Are we rolling? >> Josh, can you hear me? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Sorry. You You said you're all set. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Stand by in 5 4 3 2 1. >> Good evening. Good evening everyone.
Welcome to the November 3rd, 2025 meeting of the Long Meadow Select Board. I will announce us. Um this is Select Board Chair Josh Lavine. I will be confirming that all members and persons anticipated on the agenda are present and can hear me. Members, when I call
your name, please respond in the affirmative. Dan Burko >> here. >> Beneath Habathy >> here. >> Andrew Lamb >> here. >> Shelley Mayor Dwolf >> here. >> Staff, when I call your name, please respond in the affirmative. Lynn Simmons >> here. >> Peggy Sheldon >> here. >> This open meeting of the Long Meadow Select Board is convened in person and
via Zoom webinar as posted on the agenda and town's website identifying how the public may join. There's no chat or Q&A function. All of the materials for this meeting are available on the agenda posted on long meadowmma ma.gov. The public is encouraged to follow along using the posted agenda unless I note
otherwise. This meeting will feature resident comment. For residents attending the meeting in person, please raise your hand when we get to the comment section of the meeting and I will call on you to approach the microphone. For residents participating in the meeting via Z via Zoom webinar format, please use the raise hand icon
at the bottom of the screen. The meeting moderator will promote you to panelist unmute you and give you permission to speak. If you join the webinar by phone, dial star 9 to raise your hand and star six to mute unmute. Residents who wish to speak will identify their names and addresses only. Each individual is
afforded three minutes for comments. Please note that this meeting is being recorded and that some attendees are participating by video conference. Please remember to mute your phone or computer when you are not speaking. If anyone is in attendance is recording this meeting, please announce yourself now.
And seeing none, uh, we will move on to the pledge of >> allegiance. Pledge >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all. Okay, we have a fairly quick one tonight uh because we have town meeting tomorrow. I'll start off with the announcements. Fall special town meeting. Reminder, fall special town meeting will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, November 4th at 7 p.m. in the Long Meadow High School gymnasium. To view
the warrant and additional information, please visit long meadowmma.govtown meeting. Community preservation applications. Uh, the community preservation committee is seeking new grant applications for possible consideration at the 2026 annual town meeting. Applications should be received
no later than November 13, 2025. For additional information, please visit the community preservation committee page on long meadowmma.gov. Fall 2025 leaf program. Special Town of Long Meadow Leaf bags are on sale at long me. The leaf site on West Road is
open through Sunday, December 7th, seven days a week, 8 to 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Curbside collection of special town leaf bags will occur on Saturday, November 22nd and Saturday, December 6. Please ensure that bags are to the curb by 7:00 a.m. on days of collection. For
additional information, please visit long metalmma.gov program. Town of Long Meadow Municipal offices. Town offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 11th, 2025 in honor of Veterans Day. And uh next up, do any resident
comments? Anybody online? Peggy, >> hear me speak? >> I'm all set. I'm just listening. >> Okay. >> Okay. Uh interviews and appointments. Um first we have Do you have any confirmations this evening? So we have
to do on the agenda for the possibility but no none this evening. >> Do we have our director of public health? >> Yes. >> Um okay. So uh Lynn, would you like to >> Yes. Thank you. Uh yes. So I'm very pleased tonight to present um an
appointment of director of public health. Tonight uh in front of you is Ryan Paxton. uh he um has applied for the position and after a robust uh application and interview process. Um Ryan was the selected candidate. So Mr.
Paxton has um extensive experience as a public health director. He currently serves in the role uh with the town of Monagu. In that role um as uh both department of I'm sorry, director of public health and health agent conducting inspections, providing
education and code enforcement. Uh Mr. Paxton is responsible for the board of health operating budget, personnel and contract management and um all the responsibilities relating to carrying out the public health duties. In addition to working for the town of
Montigue, Ryan has also contracted with the Pioneer Valley Tobacco control tobacco coalition where he serves as a tobacco compliance officer conducting compliance checks, educational visits, and coordinates with the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program and local boards
of health. Before joining the town of Monagu, Ryan worked as a sanitarian too for the city of Holio Board of Health. Ryan serves as both um serves on both the Valley Health Regional Collaborative Steering Committee and the Western Massachusetts Public Health Association
Executive Committee. Uh Mr. Paxton holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Boston University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Massachusetts Ammerst. I'm pleased to present Ryan Paxton's appointment as the next director of public health to the
board tonight uh in accordance with the Long Meadow Charter Article 5-2B. And I do have Ryan Paxton here with you tonight uh to answer any questions or just to make an introduction to you. >> All right. Thank you, Lyn. I understand it was a very uh we slate of candidates
uh for this position. So, I appreciate your interest. I want you to introduce yourself. >> Hi. Yes. So, my name is Ryan Paxton and as Lynn mentioned, you know, I've worked in local public health for the last five years or so. Um, you know, following my graduation from first Boston University and then UMass, I started working immediately as a health agent in Hoyok,
uh, where I, you know, I worked for the first three or so years of my career. Um, it was a really great opportunity because they're a city that has, you know, a lot of code enforcement work and I was also during the pandemic. So I was able to get involved in some research projects and other really interesting things that you know were unfortunate that they occurred during that time but
I might not have otherwise had the opportunity to do. Um you know moving forward from that I then took a progressive role as a director for the town of Monu which is a a onehealth agent shop with some peripheral staff. Um, so you know, I've been responsible for the delivery of foundational public health services in that community for
the last several years and, you know, now I'm looking to move into a role where I'd have a larger scope of work and I think that, you know, Long Meadow represents a really good opportunity for that, especially given the Eastern Health District that you guys have, um, you know, with the other communities and I'm really excited about trying to contribute to the work that's been put
