Welcome to the December 15th, 2025 meeting of the Long Select Board. This is Select Board Vice Chair Venith Mavathy. I'll be chairing this meeting as our chair Josh Lavine is joining us via Zoom. I'll 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 Zworko >> here. >> Andrew Lamb >> here. >> Josh Lavine here. Okay. I don't know if we can uh hear you, so you may have to play around with that. Um staff, when I call your name, please respond in the affirmative. Lynn Simmons
>> 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 the materials for this meeting are available on the agenda posted on long meadow 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 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 in attendance is recording this meeting, please announce yourself now. Okay? And we'll begin with
the pledge of >> 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. >> All right. And we will move into select
board announcements. And there's just one announcement tonight. Uh town offices, uh the town of Long Meadow Municipal Offices will close at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24th, and will reopen on Friday, December 26th. Offices will also close at 2 p.m. on Wednesday,
December 31st, and will reopen on Friday, January 2nd. We wish everyone a happy holidays and a safe and healthy new year. And with that, we will move into resident comments. Is anyone here to uh anyone here uh to make a resident comment?
>> Okay, Mike, do we have anyone online? >> I do not see anyone what their answer is. >> Okay, great. All right, then we will move right into uh the the new agenda item that we've we've added. Kudos and plottits. And Lynn, did you want to talk
about this one? >> Um I'm happy to if you would like me to read it. Um let me just See if I can get it to open here. One second. Um I can just go off off script here. Um so
uh this is a great one. I'm very happy to give you a background on. So, um, when our offices vacated town hall, um, I, um, had been doing a tour of the building to just see what we had left behind and had gone into the old meeting
room on the first floor and noticed a beautiful bronze plaque hanging on the wall that said Fanny Stebins Refuge. And it went on to explain that it was a registered uh, natural landmark. And I thought it was very odd that that uh
plaque was inside of a building. And so um I had um actually gone to my um conversation with the town manager at the senior center or the adult center and ran into um Jim Dorsner from the
Fanny Stebins uh group, Friends of Fanny Stebins. And I talked to Jim after that conversation program and mentioned about this plaque and said, "Would there be any interest in placing this down at the wildlife refuge?" And so Jim went back
to his group and they said, "Absolutely. This sounds great." And um Jim worked with Dave Sean from uh Fish and Wildlife and I worked with the DPW to locate a uh stone that the plaque could be affixed to. and DPW placed it down there at the
trail head at the west um the west trail parking on Bernie road and um Jim coordinated with Dave to place the plaque on the stone and so there is a picture um in the kudos and plot it uh just showing it a fixed to the stone
sorry Mike um but just just a really great positive story about a bunch of people coming together and now we have the plaque uh placed in a public area where people can see it when they are visiting the trail head and understand what a significance this um natural
resource area is for the town. Um and I think Mike's going to bring it up for us. >> There you go. >> Great. Thank you, Lyn. And Jim, since you're here, do you want to share any remarks about it or anything like that? No, it was just a pleasure to to to know
that such a thing existed and we were just thrilled to to get it out there and we're always trying to get more uh attention and visitors and you know all that sort of thing. And uh I just wanted to add one other thing. I've already mentioned this to Lynn and to Sean as well and I have to thank Sean. He did a
great job on everything and uh and that is we need to get a uh a wooden guard rail in front of that like there is around the rest of the uh the parking area because we've already had one incident early on where some person ran their truck into it and knocked it over.
Um but it's now in concrete. So that's but we do need to get that in. And I just want to say that the friends of Fanny Stevens are happy to pay for that guardrail. And I've told Sean that and Lynn that. And so just when that happens, we're happy to pay for it and and do our bid. And there you go.
>> My pleasure. Our pleasure. >> Great. Thanks so much. Yeah. And thank you for all your work on it. Yeah. Really appreciate it. >> Um and then I will I just have a couple of kudos. Plaudits myself. Um the first is just I want to thank Mike and some of the other town staff involved in the new
town website. It launched earlier this month and it's I think a major improvement. it's much easier to navigate and some of the things that I think folks are looking to when they go to the town website are much easier to find and they're highlighted in a much better way and it just looks like a modern update. So, thank you Mike and everyone else involved. And there's also
some very cool drone images and videos um on the website as well um of the town. And then I just want to thank the Long Fire Department again for doing the Santa run yesterday. It's always such a hit in town. Um everyone loves it. So, thank you to the Long Fire Department. I also want to thank our first responders,
uh, the police and fire department for, you know, for the folks that had to work over Thanksgiving and then the folks that will have to work, um, over the holiday season coming up. Um, you know, it obviously means so much to our community that they're willing to do that and spend time away from their families to make sure that our community is safe. So, I want to thank them in
advance for that. Um, anyone else? Anything? I think we should thank uh Lynn and um Lena and V Toro for and all the volunteers who helped uh put on a great veterans holiday uh lunchon on Sunday as well. That was a great event. Very well attended and it's great to
honor those those veterans in our town. >> All right. And if there's nothing else, we will then move into interviews and appointments. So, we have got a few interviews to conduct tonight. And we will start with uh Elliot Greenberg interviewing for the board of health.
Thank you for coming back >> after the miscommunication last meeting. And uh you're seeking reappoint to the board of health. And Mr. Greenberg, if you could just kind of share why you're seeking reappoint and kind of what your experience has been on the board of health. >> Well, first of all, it's not actually
reappoint at the moment. I'm a non- voting member of the board of health and there is an opening to be a voting member. So I'm applying for that uh position. Um I've been a resident in Long Meadow since 1991.
Um and a physician. I recently retired in September. Still getting used to that. Um, but I've been active in the community, um, both as a member of the community, um, and, um, also in in
healthc care. Uh, and I've enjoyed being on the board of health, even as a non- voting member for the last few years, and would really like to continue on as a voting member. Happy to answer any questions you might have. >> Great. Thank you, and congratulations on your retirement. >> Thank you.
>> Anything from the board? >> All right. Well, thank you so much for joining us and we will be voting on your appointment at our next meeting. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next, we have Elizabeth Marinelli uh seeking a an appointment to the cultural council.
>> Thank you for joining us. And if you could kind of just start with your name, address, and why you're seeking appointment to the cultural council. Um, I'm seeking the appointment because I attended many events over the years that have been sponsored by the cultural
council and I was approached by a friend recently who I worked with on the library board several years ago. I was on the library board for about 15 years and it sounded like a uh really nice way that I could get more active in town
events and contribute. >> Great. Thank you so much. and any questions from the board. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. And yeah, we'll be voting on your appointment at our next meeting. Thank you for joining us uh and for applying. Um and then we've got Caitlyn
Howard uh seeking appointment to the Historic District Commission. >> I believe Caitlyn was one of the ones who wasn't able to confirm with Peggy, so I think we could post >> skip. Okay. All right. We'll come back to Caitlyn. Um and then we've got Daniel Aldrich, uh seeking appointment to the
zoning board of appeals. Do you want to listen? Uh >> uh no no I think we've got your materials. U put anything in the um application online because I wasn't sure exactly what you wanted. So >> Okay. >> Give me one after this. >> I'll give it to before you just so you know a little bit about me.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Um and then Miss Aldrich if you could just start with your name, address, and why you're seeking appointment. >> Daniel Aldrich 175 Pleasant View A. I've lived in Long Meadow for 11 years. I've spent nearly 25 years working in the real estate industry. I currently am an
investor and manager of commercial real estate and I feel like my experience is probably a good um a good compliment for the needs of the zoning board of appeals and I would love to be able to serve the community and give back and I recently have more available free time. I'm not
traveling as much as I used to for for work and so would love the opportunity to uh be more engaged. >> Great. Yeah. Thank you for wanting to get involved. Yeah. Um any questions from the board? Great. Oh yeah. Uh Josh.
>> Oh Josh, I I think we still can hear you. >> See, >> try again. Josh, >> can you hear me now? >> Yep. >> Great. Um so the the ZVA is one of our more specialized boards. Uh or at least
it comes into my orbit quite a bit. Uh, have you looked at any of the recent uh, have you attended any meetings or looked at the agendas to see what kind of work the ZBA does? >> Yeah, I did read all of the minutes that were or the agendas that were posted on the website. So, I did see the type of
appeal request you're receiving. Um, I have not attended any of those meetings in person. So, no, but I did familiarize myself with the sort of requests you're receiving and have to um, make determinations on. Yeah. Thank >> Thank you. Y >> thank you. Anything else?
Okay, great. Yeah, thank you so much for joining us. If you want to pass along your resume, Mike and then we'll vote on your appointment or next. Thank you. Yeah, thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um and then moving right along to select board comments. Do we have any select board comments tonight?
>> Oh, Josh, I guess we got to figure out what goes into kudos and pull out audits and what goes uh in here. Um but I on uh last week I attended a event at the library uh legislator's breakfast um which was a
a really well done and well very well attended. I was very surprised um I guess I shouldn't be surprised by anything the library puts on, but the uh the amount of people that were there from different organizations from all over the state and uh our legislator
contingent from Western Mass. And the point of the event was to um encourage the state to up their funding or at least keep it even for libraries. Um and uh which is a an easy thing for the
state if if things get tough to maybe try to put the squeeze on, but they're very important to the towns. Uh we know how important stores library is to our town. Uh I spoke briefly uh and mentioned that but it was there was uh
many people who spoke uh very well about the importance of libraries and um like our building needs some physical love. Uh but there are lots of programs that can use the funding. Uh so it was a great event um and uh it was something
that I I think I was very proud that we had. >> Great. Thank you. Um, anything else from the board? Okay, great. Um, now we will move into the applications portion of the agenda and we will begin with Poor Things
Coffee and their uh town property permit request or actually the mobile food vendor on town property permit request. Um, Mike, is is there some, you know, anything we need to kind of highlight or summarize about this? I know that they're they're this request is in
alignment with some of our new with our new policy that we just passed and I'm asking for um some of the tables and like small beastro uh the small beastro table and >> permission to yeah permission to sell merchandise. Uh but anything else to kind of highlight? >> No, I mean in lie of having they uh
thank you to poor things. I believe we have someone online. I'll move them in just in case there's any questions. But um yeah, they saw the policy right away. they were able to ask questions just to clarify some of the policies um content and everything that's in their request falls in line with the new policy. So um
I would recommend approval with the contingencies as they noted in their request. Uh the beastro table, the sign on days that they're have um their operations running as well as the non-food novelty items. Great. >> Um and I think yeah I think Pete is
online in case we have any questions for him. Uh, any questions for Peter? Any comments from the select board? >> They they did make a a a point to talk about the sign, too, unless you already said that. >> Yep. The sign request is in there, which is addressed in the policy. As long as
that's as part of the request, it um and it's taken down after the event, it it's fine. >> Yeah. I mean, yeah. Like like Mike said, thank you to Poor Things for being on top of it. >> Yeah. I would say I'm sorry. >> Oh, no, no, no. I was going to say poor like poor thing poor things from day
one. They've been um you know on top of everything with the like submitting the requests and I think they've been a great asset to the community. So I mean I I personally have no problem with this. I think it's it's great that they're um just going about things the right way. Um
I'll entertain a motion to permit request trying to see where Um, I'll I'll make a motion to accept the poor things coffee request for the mobile mobile food vendor on town town
property. >> Second. >> Okay. And um should we just amend that to include some of the contingencies that they've asked for? >> I would just say pursuant to the request letter. Okay. Pursuant to the uh request letter. Second.
