[Music] All right. Good evening and welcome to tonight's meeting of the Lunberg Select Board. Today is Tuesday, October 14th. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. [Music] >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [Music] In accordance with the requirements of the open meeting law, please be advised
that this meeting is being recorded and broadcast live over the Lunberg Public Access channel on Facebook Live on the Public Access Facebook page and will be uploaded to the Lunberg Access YouTube channel after the meeting. The agenda lists all the topics which may be discussed at the meeting and are those
reasonably anticipated by the chair. Votes may be taken as a result of these discussions. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by the open meeting law. We're going to begin tonight with announcements and I
have a couple. Just as a reminder, the teen cent's 9th annual Shrieks and Creeks haunted house and hayride is this Saturday, October 18th, from 6:30 to 9:30. If you'd like to help out with the event, you can reach out to andy at the clubltc.org to get involved. The master
plan steering committee will be hosting a public meeting at Smoke Stack Roers to review and gather final thoughts from the town on the master plan that has been in the works for the past 2 years. So, if you'd like to participate in the formulation of our master plan document, you should attend that meeting. And that's going to be next Wednesday,
October 22nd from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for ages up to 5. It'll begin at the library and head to other town buildings for trick-or-treating. The library's 20th birthday party is on Friday, October 24th at 5:00 p.m.
There's going to be cake, activities for all ages, and even a jazz ukulele concert. We're jazukulele. I'm not sure how to actually pronounce it. It's being typed as one word. No, I don't think so either. Um, and finally, the fall 2025 yard
stays are from October 18th to Saturday to December 6th at the landfill on Young's Road. It's going to be closed, however, on the week of Thanksgiving, and it's open from 8:00 a.m. to 400 p.m. Okay, scheduled meetings. Up first, we have a license application for Joyce
Higgins with Weather Vein Home Services for a door-todoor solicitation. And I believe Joyce, we have you here via Zoom. Are you there? >> We can't hear you, so you might just have to unmute yourself. >> Yes, I'm here. >> Okay. uh to the booth. We might need to
turn the volume up just a bit. Uh we can't really hear you. >> All right. Can you go ahead and join? >> Sure. Um not really sure. I was just asked to attend the meeting. I'm not sure if you guys had questions. >> Yep. Um okay. So I'm under the
impression that you're partnering with uh Mass Saves and you're going to be uh helping residents sign up for a uh energy assessment. Is that true? Yes. So, they're able to get an energy assessment every two years because they
pay into the program monthly on their unit bills. >> Gotcha. Okay. All right. Awesome. Well, I'll open it up to the board. Are there any questions from the board for Joyce? >> I had one question. Uh, on your application, you had hours of operation
9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Was is that Monday through Friday or what days are you planning? Um, it's Monday through Friday, but typically, uh, you guys are quite a distance from where I live. Um, so typically it's more like 9:30 to 1:30.
>> Okay. But it's Monday through Friday, no weekend. >> Correct. Okay. >> I have no desire to work weekends. >> Any other questions? >> All right. Well, I think it's a great program and, you know, I think more people need to take advantage of it. I
know a lot of people don't, I've heard. Uh so uh with that is there a motion to approve the license application for door-to-door services for Joyce Higgins with Weather Vein Home Services. >> So moved. >> Second.
>> Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed? No. The motion passes unanimously. All right. Thank you, Joyce, for coming in tonight and uh good luck. >> Thank you. Um >> All right. >> Okay. >> Good night, Joyce. >> Bye-bye. What?
>> I was just going to say that we'll if she has a we'll follow up through the office tomorrow. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you so much and thank you for all your help for that, Joyce. >> All righty. Bye, guys. >> All right. Up next, we have a toll booth fundraiser request for the Salvation Army for Red Kettle Campaign on December
13th, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We have Dave McDonald and uh Lynette here as well. So, do you want to tell us about the Red Kettle Campaign? >> Sure do. First of all, I want to thank Madame Tom Manager, Mr. chair and fellow board members. I'm with Lynette Warren
uh or Lynette Valentine Warren Salvation Army. She's on board. She's our boss by the way. She's the one that whips the crack on us. The Salvation Army has been in this community for years and years and a lot of you actually know what I do and a lot of you also came out and supported us. But we just want to take a
few minutes to explain what we do and why we're doing it. Uh Sabishami during the holidays is a very important time for us as it is 12 months a year. We don't stop and a lot of you who know us knows that we don't stop. So the the boot kettle or the boot drive that we do here in Lunberg, we also do it in every
community that in the in the area. Sabi Shami handles our tri city, Fitchburg, LSU, and Lunberg. It's a privilege for me to be working in Lunberg, living here and serving the people in the community. But this year it's it's tough. I think every one of you here know how tough it is. And I keep saying that every year
and I'm waiting for someday it's going to be a miracle. We don't have to get toys for kids. Everybody has a soft spot in their heart. I have one for the kids. I believe that every kid should have a toy for Christmas morning. And we worked hard at that last year between our angel program, which we'll talk about in a
second. My wife and I have been very proud just the two of us that collect over 800 toys for kids, not counting our friends. So, we we do pretty well for our our angels. And that's because people like you guys care and that we appreciate. So I want to give it to Lynette a little bit just to explain
some of the programs that all this money that we collect go. A lot of people think that we collect this money and it it just goes where it doesn't. Anything that's collected stays here. Stays here in the community. Fishburg doesn't go to big cars. It doesn't go to
organizations. It stays here. So keep that in mind. We do give a dollar. A dollar goes back to the community. And we have programs. And madam chair, madam town manager, we'd like to sit down with you and go over some of those as well as the senior center as well as the um
schools who've been supporting us through the years. So Linda, >> thanks for allowing us to come to speak. I want to share with you the collaboration that goes on all year round. Um most importantly, what is the red kettle? My question is what would it
be without the red kettle? I'm proud to say that the money that comes in goes out and it supports local programs. We have a bridging gap program. We have a music program teaching brass, ukulele, drum, piano. And the parents came last
week and they were in tears just for the fact that we're offering it free of cost for their children to have the gift of music. My personal pers um perspective on on that is that every child should have the gift of music and that's something we've been able to offer
through our program of the red kettle. So standing out in the road collecting the money money from um people passing by, standing at the store, it's more than just a bell. It's more than that. It's all year round. Sending kids to
camp. Oh my goodness, the stories. We're in the van driving back from Camp Wonderland. These kids never experience being away from home and they're like, "Miss Lynette, can we go back next week? There's a camp next week." So, our goal is, let's send kids to camp. Let's give
the kid kids kids the gift of music. Let's give the kids who make a one-time mistake in their life a chance to turn that around. That's what that red kettle represents to our local, to our children, to the families. But even more than that, we're social service. We help
keep lights on. We help with rent. We help with food. We have a food pantry and we're proud to say that we are very excited to be able to say don't worry about keeping the lights on. If you need help, you need to come see us. Our Good Neighbor Energy Fund, the parents that
are working that fall through the cracks that don't get money, guess what? You call us if you don't qualify for fuel assistance. We have the Good Neighbor Energy Fund that helps do that for you. So, it's a joy every day laying your head down. Well done, my faithful servant. My point is this. Let's keep
giving to keep supporting the people that so desperately need help and that's it and that's why this um boot drive is so important. >> Thank you for your time. >> Well, thank you both for your dedication and all the programs that you're running for the town. Mr. McDonald,
>> a couple more statements. One of the things Lynette hit on and u Jen, we've been sending you information and one is the good neighbor program. If you know someone in need, have them call us. We we have monies to help them pay the bills. We have money to help pay for those utility bills, which are, you guys
know, I don't have to tell you. I mean, they're crazy right now. Nobody should be in that code right now. It shouldn't happen that way. And one last thing I just want to say is that I don't care if you get to the Salvation Army or not. I really don't. But I do care that you do something. We do something for you to
help our community. Doesn't have to be the Savage Army. It could be anything. It could be the Lions Club. It could be the Rotary Club, >> local pantries. It could be the local pantry, which by the way, we're very proud to support our local pantries and the um senior center. So, there's a lot
of things that we ask to do, but I'm not here asking you to give to the Savage Army. I'm asking you to give with your hearts. That's where it starts. And the last thing I just want to say is it's been a tough week for us as far as uh we lost Mario Pedicure this week and uh he
was a dear friend of mine and uh you know, I'm going to miss him. That was a true patriot. That was a true soldier. That one was a God-loving man. And I know he's with his wife and tonight. And I pray to God that uh we all stand able to pray for him. My last comment is this
will be my last Salvation Army Drive. I will be moving out of Lunenburgg uh first quarter. Uh and I just can't thank the town enough for what we've done. Uh you everybody here in town has been there to help and I'm going to ask that one more time.
