag Hill Orchard. So, I just want to just state a few facts that we all know, but just to to reiterate them that like a warrant went out in May of 2024, um, which it failed and you guys recognized that it was probably because
the the town's folks needed more information or they needed something else. And you guys took the time, you went to MAPC, you did a um kind of a a town feedback and you did a survey and you did a lot of work around that. And the report when it came out was really
about the town expressing the importance of the orchard to like remain like as much of what it actually is, right? You know, of course you uphold the APR, but like also for it to remain open space in the other areas and for it to keep its historical um
reason purpose for being there. And so in the RFP that you guys put out for the lease, um, you got very few responses. Um and and I guess the concern there is when you guys got the proposals, you
determined the criteria for evaluating those after you open the proposals and then you and then you made a decision to go with a single small single owner um you know company versus a tribe if you will that had you indigenous tribe that
had uh a lot more people that would have been involved and that had a pretty good um plan that I think was comparable to Bransfields, but you chose what you chose. And so I think the concern around um
the the idea of selling the house and a small part of the property I think is um a risk separating it from the APR. Guess just naming that first. And then
when you go I I think one of I think in order for the town people to even consider approving the you know a surplus sale of that property I think they need to know what your criteria would be if you when you when you issue
an IFB if it's going to be an IFB or um not sure how you would issue uh the sale of that. So that if you're literally if you were going to just pick the highest bidder to get the most bang for your buck, you know, that's one thing. But if you're going to build in some uh
criteria that includes maintaining it as like a >> the footprint and things like that. >> Yeah. And I hear you guys talking about that, you know, I hear you guys talking about like keep trying to keep the historic Did the historical commission accept the house into >> Not yet. >> Not yet. You're still doing that before
you >> I I have a whole bunch of updates for you. >> Oh, okay. Okay. But go ahead and finish your statement. >> Okay. So, you know, I think I think the the if there's a world where you can um if it were to pass surplus, I I think
one you you the town folk have to have some asurances from this from this select board. But if it were to go to surplus, to have some really strong criteria for how you would establish who you would even sell it to, I think is really important and for how you would
evaluate those bids or proposals that would come in. I think you just need to be more transparent and upfront in advance and not necessarily making decisions because you saw what somebody thought they would do or suggested they would do, you know. Um and and and to
really think about the you know maintaining the historical value and maintaining uh environmental protections that should come with that property. Maintaining some cultural and educational value that could be a part of that. And also considering what um
if an organization andor person who would bid on it would maintain some public access, a resource for that property to continue to make it part of the community versus something that would only, you know, benefit a company so to speak, you know,
or benefit an individual, you know. So just throwing that out there. I probably have way more thoughts, but I also know I I'm really short on time um you know because of this piece. But I don't know if you guys have any questions for me bringing up some of the points I'm bringing up. If you want me to clarify
anything um I guess ask. But >> so typically we don't do it back and forth, but um I if somebody wants I have a lot I have answers to almost everything that you said in my update on the orchard. >> Okay. >> On the orchard later on. >> Okay. The only only the one the only
correction is actually for the RFP we issued the criteria that we evaluated those on was in the RFP when it was issued. We didn't decide on the criteria after the fact. That's the only thing that I think was but but all the rest of
your your comments are um totally valid and I will I think be able to speak to almost all of them. >> Okay. Thank you. That should hopefully will not take too long before we get there. >> It's okay. Anyone else for public input? Thanks.