forth through the shared service arrangement. >> Thank you. >> Great. Uh, thank you very much. Um, so the, uh, TA Monagu, you're you've been 35 hours there. That's correct. What's your plan going forward here? >> Well, I know that it's a 40-hour
position. Um, and I know that that's, you know, probably the baseline for the level of service that's going to be needed. I'm imagining there's probably going to need to be more work than that at times. Um, but, you know, it's my my plan to be as available to that role as possible. >> Thank you. >> And will you are you continuing on as a
tobacco compliance officer? >> Um, I need to work out some of the logistics of that. I think it's pretty likely that I'll step away from that role in the near future. Um, just because that's, you know, contract work that takes up time outside of the regular workday. Um, but, uh, you know, it's something that I've done on the in addition to my full-time work over the
course of the last five years. >> Is that I've represented clients on the other end of some of those things. I assume you're not the one going in there >> and checking compliance. Is that like the tobacco things we see in town? Do you >> No, we do do those. So, we what we do is we work with youth officers. Um, I have
never worked in the town of Long Meadow. Um, I don't believe Long Meadow is a town that actually, no, it isn't our territory. Yes. So, that's one of the other inspectors. Um, I apologize. I only know my territory particularly well, but um, we essentially perform two youth compliance checks per year, which involve, you know, taking youth
compliance officers around. They attempt to purchase tobacco um, you know, without holding an ID on them or anything like that. That's a very regulated process and if you know vendors are found to be selling products to underage you know people are then you know fined by the local board of health and we kind of help coordinate some of
that enforcement and follow-up procedures. We also do educational visits in addition to those which are where I'm actually physically going into the store and you know working with the retailers directly to make sure that they understand the regulations and the requirements. We provide them signage and you know really try to assist them getting to compliance as easily as
possible. >> Great. We haven't had any of those come before us or that we've heard about. So, maybe there's been no violations, which is good. Um, any questions from the board beneath? >> Yeah, no questions. But, uh, just wanted to say that, you know, your resume was very impressive and very well spoken uh,
tonight. And I'm happy to see that we have such a qualified candidate and especially with in a role as important as this, to not have any disruption of service is really important. I'm glad that we were able to get this done. So, thank you, Lynn, for running this process and thank you, Ryan, for applying. >> Thank you. We should also take the
opportunity to thank Finn Mcool for uh his years of service. He uh understand he's moved on to other pastures. Maybe they're not greener, but uh he he did well for us and I hope he can continue on. Um Dan,
>> thanks. Um so when I was reading your impressive resume, by the way, when I was when I was going through it, um the educational visits, so are you doing anything within the the schools as well? And I just feel like there with the the rise the rising use of tobacco products,
vaping products, we hear that a lot with the school committee. >> Sure. >> Um is that something that that you might uh bring to Long Meadow as well? >> Yeah. What I can say is that you know in Monagu I've been pretty limited by being the only health agent. So I haven't had a lot of chance to do initiative work at all times. Sometimes you know we're kind of busy with just doing the things that
we're obligated to do in terms of the different regulations. Um, but what I can say is that I worked in, you know, the the care coalition as an intern many years ago and some of the work there was focused on youth education. Um, and really kind of honing in on some of that, you know, behavioral health data that we get both from the state and from
the federal government and kind of using that to drive outreach in the schools. And I think that, you know, there's probably a lot of good pathways for doing that type of work here, especially given that, you know, I think you guys have a pretty robust school system. hopefully some, you know, really good relationships already in terms of like school resource officers and things like
that. Um, so, you know, I think that's totally something that a health department would reasonably, you know, have the time and capacity to put work into. >> Excellent. Yeah. Thank you. >> Anything else? >> All right. Uh, thank you very much. We appreciate you coming in. Look forward
to working with you. Uh, Lyn, do you need a vote from us? >> Yes. >> All right. Is there a form that needs to take? No, you just move to um confirm the appointment. >> I I I will move to confirm the appointment of Ryan Paxton as the director of public health. >> Second.
>> Anything further? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> All right. Unanimous. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for stay. >> Thank you. >> Don't set precedent. >> All right. We have uh no interviews
tonight. Um, we have some a couple appointments to the historic district commission. >> I'll move to appoint Katherine Drestell and Sarah Grizzlack Fernandez to three-year terms expiring June 30th, 2028 to the Historic District Commission. >> Second.
>> Any further? Seeing none, all those in favor? Great. My agenda's been very slow. There we go. Um, moving on to select board comments. I hope Dan will correct me if I'm missing any. Um, but we had a very
successful uh couple weeks for Long Meadow uh high school sports. Um, the boys cross country team won the championship, so congratulations to them. And uh the I did not get to go and I'm very upset, but the girls and boys soccer team both won in penalty kick uh
overtime on the same night backto-back uh over Pope Francis and um over Northampton. very exciting win. So, congratulations to them on a great season. Good luck in the state tournaments. Uh Dan, did I miss you? >> I I was going to say I think the field hockey team, didn't they win Western Mass as well?
>> I I knew I was going to miss one. Um that that's fantastic. So, uh congratulations Long High School. Um I love to see those kind of things. Um >> yes, they did >> and yeah, they will. >> It's almost uh every annual event. Um,
and then I I just personally wanted to thank the uh police department for on Halloween we closed our Farmington and Ellington closed and uh which was very successful and I I know that was it was still very crowded and there was police officers on both streets for a bit um
just checking in make sure thing went smoothly. So uh thank you for that presence and uh for everyone in town who uh makes Long Meadow such a great place on Halloween. Uh it was it was a fantastic night. Um, anybody else? Oh, I guys really want to get out of
here. Um, all right. Uh, we have next up we have a Long Meadow Adult Center Community Funded one-day liquor license application. I think there's two on here. >> Yeah. Um, I will move to approve the
one-day liquor license applications submitted by the uh Long Meadow Adults Center Community Fund for November 6th, November 20th, and December 8th.