>> All right. Any further discussion? Then since we've got Josh online, we'll do roll call vote. >> Mr. Levine? >> Yes. >> Mr. Sorco? >> Yes. >> Mr. Hamathy? >> Yes. >> Mr. Lamb? >> Yes. >> And then we've got a one day liquor
license application from St. Mary's. Oh, you you're looking for us. >> Oh, sorry. No, no, no, no, no. Just like No. Just any motions or anything on this one? Hopefully folks have had a chance. >> I'll move we approve a one day liquor license for St. Mary's on >> Sorry.
>> January 24th, 2026. >> Second. >> Okay. Any further discussion? >> All right. Mike. >> Uh, Mr. Lavine. >> Yes. >> Mr. Zero. Yes. >> Mr. Hamathy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lamb. >> Yes. >> Okay, great. And then next we've got a
request from Fletchers to expand um the time on New Year's Day for uh liquor sales. This is something that they asked for last year and we approved last year. Didn't have any problems with it and um and they're coming back and asking for
it again this year. um is just to provide a New Year's Day brunch and to just begin the starting time earlier in the day at 9:00 a.m. Um I think what usually it's 11 >> usually around 11 or 12 for some businesses. >> Okay. So just uh to to begin a few hours
early. Um I I think I see Bill online if if folks have any questions or anything. Um but any comments, questions from the board? This is kind of now, you know, second year thing we've done this. I'll I'll make a motion. I'll make a
motion to uh approve the uh request for temporary extension of hours to serve alcohol on New Year's for the New Year's Day brunch at Fletchers uh Fletcher Barbecue and Steakhouse at 408 Long Meadow Street on
January 1st. On Thursday, January 1st, uh starting at 9:00 a.m. >> Any further discussion? All right, Mike. >> Mr. Lavine. >> Yes. >> Mr. Zero. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hopy? >> Yes. >> Mr. Lamb? >> Yes.
>> All right. Uh, next is a junk and secondhand article dealers license. Um, do we have someone here to speak to that? >> They were invited. I do not see them on the agenda. So, this came forward as correspondence at the last meeting. Something we were going back and forth with the applicant on for a couple
months now. town council confirmed based on the request for their DBA application that um that this falls into this bylaw category. It's actually the first one in our time that we've ever received. And as far back as I could research, haven't found anything actually. So um in
pursuant to this bylaw, if you're collecting uh materials and you're reselling them on Facebook Marketplace or at um other flea markets and things like that, you will need to have a permit from the select board. That's about all that we have in official procedures. There's no application, there's no fee. It's just on record as
their DV DBA application. Um they need to have this filed permit with the board. Um it's unclear to me right now is if it needs to come back on an annual basis, but um the bylaw's pretty specific to what it's looking for and what they sent us is exactly um all the
information they really need to provide at this time. The DB application has been processed. They've just been waiting to kick off until they got the official um license approval by the select board. My understanding is that they're not making any sales out of their property, out of their house, storing materials and reselling them
either online or at uh flea markets with an emphasis on selling them at flea markets. Um their DBA is light and legacy. And um I also asked Josh asked me to ask town council if this is something we can delegate to to a internal department. Um and it would it
would need a b um a charter change in order to yeah bylaw change in order to facilitate that. So based on the nature of us not receiving these requests too often I'm not sure it's >> worth doing that but I guess we can have that discussion at a later time.
>> Great. Yeah. Thank you Mike. And yeah I think the important thing to highlight here is that this is not a storefront. These are folks that are just basically collecting items from flea markets, antique stores and then selling them online. And I know that in the bylaws, the bylaws really have a lot of
different language and focus on the sellers needing some sort of sign or emblem or something like that to show that they are licensed by the town. Of course, this is a little bit different because they're not a storefront, but I do wonder if there is something that, you know, we can issue to them. Just um
>> uh I would recommend that you when you make the motion, I'm assuming you're going to make a motion to approve it, that you make it contingent on no um storefront type sales. And um that you set a time limit, not a time limit, I'm sorry, a um expiration date on it
because generally licenses and permits are not good forever. So, you know, whether it's an annual basis or buy in or every three years or something like that, um that's what I would recommend. But then, um we would then issue a license with those contingencies on
there. >> Okay. Yeah, that sounds perfect. Yeah, I think I think probably makes sense at this point to maybe just do a year long license until maybe we've had some more time to dig into this and see what the regular practices, but maybe to have it expire at the end of 2026 might make sense. >> Yeah, >> this is actually something that the
applicant also drew to our attention. So, they came in to fill out their DBA application. It got flagged by the building inspector as well as the town clerk. Um, she said that in her research, she found this bylaw and wondered if it applied. I checked with town council and said in this specific case it would apply. So,
>> Oh, good. >> Yeah, that's great. Um, okay. Anything else uh from the select board? Any comments, questions, motions? Well, I will uh I'll entertain a motion to approve the DBA application um
submitted by Light and Legacy uh pursuant uh you know contingent on um the applicant not opening up a storefront
and having the license expire um on December 31st, 2026. Second. >> Can you just amend that motion to say junk and secondhand article dealers license rather than DBA? They already have their DBA. >> Okay. So amended. >> Yep. >> Second. >> So moved.
>> Okay. Perfect. Um and any further discussion? >> Mike. >> Mr. Levine. >> Yes. >> Mr. Surka. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hav. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lamb. >> Yes. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. Uh so we've concluded the applications portion of
the agenda and now we're moving into presentations. get speakers and we do have uh one presentation tonight and that is our FY2025 audit presentation. So, if we can get our audit folks up to some microphones. All right.
Thank you all so much for joining us. If we could just start with some introductions and then um kind of just hand it over to you all to make the presentation. >> Sure. Hi everyone. I'm Matt Shon. I'm the current chair of the audit committee. I'm >> Tanya Campbell. I'm partner at CBiz in
charge of the town's audit. >> Uh hi Ian Codington, finance director for the town. >> Needs no introduction. Uh thank you all so much for joining us. So yeah, I'll kick it over to you to make the presentation. >> Sure. Um as you mentioned, I'm here tonight to to discuss the results of the
town's fiscal year 2025 audit. And I'm pleased to note that we are back on track in terms of timing this year. Um you know we it feels like we met just yesterday, but um earlier this spring we presented the results of the 2024 audit which unfortunately was um delayed due
to kind of circumstances out of the town's control um waiting on the Hampton County Retirement System audit. But everything's good now. We're back on track. Should have the act for filed by the deadline of December 31st. So which
is great. Um last me week I met with the audit committee as well as the finance director and discussed the results of the fiscal year 2025 audit as well as um the annual comprehensive financial report. Um we also discussed during the
meeting the roles and responsibilities of the different parties uh uh you know during the audit process which is what I'm going to touch on briefly. Um to start things off, um as your independent auditors, we are ultimately responsible
for expressing an opinion on the town's financial statements. In fiscal year 2025, we issued an unqualified opinion on the financial statements, meaning that based on the results of our testing, we found that the town was in compliance with generally accepted
accounting principles. We're also responsible for planning and performing our audit to provide reasonable assurance, not absolute assurance that the financial statements are free of material misstatement. Um, just like to remind you that an audit is
not designed to look at every single transaction, every single balance. We don't test every number. Um, that's not what audit is designed to do. We would never leave town hall if we were if that was the case. Um
in terms of your responsibility uh in the audit process, you're responsible for oversight over the entire process itself, which is why we have this meeting every year to discuss the results. You know, you have the chance to ask questions. Um we do have some
communications kind of at the beginning of the audit as well as as during the audit with the board. Um, and I just want to make you aware that if we did find um, a material issue or something that was concerning to us during the audit, we would not kind of wait till
this point to spring it on you. So, um, it would be brought to your attention prior to this meeting. So, rest assured, there's nothing um, concerning or any issues that came up in our audit testing that you need to be made aware of.
Does anyone have any questions? All right. So, I wasn't going to flip through the 140 page document itself, but just kind of touch on some of the key numbers. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. I mean, it we, you know, I got all the time in the world. Um,
>> just such >> That's a word for it. >> Yeah, I know, right? Um, so, you know, some terms of some of the highlights, um, at the end of fiscal year 2025, the town had about $8.3 million in your general stabilization fund.
um that balance decreased slightly from the prior year because the town did use some money in fiscal year 2025, but at the overall the balance represents about 10% of the town's annual operating budget, which is a very healthy balance. Um and
I know the town has made concerted efforts over the years to put money into that stabilization fund and build those reserves up over time. So that is something um that is good that is a good thing.
In fiscal year 2025, the town had certified free cash of about $3.8 million. Um that represents about 4.6% of your annual operating budget. And the Mass Department of Revenue recommends
anywhere between kind of the three and 5% range. Um, so that number also is a very healthy number. Um, I know the town does use, you know, free cash on an annual basis for non-recurring items, which is, you know, the kind of things
that free cash should be used for. Um, so the fact that that number remains constant or consistent year-over-year and actually did increase um over the prior year means that the town's doing a good job in terms of budgeting revenues and expenditures conservatively and like
turning back money into the free cash balance every year, which is important as well. So >> frame that that should frame that statement. Oh >> yeah. Um if you actually if you look at the um the beginning of the annual
comprehensive financial report there is a history of that in there and you can kind of see what the balance has been over the years and it has increased over the years as well which is good. Um, in terms of some of the key liabilities that we like to touch on a
little bit every year, um, the town has reported a net pension liability, which is the town share of the Hampton County Retirement Systems unfunded liability. At the end of fiscal year 25, that liability was about $47 million.
It did decrease. Actually, two years in a row, it has decreased, which is good news. Um I'm not going to predict ne future years but um it it decreased about $1.8 million from the prior year. Um and the main reason for
that decrease is the retirement system itself had um positive market value results in their calendar year 2024 which is what is reported in the town's fiscal year 2025 audit. So for the past two years the market has um has gone up
and as a result your overall portion of the liability has gone down because the overall liability went down which is good news. Um at the end of 2025 the system itself was about 58%
funded. So it's up a little bit from the prior year. Last year it was 55%. So it is trending up which is good. The other big liability on the financial statements is your net OPED liability or your other post-employment benefits. So,
your town um retirey health insurance costs. That liability at the end of the year was about $20 million and it didn't really change much during the year. Um which is okay. you know, there was um
unlike the retirement system, which you are required to fund on an annual basis, um you're not required to fund the OPED liability, but the town has established an OPED trust fund. Um and continues to
put money into that fund every year. Um, in fiscal year 2025, the town contributed about $300,000 to the trust fund, but the trust also, because the balance has been growing year-over-year and the market has done well, saw about $800,000
increase in investment returns. Um, so overall, that trust fund balance is continuing to grow and exponentially year-over-year as the town continues to put money into that, which is great. Um at the end of 2025 the
opb liability was about 31% funded. So um up from 28% in the prior in the prior year which is um which is great. So um and higher than what we've seen kind of across the board in terms of other towns that we've audited. So um so that is
good. That's all I really had for numbers. I don't know if anyone has any specific questions when they look through the report. Um, as I mentioned, there was no findings or internal control issues. Um, we typically also talk about the single
audits or your federal grant audits um at this time, but because there was a delay in the release of the compliance supplement from um the federal government, uh we haven't completed them at this time, but we will be auditing um school lunch and special education. So,
um, we will forward those along when those get completed, but that'll be a later date. Those are due by March 31st, so we'll have them done in plenty of time. So, >> great. Thank you so much. >> You're welcome. >> Um, any questions from the board?