>> Thank you. >> Uh Kristen Kazokus. Um I just wanted to follow up. Um just one more thing about the process with the um orchard. I think one of the things that did happen is um a lot of things were happening simultaneously. Um, so town council,
um, there was some change about whether or not there could be a lease to own or something like that. And I remember that that information didn't come out till after the proposals had been received. And so I remember it coming up in the
meeting that you didn't have that information and then town council was able to give that feedback. So, if the you're being sure that the criteria is all ahead of time and being presented to the town and that we've got input on that, um, can we please just make sure
town council looks at that before we get the proposals, too? >> Town council looked at it, but your point is well taken. >> Um, I can bring up the >> No, I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm disagreeing with the implication that we didn't have town council look at everything. >> We did. >> Oh, I know town council looked at
everything, but I think things were happening simultaneously. So the information that the orchard working group and the select board was working with was different than what the you know had different information from when the proposaled. I see what you're saying. That's all that that information
back and forth, >> right? >> Cuz there is a delay when having to work with town council sometimes that you don't always know ahead of time that you know. So that's all. >> Okay. Understood. Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? Of
>> course. Rob Brown Rounds, 25 Juniper Road. Want to start off with Margot um and get into the affordable housing, the discussion you had about this building. >> I'm going to enforce time limits tonight, Rob. Just heads up. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> I don't mean
>> Okay. AMI um forget this deeply discounted and other affordable talk in terms of you know household income and 80% is this and give context cuz you lose everybody without it. >> Um I wish I was hearing that there was
an upcoming joint meeting of the the finance committee and select board. You just learned that park and recck sitting on $740,000. Maybe it's 100 grand less than that. They got a lot of money. They talked about cutting things because of the cuts that you made. You haven't
taken any action. Disappointed. Um, are you going to allow the Conservation Commission go forward the docks without hearing from them? It's been months. They've now delayed things for months themselves. I mean, they brought got everybody's attention and now they've
just let it float for months. Um, >> no pun intended. >> Yeah. Right. we're still there wondering what they're going to do and what they're going to propose. Um you I don't know if you folks have checked in on that or not. Um then move on some some of your other matters. There is a legal
you've been discussing this for weeks. You've got a policy number 11 and your select board policies about use of legal counsel. It identifies a gatekeeper process. I have interest is whether or not you're going to allow independent groups to come forward to use legal
counsel. Do you do it like this or do they just go directly? Seemingly I think they're going directly. >> Did did you approve conservation to get legal counsel pertain to the docks be one example. I'll stop there.
>> Um but policy exists. So I'd like to know if it >> is meaningfully being used because this is dashed. Um, and lastly with regard to the orchard house, but it's also this building potentially as well. You've got
another policy, policy 18, sale of land own. I've brought this up before. You've got provisions that require land sale committee. Does this mean something or does it not? I'm trying to keep track as to what you're, you know, what rules exist and what you abide by and what you
don't. So, thank you. >> Okay. So, all right. Thank you. Anybody else for public input? >> All right, member updates, >> Mr. Bucker. >> So, last week was it? We tooured uh
Kinesi Physical Therapy over on Taylor Street. Um they have quite the space over there. It was very nice. The staff was awesome. It was a great um visit. Um, and the other thing I was going to
announce is don't forget mini golf is coming up on March 20th. Um, 6 pm. It's a ticketed event. Uh, adults only on the 20th. 21st is familyfriendly. 10 to 3, $5 pay at the door. So, there'll be a um
a silent auction on Friday night as well. >> Nothing for me. Okay. today, >> Chuck. >> Um, yeah. The only thing I was going to bring up is the weekend after that is Mamma Mia at the high school, and there's four opportunities to check out
Mamma Mia. It's Friday the 27th at 7:00 p.m. Saturday the 28th at 1 and 7. The 1:00 shows encouraging costumes. So, >> what are you wearing? >> I don't want to clash.
>> I I do have my little ABA outfit. I'll help you wear on that. Um and on Sunday there's a matinea as well at 1:00. So just um the high school does a great job. The kids do a great job. So >> I always do. Yeah. Thank you. Anything else? Well, good. >> No, good. Thank you, >> Gary.