>> Second. >> All right. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? All right. Unanimous. Uh, next up we have a public hearing, but we are not at time yet. Where's a clock in here? >> There isn't one. We got >> 7:16.
>> Okay. And I don't have my watch on. >> 7:16. >> Okay. Um, uh, so we have next correspondence. Um, we have a a letter from uh, first up
from Mark Gold. Do we Lyn, are we discussing this at all tonight? Um, we can if you if you want. >> Uh, well, yeah, I don't see it. I don't think it's elsewhere on the agenda. Um, that Mark had a letter regarding >> it's very
Mark had a letter letter regarding article 4 at tomorrow's town meeting. Um, and Lynn, if you want to discuss that uh briefly uh the status of that article. >> Sure. Yes. Um, and so, uh, I did respond to that letter that's on your correspondence here that, um, doesn't
show up here tonight because the response was just made today. Um, but essentially, do you want me to go into >> Oh, no. The status of the article. What's happening? >> Sure. Uh, so yes, as I, uh, said at the last meeting where you closed the warrant, um, we were still communicating
between town council and department of revenue. Um due to scheduling issues, uh that meeting did not happen until this morning. So there was about eight of us participating. Uh and there is a uh pretty strong difference of opinion in interpretation of mass general law. Um
town council and our energy consultant along with myself feel one way when we read the statute and do feels a different way. Uh and the way that do feels um is counter to us being able to set up a revolving fund for this. So, in
terms of tomorrow's article, uh I would ask that you move to take no action and we are formally requesting a legal opinion from do town council's uh sending that letter off um hopefully this week. Uh and until we have a formal
written opinion back, I would ask that there be no action taken. >> And as I said to Lyn today, it's better that we find out now than than after. So, >> um thank you. Yeah, go ahead. Does it change the timing of like, you know, we I think you said we needed a place for
the money to go to receive it. >> Yeah. Uh so the cash out of the net metering agreement that that had been amended, those payments have been coming in since June. So those will just go in as uh general uh general fund revenue and that will continue that way until we
tell it to do something different. Uh in terms of the $886,000 payment from Eversource, uh I I have not committed to them yet that we would take that check yet. Um but we could take it and wait and see what happens with this
ruling from do and um decide what to do with it at the annual town meeting. >> Did you not feel it was a valuable thing to get it as soon as possible from them? Um, no. I I would like to, but whether they're holding it right now or we are,
they the difference is, I guess, interest on our end, but we can't spend it even when we receive it. >> Do you think that it would take until May to get this like potentially get this opinion that
would allow the creation of the revolving fund? >> No, I think we'll know within a few weeks. And uh I I will say just from what Lyn and I have discussed, there's there's more to it than just this too. So I I think if what I'm what you're getting at
is we should >> get this started. >> I have Yeah, I can imagine what I'm thinking. I'm just >> is it worth >> So there's a so many pros and cons and I think that none of us probably feel that this is like an earthshattering decision. Um there's, you know, but
if it means like not getting the funds that are due to us, getting interest on it for literally like seven months, is it worth really just waiting for this? I mean, I think that there's good reasons to do both decisions and I'm just trying to get an idea of like what the pros and
cons of just waiting rather than >> this just happened yesterday, right? >> So, I mean, we haven't had much about it. >> Yeah. Yeah. So I don't have to wait for the revolving fund >> to tell Eversource. No. >> And then we can start cleaner. But I don't have to I can tell Eversource to
send the check in. It will come in as general fund revenue >> and then you could move it >> at another at at that point it would be fall town meeting next year into a revolution. >> Well, I mean it it's not inconsequential to get interest like 4% interest on $800,000 for seven months. So it I don't
know. I I think we've all had just literally 24 hours or even less to think about this. But I think that that's >> that's an that's a consideration if I mean we last meeting we were literally all agreeing that it's let's get the money rather than like not >> get it. So >> and one other thing I I want to clarify
too um at that last meeting I spoke about the ongoing cash out payments from NEN the company that we have the net metering agreement with. the accounting report that I had received um showed me the balance and showed me the monthly um
receipts without taking out the agency fees that we have to send to NGen that were required to as part of our agreement. And so the the dollar amount I gave you that roughly $70,000 a month that was the all-in amount.
we have to pay nent out of that and so that was missing from the report that had been provided to me. So 85% of that this I don't want to get too complicated here but 50% of um the net metering agreement comes to us.