Um, if not, anything for Ian or Matt to add? >> Yeah, I'll just discuss briefly what the audit committee did for this fiscal year audit, uh, and give you an understanding of our role in the process as well. So we meet throughout the audit process to oversee um and ensure that the communication and financial statements
that are coming from the town and the town's employees are getting to the auditor in a timely fashion and then any problems that are identified get to the select board if necessary. Obviously we haven't spoken to you because we didn't have any serious problems but ultimately that is what we all want. So that's a good result. Um we met halfway through
the implementation of the audit to verify that it was progressing on pace and it was and then of course at the end of the audit process we have a meeting as we did last week to review this document in depth that you've been presented here today and ensure that it covers all the basis and provides the understanding of why we have the
unqualified opinion that we do and of course that unqualified opinion is the desired result. There are no major concerns that have been identified which cross the material threshold. That would be flagged by the auditor. And the quick and dirty version of that means as far as we can tell based on the the the
basis of how that audit is conducted is that the books have been kept in an honest fashion. And that is of course the goal of the audit to ensure that that's what we found that our statements are accurate to the extent we can tell on the limited basis of what you can accomplish with it in an audit. So but that's a good result. Um, as we do every
year, uh, we make an effort to take an opportunity where we invite the town staff who have been helpful and present throughout that audit process to still take a leave of absence so that we have a chance to speak with the auditor directly, just the members of the committee and the members of the auditor
staff to have a conversation without talent staff present to give the best opportunity for a moment of cander just in case there was any issue getting stuff out of staff. uh in terms of getting the financial data necessary or statements or information and the depth of information required and unsurprisingly this year there were no
concerns were identified but we do make that effort um because we want to ensure that every chance there has been to identify a problem given and so we did that this year and unsurprisingly found no problems but nevertheless we did take that step and thankfully they identified no concerns um and the net result of all
of that is at our meeting last week on the 10th uh we had a we reviewed the acter and then had a motion to unanimously recommend uh the AF as presented to the select board for adoption. So this is this is why we're here and that's the report I have to give. The only other things I would do in terms of identifying concerns for the
future and what we're looking forward to ahead of time is it's when you have good results with the market and they improve the things like the retirement fund. That's great. And it's important that we fund the liabilities that we have outgoing. But in terms of long-term trends, there's good reason to believe that health
insurance costs will get worse. I know you've had recent briefings for me and about that and other select board meetings and frankly that's something we're paying to attention to as well. So to the extent the town can advance in funding unfunded liabilities like like OPED into the future, it's good to maintain that process and we would recommend that town continues to pursue
that as a as a policy. Um the only other thing I would say is we've had a good run and we've had some helpful recommendations in terms of adding staff to the audit committee which makes it much easier for us to operate. So thank you for any recommendations you have. If you know anyone else with an accounting background, I'm always recruiting. So,
please invite anyone who might have an interest. It isn't the perhaps the most exciting of committees, but it is an important committee and we would ask everyone to come on board. I can't have you guys. You have other issues already. You're doing other jobs. >> I'm just saying it's exciting to be part of the
>> I know it's couch. She loves it. Anyway, my point being if you know anyone, please encourage them to apply. But that's everything I have from the audit committee. Thank you very much, >> Ricky. Thank you. Thank you. Um, anything from the select board? >> No, I I just I just want to say um Matt, you you've done a great job um ever
since I've been on the board. Every time you know you show up and you uh you do an extensive report and you do a great job and um I am happy to say I think there have been some more people that have applied uh recently. Great. Uh for the for your committee. So um >> excellent.
>> I appreciate all that you do. Thank you. >> Send them. Thank you very much. Great. All right. Thank you all so much for your presentation. Really appreciate it. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Have a good night. >> All right. Moving into uh correspondence. Any comments from
anything that we have in correspondence? >> Um I just I wanted to point out one piece if I could. Um there is a letter that you'll see in there from Springfield Water and Sewer Commission. Um the letter uh unfortunately was on my desk. Uh so it did get to you late. Um it it's not actually asking there's no
timeline on a a due date for anything. I just um when you notice it, you'll see that it's been I think since November. So that's my uh my apologies there for it getting buried on my desk. >> Great. Thanks, L. Uh Josh, you have
something? >> Uh yeah, just note the bottle shop license letter that we will be getting to later, but I don't think this letter is included down there. So, just wanted to make sure it was on our to our attention. >> Okay, great. Thank you. All right, if
there's nothing else from correspondence, we'll move into the town manager report. >> Thank you. Um, so I have a brief one for you tonight. Uh, just an update on our WOW committee, which is the wellness of workers committee. This is the internal employee committee for training and team
building. Um, they've launched a winter decorating contest for town offices. So, I would encourage people to stop by our municipal offices here um both at Greenwood Center and um I know DPW is also participating uh to just see the creative and fun ways the departments have decorated their front door and
lobby space for the winter season. Uh the planning board has issued a decision on the uh Covest site and design application. This was on December 3rd. Uh and they have approved it with some contingencies. Uh the planning board has 90 days to file that decision with the
town clerk's office. Once the decision um is um is available, uh it can be picked up by the developer after the 20-day appeal period has been exhausted. And then on December 20th, we held a staff training. Uh several offices took
part and this was for customer service. Uh the title was exceptional service, strategies for maintaining composure and delivering exceptional customer service. It was an interactive training that provided takeaways on strategies for effective communication for staff to put
into practice um as soon as they went back into their office. That concludes my report. I'm happy to answer any questions you have. >> Great. Anything from the select board for Lyn? >> Oh, and I I'm sorry. I did want to add um I took a phone call after our last
meeting from a resident who was calling uh regarding the um assessor's office holding the public information session on the personnel exemptions. And unfortunately, I did not get that person's name or phone number, but they did uh tell me that they watch all of
our meetings and was asking me some questions um related to whether that uh presentation would be televised. And I did learn that it will not be televised. But uh for those people that cannot make it to please contact the assessor directly and she's happy to set up phone
calls or one-on-one meetings with people to explain those personal property exemptions. >> Great. Thank you. Um anything from the select board? >> Great. Thank you, Lynn. And then moving into old business, we've got uh December
1st, 2025 meeting minutes. Um, and I'll entertain a motion to approve the December 1st, 2025 select board meeting minutes. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Any further discussion? >> Okay. Mike.
>> Mr. Levine. >> Yes. >> Mr. Looked like Josh was going to sneeze or cough. I don't know. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hmopathy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lamb. >> Yes. >> All right. Great. Okay. Uh, and then next we've got the bottle shop. uh
liquor license. Um so Jim, I think I see you here. If you could move up to a microphone. Um and do you like either Lynn, Mike, Josh, do one of you all want to kind of >> lead you in?
>> Yeah, >> sure. >> Yeah, I I can Josh unless you want it. >> No, go ahead, Mike. >> Okay. Um, so there's a draft memo on the um agenda today um proposed as a letter to send off to Mr. Thomas uh after the
meeting if the board chooses to do so. Um in accordance with MGL1 13816A uh renewal applications for annual licenses must be signed and submitted to the local licensing authority uh in the month of November. Um the LLA, which is the select board in this case, uh did
not receive a 2026 renewal application during the month of November. Um since the renewal application doesn't meet conditions stated in the statute, it should be treated as a new application per pursuant to MGL. Um if that's the case and the board chooses to do so, then obviously an a new application
process would open up um in the future. Um we've been made aware that Mr. Thomas has been uh working on um potentially having either a lease or a purchase and sale agreement with um or a transfer application through the APCC. Um and Josh, do you have anything you want to
add to that to open it up? Uh, no. I I think that really sums it up. Um, and I just to clarify, Mike, we we have not seen anything in the office, correct? >> In terms of a um >> application, lease, anything?
>> No. No. Correct. >> Okay. >> Thank you. And, uh, Mr. Thomas, you're here. Um, I know that there was a letter that was attached to our correspondence that you had sent via email and um, yeah, if and and I'm not sure um, if you want to introduce yourself as well.
>> Sure. Elizabeth Zuckerman, I'm the bottle shop's attorney that's been dealing with the litigation related to the lease. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. Um, and thank you for joining us. Um, so Mr. Thomas, I'll kind of turn it over to you to kind
of speak to what's going on, what's uh, you know, kind of what happened with missing the renewal application in November. As I stated in my letter, I screwed up and I'll admit it all day long. I was by default, I didn't think
that my L because I don't really have a license. So, I didn't think I needed to fill out the application. It was a pocket license. and I saw Mike's emails and I assumed they were just generic emails to all licenses in town and I
assumed it wasn't for me. Um, and that's why I didn't fill it out. As for the status of the lease, it is signed. I don't have a copy of it. Uh, but I wouldn't have a copy of it. It's with between the buyer and the and the
landlord. uh and he is in the process of the application. I I think I said in the letter that he was hoping to have it in by the 11th. There's some questions that he has that he needs from my old license number and there's a couple other things
that are on the license that I as I as I you know that lost in the fire and I haven't seen a license in five years. Uh so I can't answer those questions. Uh but he is ready to go. he is signed up and ready to go. Uh, as I said, the
lease is ready to is ready to be signed, I believe. If it's not signed, I don't know the details on that lease. Uh, I know they were hashing it out for a considerable period of time at
no easy uh task with the puns. >> Okay. Uh, thank you. Um and so in this memo that we've all that you know that's attached to our agenda, it cites the statute saying that this renewal must take place in the month of November. Do
we have any latitude here as the licensing authority here to say even though an application wasn't submitted in November that we can make an exception or is that kind of you know hard and fast rule? >> It's never happened before. So, it's
kind of it's a unique predicament to be in because um in in the past if somebody has intended not to renew, they just haven't renewed because either their business is closing or they're moving on to a different venture. So, we haven't ever been in this predicament before. So, I can't speak from like a historic
point of view of what our local licensing authority has done in the past, but I just know what's stated in MGL and that's what I have to go off of. That's what I'm trained to go off of. So, um, Josh, I don't know if you have anything to add to that, but that's pretty much how I would summarize where
I got to where >> Yeah, I I I think we if we did have leeway and under the per the statute, we don't. And um but if we did, what I what I would be worried about and I am
worried about if we didn't we've already done an incredible amount of bending over backwards to help out the bottle shop. And at this point, it's now been referred to as a pocket license, which you cannot have in
Massachusetts. It you have to use your license. It can't just sit and be held. And this is what we've been talking about for years. And I'm a little flabbergasted that it it went this way because we have really
begged for communication and did not get it. And if we So back to the original point, if we had flexibility, I I think it's it's passed. We we have
been flexible at this point. If we did one more shot after having a meeting in December where we said we didn't get an application and if we now said all right well one more try I think we'll get there will be an appeal to the ABCC
uh by another interested party and I don't see a way around that because we it's been very public. We haven't done anything under the table. everyone has been able to see what we've been doing and has heard us say, "You
need to continue following the rules and we'll give you one more chance." And the fact that Mr. Thomas got three communications on this and didn't do it, uh, is very I'm just, like I said, I'm
flabbergasted. So, I don't I don't really see a way around this. Um, and I I I think we have to just continue on. So, I guess one thing that I'm I have a question about is at our la the last time we talked about this, we extended
the bottle shop's liquor license to a date in December, right? So, does that not mean that it's still active right now? Because we select we >> for this calendar year, but under MGL,
not for the next calendar year. Okay. And then how long did we say that this was >> extended to? Did we say until like December 31st or >> I believe so. I can check. >> I have it in my calendar as this meeting. >> We either we either said to the end of
the year or through tomorrow because we knew we were going to have this meeting tonight. >> Yeah. Actually wasn't at that meeting. Let me just check minutes. Okay. Um the the MGL does say if the application does not meet the conditions here, it shall be treated as an application for a new
license and all procedures set forth under section 15A shall be applicable there too. So it does go on to say what happens if you don't renew in November. >> Okay. So yeah, I mean so so I guess then it's
it's immaterial whether his license is active right like today right because past that we we wouldn't even have the authority to extend it past that without him doing the renewal application November right
>> yeah in my reading of MGL yeah >> so why did we make the extension to December if we couldn't do we just not know that >> no no that that's a note So the November renewal period of November 1st and November 30th is standard throughout Massachusetts. That's like a known
>> um month for renewing license application. So you wouldn't even never even you wouldn't have have to ever put that in your motion to begin with. That's just something that is standard in like our license practices. >> So So no matter what, if we if we had wanted to
agree today to issue the license, the renewal, we do not have the authority to do that. Well, >> I think what Josh is saying is that if that were to be the case, it could be open to appeals.