>> Uh just continue to thank uh DPW and all the hard work they've been doing. Long hours. Uh tough winter. Can't really see it. Today was beautiful. So tomorrow's going to be better. So that's fantastic. Um just uh one thing the Littleton um
hockey Littleton Bramfield hockey team is they won the other night. I went to the the game in Framingham. Uh they are in the state championship. They'll be playing the Boston Garden 7:30 p.m. Sunday night for the >> Oh, they announced the time. >> Yep. So it's late, but they're running
games throughout the day. So it's a big one. It's as far as uh Littleton's ever gone. And hopefully we can take it home. Playing Saint Burner. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, >> very exciting. >> All right. Um I am I have opened discussions with town
council and asked them to evaluate whether we need to uh make a correction at the at this next meet uh town meeting um to I think it's 2023's article 5 when
we established a resol a revolving fund for PRCE. It looks like there might be some information missing there. Um so I've asked them to review that and um advise whether a correction is required. Uh I attended the sustainability committee meeting. Um they are working
on their cap um cap and uh it's really coming along nicely. The next steps are to um start talking with uh Jim and Tony
and um start garnering employee input because the cap will be impacting um town hall and our departments and how they do their work um to some you know to varying extents. But so we need to they want to make sure that what they're
what they put forward in their draft is uh feasible for our employees. Um follow-up meeting um regarding No, not that. Okay. Financial policy subcommittee meeting is this week.
>> Yep. So there's something to look forward to. Town meeting report from Tony. I wanted to thank you Tony for all the hard work you've done on that. I know we're going to be talking about it soon, but um yeah, I'm really excited to hear from it. Yeah, sorry. Survey
>> at office hours last week. Um thank you to Rob for coming. Ice policy work continues. I received a draft back from um town council and so I'm working my way through that and then probably the um I think the um put it out
internally for input and I attended the charter committee openhouse and just wanted to thank the charter committee for all the hard work they've been putting into it and all the members of the public and interested parties that attended. I think there were a lot of really good discussions. So thanks for that. That's all I have. I
had one to add if I for >> um a personal advisory committee and discussion about the compensation plan. >> So, you know, after really evaluating all the work that the Collins Center did and and it looks like we feel the best
option that we're going to recommend to the select board is to just go forward with the current compensation plan that we have existing um as printed in the budget book for this fiscal year that >> this year coming up. Um, it'll do a couple things. Um, it'll it'll allow us
to com really take their plan and integrate it into what we currently have. It's going to require a lot of work. Um, and we really going to try to do it by May, but we knew there'd be a lot of issues and and outliers and we'd have to go back and correct things. So, um, we just kind of took our foot off
the gas said, "Okay, let's let's go forward with what we have um for Maytown meeting with the current the current plan." Um, and that being said, by putting it off as well for the the following cycle, it they'll align with
the um the union contracts, which historically helps us um because then we we kind of get a feel for what the climate is budget-wise and and the unions can kind of feed off of what we're able to do as a town. Um, and vice versa. So, we can kind of feed off each
other that way. But a lot of work to come on that and it's it's going to require um you know a lot a lot of position you know changes and things. This is a lot of a lot of detail was was put in. So we're we're going to use as much of their product as possible and
then we'll present it to the select board to get it on our next budget. >> Thank you. >> Karen, can I add one more? As we alluded to earlier and we're meeting with the planning board, there is a ton election coming up soon. If you want to pull papers, you have what, another week and
a half to do that. >> Go see the town clerk. >> We have a lot of uncontested election races still or we have >> um yeah, you need 55 signatures, 50 some signatures, you
>> know. So, um they can fill you in, but >> you have to pull papers by next Thursday. >> Yeah. >> Have them turned in the following, uh Monday, right? One visit to the basket is all it takes, right? That's right. >> Okay, so now we're back on track and back in order. Um, select board
discussions, annual report cover contest. >> Chuck didn't want to vote on this one, apparently. >> No, >> I think one recused himself. >> One was his, I think. >> Yeah. >> Which one? >> Um,
is somebody going to present? >> I like the third one >> we're doing here. >> No. Oh, we have Yeah. the drawings. >> Yeah. All right. >> I think it's great all the drawings we got. I >> really appreciate all of them.
>> All right. So, >> I mean, >> I mean, they're not numbered, but we'll just assume numbers and orders, >> right? >> Those two are my favorite. The one on the right is a slight favorite, but those are my two favorites. Yeah, I was going there as well just because it really represents a huge undertaking and
project that recently happened and to have it immortalized on a on a uh >> yeah town annual report I think is is great. I I was a little um
uh I like the library picture u which was the first one in the packet, but I also agree with Gary um that the uh 36 King is very timely and very well done.