Out of that 50% 85% of it goes to NEN. So we are roughly keeping about $8,500 on average over these last five months a month. So it's it's not a $70,000 a month. Can you just for those I'm sorry if everyone else already knows this but
just >> what is why is there an 85% agency fee on our portion like what are they doing for us and does that not seem there must be a reason >> it's their asset it's their they maintain the solar it's their solar we are
um the offtaker of their solar >> I think this gets a bit to what Erica was asking us at the joint finance committee meeting and something it was probably eye opening to all of us why the hell are we $70,000 back a month, we must be paying
too much. And that's the reason it wasn't that this number makes much more sense, >> right? >> And that's when I said there's more to it. I think there's we have to think about this all >> well then this new information I mean I mean you know that like I I I can see
good reasons to do both ways but the fact that it's now only like 8,500 bucks that's going to be continuing to be in go going into the revolving fund to me makes us makes me think is it really worth having a revolving fund that has that little money going into it like
there's 808 $880,000 which we'll spend but I >> yeah so >> but it's per month I Yes. So it's it's still not a huge amount of money. >> Yeah. And out of all the revolving funds we have, it actually would be the most amount, >> right? But those are just for small like activities and
>> Right. But that's the only reason you can create a revolving fund. So >> I guess what I'm trying to say is it's not going to be so much money that it's going to be that is is it going to be that useful if it's that little amount of money going in there? >> Well, it does is >> it does start at a million or
>> Well, the$880 aside, of course, that's not going to be repeated. I agree with you which is another reason not to take >> a ravolving fund is like money in money out you know equally >> which is another reason why we not to uh take action tomorrow because I but I I I
do Lyn and I talked about this afternoon it probably makes sense to get the money now >> just to get that interest and then we can think about it later >> because it's unless if we don't have it it's not doing anything for us. >> That's definitely true. Um, and then the other piece of
correspondence I wanted to touch on was the October 21st letter from the town of Sele Bford select board. For anybody who goes around the uh Birkshars at all, you can see signs everywhere on the battery storage. Um, and this is talking about
commercial battery storage near the Cobble Mountain Reservoir watershed and the potential impact on Springfield Water. And um, I thought that this was a well done letter. And, uh, if we want to
also join in on this, I think that would could be a a good thing for our board to do and as water and sewer commissioners. Uh, so I want to gauge everyone's interest on that for a future agenda item. >> I think it's definitely worth hearing
more about and learning more about that. That's important for us to understand what impact that could possibly. >> Okay. Yeah. >> I know there was a big project in Westfield, too. I think uh right maybe over the past couple years or so. Um
this is a really big thing that we're going to see more and more of. Uh Long Meadow doesn't really have any land for it, but um because the future of power is if it's renewable and solar wind, you still need somewhere to store it, so it
works overnight. >> Um but whether where where it goes is uh obviously a big topic. So um L if we could add that for a future item for consideration. I'm just uh echoing what
this letter says. I think >> we still have a few minutes. Oh, go ahead. >> Yeah. Um, so I believe that Ann Slick is on TR and I think that she's on because she needs to interview for the historic district commission. >> Get confirmation from her. You want to >> Well, either way, I mean, we can either
interview her or or if not Okay. Or if not, we should let her know so that she doesn't stay. >> I told her to email. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um, why don't we go on to the one go just one one quick questions if we if we go back to Mark's uh email. I
just had one question, Lynn. Um, so Mark writes, "The concern I have and the reason for this letter is that the street light purchase and LED conversion was done for one reason and one reason only, to reduce the cost of that line
item in the town budget and allow for the control if not lowering uh of the long tax rate. So my question is uh since since this had occurred, it was back in 2020 with LED the transition
LEDs, >> h have we actually been using the funds to for that line item in the budget because I went through the budget and I don't I I didn't see us nor did I hear us talk about this in in previous budgets. >> Is that true? I I didn't
>> No, there has not been a um reduction in the street light electricity account as a result. Um and from what I I have looked into it, it it appears mainly because we've been
purchasing the net metering credits out of that account. So there's been no change in our net metering credit amount purchase, which is why we've amassed this large credit balance. Uh so we've been purchasing the same level of credits even though we're using less electricity.
>> Right. So we haven't actually been >> we haven't actually been paying down this line item in the budget that >> Right. Okay. >> Correct. And then that kind of just brought up the idea of
having a policy in place because I mean obviously Mark's he's not here tonight but he's he's writing a letter to us about what this was supposed to be used for which number one it wasn't. Number two if we had a policy in place that we
should work together on implementing I think moving forward. So we never had that in place. So, I think it's a good opportunity for us to to address that. >> Thank you. >> Well, I mean, I think I'd also say I went back and looked at the May 2019
town warrant and there's no no language in the article or even an explanation that says that the funds are intended to be used in a certain way. And so, I think six years later, we're taking a look at this. I think there's no obligation by the town to use the funds
in these way. and we should be able to choose and make a decision now on how we want to use these funds from everything that we've learned and where we sit now as a town. >> Okay. Um still have another minute. Why don't we look at the
October 6, 2025 meetings meeting minutes? >> I will move to approve the October 6, 2025 meeting minutes. >> Second. Uh, and I Peggy, I forgot to email you. I I just noticed on select board comments,
um, it says there was over 17 700 residents in attendance. I think it should be 700 or 1,700. >> 1700, >> I think. So, um, actually, it's probably more than that. I don't know. I'd have to go back and watch. I'm not sure what that Okay. But
>> I know there's a lot more at the election. Um, any further discussion? All those in favor? Thank you. All right, it's now 7:30, so let's uh go back to our public hearing
for the um poll petition for Verizon job number 187 VQ3W on William Street. We have anybody Oh, go ahead. Please come on up.
>> Don't skip the drive. >> Good evening. Uh Don Vono with Verizon. Um so this poll request is for uh first of all do you all have the plan? Okay. >> Um the poll request is to add a a
midspan pole in line between the two existing poles uh 43 and a half and 44. Uh poll I just went out to the site. I tried to take measurements. Unfortunately there's there's no stake there which is what I usually measure too. Uh I did measure the full span and
it is uh almost 210 feet. It's like 209. Um and it was very well mowed area. So my guess is the stake was mowed over which happens frequently. Um pole 44 has just been replaced. It's
much bigger, better, wider, stronger. And the purpose of this new pole is uh I believe it was requested from Eversource um that they're doing some upgrades in the area and they needed another pole because the other ones around them even
the new one um is not suitable uh for what they intend to put in place. So, um, they are requesting and because Verizon, this is, uh, Long Meadow is a poll set area for Verizon, uh, we have to be the ones to petition you folks to,
uh, put the poll in at their request. >> Uh, so I looked at the map of where this is going. Uh, is there trees there? Are there is any tree work required before this goes in? >> It didn't look it. It was dark, unfortunately, with daylight savings. Um
I I couldn't get a really good but I did walk it and there's a sidewalk um on the side away from the street. This is coming in. It's very wide that area. Uh and all the poles are just on uh the street side of the sidewalk, but
there's still a good 10 ft. I don't think there's going to be tree trimming necessary there. Uh and there's no trees where this pole is going for sure. Okay. >> Um and which um which of Bututters were noticed. We we don't have those attached
on ours. >> Uh everyone that you see um on the plan uh looks like 715 to 769 Williams and then everything on the northwest side as well, Bliss Court and Grassy Gutter Road.