And during this boot drive, we have a challenge. And Mr. Chair, we would love you if you came and stay with us for an hour and try to dodge the cars and try not to get hit. >> Yeah. >> But we do have a competition with uh the Fishburg mayors. So, we'd be proud to have you standing with us.
>> And that goes to all you guys. If you want to come and ring the bell, have a challenge, come to Walmart. >> Jen, I I saw you at the touch a truck event. >> I love a challenge. >> Come and join us and help us. But I think there's going to be an angel tree at the town center at the town hall
like there has been for years. I I talked to Miss Goodau at the senior center senior center and I got to talk to Liz at the school because he always adopt the family. So if you guys have any questions, give us a call. 978-34322000. No, that's not it. What is it?
>> 978-342300. >> All right. >> Or on speed down. So God bless you guys. >> Thank you, Lynette and Dave. Um, any questions from the board? >> No. >> All right. So, I will move to approve the toll booth fundraiser request for
the Salvation Army for the Red Kettle Campaign for December 13th, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. >> Second. >> Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed, no. Motion passes unanimously. I hope >> abstain from
>> Oh, I'm sorry. You're going to abstain? Okay. Any abstensions? >> Yes. >> All right. Motion passes 401. All right. Thank you. >> And if anybody wants to adopt a child, we have the angels, by the way. >> I'm sorry. If anyone wanted to what? >> Adopt a child this year. Buy a toy. Come see us. But these are what the angels
look like this year. And if you don't want to uh support a boot drive, you can ring the bell, too. >> We have options for you, too. And we do have the police which one last thing we worked very very closely with the Lunberg police and fire department and we've been having meetings once a
month uh with all the fire departments from Fitsburg Lon Lunberg Red Cross. It's been great productive meetings and we're doing a lot more to help them and and them help us. So again, God bless you guys and have a great night. >> Have a good night and go. >> All right, public comment. Is there any
public comment from the public? Sharon, come on up. Are there any Sharon is going to come up first? >> Yeah, I will. >> The last time I came up here, Mr.
McDonald helped me walk. I'm seriously I'm I'm feeling much better. Um I'm Sharon Jordan, 77 Buridge Street. I am here to invite you to an event this Saturday, October the 18th, from 11 to
1, at the Fitsburg City Hall. This is the second No Kings Day protest. The first one was in June, and millions of Americans like me stood up for the Constitution against dictators and against rule by the rich. Trump and his Republican
administration are following the Project 2025 playbook. They are sending masked agents into our communities, terrorizing adults and children. They are kidnapping American citizens without warrants and
without identifying themselves, hiding behind masks and zip ties. This is unlawful. The 14th amendment of the Constitution says all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens. All
persons are citizens. And the fifth amendment of the constitution says all persons, I'm sorry, that protects federal due process rights of all individuals, meaning that nobody can be deprived of liberty
without due process of law. Republicans hold the White House, the Senate, Congress, and arguably the Supreme Court. They own the government shutdown. They own the end of affordable health care for millions of Americans. They own
the chaos of the tariffs. Just reading about cooking oil tonight. It's good thing I like olive oil and not safflower oil. They own historic market crashes and price hikes that steal our money. And furthermore, where are the Epstein
files? They think they own us, but they do not. America does not belong to kings or dictators or tyrants. It belongs to we, the people. At the second No King's Day,
we will peacefully unite and support the foundation of this country and each other. One vote, one person. Government by the consent of the governed. Saturday, we will exercise our First Amendment right
to peacefully assemble and petition for the redress of injustice. My father served two tours of duty in World War II. He was Antifa. I am Antifa. I am anti-fascism,
pro-America, and pro-democracy. Thank you. >> Thank you so much, Sharon. It's good to see you tonight, too. Glad >> I do have a little bit. Thank a little bit of political theater. >> Nice. >> United we ribbit, divided we croak.
>> Good one. >> Thank you, Sharon. All right. Any other public comments? Matt, come on up. >> Uh, thank you. My name is Matthew Brener. I live at 619 Northfield Road. I am the chair of the planning board, but
I'm here tonight really on a topic the planning board may have comment on in the future. I can't tell you. We don't meet till the end of the month, but I wanted to comment on an upcoming uh proposed warrant article as a citizen. And I wanted to give some history to the
select board before you make your decisions on that. and that's specifically about the upcoming warrant article or potential warrant article to merge the architectural preservation district the AP uh commission the APDC
with the historical commission. Um, the architectural preservation district was established in Lunenburgg in I want to say it was 2015 um to preserve the classic look, feel,
and design of our downtown. It was very intentionally written to not be a historical preservation district. Um, actually this by our bylaw was based on the uh on the one that was used in Salem
for the same purpose. And if you go into it, it talks about wanting to make sure that we are that while the APDC should be looking to preserve the look and design of our downtown,
um things like modern design standards, modern materials and building codes should be allowed to be followed. I have a big concern with merging a committee whose goal is supposed to be let's keep downtown looking like
downtown with our historical commission. I think both are valuable, but we've already seen over the past several years the APDC having what I would argue is an increasingly historical preservation
opinion and role in town. I would use Ritter uh because I spend a lot of time there as a great example where every day I get to look out single pane windows with holes in them. Why do we have those in Ritter? Well, because when it's come
to the APDC for these windows need to get updated. We the town has been told we need to replace with like windows. Not modern doublepane windows that would have the
same look and be appropriate but single pane custom windows. Now these cost more to to build to install and then in the long term they are horrific investment as a town has to pay
more to heat and cool the building. It's not just the town buildings, it's people's houses, it's the um all the businesses in the area. I understand that there's a need that there's a desire to merge these
committees uh possibly due to uh people willing to serve or other reasons. However, even as it stands now and with its increase towards um towards uh the move
they've made towards historic preservation has happened even though the APDC is supposed to be comprised of people has requirements to be comprised of residents of the architectural preservation district design specialists
and others. Our historic commission has no such requirements and due to the nature of their very important work, they are going to inherently be biased towards historic preservation. That
isn't the goal of this of this district. It's going to get in the way. It's going to make life harder for the residents and for town government. It's going to cost our taxpayers more money. If we want to increase historic preservation in town, that's a fair goal. But that is
something that needs to happen after significant public input. There needs to be public info gathering sessions in discussions and not have the first time towns people see it be at special town meeting.
Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Mr. Brener. Thanks for coming in. We're actually really glad that you came in to make that public comment to share your feedback. So, I appreciate it. Thank you. All right, Mr. Rabbit, come on up. >> Okay, Amanda, you are actually a lot
better than your brother. >> They don't know that. Okay. Uh, first of all, my name is John Rabbit, 314 Townson Harbor Road, Lunarberg, Massachusetts. And I wear this hat with pride. Except there's one part. >> It's the wrong one though. >> The wrong one. >> But I do like the hat. So in either
case, uh I'm coming up to first of all, I want to applaud Jen. But anyway, uh what I really like is the fact that you're building a good team. You really are. uh you you've been encouraging folks to work together and
you've taken the bull by the horns I think last week or the week before with regard to uh vacation policies and be able to use it in Medicare and I would absolutely want to encourage you and I can tell you the it is affecting the
employees and I think that's the right answer and I want to say thank you because they are our most critical element uh but with regard to building things together. Did you know, and I bet most people don't know this, but the Meals on Wheels program uh got merged
with a book lending program. And so now, if you want to get a book from the library, tell them they will integrate that into their meal. If you're on the Meals and Wheels program, you'll get it. That's cooperation. Jen, you're setting
the tone. Uh I'll give you another group. uh the group on fundraising efforts for the Boys and Girls Club and the Council on Aging. They're working together to do something in the middle of the street and stop traffic and beat people up for money, but they're doing
it together. And I think that Okay, they're not really beating the other, but they have baseball bats. No, they won't. Okay, so anyway, I just think that that is a neat sense that you're bringing to it. Work together. Uh I've been on the council on aging for
about four months now and I've had my eyes open to the levels of activity and the employee volunteers and the commitments and it's a good thing things are happening in the same realm. The the tempo you're setting is working its way through to the to the rest of the uh the
town here. Uh I love the fact that the the council on aging and the uh senior center are doing they have a do whatever it takes attitude to the employees. If someone's not there, they're jumping in. They're washing the dishes. There's no way in
heck you should expect the director of the senior center to be washing dishes, but they do. They do whatever it takes. And I and again, I love it. I think that uh the fact that uh Deb Goodsell picks up the uh picked up the good work from
Sudari. She did a really nice job. There was some stutters and things like that just in change, but she's continued to build on that adult center capability. And and meantime, Deb Lincoln and she are working together to marshally uh marshall and create a seamless seamless
support. It's a good team effort going between those two groups. Again, they don't do it unless they're encouraged to. So again, Jen, thank you very much. I never realized the depth by which the uh physical help uh our seniors how much we really do help them.
We help them food, we give them psychological support, we help them with their taxes. It is really a wonderful all-inclusive thing. And again, the Council on Aging is in there with them. It's a good cooperative effort and and
honestly I'm amazed. Uh okay. And the I'm going to try and close this quick. I know I'm out of time, Caesar. But meantime, uh it's I call the debs team, the the two devs. They work together well. They trade ideas. They move move things
quickly. The fact that I think we had uh 300 or so uh events last month alone. And if you ever to take a step back, folks, and see all the things that are going on in terms of fighting social isolation, that is really the big
problem with our senior population and getting people in there. We have a gem uh going on there and I can tell you that Deb is working, both Debs are working on the right stuff. Essentially, they're doing the fundraising. They're looking at fundraising, going out. She's
got a list of things that where can I get money? Because they recognize the management, the first job of a of a president or corporation is to promote sales. Same with the board of directors. They're working together on that particular activity. Uh, and I'll just go on and on, but um, oh yeah, did you
know they're deploying a thing called a work breakdown structure, WBS? If you're in the military, you know what the WBS is, or maybe you used to anyway when I was there. In either case, they're looking at who's doing what and if somebody's not there, they can fill in.
And they're looking at things that they want to accomplish in the future and what do we have the resources for. And so there's a real pile of science going on behind that to better support our seniors. And I just needed to tell you that because it's a good thing. And
again, uh, the Deb Show, the Deb Show and Jen, thank you. and the board. Thank you very much. You guys are really supportive. And the fact that we had two selectmen and one old selectman at the meeting today was a good thing. Really good thing. Okay, I'll be out of here. I
won't hold your time. And oh, by the way, uh we had a discussion. We might start selling hats to do some fundraising. Okay. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Rabbit. All right. Any other public comments? Mr. Alonszo, long time no see. >> I said I'd be back.
>> Welcome. Thank you. Thank you. Should say like a wow, what a dream. I I had to You were in it. You were in it. >> Um interesting being on this side again. But I wanted to just note >> name and address.
>> Oh, Tom Alonzo 28. So 284 Lancaster Avenue. Thank you. Uh I just wanted to mark some some notable passings in town and then another announcement. So this these past two weeks we actually lost
two centinarians from town. Um first was and this is just an order they're passing. First was Kay Prevett who uh passed at the age of 102. Uh born in 1923 raised her family in the
town of Wakefield. Um while she summered in Lunberg, this is going to be a common theme because so did the next person. uh in a home that she and her husband John purchased in 1954 where they eventually moved to Lunberg full-time when they both retired. Um,
she developed K developed her love and flare for floral floral design as a member of the Crystal Garden Club in Wakefield. And she brought that talent with her as a member of the Laurelwood Garden Club in Fitsburg where she and her friend Julia Casey, her friend for
many years, combined their leadership, love of flowers, and sense of community service to co-found the annual Art and Bloom fundraising event at the Fitsburg Art Museum, >> which has remained one of the museum's largest revenue sources since its inception 25 years ago. But even more
than that, it's a great uh art event and a great social event that my wife and I have been very happy to attend for many many years. Uh Kay was very involved in Lunberg Senior Center, now of course the adult activity center, where she could be found staying mentally sharp by
playing cribage, bridge, maang, and helping with fun fundraising there well into her 90s. She was recognized by the Lunberg Council on Aging on her 100th birthday and actually was the first recipient of the Town Century Award uh the plaque which exists in the act the
adult activity center. She was also a mainstay at many of the wine tasting at her daughter Elena's uh wine tasting events here in town. Uh just this past week,
Mario Paciola passed away and his story is kind of similar that uh after being a World War II vet and having served in the US Navy. He married in n uh in 1955. Marion and his wife uh built a home on Hickory
Hills where they would summer here uh before making the move from Somerville to Lunberg full-time in 1985 and then spending winters in Florida. Uh he was a faithful member of St. Bonafice Parish and the Eagle House Senior Center.