>> I love them all. I was actually leaning towards number two, but Gary, you make a compelling argument that this is uh this is the year to highlight um the new building or one of our new buildings. So,
>> yeah. And hold on to that Shadock Street one because if this building ever moves or comes down. >> All right. Do we need to vote or is it just a consensus? All right. >> Uh vote to recommend the
cover letter for the the cover picture for the town report. Uh, as viewed on the right of the screen, the town of Littleton, Massachusetts, it'll be a 2025 annual report with a Littleton sign out front. >> I'll second. >> 36 King Street.
>> Yeah. Picturing 36 King Street. Yeah. >> Yeah. I'll second that. As amended. >> All right. Moved by Gary, seconded by Matthew as amended. All those in favor? I. >> I. >> Thank you. >> Great work on all of them. >> Yeah. Thank you every everyone who submitted.
Awesome. All of they were all great. Sale the orchard house discussion up. >> So, uh, Tony and I met with Jenny and Tom from Harrington, Tom Harrington from Harrington Heap or whatever they're called now. Um, so I think we are going
to we would like to move forward with a warrant article asking to declare the House surplus. Um, we can put whatever restrictions we want um, in that article. So some of the you know my my
take is that there will be some concerns from the residents about it. So I think that a a lot of them uh things like not changing the envelope of the house, you know, use it for residential or agricultural purposes, you know, many of
the things that that Lynn was just talking about could be put right into the article to make sure that we only sell it under those conditions. And I hope that that will make it more likely to pass. I also want to set up some public information, some public input
sessions so that I can address people can come and say here's what we think that this house should be used for or here's the restrictions that we would like to be to put on it. >> Um you're going to have time though before town meeting. So I we're going to I mean I So what what um Jenny suggested
is we write the we write the article and then we make the motion more specific as we get closer and put it in an addendum if we have to. >> Okay. >> Um then after assuming that that passes we do an RFP in order to sell it. Um the
criteria and the resp again the criteria we would determine ahead of time. Um, in the article, we would say that the select board would be responsible for writing the RFP and evaluating the respondents. Um, we don't need an assessment. We can
use a tax assessment as the valuation. We don't have to take the highest bidder. Um, we don't have to take any of the bids if we don't want them. Um, so >> Matthew, is a historical piece going to come in on this? No, I think that is one of the things that we should I I can also talk to the historical commission
and see we could make that we could make the sale contingent upon getting a historical commiss uh conservation restriction on it. >> That well that's hu I mean that's a huge part. The historical commission is huge because it puts an enormous amount of restriction. >> Well, it can be as restrictive as we
want it to. Yes, it it can be very restrictive or it can be just somewhat restrictive. Okay. But I don't think that I think that most of the common sense things that we all kind of want, which is don't bulldo the house, don't turn it into condos, right? Like is stuff that I think with the historical
the historical restriction would cover. >> Um and so yeah, so I'm going to move forward with um um you know, we've already got a draft article I'm looking over. I'm going to move forward with setting up some public
information sessions, some input sessions, and talking to uh Linda. >> It's roughly an acre of land with it, correct? >> 1.15. >> Um, it sounds like potentially the Warren article is going to be really narrow.
>> Well, Jenny said we can make it as narrow as we want. So, I think that we can debate how many restrictions we want to put in it. I would prefer not I would prefer to make it only as restrictive as we need to. >> Right. I don't want to overly restrict it that
>> we we know what we what it was used for. >> Yeah. >> And it's worked for >> Yeah. >> decades. Um so it's really just keeping in that frame of thought. I think >> what is our plan B if we don't get any uh bids that
meet all our criteria? >> I don't know. I haven't I mean I'm I haven't thought that far ahead honestly. Like I >> I'm just thinking about like the orchard, right? How many times did we put our really restrictive RFPs out and you know nothing nothing and then finally we put out a more general one and we got good responses. And I'm not
saying we shouldn't have restrictions. I'm just saying >> well I guess what's our plan something something to think about. >> Yeah. What's our plan B if we don't if the town doesn't allow us to declare it surplus >> it exactly >> lease it? No. Yeah, I think Karen's argument is putting fewer things, fewer restrictions in the Warren article and
we could potentially put more of them in the RFP. >> So, if we wanted because if they're in the Warren article, we can't take them out. >> Understood. I think that it's a matter of like the town trusting us to to do things that we say we're going to do. >> It's going to be a balance. I think >> it's going to be a balancing act. And I
do think we should probably think about what if this plan doesn't move forward for either the Warren article doesn't get approved or the RFP doesn't work out. Yeah, >> we put money aside, budget to fix the building and lease it. >> Oh man. No,
>> no, you're kidding. >> That's a lot of money. >> No way. >> You said the same thing of the land, though. It's hard. >> Did Did that answer most of your questions? >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> Am I correct in remembering that you can't write the RFP until it passes?