>> And that's all town property. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, well, as far as these go, this is, uh, a lot easier for me to get my head around. Uh, anybody got any questions?
No. All right. Well, you got an easy one, I think. Um, okay. Uh, I think we just need a motion or if we want to approve this petition. >> Yeah. Um, and I think this is just kind of a basic poll petition application.
Nothing fancy here, right? >> No. >> Yeah. Um, okay. Um, I will move to approve the pole petition for Verizon job number 1 A7V Q3W on William Street. >> Second.
>> Anything further? All those in favor? All right. Thank you for driving out. We appreciate it. >> No worries. Thank you. >> All right. Um, moving on to the October 15, 2025 joint minutes with the planning board.
>> Um, I'll move to approve the October 15, 2025 uh, meeting minutes. Second. >> Okay. Uh, anything further? All those in favor? And I abstain
on the October 20th, 2025 minutes. >> I move to approve the October 20th, 2025 meeting minutes. Second. >> Anything further? All those in favor? >> Okay. And then uh last up under old
business, we have the mass works grant design at Bliss Williams and Redford. >> Yes. So yes, thanks. Uh so you had the presentation from Fussen O'Neal a couple meetings ago. Uh on October 29th, the
DPW uh held a public forum with Fuss and O'Neal again presenting and gathering public feedback. All in there was about 30 attendees. Um I know that um both Shelley and Andrew were able to make it to that. Uh and I think a lot of the questions or comments were kind of as
expected. Um, and I don't know that there was anything new that really came about that we were not anticipating or anything that changed um, you know, kind of a direction that Fuss and O'Neal was looking for design um, ideas on. So, we
have again tonight in front of you the same options from before and we're really just looking for um kind of affirmation on which uh design you want us to have fuss and O'Neal to continue on to get to 25% by the end of December
so that we can keep on this schedule to um line us up to apply for the construction round of funding in the spring. >> Does uh I thought the town was going to give us a recommendation. >> Yeah. Um I talked with DPW and just with prep for tow meeting and um some of the
other stuff that's going on. Uh I didn't get a chance to get a memo together and have them co-author it with me. Um but I did talk with them this afternoon and their preference is um the option that does it all in one project. They do not want to phase it. Um they are concerned
that it'll cost more and that it will less be less advantageous for um grant funding if we do that. Um they they agree with the um design that has changes to the signalized intersection, the roundabout and then the like mini um
I don't even want to call it a roundabout, but you know at the um Blind Court >> half half round. >> Thank you. Yeah, >> just do all three all those things. >> That is their preferred method. Um and there's quite a few reasons for that. Um, one of them, one of the
biggest ones being it's less costly to do all three together as opposed to as in pieces. Um, and you know, really it's a corridor and it all ties together and once you make a change in one, it's going to have an effect another place. And so the idea is you do it all
together because that's going to give us the best result. as as awful as it'll be for getting around town at least or getting through there, doing it all at once, that does make sense, I think, because otherwise we're just extending the time when it
would happen. And um can you refresh us on how we anticipate funding will work for the options? >> Yeah. So, our goal is to apply to the Mass Works construction uh grant application process. Uh if we are successful there, it can be up to $5
million in project funding. um or a portion of that. I think if I remember right, this project was 2 million I >> two to 4.3. I think it maxes at 4.3. >> Okay. So depending on what happens with that grant round, we'll we would either
get all of it or a portion of it. If it's a portion of it, we would need to have a conversation about where we come up with the other piece of funding. And if we don't get awarded anything, are we um how much are we on the hook for for
design? >> Design was covered through Mass Works. >> Oh, that's right. >> Y uh and if we do not get funding at all, we will then need to have a conversation about where this falls in the line of priorities with all the other road projects and what we would want to move forward with
if anything at that point. >> Go ahead. >> I have a few things I can share from the the meeting. One of the things I asked the engineers who has gotten many towns projects through Mass Works, I asked him um is there any advantage like if do is
there a greater chance of approval if you aim for like less if you like do a project that's 2 million versus 3 million versus 4 million. He really didn't think there was. He's just like they're going to go by the merits of it and how much money they have available. So, if we feel like this is worth doing,
um, and I agree, I think option two, which does all those things, um, there's benefits to all of it, um, is worth doing. There's there's no reason not to like pull our punches and and go for it. My personal opinion is that this project
does enhance safety, but if we were paying for it as our town with our I I don't think that this would be that close to the highest priorities of funding that we would have. So let's but if there if we're going to get the massworks grant then I think it's great
you know we should definitely do it. So I'm happy with the alternative too as you were saying. One other question though do you feel like or have you talked to DPW about whether this would incur a would spur us to do a lot more
underground like water sewer stuff that of course would fall to us >> because I don't know what the age of the things under there are. Has it been done like when shops were redone? Like do you have any idea? >> Um I in terms of the water sewer age,
no. I do know that there is storm water improvements that are needed there. They're needed now regardless. >> When you say no on that, you mean you you wouldn't feel like they don't you don't think they they'd have to be redone? >> Oh, I I don't know. Oh, you don't know? >> I don't know. Um I can follow back up with DPW on that. I
>> I know just up the road to the left of this picture, I'm looking at alternative too on Bliss, there's a couple manhole covers that look like they are being swallowed up by the ground. Is that what we don't What is that indication of? >> You mean below the grade?