Again, common theme and a member of the American Legion, the Amvets and the Knights of Columbus. uh his wife of 79 years passed away in 2023, but he still maintained his presence in Lunberg at the senior center and
especially every year you could find him at the Memorial Day ceremonies where as his health failed uh his son Mark would uh help him there and attend with him. So they were both very active. He was a
behind the the botchi court at the at the senior center too. So I just want to mark them. He was actually the third recipient of the century award and the second recipient actually Fred Cuddy passed away a year or so ago. So I just
wanted to mark those. I had the honor of knowing them and uh seeing their commitment to family and community and friends and Lunberg uh directly and was honored to have them uh be able to call them a friend. So I just wanted to mark
them. On a lighter note, uh I wanted to thank the Lunberg Public Library and the board of trustees and the friends of the library for their October 3rd opening party for the 20th anniversary of the building. I it's hard to believe that
it's 20 years. Uh, as we were at the event, uh, my wife reminded me that when we had the groundbreaking, we actually didn't, it was just a clearing and for an aerial photograph, they had everybody who attended form the outline of the
building where they took a shot. This is, I think, pre- drone or a really early drone because I think somebody actually flew a plane over uh, for the Sentinel and took the picture. But 20 years, long time, served a lot of people. Uh I want to thank Mir Hammond
and his staff and all the people who served uh there. There was a great presentation from Bill Tyler of the historical society uh detailing the history of the library uh and the the the history of the librarians that were there. Two people in town actually were
librarians combined for like 65 70 years and and their salary went from $50 to the end of that to $55. So there was over 60 years there was a lot of remarking about that. Uh there'll be various events. Uh I encourage people to
go to their their calendar on the Lunberg Library uh calendar on their website. Uh it'll all be culminated on Friday, October 24th from 5 to 6:30 where they will have a closing party for the anniversaries. So I would encourage
everybody to be there. It really was one of the first buildings in the cycle of new buildings back then. I think it was the second one after the primary school. So, um, really great building that serves so many people for so many reasons and continues their good work
today, even in a totally different environment than libraries were initially set out to do. So, just wanted to comment on that. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Alonzo. >> Thanks, Tom. >> All right. Any other public comments on Zoom?
Not seeing any. Any public comments from the board? All right. Appointments, ratifications, and resignations. And all we have tonight is acknowledge the resignation of Jennifer Dagel, planning administrative assistant.
>> So, yes, Mr. Chairman, um I had mentioned this to the board at the last meeting. Um, unfortunately, Miss Dagel has obtained a um a position in the private sector. Um, so we got to know Jen over the past few months. She was a
great asset, but unfortunately um she is moving on to the private sector, but thank her nonetheless for her service and to help keep um the planning board uh wheels on the bus, so to speak. >> All right, town manager report.
>> Yes. Thank you. Okay. So, the first part of my report um is a little bit long um and I'm going to read some information, but we're going to be probably posting most likely posting a recent report from the Massachusetts
Municipal Association on our website. So, I wanted to give a little bit of context to that. Um so the Massachusetts Municipal Association which represents 351 cities and towns across the Commonwealth um has released a report um entitled A Perfect Storm Cities and
Towns Face Historic Fiscal Pressures. Um it's a short report. It's about 12 pages long. Um not too dense in the in the text. And for those of us that are really dealing with this on a day-to-day basis or budget-to-budget basis, there's
nothing remarkably new or earthshattering that's contained in this report. Um, I think one of the things that it does highlight though for folks is that there's nothing that the town of Lunenburgg or the the town of Ashb or
the town of Sterling is facing that neighboring municipalities are not. It does highlight though that we're facing some things in a little bit different way. So, um just to the public to kind of highlight this report um and then you'll be able to find it online. The Massachusetts Municipal Association part
partnered with the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tus University um to go over key factors shaping municipal budgets and identify the most effective targeted solutions. The key findings of the report are as follows. One, rising costs and sluggish state aid are putting
enormous pressure on local budgets across Massachusetts. Two, a prohibition against local sales and income tax combined with a 2 and a.5% cap on property tax increases prevents municipalities from raising adequate revenue on their own to respond
to community needs. And three, different municipalities are being affected in different ways. For example, rural towns have been which Lunenburgg is categorized in this report as a rural town. Um, for example, rural towns have been forced to cail spending in key
areas like education, but by contrast, gateway cities have boosted education spending thanks to an infusion of targeted state aid. Um, but all communities are following behind in all other areas of local spending. So a few data points from this report that struck
me particularly as interesting. Between 2010 and 2022, real inflationadjusted spending on current operations in Massachusetts municipalities grew at just 6% per year.
The nationwide average for local spending growth is 1%. So we are substantially behind. um the rest of the nation the state budget in contrast has risen at roughly 2.8%.
So um when we are growing at just6% per year that puts a substantial strain um on our limited resources especially when there are certain areas that are growing substantially more than that 6%.
Since 2002, when adjusted for inflation, unrestricted general government aid, also known as UGGA, has fallen 25% despite strong state revenue growth. Quote, losing UGGA dollars in this way
is particularly difficult for stressed municipal budgets because it's a rare stream of support that can be flexibly redirected to address evolving needs. UGGA is something that you can use on extra road repairs after a pothole cratering spring or additional tutoring
for students struggling with pandemic learning loss. It's not limited in its use. And lastly, uh what I found interesting was that there are override initiative clusters. You can see on the maps contained in the report that there's clear clusters across the
Commonwealth where override attempts at least are more common. And those clusters are located primarily Capeen Islands, the Northeast, North Central, and more generally uh central Massachusetts. Uh we expect a continued focus on financial pressures experienced
by municipalities over the coming years by groups like the um Massachusetts Municipal Association. They just launched this report at the end of last week. I expect that um the outflow of this report will be what is discussed at
length um over the coming years. All right, so we're going to put that up. It's an interesting read. Um again, nothing new or earthshattering for those paying attention other than to really drive home the point that this is not a Lunenburgg issue and it's not a North
Central issue. It's not a central issue. It's a Commonwealth of Massachusetts issue for municipalities. Okay, PEC engagement. So, last week was the first formal discussion with the public employee committee to discuss potential modifications to health benefits that are offered through the
PEC agreement. The next meeting will be on December 4th. They're going to um formulate a smaller negotiating team and as we go forward in the process, uh we'll be discussing that here with the board. Um payroll and benefits coverage. Um last week the town did engage with an
outside consultant through Robert Half for interim payroll and benefits coverage. Richard Tomachic um has started on board as of last week. He is full-time as a contractor. He has payroll and accounting experience as well as uh previous municip experience.