>> In my read, I'm not an attorney. In my reading of the law, I don't see where it says with the exception of the select board. Right. Okay. >> That as well. >> Don't see that. Um, >> yeah. >> What's the Yeah, >> we we've seen other interested
applicants come to these meetings and sit in the back. And I don't know, and this is not something I've had to I don't know if we have to defend a decision to the ABCC. Uh that's not something I would want us
to have to take on. Um because when I'm representing a client that's buying or selling a license, make sure to tell the seller if it's towards the end of the year, you got to renew your license because they just go away. And the reason that happens it it goes
through the end of the year but in December I we have we have already sent in all of our renewal uh packages right Mike? >> Um they are due at the end of the month but we have not sent them completely in yet now. >> Okay. So we we send them in the ABCC
spends all of December reviewing them. So they're back and then they're back in effect in January. And that's that's why the system's set up the way it is. >> Yeah, that that's helpful. Um
background, Josh. Thank you. Um what about an but an appeals process? Like what is that? What is that like? Is that Mr. Thomas or some other party that's interested? Would it would appeal that? I mean, what what what kind of shape does that put or
situation does that put the town in if if if we were to proceed? I mean, I'm on the side of leniency with the bottle shop to just to be completely transparent. So, I'm just trying to understand if if we went that route for the
renewal, what does that put us put the town in from liability perspective? Number one. Um, so that that's my question or concern. Yeah, you know, I I wish I uh we talked to Jay about this uh attorney and I wish
I I didn't ask that question exactly. Um but he did, if I recall correctly, he said yes, an interested party could appeal if we were lenient. And I but I don't know what that entails for us. Uh there is an appeals process on
application denials to the ABCC in Boston. And I I don't know if we have to be involved in that. And I wouldn't want us to I wouldn't want us to be obviously,
but u you know I I could say that maybe we would be either way if we uh don't accept a renewal now, which we still haven't seen. Um so I don't even know if there's anything for us to accept to be quite
honest. Uh could so if we were not lenient, could that be appealed to ABC? Uh yeah, probably. Um would it go anywhere? That I don't know. Again, I haven't been in that position. Uh and if we were lenient and said, "Okay, we'll
give you one more shot." Uh could, and I'm saying based on who I saw at a meeting, could the provisions folks go to the AB ABCC and say, "Long didn't have jurisdiction to do this." Yeah, I think they could uh do I and again I
don't know the next the answer to the next question. What happens then? Uh and we've been put into a very difficult position after like I said being incredibly lenient and and kind I think and under and understanding because from the very beginning we said that this is
not Mr. Thomas's fault. It's a terrible situation but it's gotten worse um because of a lack of uh participation and communication. Can I ask you a quick question? Forgive my ignorance just for my own understanding. Basically, what I'm hearing is that the
law says we missed a deadline in November. So now he would the bottle shop would have to just apply for a new license. And the issue is that anyone like provisions or any other per company should be able to apply for a new
license. And so the issue is going outside like trying to circumn this puts the town at risk. And what is the what is the problem with the bottle shop just trying to apply for a new license? Like why wouldn't they just do that?
>> Well, they can't because they have to have a location lease somewhere. So they could not. So basically what is happen to sell his liquor license >> to another party and so he would be out that money that he could sell license
for. But it is true that the deadline has passed and so we're questioning whether it's even possible to go around it or circumnavigator or show lenency. >> Yeah.
>> And when we don't we don't have a renewal license. And this has been my frustration with this whole process. Mr. Thomas could have picked up the phone and called Mike and said, "What do I do?" And he didn't. Now we don't have the application. I don't even think there's anything they have done. We
don't even have the lease in hand and that's a transfer application which we don't have. I I want to I've said go back and watch all the tapes. I really have use my knowledge of this process
to try to protect the town but try to be very kind to Mr. Thomas. And I don't know what we can really do now because we there's nothing in front of us. We have a letter. That's it. >> Yeah. Is there an application? Have you filled out an application, Mr. Thomas?
>> I a new application. >> I think you're referring to a renewal for renewal. >> So to to Mr. Thomas' point from before, he did come into the office I think on December either 7th or 8th or 9th. The Monday. Yeah. The Monday after. um and he was inquiring over the renewal form
and at that point I I advised him not to fill it out at that time because it was past the deadline and we needed to meet before going forward. So that's kind of where we were at. So I think it was December 8th or December 9th. He did come into the office seeking to fill out the renewal application. But at that point the deadline already passed. So I
was left in a predicament where I really didn't know what to do because I've never been in that situation. >> Okay. Okay. Where's the lease supposedly for? >> I'm sorry, Josh. The Where is the lease for uh the plaza? I'm not sure which number.
I'm not sure which unit number. The actual address. >> I think there's only one left. >> No, I don't know. I believe there's three spaces. I don't know if they're all waste or not. It may be helpful to know for context that Mr. Thomas was working on this
lease since at least would you say March, April? >> Yeah. >> And there was a period of time where the landlords were out of the country and not available. Um and I was being told they could not be contacted by phone or email. Um so that slowed the the process
of negotiating the lease significantly. And I know my buyer has pulled his hair out. >> He'll he'll submit and it'll be two weeks, three weeks. >> It's taken the better part of this year to get that negotiated >> to get that negotiation.
>> Is the buyer the four seasons gentleman? >> Uh it is his family I believe. Well, I mean, I I don't know what options are available to us right now. Um, and I know Josh, I know you I think
you talked to town council and everything and, you know, I'm not sure what we can do here besides, you know, what's been on the agenda and what we've just discussed right now. town town council told me that there
there can be flexibility and I I've seen know other towns will be flexible uh but that's if oh I I forgot uh or and it's there's no there's nobody else circling around. I I
think we're in a bad position because there are uh other people circling around that want this and it's uh we've really we've done so
much and we're we're now put in this position and I I think that that's really really unfortunate. Okay. >> I would just say that this is um >> this is not a and and Josh probably said
this in 10 other times, but this is not a normal situation. I mean, if if if someone were to look at this and if Josh, you had said council said we had flexibility. Um, I mean, we had a building burned down, you know, and and
I I know that was probably a a bad uh scenario in terms of forgetting the renewal. Um, but I do feel like we're we're at the finish line. We have some flexibility. There's a building in town that burnt down and it was someone's business. Um,
I'm just more on the side with try and and Mr. Thomas has been in business for years in Long Meadow and and a good business partner to the community. I just think that personally I want to be show some more flexibility um as we kind of round things out here
and um even though I do think there could have been better communication and some other um aspects to this whole process that could have maybe gone a little bit better. But I also understand um the situation in terms of who you've been working with and and maybe it's
been difficult and you've expressed that and um I just want to show more flexibility at the 11th hour if we can do so. So that's my opinion >> and and I agree with uh with uh Dan. I mean, I think not only the fire in the
building, but then also the unique circumstances I think that exist in our town where there's really only one location to open up a liquor store. And so then we had, I think, a landlord that was really kind of exerting more power or influence in this situation than is
typical. And that made this much more difficult um for all parties involved. Um I guess if we are if we do show more flexibility I I guess my question is you know what would that look like or what would we require um in that circumst if
we you know if we went that route >> we have to have a special meeting to accept a renewal >> um I think that it's important to make the distinction between the renewal process and an application to transfer
The renewal process has been the way it's been for decades. They are due in November. The business has renewed every single November except for this one. So, if the renewal had come in when it was supposed to, this wouldn't even be at
your desk right now. So, I'm cautious about what the MGL says. Um knowing as Josh has pointed out as well, um I don't know where we go if you guys decide that um you will entertain a
renewal outside of November. So it is possible that another party will take offense at that and we will be it will be would they file some appeal or sue us
and essentially that will lead to legal fees where we're defending our decisions. >> Yes, it could. And then it also undermines future renewals. If lences miss deadlines in the future, then there's precedent. >> That November date has been held as um
set in stone by every single um local license authority across the Commonwealth because otherwise you have a incredibly unwieldy process. So I would just I'm very cautious about about that. But I just wanted you to >> So if we make an exception, it could be
basically brought up again by somebody else in the future if the town did this is what the concern is. >> I I'm less worried about that than and that is a possibility, but I I don't think we'd be setting a precedent by
being flexible. I'm I'm worried about the ramifications to the town. It's we don't have a lot of money to throw around at things that we did not cause. But, you know, I I I understand the
desire to be flexible, but this has been and there was renewals every year. And if we if the first thing that comes to our desk is a 15A application, I don't think it's fair. So that's a new um application for a new license.
I don't think it's fair to just take it as is and not open up the process. Um like Agalong re uh red redid their numbers recently and realized they had four unused beer and wine licenses. So they just they set a 30-we window uh
interested folks could apply. I think if we and that's why I'd said in the letter we'll announce the future the time period. I think that would be the fair way to do it. So we just have to be careful if this is however what the consensus of the board
is. We have to be careful about what we're saying we're doing here. Um because I like I said there is no renewal in front of us. And I I I don't know what to do about that. I it's un it's unfortunate that Mike um there was some confusion a week ago about whether
it could still come in. Um but it it was already late by then. >> It should have already been in. Mike had sent three letters saying get your application in. I'm I I appreciate everything that everyone said. For myself, I I just
wouldn't want to do anything that would um encumber the town with some sort of liability in the future when when it's I mean, it sounds like tonight there's nothing to there's no action to take, but I I think that as as accommodating as we want to try to be, I would not be
in favor of something that could put us into a situation with future liability that we're not sure of. That's just my opinion. If we want to wait, I know the year is uh we're
running out of days in the year. Um but we could set a brief meeting after talking more to town council because to me it sounds like at best right now we have a a split board. And so it might be worth waiting a
little bit and trying to gather some Yeah, I mean that makes sense to me. I mean I I don't really feel like I am in a position to make a take a vote one way or the other on on anything. I uh like I
said like I empathize with Mr. Thomas on this situation, but I you know based on what everyone's saying about what the MGL says, I don't know what kind of flex I don't know what that flexibility looks like. I don't know what we would even have the authority to do.