>> Yeah. Oh, yeah. It's in the middle of the street, so it's people aren't running over it, but I assume it's nothing good. >> Yeah. No, generally. Uh it it could be a couple different things. Um but generally, it's when the catch basin itself is failing. >> Okay. Well, I'll tell you some failing
catch basins. >> Yeah. Yeah. There's a a long list. um of them and they've been >> are the catch basin on the in the middle thought the catch basins were on the side >> the well the sewer manhole like the I'm probably using the wrong terminology but the structure of it >> it's got a pipe
>> can fail okay um yeah so that's a great question I I do I'd be curious to what that'll do I don't think that should stop us and if there's work that needs to be done there that is >> and we can make a decision if we get approval right >> look at it and see if it's worth doing and
>> this is a pretty vital area for our town obviously. So, um, yeah, I was when I I missed, uh, the presentation from Fussen O'Neal, but I probably two years ago, I was driving, uh, past Big Y was, uh, to
my north, and I saw a car look the other way coming down and, uh, slam into somebody in the next lane over because they were, they probably had never been to town, didn't know which way to look, and uh, you just realize, oh, to us it's normal, but somebody else driving here
like it it's a crazy place and uh so I'm glad that we're taking a a good look at it and um I think that the I've heard some feedback from people on this and option two for those who have looked through them does seem to make the most
sense. I should add that what one of my prior concerns was traffic, like how much it would slow the traffic and I I felt that they we kind of pressed them on that and and they definitely felt that there was adequate um flow that
would accommodate even at our busiest times. So they shared like a traffic study where it was like a single lane. If we drove Bliss or Williams to a single lane could accommodate 1,600 cars and at max there's only 800 some cars and they felt that that was absolutely
plenty of accom including if the middle school you know is taken into account with extra people going over. So I I think that they acknowledge that yeah, there will be some slowing from queuing up for the rotary and things like that, but that's kind of the point to slow people down.
So I felt that the traffic um question was addressed adequately. >> Yeah. My my layman's guess would be that the the biggest backup on traffic is because of the uh Frank Smith, Red Fern, Williams, >> the left turn thing. >> Yeah. And I think that that is with that
being addressed, I think it will really help. The only place I ever really noticed uh now I switched my commute so now I'm 91 which is a different thing but um the only time I ever really noticed backup was going down Williams
and we're hopefully going to make that much much safer and better. >> Yeah, having been at the the session it was actually very helpful. It is recorded and so listening to it again even though being here for the first time I found it even more helpful. to
kind of I think they did a slightly different presentation which had a little more information in detail which was really helpful. I too agree that option two is is is what I would personally choose. I think from a safety perspective and a traffic flow it seems to help especially in that area. Um and
I think the residents who did attend had some really great questions which pulled out even more detail around the traffic around safety issues. Um pedestrian safety I think that's huge uh with the way that area is used. So, um I'm definitely in favor of option two, but I
would also encourage people to watch the the um the session because I do think it has a lot of helpful information. >> Go ahead. >> After the presentation that night, I said that option two was one that I was in support of. So, glad to hear that um
that you know that that seems to be the consensus now. And in terms of needing to replace the water manes, >> when we got that presentation, it was basically like I think our entire town was basically blinking red for from uh needing water man replacement. So I'd be
shocked if it didn't need a water mane replacement. And so if that is Yeah, if that is true uh you know, which is likely that >> the water manes do need to be replaced, I would be in favor of replacing that before doing um this. And I think for the same reasons that we replace the
water manes and move that project up uh for the L project because we don't want to take all the state money. We don't want to completely redo a critical part of our town and have water mans bursting underneath it and ruining all that work. So um you know if it does if this all comes to fruition I think you know I
would be I would be uh very much in favor of of replacing the water mans. that is the case then maybe that is something that we should be you know teeing up or have in the back of our minds that um DPW should be thinking about doing a design and engineering for that this area. I think it all depends
on the age of what's under there, right? Like if it's if we find out it's like, you know, absolutely overdue to be done. Absolutely. We should definitely do it before the roads, but I don't know if we know like maybe it's been replaced in like that 15 years, you know. So that's something we can probably find out very quickly and then if we get the approval,
absolutely we we should plan for that. But >> yeah, I mean I think when we got that presentation >> in the 20 years prior to that, so from none of them were that new >> 2003 to 2023, we had only replaced 8 miles of water manes in entire town. So
all these water 80 to 100 years old. Um so it would be surprising if it didn't need a replacement. U L I apologize if I I missed this uh just from watching the video while I was doing other things, but the the cove vest and the shops money that's set
aside if we get 100% grant, what happens to that the infrastructure money that that they >> if the grant covers all of the project, >> right? >> Um >> uh I don't have a solid answer for that right now. I would
>> it's a half million bucks, right? Um, so the there's money there right now from the shops expansion. There is no money from Kvest. >> Is that a site plan or did I dream that we're getting that money?
>> They stated that at town meeting the the >> verbal commitment but nothing else. >> Okay. And so if we got 100% funding that money could be it's not tied to that intersection. We could apply it somewhere else. Um, it needs to be used
in that proximity. >> That could help with some of the storm water. Those >> It could help with that. Definitely. Storm water, water, sewer. >> If we need to replace that, that could >> Good thinking, Shel. >> Yeah. >> And the fact that we have that funding
and that we have that economic development there that makes this eligible for Mass Works. Not so much the money part, but the economic development. Well, they they could pull the grant back a little bit because they know we have the money if theoretically if they find out.
>> Yeah. I I hope that's a problem we have to tackle. The the what happens if we they fully fund us. Yeah. >> Hopefully they're not listening right now. >> Yeah. And just uh actually I I was able to pull up the map and just looking at the map, the water manes in that area
were built between 1920 and 1960. >> Wow. >> Oh, it is red. Damn. >> Yeah. And so it's part of the 43% of our town that's has the oldest water. >> Well, that was an easy guess. >> Yeah, >> I was the only one that remembered.