So uh with Nancy Oor's departure at the end of the month, we're hoping that at least this stop gap measure will give us um continuity for payroll and benefits. interim planning director services. The town of Lunberg has re-engaged with Richard Harris to provide interim
planning director services. Mr. Harris uh pro previously provided similar services to the town and has been engaged once again as we seek our next permanent director. Under this agreement, uh Mr. Harris is providing the planning board support, reviewing applications and uh following as de any
development projects uh their review and management. Labor negotiations fire. Today I received the official request to begin negotiations with the Luna Lunenburgg Professional Firefighters Local 5369 on the FY27 to FY21 collective uh
bargaining agreement. So we will get underway with that. Uh last week I attended a labor and employment law update uh that was hosted by our labor council my Okonnell. Uh we discussed the ADA and reasonable accommodations in the workplace
investigation compliance and wage and hour updates. Uh it was a great session put on by MYRC for all of their clients and uh public sector and private sector alike and uh definitely having that private sector folks in the room gave an
interesting perspective. So learned some things there um that we will be applying here. Um, just to reiterate, the master plan steering committee is hosting their public meeting the next week on Wednesday, October 22nd from 6:30 to
8:30 at Smoke Stack Roers to gain f to gather final thoughts uh from the public on the master plan work that's been under development. If folks uh want some more information about the plan, please visit plan lunenberg.org.
Uh, trick-or- treat suggested hours are on Halloween from 6:00 to 8:00. Our current recruitments are the payroll and benefits position at 36 hours, assistant town accountant at 32 hours, dietary aid at 9 hours, intermittent heavy equipment
operator, land use director at 40 hours, administrative assistant to both the planning and building departments at 36 hours, and recreation director at 19 hours per week. and appointed boards. There are vacancies on the agricultural
commission, APDC, Cultural Council, Green Communities, Historical Commission, Personnel Board, PAC, ZBA for an associate member, and representative to the first Middle Sex Small Towns Collaborative and elected boards. There are vacancies on the board of assessors, planning board, sewer
commission, and trust fund commission. An extra plug for uh the board of assessors once again that is a critical vacancy and we need somebody from the community to step up and fill that role. So putting out that call again and that is the conclusion of my report.
>> All right. Thank you. Any questions for the town manager? >> All right. Perfect. Moving down to old business discussion on November 18th, 2025 special town meeting and warrant articles. So, we're going to go through these again and we're going to frontload the planning board articles because we
do have the chair the planning board here. So, Matt, I'll invite you back back up to the podium. And for the board, this is going to be article O and P. So, the MBTA zoning and the concrete common drives. Okay. All right. Uh, thank you, Mr.
Chair. Delightfully, I have very boring articles in front of you this time. Um, do you want me to take one first or >> Yeah. Do you want to start with the MBTA? >> Okay, great. >> The good one.
>> Um, this article is the uh culmination of our MBTA community's work. Last spring we held some in again some public info gathering sessions, discussion sessions and the feedback that came back from the
public overall um the majority feedback was that people understood that mass that they get that Lunberg like much of Massachusetts is lacking in that missile missing middle housing. Also understanding that what's called
the missing middle for density in Lunenburgg is among our highest density, but we don't have a lot of that housing that can be more affordable. Um the the significant but minority opinion was we
don't need that either. Regardless, uh what the the strong feedback from the community was that while we're missing some of that, leveraging MBTA communities is not the way to get it in town because we have
other avenues we can pursue upcoming that are likely to be better for us fiscally and allow us to be a lot more creative with how we eventually permit that kind of building. To that end, um, the planning board has
elected to move forward with what's called paper compliance. I strongly prefer the term and concept that we're taking credit for the hard work we already did. Lunenburgg has the first 40R district in the state of Massachusetts.
Straight up, our 40R over at Tritown is the first. To that end, we can leverage it. So, all we're doing is taking Trtown, bumping it from 22, it's a lot of words to do this because of the boilerplate language and everything.
We're bumping the zoning on Tritown from 22 units per acre to 26 units per acre. That I mean, there's other words in there because Tritown was built out to about 17 to 20
units per acre. It isn't economically feasible for them to level that and suddenly add for a couple units an acre. No, but understanding maybe the day comes as a disaster. Maybe 30 years from now that development is at its end of
useful life and maybe we haven't touched anything since. So this bylaw is still written to be thoughtful about what that would look like. But this is paper compliance. We expect no meaningful change in the foreseeable future from
the town from this zoning adjustment. It will, however, meet the requirements from the state. The state said paper compliance is fine, so we're doing that. >> Great. Any questions from the board on the MTA going by?
>> Can you remind me when the public hearing is? >> Um, it is the 27th, I believe. Okay. Yeah. The 27th of October. >> Monday. >> Yep. Mhm. >> Monday. >> Perfect. Any other questions?
>> All right. Relatively straightforward, although I think it takes a while to really understand uh why we're required to do this. So, >> I guess Mr. Chair, one comment I think if if folks are interested before even the >> You dropped something. >> Yeah, it's just mine.
before the public hearing is maybe to go to the recording of your information session you had because that that really you did a great job of explaining it all in detail but simply >> thank you very much and yeah those are on YouTube um on PAX YouTube in addition
the presentation I used for that is available on the planning board website too so you can go there and get that website if you have any concerns reach out to the planning office drop me an email let us know be happy to chat with you ahead of time for anyone out there
in the public, but we expect at this point we've had the hard conversations. So hopefully now this is a very straightforward process for the town. Mhm. >> And I would just like to echo uh member MK's comments about the importance of
those information sessions because it will drive home a lot of the concerns that I do have with this law in that it is the state um stepping into the local zoning and trying to change the the very fabric of the the towns in which which
we live and there has a feel that the state is trying to essentially urbanize some of the the more rural communities. So, I do encourage people to watch those information sessions because there is there is a lot to this law um that is
really hard to to fathom and it it really kind of couples to the the report that the town manager mentioned earlier in regards to the uh those who we have elected to represent us on the state government. I think have failed to properly fund our communities. Um, and
with this urbanization, with the loss of the birthing center at Lemonster Hospital, as well as the loss of a hospital, to urbanize an area that is already struggling with um those type of issues is very very troubling. Uh and it it is it is a internal struggle for me
to not vote no on on this because um without getting into it, the state will penalize will sue the um the local governments and we we heard some comments earlier about uh kings and uh the lack of democracy. I think we need
to look uh closely at our state government and uh look at the impact that laws like this not limited to this. We could go back to the ADUs which the state has um we we did have a a generous ADU policy but the state did step in and
remove the requirement to have owner occupied um aspect to the ADU unit which opens up further uh homes single family homes for investment thereby um lessening the opportunity for families
to you know buy their first house. Uh but again, just just watch the um the meetings. They they're they're they're helpful and there's a a lot to digest. Thank you. >> Actually, if I may uh make a tangential
comment to that, Mr. Chair, um I think I do I would like the select board to be aware. I would like the public to be aware. The reason Lunenburgg has not been hammered hard, the reason we've been able to roll with the punches and
haven't really been influenced by things like MBTA communities, like the ADU bylaw, is because we have been fortunate enough in the past to be very forwardthinking in our bylaws and in the
way we're structuring the laws that govern our town to keep us flex. flexible, permissive where appropriate, and really try to optimize land use. But I also want to put on everyone's radar
that we're kind of running out the things we did that were forward thinking are now mandates from the state. >> That means if we don't get cracking and don't get thinking in the future about the future, the next round of top down that comes
because it will come. the state has made that clear are going to start impacting us and I already in the planning office C and through the building office C some issues that could be upcoming. So we're going we've been good so far. We
need to be active moving forward or we are going to get hit. That's all. >> Great. Thank you. All right. Want to talk to us about batuminous concrete now? >> Oo betuminous asphalt. Look, all this does is remove the We did the common
driveway bylaw. It says your common driveway has to be asphalt. We didn't really mean that to be in there. How do these changes happen? Well, we we've had a somewhat rotating door of planners. Planners are like
lawyers. They get to the everyone if you have two together, you're going to have at least three opinions about the right way to do things. Um, and they're all correct. And through that um we ended up adding the batuminous concrete the asphalt requirement to common driveways.