>> What would why would we not just consider it let let's say we considered talked to count town council tried to find other ways to get around things. >> Why wouldn't we just do it in the first meeting in January? >> Like why would we have to have a special meeting? What? It's past November. It doesn't really matter.
>> It doesn't. I'm checking now. >> It's sometime the end of >> it expires. This license expires December 31st either by by hook or by crook that by statute or by >> so just because it no longer it can no longer be a renewal because the the date
has passed. >> Correct. I see. >> That would be my interpretation. So if if you want to I don't think we could do anything tonight except say
that's it. Um if we want if if the board wants more time to consider and to talk to town council, find out what could happen. Uh, I think we need to have another meeting to and need a
renewal in front of us. There's literally nothing to vote on right now because there's no there's no application into the town. >> Yeah. >> And so, it's possible town council could advise us, oh, you can totally do this. No big deal. There's no risk. Or it
could say your risks, your fears of risk are totally valid and I wouldn't do this. So that that would be helpful valid. >> I know I know what county council is going to say. >> What >> uh town council is going to say there is flexibility but and the the question is
what's the but are we going to get sued or go to ABCC and ABC makes a decision which won't cost us a bunch of money? I I don't know the answer to that and I think that's what we need to know. Yeah. And I think I'd also want to know
what that flexibility looks like. Like what does that, you know, exactly mean? Does that mean we as the licensing authority can extend the time for renewal or, you know, I don't know what what that would mean. So I think when when I guess I guess when they're saying
flexibility, I don't really understand what we have flexibility with. >> I I think the flexibility is November. you make it Novemberish or you you give it a little bit extra time in December and that's that's what we'd be doing but I don't think it extends
beyond that the permit the license we cannot unilaterally extend the license I think Mike if you could uh remind me LA in 2024 during the renewal period we didn't
renew the license for the full year we renewed it for three or six months or something. >> Yeah, it was April, June, September, and then September through the end of the year. >> So, there's been four renewals this year. >> So, those we could do. Um, but now it's
not just us doing renewal. It has to go to ABC. >> I also I'm sorry to to interject. I think it is possible just from my memory that we renewed it to the tomorrow, not till December 31st. So if it expires, if that's correct,
then you'd have to act by tomorrow, which >> because we can we can extend it through the end of the year. >> I see. Right now >> the minutes the minutes do say December 31st. I'm not >> That's the only record I'm going off right now. So
>> Okay. >> All right. So I I think I I don't know if there's anything we could do tonight. So, I think Josh, what you proposed probably sounds the best. If we can talk to town council, maybe get better idea here and then if we need to, we can have
uh a special meeting or if it's possible for us to talk about this at our January meeting, we can do that. Then, >> for clarity, Mr. Thomas will in the meantime submit the renewal application. Is that agreeable?
Um, so I guess my hesitation with that is what date is it being submitted for? So I think um we maybe should talk to town council first and find out if it should be dated November 30th or if it
should be dated December 16th. Um, but you guys, you know, >> this is all uncharted territory. I just interject if and I think that you should have the latitude to if if town council tells you something that makes it very unwise for the town to act. I think you
should tell us or tell Mr. tell them basically not to you know pursue it. If it if it makes sense fine but if it's if we find out that this is unwise then I don't think we should pursue it
from the town's perspective. Okay. And then it'll be up to Josh if he wants to call a special meeting as the chair. Okay. All right. Okay. All right. So, um, in
terms of submitting a new renewal application, I guess just wait to hear from us after we've talked to after we've talked to town council and we'll let you know after we uh learn more. Okay. Would you like to see my buyer's
application and lease? >> So, I'm gonna, if you don't mind, the processes are entirely separate. Okay. So, >> I just wasn't sure. >> The other thing that is at least somewhat concerning is that the app the new applicant has made no contact with
the office. And generally, it's it's very odd for a seller to be the one doing all of the conversation with the town. It's usually the buyer that comes forward and kind of starts that process. So I I don't believe last week >> today was the first day that someone
came in because they the the person came in to pay their application fee because I guess it's somebody whose family is looking to purchase this license. So today was the first contact I made about 3:00 today that I have any inclination of who it was, you know. >> Okay. So, just for the sake of not um
confusing this issue, I don't think we want to see anything yet, but I don't want to speak for you guys. You're the license authority. Um I think you would want to deal with whether or not you can renew this and then deal with who it can transfer to.
>> You can't transfer an expired license. So, yeah, I absolutely agree. I mean, we need it doesn't the transfer application does not matter right now. Yeah. Okay. >> All right. So, uh you'll hear more from us.
>> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh next, uh we have a our follow-up on the parks and recck presentation regarding the aquatic program. Um the are you here to talk about that? No.
>> Yep. Yep. Um yep. So, uh, this was, um, added as a followup from the overview that the park and rec director gave a couple meetings ago. Um, and this is specific to the questions that you all had, uh, related to pool operation um, and capital costs. So, on the agenda,
you will see um, four documents. One was uploaded later today. Um, one is related to actual calendar year operating costs that are um, part of a budget or the revolving fund. The other two are um uh
forward-looking capital and uh the second the third one is um past capital projects. And then the document that was uploaded uh today relates to um the pool passes and the daily admission just so
you had all the stats. >> Okay, great. Thank you. um after kind of having this is was there anything that you wanted to you know highlight or anything or draw our attention to? >> Um well we you know we we have three
pools um and two of them run almost identical. The third pool, the high school, you'll see there's very little data for other than some capital costs because that's doesn't really run the same as our outdoor um aquatic pool uh
program. Uh and so it was hard to really throw the stats in there for that. Plus, most of that comes out of the school department operating budget. Um and so that's why you see so many blanks there. Um, but for Greenwood and Reynolds Pool,
they're very, very similar. Um, and then the document that I uploaded late this afternoon, um, the only thing I would call out in that one is the numbers are somewhat skewed on it because you all know we've been doing so much capital work at
Reynolds Pool that when we're comparing the stats for the number of days open, it really it reflects that it's been closed a lot because of those capital improvements. So, it's been it's hard to, you know, break it down or provide a
a cost per user. Um, it the number is artificially high because it's been closed more than it's been open. >> Great. Thank you. Um, anything from the select board on this? >> I thought I mean I I thought to be honest I I really appreciated these
numbers. But when I when I we started getting interested in in this, you know, I I Dan and I and Lynn went to the pool and I and I we thought it was like not very well attended. And I talked to a lifeguard who freely admitted that at
Reynolds most of the time, a lot of times there were no swimmers, even possibly an entire day, the entire day would go with no swimmers. And most of the time there were more lifeguards than swimmers. there, I think, seven lifeguards at all
times. And so these numbers, you know, Barry had shared with me this average of only 12 swimmers a day at Reynolds and, you know, it's open nine hours a day a lot of days. So, it's literally like 1.3 swimmers per hour and only six swimmers
per hour at Greenwood. And then this I was a little surprised and was wondering if you guys could comment on why Greenwood for the past four years also had a very low census of swimmers. It's 55 this year which isn't which is well
below like the maximum capacity I'm sure. But why why do you think there was only 16 12 uh per day at Greenwood when it was the only pool open in the past? Was there something going on those years that changed this last year? And I'll say we excluded camp and swim lessons
from these statistics. So including them would be well over a hundred a day. But I think it's a combination of a lot of things. Um probably pricing the increase in backyard pool applications >> more in more building pools in town.
>> We've seen that. We started inquiring and tracking that probably right around co and it went up incrementally. So the qu the the numbers this year are 55 and 12 at Greenwood and Reynolds per day swimmers that doesn't include uh camps
>> correct or swim lesson at pool >> and then camps are they using each pool like what can you tell us a little bit about the camps like are they primarily at which location? >> They're primarily at Greenwood. Um the they're for day camps. So there's about 120 campers per day. They each have one
swim lesson and two free swims a day. So that's usually 9:00 a.m. through noon and then 12 to 1:00 p.m. is in service and senior swim and then the public Monday through Friday 1:00 to 8 and then on the weekends 11 to 7.
>> So there's no camp at Bliss Park where they just go to Reynolds Pool. >> Correct. >> I mean I think we should all spend some time reviewing this. Um and and I'm sure we can make I mean I think another reason that to really think about this
is this budget we're facing this year is pretty difficult, right? We're looking for a million dollars to balance the budget. And I think you know when you look at just the principle of marginalism, you know, what are the marginal costs versus the marginal
benefits? Uh the marginal cost of operating two pools in the summer, we know what that is. is $148,000 a year. We're talking about adding another $700,000 over the next few years. Um, and the marginal benefit is low
because we already have an excellent pool. Greenwood that's can accommodate many like much more capacity than it's currently got at 55 a day at six only six an hour. So, I think we should I'm really glad we're looking at this. I
mean, I think if we're looking for kind of the lowhanging fruit that gains us the most amount of savings and impacts the fewest residents, basically, it really makes you wonder why we're running two pools for so few swimmers.