>> Okay. Uh do we anybody any else? >> Just one thing. Um >> rather than repeat everyone agree on option two as well, but um if if we're ever to be excited about a like a road project in town, I think this is really exciting. It's right in the heart where we have the businesses. um and the new
project where the old church is. Um so I'm excited for it. Um especially with the safety concerns that Josh mentioned too, there's, you know, it's it's really scary at times. Um, but my question, Lynn, is, uh, rather than just kind of like throwing this grant, you know, over the
wall, is there something that that we can do as a town or, um, select board or town manager to to to stay on the state for these these grants to put us in a good position to to to win the money? Like, I just always worry that we're,
you know, we're applying and we're just kind of crossing our fingers. Is there anything that we can do >> um, for this Mass Works one? Nothing comes to mind other than obviously when we apply we will absolutely reach out to our state rep and our state senator. Oh yeah. >> Yeah. Um we will also again engage Kvest
and the shops um who supplied letters the last time. I will try again from Big Y. I did not receive a response the last time. I will also try with the Williams Place Mall um who didn't rep respond last time either. So maybe I'll reach out if you have any contacts there to
help uh nudge that. Um, but those support letters for from businesses in that area go a long way. >> Great. Thank you. >> That's good to know. We can definitely help with that to help maybe nudge some of those advocacy letters. >> Yeah, I can help with some of those,
too. >> Great. >> All right. >> So, did you need a vote from us on moving forward for December decisioning? >> Yep. >> All right, Shel, you're up. >> I make a motion. you guys are going to make. So I am going to make a motion that we uh how would I say that except
or move for option two to go into the next phase of planning? >> Yeah. >> Second. >> All right. Anything further on that? All those in favor? All right. Great. >> Thank you. >> Cross our fingers.
>> Yep. Moving on to new business quarterly investment report. >> Erica, >> good evening. Can you hear me? >> Yes. Hi, Erica. >> So, hi. Okay. So, I'm here tonight to submit my quarterly report on the stats of the
town's cash and investments for the period ending September 30th, 2025. Um, as per the investment policy, the town held no long-term investments that exceeded the 5-year limit. The individual bank balances were under the $20 million provision. All banks
received the highest safety rating appre insured or secured. Um and in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, I was able to work with some of our bank representatives to acquire some significantly higher um rate adjustments. Most noteworthy, People's Bank was able to give us 3.85 on our
student activity accounts, which is up point up from 30. So, it's a pretty big jump for us. >> Um, our school lunch account was also granted an increase um from 1.25% up to 3.73%.
Additionally, Eastern Bank granted us an interest rate increase of 4.35% up from 2%. We definitely expect to see some interest rate decreases with the future because of the Fed adjustments, but the treasuring assistant treasurer are closely monitoring interest rates and moving funds to the appropriate
accounts that will optimize investments with the best return. Um, I'm also happy to report that Eastern Bank has regained its green rating from Bear Bank. Uh, with the fluctuations of status over the last few quarters though, we're going to continue to close and monitor this relationship.
And in July, I completed a bank account a to the authorization on all accounts under the town's tax ID number. In this audit, an account was discovered at TD Bank for a field hockey booster club. Um, since I wrote this letter, I actually have reached out to the represent at the bank and they worked
with me and the individuals on this account to open a new account and close out the old one. So, that matter is um taken care of at this point. The OPAD pension reserve investment fund experienced a gain in quarterly interest. The quarter ended with a net increase of approximately 4 Sorry,
46,000 and the September 30th balance in the fund is approximately 9.5 million. Also noteworthy, during the last quarter, the town earned a total of $828,236.85 in interest. The treasur's office will
continue to seek the best possible interest rates and diversify funds appropriately to maximize investment potential while being in compliance with Massachusetts state laws and regulations. We will also continue to closely monitor all accounts to ensure the safety and security of all investments.
>> Great. Thank you for your hard work on keeping the interest rates up and keeping on top of everything. We appreciate it. Um, anybody else have anything for Erica? >> All right, done. 753. That's pretty good. >> I think it's record time.
>> Thank you. >> All right. Uh next up we have a letter opposing uh Eversource gas hike. Um and Lynn, we received this uh we were prompted to do this by resident. Correct.
>> Yes, we were. Um and there are um other state legislators, I state legislators out there uh also penning letters and and making more public awareness about these rate hikes and expressing their
displeasure with them. So, um I think doing this in advance of uh when they well I think November 1st is when it went into effect, but um um doing this in advance of uh you know the January, February weather when we start to really get a lot of those outcries because
people get bills when it's very cold and they have their heat on higher. Um, I think it makes sense and um, yeah, we we drafted a letter in response that uh, you could consider adopting and then we'd send off.
>> Um, I did I sent this to Andrew by uh, but there was I found an article that I see think was written by AI but there was some um, one rate was knocked down. the DP DPU rejected it and it was a smalish company
that but they um got rejected for not meeting customer service uh quotas that they maybe it had been set by DPU before but I was happy to see that it is possible that DPU may listen to
something um because this is you know we've seen the the rates go up astronomically the last few years and it really with outpacing inflation and it really puts a pinch on people uh in a tough time of year. So if anything we
can do I think on behalf of our residents I think is an important step it may not mean much just coming from us but if it's coming from a lot of towns and it sounds like it is I think it can be hopefully it can be pretty powerful. So anybody else want to speak on this?
Go ahead. >> Thank you. I'm I'm fully in support of this letter and one of the things that I remember from last year especially that really put into I guess really highlighted uh how massive these rate hikes were were some of the studies that were done that
showed that communities serviced by Eversource and National Grid were paying double uh in energy rates last winter as what uh towns that had their own gas and electric were paying. So, Holio, Westfield, South Hadley, their electric
rates last uh or or you know uh energy rates last winter were were less than half of you know uh of Eversource and National Grid communities. And you know, whatever we can do to whatever voice we can give, whatever we
can do to kind of get these uh make sure that these rate hikes aren't as high as Ever Source wanted to do them, you know, I'm I'm fully in support of >> agree as well. Um, this just reminds me of a conversation I had today with a friend of mine in town. Um, and we were
talking about just energy efficiency as well. So, just everyone should know that you can go to uh the government website, state government website for Massave and and take advantage of like a a home assessment and they can help you uh
determine, you know, where you need to maybe add insulation um at a reduced rate. um not everything's covered, but certainly when when when I had bought my house in in town, um that's one of the first things we did and you can do it multiple times um with the state. So,
highly recommend that. But it was just a thought as we were talking about uh you know, supporting this this uh letter. So, just wanted to bring that up as well. >> Okay, we have a motion to uh sign the letter. I make a motion with for the
select board to sign the letter um as discussed. >> Second. >> Anything further? All those in favor? >> Do we have that signed tonight? L >> uh we'll just put your electronic. Okay.