There's no practical reason. It is more affordable for developers to not require it because in some instances they may not want to. That means it's more affordable for the people buying the homes. That means long-term it's more affordable for those maintaining their
homes if they don't have to maintain 1,800 ft of asphalt. um is better for the environment. It's just a very quick, easy fix. We hadn't even realized this had changed until there was an application before us and
we went, we didn't mean to require that. So, here we are. Simple fix. >> Okay. So, it's just striking out literally this one sentence. >> Yes. The the driveway So, the driveway effectively may be gravel. >> Okay.
>> That's all it is. >> Seems pretty straightforward to me. Any questions from the board? >> I have frequently wondered these houses with long driveways that are paved that are in disrepair. I just want cringe at the thought of replacing that. >> Yeah.
>> Any questions? >> Anything else? All right. Well, thank you for coming in tonight. Always love hearing you. Uh you have a really good way of explaining incredibly complex uh planning things in a very simple way. So, I think it's um great that you're
able to do that to the public. >> Thank you much. >> How out of curiosity, how long were you working on the MBTA communities compliance? >> I mean, we've been That's a hard question because sort of we've been working on it since it first
came out a few years ago, but it's been very stop and start again with the rotating door of planners that came through. Um the thing I don't like is we're up against the wall now. I it it that we are acting much later than I would
rather we were. However, we are acting as soon as we have been able. >> Mhm. >> So um this work uh I don't want to take too much credit for the writing. This is largely put together again very boilerplate but this is put together by
um consultants at community scale who have basically taken our needs run out our calculations put the bylaw together for us have taken some feedback from planning board at the public hearing we may have a few more tweaks and they've also done the backend
work for getting the uh shape files together and all the map requirements for GIS and other Right. And before I forget, I just want to point out um >> we were made aware that technically according to the U zoning laws, we're supposed to formally vote to refer um
these articles to you. I know it's a little strange because you already did this and you referred it to us. Uh but we do need to formally take that vote. >> Yeah. So, this has always been something that I've spent a lot of time in 4A section five. Um, and so this has always
been something that I occurred to me as odd that an article initiated by the planning board referred to the select board would then have to be referred back from the select board to the planning board. So I found some loose guidance that that's true except when
initiated by the planning board. So I consulted attorney Costa on this and he said belts and suspenders take the vote just to be sure. So um that is what we're going to do. So essentially um there's a there's not clear bright line
guidance on whether an article initiated by the planning board needs to be referred back to the planning board, but >> town council recommended that we do it anyway >> just in case >> we will. >> Want to know cover your butt. >> Exactly. That's it's a CYA. >> Yes.
>> So I will move to refer the planning articles to the planning board. um under the requirements of 4A section 5. >> Second. >> Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. >> I. >> Those opposed? No. The motion passes
unanimously. All right. So, it looks like we have all our ground covered here. Thank you, Mr. Brener, for coming in tonight. >> You're very welcome. Do you need anything else from me this evening before? >> No, I don't think so. No. >> Great. Thank you. I hope you have a delightful rest of your meeting or as delightful as it gets on that stage.
>> Thanks for your time, Matt. Thanks for coming in. >> Bye. >> Okay. So, we can start back from the top of the warrant now. Um, and we can just go through them all and make sure that we don't forget anything. Uh, all right. So, article A, we voted to include and we also voted to
recommend approval 50. Um, I don't think there's anything on that one. Article B, amending the fiscal year 2026 omnibus budget. We did vote to include it and we voted to defer. Um, any any updates on any transfers? Are there any that we
know of yet right now? >> So, there are a couple of um transfers from the salary reserve. Um there's a potential of additional appropriation to cover some of the gaps um in the
accounting office. Um, and so what what we think will be what occurs here is that this article would be printed as is in the warrant and then there'd be a handout at town meeting with a comprehensive list of all the potentials that would be moved under the motion.
>> Okay. Any discussion on this tonight? Keep that as deferred. Article C, authorization to pay expenses from a prior fiscal year. Same thing included but deferred. Any discussion on this one tonight? All right. So, article D and article E
which we're uh kind of considering together here. Um so, we have the two projects that we discussed for the storm water uh utility which is 20 42,900 and the school mini splits which was $28,000. >> Yeah. I Mr. Chairman, if I could just
jump in here, I I think that at the last meeting we talked about the potential of a school capital project. Okay. >> And so that potential is real. So, um it is a a $28,000 uh overage on the mini splits. So, um
it's the 28,000 there. And we didn't have an amount for the storm water consultant last time. So, that amount is now 429. Is that set though? That amount. >> The 429. >> Yeah. >> It's the highest that it's it won't go higher than that.
>> Okay. Yeah, it won't go higher. Yeah. Okay. Um, so what I'm going to ask council to do on these articles, the reason why there's an article D and an article E is really about funding source. And so it's
the same two projects, one funded by remaining capital from prior fiscal years, one funded by free cash. We may not have an opportunity to decide that before this needs to go to print. So, I'm going to ask town council to combine these into one to give the flexibility
of the appropriation source to carry the articles. >> All right. >> So, it's not a and or at town meeting to confuse folks that it if there's a way to do it in one, let's do it in one. >> Right. Makes sense. >> All right. Article F, public access
cable committee transfer of funds and town council is drafting a revision to this one. >> Mhm. >> Okay. Article G, Cemetery Commission transfer of funds. We voted to include and we recommended approval 50-0. All right. Article H, authorization to appropriate a sum of money for project
estimator. So, we did vote to include it and we recommended approval 50. And I believe we have numbers now here, too. >> Wait, we didn't vote at all. >> Um, oh, look, I'm sorry. I'm looking at article I. Never mind. >> Yeah. >> Um, but we do have those numbers, >> right? So, um the uh facilities director
for the town spoke with the facilities director of the for the school to see what amount of money they might think would cover this. Um it's estimated that each time they use a project estimator, it's going to cost roughly $7,000. Um so they felt as though a good amount
of money to see how this works would be $50,000. Um that would cover several years of the project estimator costs. Um at this point again the funding source remains a little bit up in the air. I would prefer
to use capital um but it's potential that free cash or raise and appropriate would be the funding source for this article but the amount that we would be going with is 50,000 >> and that includes DPW projects too. So all three. >> Yep. >> Although DPW does have a little bit of
operational funds budgeted that they they can tap into where the others do not. And who would um be >> the arbiter >> approve? Yeah. Okay. >> A manager. Yeah. >> But I think you know this is one of those things that it's in the best
interest of everybody that projects that are coming forward have a professionally estimated quote if if needed. Behooves all. >> Do we want to vote to include this one in the warrant tonight? Okay, it's definitely going in. We just
don't know the source, right? >> Funding source. >> All right, I'll move to include article H in the warrant. >> Second. >> Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Those opposed, no. The motion passes unanimously and we can hold off on recommending approval until we um find
that funding source. Okay. Article I, establishment of a special education reserve fund. We voted to include and recommend approval 50 and we have a request over to the school committee I believe as well to >> just if they wanted to weigh in at all further than what they have here. >> So this this one I would feel more
comfortable in light of that as well as wanting to hear from the the finance committee of like deferring as a I did vote to to recommend but I'd feel more comfortable hearing more on it before. >> So who would you like to hear from?