>> We can we can write it. It just we can't issue it until we have permission to sell. can because I think that might help with the whole thing about what the law is. >> Yeah, I don't I don't think there's a >> I don't think we'll have time to write it. >> Yeah, I don't think we'll have time to do it. >> Okay.
>> Before town meeting. Maybe we maybe we'll get there. >> Um but yeah, we can't issue the RFP until until we have permission to sell it, >> but the restrictions can all be in place. >> But yeah, we can decide on what restrictions we want beforehand >> and the drafting process might be able to start.
>> Yeah. Oh, yeah. I think yeah we're going to try to move forward with that >> the boiler plate stuff. Yeah. >> And then fill in the >> whatever comes >> and that you know the public input sessions can also be discuss can can discuss the evaluation criteria that everyone wants to see about the about
how the RFPs are evaluated. >> I think I just think that might be helpful with the voting process for people to have that >> out there. Okay. Uh, great. Thank you very much. I know it's a lot of work. Appreciate it.
>> Town council citizens petition assistance policy. >> I haven't done anything. >> Okay. I thought I had missed something. >> I was like, is it not in the packet >> exactly? Yeah. Okay. So, we'll uh come
back to that. It closed the uh thing for today and we'll reopen it at another time. Town Administrator, Assistant Town Administrator's updates. >> Uh thank you, Madam Chairwoman. Uh um just wanted to
uh remind uh just want to let everyone know that uh in the past we have always uh the inspections of the scales and the gas stations and everything like that was was a contract with the Northern
Moses Council of Governments. uh they would have that contract for multiple towns throughout uh throughout the Marramck Valley and uh they have not been able to fill the position for the person has has retired.
>> This weights a measure. >> Yes. And uh what has uh so as a result uh because we need to have one of these and to have someone on staff to do that has got to be trained significantly and all the necessary equipment that has to
be has to be purchased. Uh the the state um division of standards uh um is doing this uh for the town and we do not have a uh um a fee proposal uh for the different inspections because they have
been done uh contractually through Northern Meadows Council of Governments. And so now uh the state is doing it and we just need to have uh the fee structure in place. That's going to be a town meeting. Um, and we're just really
looking for whatever it uh whatever the cost is from the state is just we're not looking to add anything on top of it to our local to our local stores or our local proprietors. Um, h >> how did they pay before
like I assume they paid for these inspections prior? >> They did. they paid that was through NIMCOG and so uh the Northern Medicine's Council of Governsp inspector would come periodically and and drop off uh the necessary checks. >> Okay.
>> Um Okay. >> The surrounding communities >> what >> surrounding communities dealing with the same thing? I mean >> uh with anyone that was doing with Northern Ministers Council of Governments. Yeah, >> there was probably I mean Chumsford was one. I think Westford. >> Okay.