And I I do think I do I do understand that there's kind of like a lot of people I think who recall from when they were young that um it was the pools were much more utilized. But I think the data that you've shown us, like I I didn't
see these past years and and the numbers that were so low before, I I I just worry I just don't want the nostalgia for the past to kind of dictate our decision-m in the present when the data shows a decline in the number of actual
pool users. So, but thank you for bringing this all this data to us. Yeah, Dan. >> Yeah, I think um to me this is it's a quality of life issue in in our town and Andrew, I've heard you talk about the playgrounds in the past and you know,
maybe we should we should close this playground down and and shift other kids to come to play at this playground. And sounds like that's the same thing you want to do about the pools. And who's marginalized? are the are the the kids
that can't go to a country club that don't have a pool in their backyard. Those are the when I look at who's marginalized, those are the families that are having trouble being able to afford things. And this is a a great way for families and kids to grow up in a
community and and use um public access pools that we put tax dollars towards. >> Yeah, I appreciate that. >> So that's I appreciate that. I'm also not finished yet. >> So to me, this is a a quality of life issue. This isn't about uh what might
cost a little bit more to to run things. We know things cost money. And I think we had a presentation recently on on this several times. And one of the things we talked about is the investments that we're going to make
into these into these pools to to make them more attractive. So, I think it's very shortsighted for us to just look at immediate ways and just potentially close one pool down. Maybe we'll close another pool down because guess what? Once we do that, that's never coming back. So, I'm going to be on the side
for the marginalized uh kids and elderly residents that don't have access to be able to swim in a pool and go to camp and swim in a pool. Those are the people that I'm going to be advocating for and and figure out ways that we can work together as a board and work with
the parks and wreck to drive attendance. But to come out of the gate just suggesting that we're going to start closing pools or figuring out ways how to save money while not thinking about kids that don't have the ability to jump
in a pool in their backyard or go to a friend's house who who has a pool or join a country club like some other people in town. So that that's what I'm concerned about. >> I I appreciate that. You know, I think that that would be absolutely correct if
this was the only pool that we had in town. You know, I think Greenwood at 55 swimmers a day is six swimmers an hour. We are offering a pool that anyone can go to that is under cap, underutilized. We're literally, if you look at the
bottom, this is this is about, and I haven't, you know, I think that we should talk about it and we're not voting on anything tonight, but I think that Lind at the bottom of Lynn's last memo here, it's costing us $294 a
swimmer at Reynolds. And the question is, you know, it's it's fine if we if we want to continue running these two pools and most of the time one is totally empty and we're spending $148,000. I mean, I don't think it has anything to
do with like what we're offering people. We offer we have a pool. It might affect, true, someone who might want to like just walk to Reynolds when they can now, but should we really be the question is should we really be spending this much money on a pool that's so
poorly utilized? And I think, you know, it's just like anything else. Of course, it's nice to have two pools if you can afford it, but we are literally in a situation where we need to cut a million like a million dollars from the budget. And if we spend it on this, we're
talking about $148,000 a year for this pool. And that's three teachers, you know. So it's not, you know, it's not as we're in a situation where we have scarce resources and we need to allocate them in the best possible way. I I don't think it's about
like excluding people from pools. we have a pool and it's just a question is you know if we if we continue to operate both pools I think that we should we should monitor it and say to ourselves as a town how much are we willing to
lose like are we comfortable with it being $294 a swimmer at Reynolds we should look at it we shouldn't just blindly continue things when it's to me quite obvious that it's the very lowhanging fruit here and obviously and I don't think it's forever. You know, if
Greenwood Pool becomes so overwhelmed and so popular that it's over capacity, we can absolutely go back to reopen and re reinvest in um Reynolds pool. So, um that's just my opinion. I mean, I think
that everyone's entitled their opinion and I I understand, you know, uh it's just my opinion. >> Yeah. And you had the same opinion for the playgrounds, too. And now we're seeing how many we've made improvements to our playgrounds where previously we had um we had kids with disabilities
that weren't able to use our playgrounds. And now you go to our playgrounds and you see a ton of kids at our playgrounds more than ever. And I I'm happy. I know Veneath Josh other people um spoke in
favor to make sure that we did push to fund our playgrounds. And that's just a primary example. If if we leave our pools the way they are now, of course there the numbers going to be terrible. We're we're talking about ways to improve our pools. We've heard that at
our meetings. That's an we have we have CPC grant money that we're actively actually trying to seek to improve our pools. That's what we've done with our playgrounds and we're seeing better results
and we were for that. Um Barry with uh Greenwood with the camps and you know you said it was about it gets up to about 120 swimmers. Um, is it at capacity at all or is does it get to be at capacity at any point during the day? >> I cannot remember a time that it was
ever at capacity with the exception of perhaps when we reduced staff. Well, we reduced capacity because we had limited staff and maybe we were close, but not under normal circumstances. No. >> Okay, Josh.
>> I I thought this was a very helpful exercise. Uh, thank you for putting it together. Um, I I was I guess I was kind of pleasantly surprised at how much it cost to run Reynolds for the summer. I know it's a lot of money, but um it it was
not as much as I had feared, although in a tight budget, every every dollar counts. Um what I I guess the the thoughts I had were more on the capital side. Um and a couple numbers stick out on that.
One is the about $1.2 2 million we spent on rentals very recently and that's not something that was not done that wasn't us that wasn't uh the parks department that was town meeting voted on that and it was a lot
of money so I I think we don't want to throw that money away certainly but my um my questions are more on the look ahead on the capital when these projects that are coming up are on on
the three pools. Are the is is that it or do we have other big expenses coming up on those? >> Uh there are other um fairly large price tags for Reynolds after this 1.1
million. There's 700,000 left off that 1.1. So after that, there is um another round of um work that's needed that I don't have an estimate on yet. Um and then there's also additional work needed at the high school pool that is around
$400,000 at least right now. I don't have that in writing. That was just a a verbal just update. >> Um but Greenwood's solid. >> These are not Sorry. Go ahead. >> Um Greenwood's pretty solid for a while. We may need to address some decking at
some point, but otherwise it's it's in pretty good shape. Um, and the uh we should probably start looking at the splash pad area. >> So, those numbers you just gave us, those are on top of what's on the 5-year capital look ahead for the pools.
>> Yeah, I don't have numbers for the next round of Reynolds. Um we're trying to get through this $700,000 project that's still needed for the um finishing out the electrical and um some drainage work there. Uh but there is another round of
work that DPW needs to begin designing and then getting quotes for um so that we know what we're dealing with in terms of a price tag. And then the the high school pool is definitely more immediate and you will um see pieces of that on
the FY27 capital plan. >> Okay. >> So yeah, I'm looking at we have the filter system replacement which we know about from our last meeting and pool refinishing in a few years at the high school. So
between the three pools we have another probably by the time it's all done $2 million. >> Yep. um which is a lot of money. Uh, but I I think that given what has already been sunk into Reynolds
and how passionate people were about it, I I think that, and I'm speaking from my personal experience here, when I was when we first moved to town, uh we had real little kids who couldn't go in the main pool at Reynolds, but uh even when they could, it wasn't really a a great
place to be because there was no chairs, no shade. And so I think that that first capital project we have on here is hopefully will go a long way towards making Reynolds a more attractive place to be. And uh I I would love to see our
numbers come up there uh to really make it worth it because it is it's hard to stomach that uh that price tag per pool user. But it was closed for a while. And I I think that we can
working with parks and wreck and DPW doing a great job getting it looking good, making it a more attractive place to be. I hope we can get it better. >> Thank you. Anything else?
>> Okay. All right. Thank you so much for preparing that. Um, and we'll obviously keep looking at this and discussing it um as we go along. Um, okay, moving into new business now, the 2026 fees discussion, parks and wreck fees. Um, and here we're taking a look at the
Greenwood day camp fee structure. >> Um, you can sit either at that one or that. Put your name tag up. and thank you for putting this together too. Um, do you want to walk us through this? >> Sure. So, I thank you. Don't believe
I've ever come before the select word for structure time to time town manager and time to time the park and recck commission, but it's something that now you will see eventually see all of our
structured fees. Um hopefully we can compact it so it's just a few times a year. But because we want to begin to advertise these fees and set up the back end of our new registration system, I'm coming before you to um for
consideration for approval for the proposed um pricing structure just for the day camp. So next round will very likely be pool fees and then the rest of the summer camps and then perhaps the end of the summer. I'll come before you for the fall and winter programs. So,
as you see, um there's a couple different pieces of this. One is the actual pricing structure with the difference pretty incremental um increase and then also an overview, our reasoning why we wanted to change our
fee structure and then um one is an overview which you probably have already read through. The other is payment plans. So, because many of our customers and our families register for the whole summer, it's advantageous for them to register but then pay as they go. So,
we'd like to offer that as well. Um, and then as always, when we look at any of our pricing, we benchmark our competitors. So, on the very last page of that, you will see our current who we deem our current competitors and what their current rates are.
So, I'm seeking approval to move forward with the the incremental price increases from last summer 2025. >> Okay, great. And then that's So, we're looking for approval for the the daily fee structure for camp pricing and then also for the extended care.
>> Yes. And just to break it down just I'm um we offer flexible pricing. So campers and families can choose one day a week up to five days a week. And there's price incentives the more that they attend. And in the past, we've
consolidated or we've offered a lump extended AM and PM together and no daily rate. But based on feedback, survey feedback from parents and looking at our benchmark competitors, it's reasonable to come up with daily rates. It's more
appealing for families. >> No, I I completely agree. I mean, I I found that very compelling. Um, I think that makes sense. Um, and thank you for laying everything out out. Um, it made sense to me. Um, I didn't have any further questions on it, but anything else from the select board. Any
questions, comments on this? Okay. I would just say this is a great program. This is a program that I took advantage of as a kid in town and I'm glad to see that we continue this. Uh my only uh silly question is you still give out a t-shirt for the uh the campers.
>> We do. >> Okay. And then so I will um I'll entertain a motion to approve the daily fee structures for camp pricing and also for extended care pricing uh per the memo attached to the agenda.
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Any further discussion? >> All right. Mike, >> Mr. Mr. Lavine. >> Yes. >> Mr. Zero. >> Yes. >> Mr. Himovathy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lamb. >> Yes. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Yeah. Um and then moving on to recycling center fees. Um Lynn, Mike, did one of you all want to talk about that? >> Yeah, actually Lisa is on the meeting, so I'm going to move her as panelist. Um but yeah, there's a memo from uh Lisa
and I don't know, I think it was granted by the recycling commission as well, but um basically they're looking to amend certain areas that are highlighted in this fees document here. Um this is an annual process that uh comes forward um usually at a meeting in December and um everything that is changing I'll let
Lisa speak to the changes specifically in the memo. >> Hello. Yes. Um so in front of you we annually um look at all the recycling rates for the passes as well as the bulk items. Um we review the income that came in for last year and compare it to our
expenses. And this year um we sort of came out balanced. Uh we did uh renegotiate our bulk disposal location which actually saved us some money this year compared to last year. So that's why for the majority we're not changing
much. Um, so prices for the stickers are staying the same this year is our recommendation. And then for the bulk items, it's only um refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, air conditioners that want to go up $5 because of fuel costs to um to deliver
them to the um recycling location. Um other than that, we're keeping the cardboard free. Uh residents may have to show proof of residency. So hopefully um just we're dropping off cardboard and yeah,
>> great. Thank you. Yeah, I think the uh the other two things just kind of line up with what we've been talking about at select board meetings and with you all about the uh overflow cardboard and also um like you said the commercial waste uh not being accepted. Um any questions,
comments from the select board on this? Uh Josh? >> Yeah. Um I on the under regulations for residents. So if you have a residential pass, you can get a large you can get a one-day
pass for a larger vehicle. Um do you need And then if you bring a larger vehicle, do you have to pay the other fee that's down below? >> So um you would get it's a free one-day pass. Like say you have a mattress and it doesn't fit in your vehicle. um you
would pay the bulk rate for that item, but you don't pay like the landscaper price if that's what you were asking. Oh, >> okay. So, you you pay whatever it is, but if you if your larger vehicle was a a van load of construction debris, you would pay for that. >> So, all that does is get you in the the
door. >> Y >> is that something that a lot of people take advantage of? >> Um for the majority, actually, no. Uh, every so often someone will ask right when they're buying a pass, but we don't actually have that many people that come back later after they bought the pass saying that they need one. >> Okay.
>> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. I think Dan, you had something. >> Yeah, thank you. Um, outside of the highlighted areas, um, I'm I'm hearing a lot just over the weekend around the excess cardboard. We all hear a lot
about trash and recycling, especially with with the roll out of the new bins. Um, just want to see if you could comment on maybe an additional uh bin for for cardboard. Has that been discussed? Is that something we're we're
considering? >> So, right now we have I want to say a 30 yard roll off for cardboard plus we have like a 10 cubic yard dumpster for it. I do believe both did fill this weekend uh with holiday shopping. I think we have some excess cardboard. Uh the good news
is our shipment of cart is supposed to be coming in this week. So, anyone who signed to upgrade to a larger cart should hopefully be getting a cart soon. So, we're hoping that will reduce some that needs to come to the recycle center and it will just more be oneoffs that are coming to the recycle center versus
people that are coming on a weekly basis because they can't fit in the size bin that they have now. Um we were hoping that we're going to start to not have to empty weekly, but um at this point we're still emptying weekly for it. >> Thank you. And then the followup to that
is for the hours of operation. So, um, of course I don't have the data when I when I ask this, but is it possible that maybe we look at or you could certainly explain why we're not doing this, but um like a Saturday and Sunday
for the um hours of operation for uh November through dece November through December. It's only Saturdays 8 to 3. But what about if we move that from November through December, Saturday and Sunday?