Well, the finance committee. Um, I mean, I did watch the school committee meeting, but I guess I'd say specifically the the uh finance committee. Okay. >> As well as again the school committee. >> Well, they're definitely going to, I would imagine, discuss this at some point. Do you know what their timeline
is like? >> I it could change. So, in my conversation with the finance committee chair, um the finance committee will be convening next Thursday, the 23rd, I believe that is to discuss warrant
articles again. Um and then they will be having a public hearing on articles um I believe it's not going to be until November 13th. Let me just look at my calendar real quick. November 13th. So,
their public hearing as being discussed is not um is not going to be until well after anything's mailed, which is fine. Um but just that's this I guess what I would say is if the select board is
going to hold off on making um recommendations based on the recommendations that come after a public hearing of the finance committee, we're going to need a special meeting. >> Mhm. because um we won't have time because that meeting is on the 13th
>> and so we would have >> the that's a Thursday, >> the following Monday is the 17th. You'd have to meet then otherwise I I just I would not want to see you trying to cram this in a half an hour absorbing the information from finance committee a
half an hour before the tow meeting starts. >> Yeah. I'm I guess um either way we would have to be in a crunch to um vote on it. Um I Okay, that's Glenn. Uh where you're at. Other members, do you want to change
your vote here? Do you want to defer or do you want to revote on this? >> I thought historically if we had one member that wanted to defer, we deferred. >> Yeah, we have followed that. We can continue if we want to continue that practice. My feeling my feelings won't be hurtly
about it. But >> what's that? I'm sorry. >> Rene, >> will I'm just wondering will this article be included in Fincom's public hearing because it it creates a fund but there's no >> Oh, this was one of no funding. >> No money is going in. No mechanism. It
it does give a mechanism for how to >> there is no financial impact at this time. >> Not at this time but indirect is creating it. So there will be a fin I mean >> right >> it's a gray area the next article that follows I think will have a financial impact
>> right so I I think that you're the how the finance finance committee has a bit of discretion in determining whether or not there's a financial impact um so it's it's hard to say whether or not >> how they're going to come down on an article >> right it's up to their discussion how
they vote pretty much all right I'm fine with deferring do we want to defer Are we then having a meeting on >> I I think if if >> Can you just make it Can you also vote on town meeting floor though too? >> We can. Either way, we're going to have to continue to vote on things because
we're deferring. >> Yeah. >> And typically we have a meeting before town meeting to do that. >> We can continue to do that or we could meet on the Monday before town meeting. Either way, it looks like we're going to have to do that. I think I think that the where I'm drawing a distinction here
is that there is for example um amending the budget or bills from a prior fiscal year that is information that is being assembled in your office and so you are getting that information because it's being assembled for you in your office.
um the concept of having a public hearing. I would expect if you are going to I am not going to be able to write a report on the FINCOM's public hearing and what was said. So I would anticipate if you want to make make your
recommendations based on a public hearing of somebody else that folks attend or watch that meeting and that we're not we're just not going to have a lot of time for much debate. Yep. >> Um so that's where as opposed to a list
that's being assembled in office um is a little bit different than that where you can take a quick up or down vote before town meeting. I I if my strong recommendation is that if the board wants to wait for the finance
committee's hearing which and I can tell you I personally won't be there on the 13th. I'm on an airplane. Um is that you schedule a meeting right now for the 17th. >> Yep. So, that's what I was going to ask. Are we can we just commit to saying that we're going to go through our deferred
votes on the 17th? That's the Monday before town meeting. >> Sure. >> It's fine. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Okay.
>> So, we'll do that. >> Okay. And then I will move to defer on article I. >> Second. >> Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. >> I. >> I.................... Th those opposed. No. Motion passes unanimously. We have
now deferred on article I. All right. Now we have article I I which is the 41A property tax deferral. Um so this is uh the deferral program where certain qualifying seniors can um not get an exemption but be deferred on
their property taxes. Uh so they will pay it after uh the sale or death of a resident. Um and this vote is to increase the um qualifying amounts to the maximum for the circuit breaker. So it was $20,000 uh for everyone. So
single uh or married and now it's going to be up to 72,000 for single filers. Head of household up to 91,000 and married up to 109,000. Um there's also a question on the
interest rate uh which we're decreasing from 8% to 4% as well. Um >> if I can just put a finer point in that. So, previous town meeting has already voted to decrease the interest rate uh from 8% to 4%. And I just have a
question out for town council whether that's a vote that needs to be reaffirmed each year or whether it's one vote to carry forward. >> So, it's not in there right now, but >> if if if it is a vote that needs to be voted every year, that's certainly the intent of the board of assessors that >> it remains at the lower rate.
>> Yep. So, that's what I was going to add. Um any other discussion on this? And we do have um our principal assessor coming in next week as well. >> Yeah. So, let's wait till next week. Yep. >> That's it. >> Okay.