>> Very good. Um and uh >> their feet so when you say that name like a four-letter word >> it really is in my in my vocabulary. Um
so it's uh we did try and explore uh reaching out and partnering with with with an area community and uh they're everyone is going with the state. >> So nothing's on salary, nobody's no in town. >> Correct. Yeah, >> exactly. So, that's going to be uh at
town meeting. Uh as a one of the things that the the select board really wanted is to continue the uh the child care uh at town meeting. Uh we've identified a uh a funding source um through uh
through CPC. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. And um we are making sure that that is uh we're going to continue to offer that service as the select board wanted in the past and I think that will be reflected upon what Tony's going to
report back on the survey. Uh we're also you you heard with the with the with the borrowing of 2.28 uh which was absolutely fantastic. Uh we've also had further conversations uh with the police department. There will
be active shooter training between May and September which will take place in all the town owned buildings. Uh the TR PD training team is reaching out and going to be scheduling um uh different
times for uh uh for for different departments and buildings. So that will be going on uh between May and and September. And it's really it's not a it's not a an actual exercise in the sense that
there's going to be a police officer that is portrayed to be a you know someone it's actually going to be a you know a slide deck that is going to be as part of the training. So uh we will continue to uh see that. Uh last week
EHS uh the 600 people nearly 600 people s signed up for events uh last week which is pretty impressive which is very very impressive. As a matter of fact green works grant that uh Diane Dickens and and Tony had worked really hard
about putting together three um three projects out of that. one for $3 million. Um and uh one was and then there were that was for the heat pump towards a Shaker Lane school. Uh and um
and then there are two other grants uh within the green works grant. One for the middle school application for canopy of $110,000 and a high school application of $197,000. And uh Tony and Diane had a conference
call and uh they there was not a there's not a lot of hope for the $3 million, but they're hoping that something of the canopies will be able to be will be funded. And that is it. I'll just turn it over to uh to Tony for talk about the survey.
>> Um do we need to create a policy for the child care? You think we at that point yet? It actually gets put into the select board policies that we will have child care at town meetings >> if if that's if that's the will. If if you want to see how it goes for a few
town meetings and then and then put it in or if you want to do it now, however you want to do it. >> All right, so town meeting community survey. Um so we've concluded the the survey which we conducted from January 26th to February 20th of this year. We
had a total of 240 um residents that participated. So the survey explored how often residents attend town meeting, barriers that prevent attendance, how residents receive town meeting information, and ideas to improve the town meeting experience. The following
slides highlight the key findings. So under participation patterns, so we had 58% of respondents attend town meeting at least occasionally. Um 41% report rarely or never attending indicating potential opportunity to broaden participation.
And the October special town meeting drew participation from rents who normally do not attend. Um of interest I will highlight not on the slides here but we had um in in raw numbers nearly 40 39 residents um who say they rarely
or never attended um town meeting show up to the October meeting. Um so which suggests that certain topics can draw new participation. how residents receive information about town meeting. Um this is and in this
brief presentation full report we'll put online uh hopefully tomorrow. Um and um and so there'll be more more detailed people can see the the comments and so on. But how residents receive information about town meeting wanted to highlight this as well. um over 60% the
town website um followed by town emails um at 53 as you can see and third was word of mouth. >> I'm surprised how many people are talking about town meeting. >> I want to know what the other is. >> Yes, I was going to say we um in the
other we do have um a generalized breakdown um typically keeping in a pattern of threes. Um so the three big themes that were coming out in each question that we had and other in the category meeting experience um so under this one
um overall satisfaction with the October special town meeting was generally positive um only about less than 5% I think it was 4% reported dissatisfaction >> victory >> an important note here too um that came out particularly under we had an
open-ended like would you like to Um would you like to share additional thoughts something to that effect under um the questions under meeting experience? And I will say um the clicker voting technology is one of the most consistently praised improvements in the open-ended responses.
>> So that doesn't surprise me the slightest given the 2hour single vote that we've taken in the past when it wasn't a hand vote. >> Anyone that's been here long enough >> that's a game changer. >> Yep. >> And uh again those were the open-ended responses and they were just um have the
full uh number um on the report but again it was very consistent. So barriers to attendance. Um biggest barriers were family obligations and work conflicts. Um open-ended responses highlighted concerns about late meetings
and unpredictable German times. >> Um and um under the open-ended uh responses too um several residents specifically mentioned um family um children bedtime routines.
Okay. and early morning work schedules as reasons that they cannot attend evening meetings. All right, operational supports. Um, this one u also very interesting to to look at and I think it was like 3 weeks into the survey. I couldn't help myself.