Have I'm sure you've probably thought about this um but it's just another question that came up. >> So problem with November through December is we're also running the leaf site. So staff has already split between recycle center and the leaf site. Um that staffing is sort of an issue. Um, I
could foresee that if we keep on having cardboard, maybe we open on another weekday that staff it's not overtime. Um, just to have a staff, you know, on a Wednesday or something open during regular hours. We possibly could look into doing that. >> Great. Thank you. Yeah, I just I bring
it up because of obviously the holidays and this is probably I would imagine we're seeing the most cardboard during these months compared to any other months, but again, I don't have the data. So, um, I'm glad we're looking into it. Thank you. Quick question. >> Yeah. >> Can you give us any feedback on if we've
had any success um with having non-residents turned away or commercial people educated that they can't come or after our last discussion, has that changed at all? Are we checking licenses for >> res% positive? I do know that we talked
about um someone that was doing large cardboard. I believe Sean was trying to call them and then I did ask one of the attendants and he said he hadn't seen them in a while. So, it definitely at least lessened. I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but um I do think
that one lessened. >> Thanks. >> All right. Thank you, Lisa. Um I will um entertain a motion to adopt the recycling fee changes as proposed in the document attached to uh tonight's
agenda. >> So moved. Second. Um, any further discussion? Okay. Um, Mike, >> Mr. Lavine, >> yes. >> Mr. Zoro, >> yes. >> Mr. Habathy, >> yes. >> Mr. Lamb, >> yes. >> Okay,
>> great. Thank you so much, Lisa. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, and then we talked about this a couple meetings ago and now it's before us. It's a uh kind of a proposal to put together a future use of buildings task force. Uh there's a document attached to the agenda that
kind of goes over the scope of work, purpose, membership, meeting structure, expected timeline, and staff support. Um and so, you know, I'll open it up here for select board um you know, if anybody has any comments, questions um about
this or if somebody wanted to kind of tee it up as well. Um >> Sure. Yeah, >> I'm happy to start. Um, so, uh, yes, we took the directive at, um, one of your last meetings, a couple couple meetings ago, um, to develop kind of a framework
for a task force to study the three buildings with potentially expanding to Glenbrook further down the road. Um, if I recall the conversation correctly, uh, the focus was on those three buildings that are currently vacant and seeing how that work goes first before broadening
it out to Glenbrook. And there was some conversation about whether that should be a standalone committee or if it could be part of this. And I believe the takeaway was let's at least start here and let's and um Mike and I worded it as such that it could expand to Glen Brook
potentially if it seems like that makes sense. Um and so what you have in front of you tonight is truly just a draft for you to work from. Um we just made some best guesses on what membership could or should look like. Uh we've been discussing it on and off in the office,
just bunch of different scenarios. Um and really the only thing I think Mike and I really felt strongly about was just trying to keep the number of members to a manageable level. Um if it's any more than nine really, it gets kind of unwieldy and trying to get
something scheduled. So that was really the only thing we felt that strongly about. Um and we we're hoping that you guys really take a look at it and give some thoughts. Um our our kind of rough idea was that we um kind of button this up at the January 5th meeting, put out a
call for applications at that time and then start vetting people as early as that second meeting in January and then um get a goal to have them start meeting um midFebruary with uh a lot of work on their plate. We were hoping that they could wrap it up
within 12 months. >> Great. Thank you. Yeah, that was um one of the things that I want to talk about was that timeline of February 2027, whether um that was too far out or whether we wanted to maybe at least try to aspire to something that was maybe at
the end of 2026. Um and then the other thing that I did want to discuss was the membership composition. Um because I I I'm I know that I'm kind of going back and forth on this a little bit just because sometimes I think if you have like a select board
member on the committee or you know a finance committee member that their voice can kind of become the biggest voice and maybe kind of overtake the decision-m or the process. Um and for me the what I kind of foresaw for this was that this would really be resident
volunteerled. um and folks that really signed up for this would be the ones that were taking the lead and um taking charge on this. But I also do know that, you know, at least on the task force that I was on, like at least having some of this background knowledge of how town government worked and some of these
processes work, that did come into um you know, that really I think did help um the task force a lot. Um, so if there's something that maybe we could do where there's like a liaison instead of like maybe necessarily a member that could kind of help guide or ask questions, um, that that might work as
well. But that was something that I wanted though. >> Can I add on to that? Yeah. >> So I I also had some comments on the composition. You know, I I didn't know why like I thought, for example, a select board representative wouldn't be as valuable to me as a planning board representative, for example. like a planning board
representative like that to me has much more um like of a purview towards these buildings. A select board member if they wanted to be on it, they could just apply. That's one thought. In addition, I thought like there's a lot of val
there's some professions here that aren't listed that could be valuable. Like I thought an architect or a retail person would be very valuable. And as I do agree that like as many community members as possible would be valuable. I thought instead of having like one
specified for the historical commission and the historical district commission, maybe there could be one position for either a historical commission or historical district commission member. Um, so those were the kinds of like tinkering that I was thinking of. I
mean, I don't personally feel like a select board member. I kind of I do think it's important that people do understand how the town works. I don't think it should can I think it's good to have some like maybe four of the positions can be like assigned to a
group of different committees um and five for the community. But if we're going to do that, we should have some le some, you know, um a range basically. In fact, it doesn't even have to be it has to be a planning board member. You can
kind of position. We don't know who's going to come forward, but we want to be able to have the latitude to pick the best people that we think are going to do the be the best. So, if you put like planning board and and finance committee or capital planning, you know, and
historical commission like find some other way of of increasing the latitude so that we can kind of really to see who comes with the expertise that we want, you know, and a select board leazison is great. you know, I I I I don't think the select board has any particular
expertise that any other committee member has um with regard to the three buildings. >> Yeah. And I think you know if the select board is just I think in our position we just have a I think maybe a better view
of just kind of full scope of the town and different things going on. Um, and then you just kind of never know how things can interplay with each other. And I think we just have a better idea of like everything that's going on in the town. >> And that's good or bad for the comm. >> I think it could be good. Um, but um,
but again, I don't know if it it'd be good at the cost of actually having select board member that might, you know, >> guide the process. >> Yeah. Guide the process maybe. >> Well, what did you find in the fiber task force? Was it? >> Yeah. I mean, >> was there somebody on the committee on
from the community who really could have taken the reigns because of their expertise >> or was it >> Yeah. Um I It's hard to say. U I don't know. Um yeah, it's hard to say. Yeah, >> I was just going to add to Andrew's point about the uh committee makeup. Um
there's two different ways to and the way this is structured now whereas the representative from each of those committees would be um voted on by those committees to join the task force. It wouldn't necessarily be the way it's written currently. It would be somebody choosing a role
like designate role from their committee. But you don't have to do it that way. You can you could interview for all the positions. This was just kind of like um >> well the truth is when I was on the finance committee there were multiple times when we were invited to do this and nobody wanted to do it. So, we didn't send anybody. So, that's kind of
an example. I see. So, that could be an argument against combining a spot for someone from these two committees because then that could be a bit of an issue. >> I think Josh had a point, too. >> Yeah, Josh. >> Yeah. Um I I think I the committee I'm
most experienced with at the middle school building committee, I don't think anybody gives a rip that I'm on the select board. Uh um but I I I can see what you mean about uh it could could kind of sway things and I I know if I was if I was on this committee um I
would be in the back of my head thinking what's best fiscally for the town uh at every step of the way and maybe that's not the right way to do it. So could be better. Um well I have to yell at my kids. >> Oh he was being serious. >> I thought he was joking. >> Sorry.
>> I thought you were jumping. They're uh slamming doors downstairs. I don't know why. Um but I I think that uh we got a an email from Cheryl Divido, the planning board chair today, and I I absolutely agree with her that there
should be a planning board representative and uh also a housing authority representative, one of our other elected boards. I think that that is uh there's definitely a a place here for an advocate for affordable housing at one
of these locations. Whether that is in the future is something that should at least be discussed. Uh and I think that that is uh that would be an important facet of this um because you know there may be um if somebody came to us once
these are available for development and somebody came to us and asked for a comprehensive permit um it doesn't they don't necessarily need to get it or it may not be opened up that way um but it is a possibility so I think somebody from the housing authority could be useful for that u and then I definitely
think that a capital planning or building committee representative is a very uh I I don't think that that should be a split spot. I think we should really if there's any way to do it, we should get somebody from that board. I think that would be very helpful. Um and then we could probably combine historic
goal and historic district commission. I understand why they're both on there. Um but I I think maybe there it purview does overlap enough that we could probably choose one. Um but otherwise, I think this is a very
good start. I do wonder if we want to move up the date a little bit and then, you know, try to push and then ask for they can ask for more time if they need it. But, uh, maybe something next year would be good because we have a couple buildings right now. One is empty, one
is or two are empty, and one is very underutilized. So, the the sooner we get these things going, the better. to Josh's point about the capital planning and building committee because as of right now obviously that's not an active committee. Would it be how do you
want to obviously you're not going to make any votes on this tonight but that may be something you want to consider having a different board maybe in theirstead until they're active or you know that that'll be hard to navigate just based on them not being a active community at this time. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. Thanks. Yeah, I was I'm just pleased that we um you know we with your help Lynn and and Mike putting this together. Um just some of the feedback just talking to residents was is make sure we have a we should have a task force for this. I think it's really important. I agree with everyone's
comments. The one the one group that I I know we were talking about mar being marginalized earlier in my opinion I I think we need to show representation from our veterans considering their the the building that they had and that's where they were meeting.
um they can no longer meet in that building. So um if it were up to to me, I would I would I would like to see uh veteran representation um as part of this uh composition. And the other comment I would make, I was on
the um long range planning committee and just some some feedback which I share with with everyone has shared similar feedback was the uh diverse age groups. There was some students from the high school that were uh in the long range
planning group and then we had um some other members um in our from obviously from Long Meadow from the adult center um that frequent the adult center. And I just thought having that age group was was really important to have such a
difference uh you know and just kind of their view of of what the shape of the the the town should should be in the future. So I applaud everyone's efforts, their their comments and and helping um certainly put this together. Mike and
Lynn, thank you. Lynn, could you repeat why you thought you just thought nine people was ideal for decision- making? Because it sounds like from listening to this, I mean, I'm just listing down the things that we've kind of all agreed like it's not nine.
>> It's it's planning board, building, historical, finance, housing. That's five right there. And >> other groups. >> Yeah. >> But is 11 considered >> too many? We can in your opinion >> try to work with any number you want. It
was my suggestion that it be a smaller number because it's easier to work with people's schedules that way. If you try to coordinate 11 people's schedules, it could not, you know, it could not turn out that great and we might not end up meeting until April. Um, plus 11 ends up
being the number you use based on your quorum. So if we have 11 and they can't get a meeting schedule, >> it's harder to do it. Um, so that's all. But, um, you know, if you if it's down to adding two and it gets you the
composition that you want, it's fine. We'll work with it. In in the next under composition under selection process, it says members shall be appointed by the select board. It doesn't really say that like we can we're like this finance
committee is going to pick somebody for us. So, an alternative could be, you know, this is just a recommended list. Like we'd love to have a real estate professional, a building professional, but we don't know who we're going to get to apply. We could just have everybody apply and have these all in mind and
pick the nine people we felt were the best diverse group with the expertise and all the other factors >> because frankly we don't I mean to be honest this would happen on the finance committee where people were asked to be on we needed a representative but people
felt overwhelmed with like their family schedules and they nobody really volunteered or we got somebody who wasn't really as um enthusiastic about the whole project as somebody who might apply from the community, for example. So maybe just having people apply
um from whatever committee you're on. We know we'd love to get we have the list of the ideal representation, but that'll that'll just ensure that the people who take the trouble to apply are the ones who are really interested in the project.