Uh and finally, we have a um a letter in support of uh House Bill 2432, an act to reduce incidents and death from p pancreatic cancer. Uh this was sent to us by a Massachusetts
resident who um has gotten this uh this bill in front of the state legislature uh to increase um everyone's probably known somebody who's had pancreatic cancer. It's one of the It's a really terrible cancer and um
this bill uh is making its way through legislature and um asked if we could throw our support behind it and I think it uh things like this can be important to show that uh there's a rallying cry in the state and there's certainly
people in Long Meadow who have been affected by this. So, uh, that's why I put it on the agenda and if anybody would like to move or discuss, please do. Um, I will move for the select board to adopt and sign the letter as attached on
the agenda regarding an act to reduce incidents and death from pancreatic cancer. >> Second. >> All right. Anything further? All those in favor? Okay. >> Um Josh, I I do have a town manager report. It I did not get it on the
agenda. Um but I will add it to the agenda later, but I do have one if you would like to hear it. >> Um it is very short. >> Everything was going so well. >> Come on. >> All right. Go ahead. >> One item is really important for um
providing notice on because of tomorrow's meeting, but two uh quick ones. Uh the parks and recck department has launched a survey uh to solicit feedback from residents to help plan for the 2026 pool season. Uh it's open to all residents, even those who did not
purchase a pool pass in 25. Um it's been we've already g uh gathered feedback from our passholders. So this is open to anybody. Uh and there it is linked here in my report and you can also find it on the parks and wreck page. Um and we've also held some recent public info
sessions. Uh we talked about one of them tonight which was the mass works one. There was also a flood plane bylaw update. Um and this relates to article 3 that's on tomorrow's town meeting warrant. Um we did see great turnout for both of those and um big kudos to Leah
and Dean for leading the flood flood plane one. I know they had quite a few residents from um the West and Dunro area come and ask a lot of really tough questions and get some good answers back. And uh hopefully this will will pass tomorrow night. Um but then the one that's a little bit more um
timesensitive because it relates to article five for tomorrow's um town meeting warrant is the mass school building authority did accept the center school window project into the accelerated repair program. >> Yeah. So this is huge. Um and tomorrow
night uh is the vote to authorize the funding for the feasibility and design study. That's one of the first deliverables and we would um get that done very quickly um and keep us moving through this process. So that's great. That's great. >> Thank you to everyone who worked on
that. >> Huge for the town. >> That report was worth it. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Oh, and uh when Lynn was talking about parks and rock, I went to the website to look for the survey, which I I could not find right very quickly, but the little voters's lounge is it is happening again
tomorrow night. I didn't realize that. Um, for anybody watching who did not know that, um, they're looks like they're going to watch a movie. So, um, that's that's great. I'm glad that they're doing that again. I appreciate that. Um, all right. >> I did have one question for Lynn. Just
you didn't talk about it, but I I was just thinking >> with with everything going on with with the federal government and um, like SNAP benefits that just it's, you know, it's all over the news and I was I mean, it's unfortunate. it this this is something
that hits all you know corners of the Commonwealth and and even right here in Long Meadow and you know it's you just start thinking what what can we do in Long Meadow or are we doing anything to to help um you know some of these families that are are
really struggling right here our neighbors in Long Meadow. >> Yeah. Uh one of the unique things about Long Meadow specifically is that we actually have a municipal municipal food pantry. So, I would encourage anybody that needs it to um reach out to the adult center and get information. It's
open to anybody. You don't have to be a senior. Um they serve over 70 families. So, that is a great um option for people. Uh and then those people that do have the means feel free to make a donation either of non-p perishable
items or monetary and they can stretch what um would be a dollar donation very far because of some of the contacts that they have. So, it's it's a great um resource for us. >> Lyn, is there a certain contact for that to just to see if someone wants to make
a donation um for non-p perishable items like what are they in need of or or from a monetary like >> Yep. Um you could reach out to the director, Jim Leen. Um there's also a um we have a food pantry coordinator, very
part-time one. Okay. >> Um and so she can also be a great resource as well, but I would start with the director. Okay. >> I was thinking one of the good thing one one something that we could do which it's probably too late now but if if everyone that showed up to town meeting brought a canned good with them to you
know as they're checking in we could we could have well there might not be too many people tomorrow but we could maybe have like 400 canned goods but uh it was just a thought I was thinking of earlier today but might be too late. But maybe I was going to give
Jim a call. So, um, Dan, maybe I'll mention if if there's a way for us to have a townwide, you know, kind of drive for that. Maybe there's a way to partner with him and and we can help advertise it or or communicate >> to do that. Yeah. Anything we can do. >> Yeah, they um do drive-thru ones quite a
bit. Um, I'm not sure. They were doing them about once a month and those had been pretty successful. Not sure if they've done one in the last two months, but um definitely were ripe for needing to do something again. >> And I saw someone actually shared a
really helpful list of things if you are going to donate items. And there's items that I had never thought of donating before, but when you think about it, you actually need all of these really vital um like non-p perishable items. So, we could probably also help with that, too, if if they are having a drive-thru or
great just to help spread the word with that. Thank you for bringing those up, those items up. All right. Uh, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor. Thank you.
>> All right. Record time.