I wanted to take a peek see how the numbers were coming in and um and these stay consistent but operational support 79% of response support continuing the childcare services and 77% support the shuttle transportation services I want
to hone in on that just a little bit um tonight um only 23% of the respondents so we had a section um at the very end the basic demographics right um so if you have children where they require child care And um 23% of respondents
said that they have children who would need child care. And yet we see here numbers that almost 80% over 75% of total respondents um support the child care and support shuttle transportation. So suggesting residents see it as a way
to support broader participation. Um so what's interesting is that the support for child care and transportation services extend beyond those who actually use it. >> And why wouldn't it be 100%. I I'd like to know what the next >> We don't want child care. We don't want
transportation. >> Tony, could we clarify the shuttle transportation services? Is that the shuttles from the um satellite parking lots or is that the pointto-point shuttle? >> So, that was from the satellite parking lots. >> That's Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And that's how um that's how we had it
um framed. >> That was sort of a leading question. >> I just had to double check. >> Yeah. um scheduling preferences and this is the last um slide for this again the details will be um posted tomorrow but um again scheduling preferences so
residents appear open to exploring different town meeting schedules but just just sit back for a second right most preferred option um earlier week night start times um we had 27% second most preferred option Saturday mornings at 20%
um we have the full breakdown and it to say that um there was not an overwhelming um threshold here when we look at question seven what day of the week and start time would work best for you to attend town meeting and um we did get a
few other responses but I just want to highlight so earlier time earlier weekn night time example 6 p.m. Like I said, 20 almost 27% there was 64 respondents um gave that u answer. Um 38 folks
responded keeping it at at seven. Um 17 responded um no preference and then we just continue to to break down from there. So um do take a look at that a little bit further um if you wish. 6
a.m. Boo >> Saturday. >> Um >> that that did not come out under the open-ended responses. Um but that um in a nutshell that that just brief broad overview. Um and like I said, the rest
of details we'll post tomorrow. >> Thank you so much. This was >> very helpful. >> Really helpful. Um I'd like to put on the agenda for next meeting uh whether we want to implement any of the changes that are discussed in the survey
>> um in May. >> The one I have my eye on is maybe try let's try an earlier start time. >> Yeah. Yeah. So >> Sure. Can I ask how much work was this survey for you to put together and uh coate the I'm I'm wondering if we should
be doing these surveys after every town meeting to say what could we do better how many people showed up at that >> worked for you and >> yeah so I'm just curious is is it a big burden or >> now that the first one's done >> now that the first one's done and and so
working with um with Nancy in in it um we actually use a module right in Civic Plus so we didn't go out and use Survey Monkey or or or whatnot. Um, this is a free module that we used. Um, pretty
impressed with the backend type of operation. So, it's if the desire is to do something like this again, I think we could deploy it um very easily. Um since now we're you know we're comfortable with um working with the features and
settings on there >> because it seems to be useful to do after on a >> right >> meeting that didn't have a big >> school vote or something else. >> Yeah, exactly. We could include a plug for at town meeting too. >> Absolutely. For folks
>> and if we changed the start time to 6:00, you know, were you happy with this or >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm thinking maybe one big change at a time >> so that we can better isolate what's working. >> The timeline's tricky because >> it is >> you can move it to six.
>> Now you've just lost a bunch of people that can't trying to get home from work. >> I wonder if you do some non-controversial articles at the beginning and then at 7 you start doing the ones that everyone wants to debate and then you tail off again so that maybe you can take some of that like
dead time between 11 and midnight and move it up front. I'm not I mean I there was one I think ear when I was first moved here that went till two. >> Wow. >> I wasn't involved then. >> Yeah, I remember that. >> We could move I mean start talking at
me. >> Sounds like a select brother was trying to wait people out. >> That last article was a doozy probably. >> All right. Uh thank you both. Town meeting survey results done. All right. Where are we now? >> Minutes.
>> Minutes. Any questions, concerns, corrections? >> No. >> I'll take a motion. >> Move that select board vote to approve the meeting minutes from the joint select board meeting with finance committee on February 4th, 2026 and the regular select board meeting on February
23rd, 2026. >> Second. >> Moved by Gary, seconded by Matthew. All those in favor? I. >> I'll make a motion that we adjourn. >> Second. >> I'm going to give it to Mark just for fun. Um, moved by Matthew, seconded by Mark. All those in favor? I.
>> Thanks everyone. Good night. >> Thanks for sticking with us.