>> Just a thought. Yeah, I mean I I from as I'm looking at this and after a conversation, I think what I would be in favor of is maybe removing the select board representative spot and replacing that with the planning board representative and then uh combining historic commission, historic district
commission to just have, you know, just have them appoint one >> person from both of those um commissions. And then what I would actually be in favor of is maybe making the finance committee spot and also the housing authority spot uh nonvoting
advisory role spots as just they can advise on you know the process be there to kind of like liazison talk through different things. Um but and then actually just increase the number of community members at large um to seven um because then we would have seven
community members, one planning board member, one member from the historic commission or historic district commission because I do feel like the planning board and the historic district commission or historic commission those are two vital um bodies that should have a voting role on this uh task force.
Just to clarify, did you say one or for historic district and historical or keep them separate? >> Um, just one from Yeah. >> either both. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, the only three committees that were specified are planning board, capital building or capital planning versus and
then historical those three. >> I also I mean I don't know with capital planning and building there's that committee such in flux right now that >> so what was the third one that you mentioned? >> Um housing authority. No, you said housing and finance would be like non- voting. Um, what were the three ones
that were being Oh, so just two. Just two. Just planning board. Just planning board and then either historic commission or historic district commission. And then I think we include then we uh >> then there's a lot of >> increase the community members at large positions to seven. >> And if somebody from the finance committee or the housing committee
really wanted to be a voting member, they could just apply as a community member, right? >> Yeah, I think so. But then just like having the finance committee or um housing authority just kind of appoint a non- voting advisory role I think would be helpful.
>> Okay. Um >> so seven at large community members but maybe we could also add we're going to advertise right to like what we're looking for. So in addition to the list I have no objection to this. I just think that we can also add like
architect, retail experience. Um I think if finance is going to be an advisory role, it can just I don't know. I think is developer a real estate professional. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. I mean we could put something like finance finance. >> I don't know how you word that but yeah. I just don't want to deter anybody who >> who wants to be, you know, in part of this a part of this project. >> I just think it'd be good to have as as
much of as a diverse group as possible and um just cautious to start going down a whole list. >> Well, I mean, it is worded to say like ideally representing diverse populations. So, it's kind, you know, it's not like we have to have one person hit each of these. It's just saying that these are just kinds of the kinds of
things that might be helpful to be on the pass. >> Yeah. I mean, it's a balance between saying everybody, but you don't want all by doing this, it actually helps, I think, encouraged a diverse group of people to apply, you know, like somebody who's a developer might not really, oh,
they're looking for me. Oh, I have time. I'm interested. Um, >> I think if we communicate how many how often we're going to meet as well, that would be uh important. I mean, maybe we don't know which days or times yet, but
I just know sometimes people were dropping like flies with long range planning. Maybe that's because there was too many people possibly to start. I just want to set expectations out of the gates so someone knows what they're kind of getting themselves into. Well, I also think that making the timeline shorter
might help for that. If people think like, okay, this not something I'll be doing for another, you know, for a very long period of time, but this will be something that's kind of this contained time period that I will just volunteer and give my time to, uh, it might make it more attractive for folks. I think um
you know if we say like a final report should be presented no later than December I think 2026. Just another comment on um the possibility that we had discussed of making it also the same group that does
the Glen Brookke property consideration. It's probably all very applicable except maybe if we did it for that project you wouldn't have a historical person for example. I certainly think we need it for this one, but we can just cross that bridge when we come to it. I just wanted to bring that up.
>> Yeah. And I really do not want to kick that can down the road too far because I do think that that will come up faster than we expect. And um >> I mean this committee could focus on this this year, 2026, and then can
switch right into doing it that for 2027. Yeah. An idea. >> Yeah. But then we'd also maybe want to change the makeup. It'd be nice to see at Glim Brook, of course, >> Parks and Reck, >> Parks and Wreck, for example, that we're not seeing on this group. And >> I think that's really >> maybe we would It's no reason to do
another task force later. >> The sites are very, very different. >> Yeah, it's totally different. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> yeah. >> Okay. So, maybe making those changes to the composition. Um, do people feel okay with maybe making the expected timeline
December 2026 instead of February >> I think if you do that it's more likely to be a little it might overshoot but it' be less likely to overshoot as much. >> Yeah. Um, and then I think as Andrew pointed out with the selection process just kind of clarifying that those planning board and historic commission historic district commission would
become would be like appointed positions from those committees or commissions. Um >> and seven of the um community >> seven community and then um then yeah and then everything I everything else looked good to me. Um I didn't have any
other edits um anything else from select board. >> So if you put this out then we can like in January have start bringing in applicants and then February they can form. Is that right? Is that the ideal? >> Yeah. Are you looking for us to make these edits and bring it back to you for
a final vote or are you feeling confident in what you just discussed and we're ready to finish it up and put it out? >> Uh, I mean I I mean I I mean I would like to get started. >> I agree. I think we can move forward. It's not It's seven with seven community
spots. anyone interested can apply and then we can how long I mean >> I think >> we're gonna take a couple meetings probably to get everybody in like two two meetings in January >> you you also have to take into consideration if you do have those designate roles from those specific
committees they will also have to meet to delegate that person so realistically that can happen in January but it may not get pushed till fe >> okay >> there may be >> but that's not that's you're right but the more timeconsuming part for our purposes is the interviews Y
>> and probably if we send an application say you have like until mid Janu or second meeting in January maybe we can interview people then and the first meeting in February we can interview and then decide in midFebruary they can meet at the end of February maybe. >> Yeah. Um, so kind of Yeah. So if we want
to give like kind of dates for that, we could say maybe like applications are due like January 12th or something like a week before our second January meeting and then interview folks on our second January meeting and then make appointments at our first February meeting and interview anyone else who
couldn't make it. >> Yeah. and then appoint the whole the rest of them in mid-February and by then the planning board and the historical boards could have somebody >> and I don't know exactly how this would work with telling the historic district
commission historic commission you two should get together and put pick one person for this um but I don't know if that's just kind of engaging the chairs of both of those >> commissions to maybe >> but also reminding them anyone can apply like if there's too much interest a lot of people want to do it, they can just
apply for one of the seven spots. >> I'm not sure how that would if if >> I think to your point, I think we'd probably reach out to the chairs to have a conversation prior. >> Yeah. Figure out how they want to do it. >> Yeah. >> I am concerned there's going to be a lot of interest from those not concerned,
but I anticipate a lot of interest from those two groups. Y >> for what it's worth. >> Okay, great. Yeah. So, if whenever you guys can get this together and get it out, that'd be great. >> Okay. >> What What are What would some of the um
the means of communication be for for this >> to put the call out for people to apply? >> Um our social media website, my newsletter, uh and we could print flyers to post places.
How did we do it for like the task force for the fiber? >> Yeah, same >> enough. Okay. >> Yeah, >> people are going to know about this I think. >> Yeah, there's a lot of interest in it. >> Um and then we'll just kind of use like the application we always use. >> We also had the survey responses and I
believe some people put email addresses at the end if they wanted to stay engaged in what was happening. >> Yeah, we can use that as a list serve. Yep. >> Oh yeah, that's a good idea. One thing I will caution and maybe it's not spec not going to apply in this case hopefully not but always putting stuff
out at this time of the year holiday time. Yeah. >> Due date January 12th like you are >> you do have that you know scenario where oh I didn't see it or maybe but maybe maybe not maybe that's not the case. So I think maybe you put it out but if there's not a lot of applicants you may want to consider extending it a little
bit past >> holidays. That's just my >> it's going to be the talk of the town. >> I think we're going to get a holiday party. >> You guys got to talk it up. >> Yep. folks that want to hang out with their families. They'll be scrolling Facebook. >> It's 11 days after New Year, so maybe there's some time to decide whether or not you want to put it forward.
>> Okay, great. Well, thank you guys uh for your work on that. Um and then moving on to our last agenda item. It's the select board meeting schedule and look ahead, which I thought was really helpful, and I know this is something that we've been talking about for a while to actually get the whole calendar year scheduled out instead of kind of just like going
by fiscal year. Um and so um and and and I think even just for the folks uh at home, this is really helpful to just kind of see what this process is like uh for the select board and all the kind of things that we tackle in a systematic way. Um I don't know if there's anything
else to add to this or do we are we kind of looking for a vote here tonight to just say that this is going to be our calendar for the year. >> I don't think we need a vote tonight. maybe sit on it and figure out if you have any conflicts going into cuz tip right now through July that's when more meetings are set. But we know how nice
it is to be able to plan for the summer and figure out what needs to come to a certain meeting. And if you're planning on only meeting once during July or once during August, it's good to know so that we can plan our um business um around that. And then also there was a directive at the last goal setting to
build out the um calendar or sorry build out the meeting schedule based on the calendar year rather than the fiscal year so that all the meetings are just set and you don't have to worry about that weird time after the election figuring out when you want to set meetings for the rest of the year. So right and like I said you don't have to vote on it. You can sit on it and see if the dates make sense. There's some
proposals in there for andor dates. So >> yeah, and I think that the way that we did the last two summers with having the July meeting being like the second meeting and the August meeting being the second meeting worked out well and so I would be in favor of that especially with July 6th being so close to obviously the fourth. Um and then August
17th as well. I think the last couple of years that's kind of just it seems like folks are getting back into town, schools starting and it just seems like there's more business uh to talk about at that time. So, um, you know, if we're looking for anything there, I would just I would say that we should go with July
20th and August 17th for those months. >> Agreed. >> Yeah. >> Yep. We'll have to bring back this the first meeting and September date. That may be a primary date for a state election. >> Oh, okay. >> Yep. So, we'll have to look into that. Um,
>> huge thanks to Mike for putting this together. He he did all of this. It's incredible. I'm so glad we have this. >> Yeah. Thanks, Mike. No problem. Obviously, like the business is going to change. Like there's things that are going to be moved around and obviously we're going to add to it. Um but also I
want to notice uh note as well that it eliminates a lot of our Tuesday meetings by making the switch to the second and fourth or the first and fourth Mondays in February and March around uh vacation time. So you'll see we're only meeting two Tuesdays out of 26 meetings rather
than I think it was a couple years ago we're meeting on six or seven Tuesdays because of the holidays. So >> why didn't you think about this before? Well, those are already set in stone for sure, but hopefully we can do that going forward. >> Um, okay, great. So, um,
so we can can sit on this or just >> your next meeting if you want. >> Yeah, we'll vote on our next meeting. Okay, sounds good. All right. Um, well then I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Any further discussion? >> Mike.
>> Mr. Lavine. >> No. Mr. Zora. >> Yes. >> Mr. Habathy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lamb. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Thank you everyone. >> Thank you. >> Happy holidays. >> Thank you. >> Thanks Josh. >> See you next year.