Article J, Main Street easement. So, we voted to include and recommend approval. Article K, transfer of the care, custody, and control kids. Uh included, recommended approval. Article L, architectural preservation
district amendments. We did vote to include this. So the APDC and the historical commission are going to have a meeting to discuss this on the 20th and they will be here the following day on the 21st uh to discuss this with us. Um so if there's any discussion on this tonight we can have that but we will
definitely have more of a discussion next week when they are present. >> Yes. >> Yeah. I I um you like further reflection of this one. I I think um I think that this article should be pulled from the warrant. I don't I don't
think we should put it on the warrant and I think that's to the benefit of both the proponents as well as the opponents. Um clearly more more vetting of this article is necessary to ensure it receives
its fair and appropriate consideration and and deliberation. Um and specifically in the timing with the uh presence of the bylaw review committee that was established this year by the um charter. I think it's I think
it's in everyone's best interest. It's much too tight a um time frame to have this appropriately vetted and you know and again the I felt that way. I'm feeling even stronger now having heard the comments tonight from the from the planning board. So, I I I think it's
just too premature, and I I'm I think it should come off of off of the warrant. >> Well, I hear you, and I feel the same way, but I think I came to a different conclusion. I don't think it needs to be removed from the warrant. Whether or not I vote to recommend it is sort of what's being influenced by the discussions that
are happening and going back and watching old meetings, the establishment of it, and the conclusions that I'm coming to. So, that's where I'm at. I don't think it should get pulled from the warrant. other members. >> This they've been proposing this for what has it been three years? Two years. >> Um this is going to be the third town
meeting attempt >> uh for it. So at least over >> getting on or they've opposed it, but they've brought it forward three times. >> They almost brought it forward to two previous town meetings >> to us. >> To us. Yeah. I mean, we've discussed it. They've come before us. So, >> you know, I I I mean, I'll go back to
this point. I don't think that it hasn't been properly vetted. Um, I think people have strong opinions about it, which is fine. We can discuss those opinions. Um, but I actually think it has been properly vetted. Um, in terms of it was submitted, it's been drafted, reviewed
by town council incredibly thoroughly. So, in that sense, >> well, I I still have one question remaining for town council. Um, that came up last week that didn't click until we actually went through and and were reading it. There's there's a simple word change and I forget where it
is. Changing architectural to historical. >> Y >> and I I would like town council to review that because I think there could be impact. >> I do too. That's one of my concerns. >> Separating, you know, the architectural look from the historical
>> I don't know what to call it, you know, maintaining historical architecture, I guess. Um yeah. So that's So I'd like if we can get that answer. I I don't know when Adam is back. >> He has landed. He was texting before the
>> Oh, is he is he through passport control yet? >> Um if if he could answer that question before our discussion next week, I think that would be helpful, >> right? >> Yep. That's I mean I agree. That's one of the things that I'm really mainly concerned about uh and would like
clarification on too. So, >> cuz beyond that one word change, which I think could be significant, it reads to me as simply moving the scope, the responsibilities from one commission into under the umbrella of another. But
from from my understanding is there was a great deal of debate and asurances during the process of adopting that bylaw to to and and there why the APDC was created for very specific reasons to give the residents the comfort that that
division that the uh planning board spoke of to ensure that stayed there. So, you know, this this bylaw and it goes back to my comment about the prop uh proponents as well as the opponents that this is this is government coming in and potentially if misconstrued
saying you can't paint your house this color. you have to choose. I mean, it's a huge government reach in and that's what over people are concerned with and that's why there was so much debate in and >> well I think that might relate to the one simple word change >> right but I think again going to like if
if if this is going to succeed I don't think with this very short window is going to do the proponents any favors let alone the those who are opposed to it. It's it's it's really core fundamental concerns about people and
their property rights and what they want to do with their house. And it's just I just, you know, I just think it's a it's a bad idea to push it so soon. I I know it's been, you know, just because, you know, it's been talked about or mentioned for two years doesn't mean
it's actively been working. I mean, this is this is stirring it up. This is getting the dust up. This is going to get people's response. I think the time frame is just too tight. We're coming out of a time where people are very skeptical and and uh weary of government
and I think that this will step right into that and you know >> I agree with you but I think that it would be on the the onus should be on the people that brought it forward to withdraw it. You know if they I think having the conversation next week and talking about all these points because I have the same concerns as you but I
don't want to be the one to say no you know what to not put on the mor. I think the discussion should go to town meeting and I don't really agree with the merger. I don't think at this point. We'll see what happens after the conversation, but I think that if it was going to get pulled, it should be coming from from the
>> the committees that are bringing it forward because it's not it's these committees that are also volunteers that are bringing something forward to us. So, I have a hard time when it is other boards and other committees bringing something forward telling them >> it's not going to go. >> I also want to understand the motivation behind it. >> I do too. I feel like forum issues.
>> Yeah, exactly. And that's another explanation I want to hear because I know they're meeting they're they're meeting regularly. So that >> yeah I haven't heard of the quorum issues anymore. And >> oh yeah I'm still struggling to understand why. >> Right. Next week we'll get more clarity on the why.
>> So I guess like I understand from the previous conversation like when the when the planning board puts a uh submits an article it's essentially automatically put onto the warrant. Is that true of any committee? >> No, I don't think so. That was very specific to the zoning act.
>> That's not true in and of itself. That's not a true statement of what you just said. So, >> um, nothing >> automatically goes on the warrant, right? So, the select board unless a the only thing that citizens petition is the one carve out
>> se it is the select board's warrant. Um, it is ultimately your decision and your decision alone of what articles make it on the warrant and what don't. Some select boards have a philosophy that everything that come they're not going
to gate keep. Some select boards have a philosophy that they are going to keep and some select boards are going to want to pick and choose depending on the article. It's but it's really your decision ultimately of what gets on the warrant.
and the fact that it's a special town special town meeting versus like an annual town meeting. This is a a pretty a pretty heavy article along with a few others and it seems typically um you know the the the media article media articles are uh usually in an annual
town meeting. No, >> not necessarily. Um again, it's something that's largely driven by the community and tradition. some communities take and I think it's probably a pretty common approach that the annual town meeting is reserved for your big money
articles and money and the special town meeting is reserved for all other things but particularly zoning articles. Um there is some town like there's some communities that they don't want to put a zoning article on the annual because annuals for money and for business and that's that. >> I feel like we just put everything
everywhere. I and I do think that that's probably from what I've seen in Lunenburgg articles it's it's there's not that clear line >> that's what >> but I mean ultimately it's it's this board's >> coordinated >> final decision of what gets on the
warrant >> I think we put it on the the annual town meeting >> I think we continue the conversation to next week when we have APDC and historical commission here >> now are they calling meetings are they posting agendas or is it just the chairs coming or how is that working?
>> Um, so I guess we could post a joint meeting. Um, >> just if there have more than one member that wants to talk, they have to post a meeting. >> It's going to be a lot of people though. Um, it would be historical commission and APDC. So, we're probably better off just having the chairs come in. In my opinion, >> I I know that they are meeting on the
20th to discuss. I would like the invitation personally to be out to them. >> Okay. >> And then I mean, we can still hold the conversation even if they can't even if they can't call their meeting to order. Correct. Yes. With the chairs. >> At least that way if there are other members and they have a quorum, they can come and they can speak and they're not >> hear more perspectives,
>> right? And maybe they don't want to. Maybe it'll just be the two chairs that show, but >> but even at least giving the full invitation, >> right? At least it's this is a pretty big deal and if there are active members that are attending both meetings, I'd like to give them the opportunity. >> Yeah, I had thought about doing that too and I'm I'm glad you brought it up. So, in that case, we can I think we can
definitely do that. So, >> that doesn't hinder us in any way. Right. If the just the chair show or they don't have quorum, we can just have the chair speak. >> No, I don't think that's an issue. And and I'll just reiterate that it is a bylaw change and we have the bylaw review committee that has not reviewed it
>> and then >> yeah that so the bylaw committee review committee is is stood up every 5 years >> right >> so that at a minimum that's a that's a check us make sure at least every 5 years you guys need to review all the bylaws it doesn't mean we can't make
changes to the bylaws in between because if we have to wait 5 years to make any change >> or to form another committee to hey we want to make a change so so that part of the process uh yeah I don't I don't agree with that
part but >> same I don't think that we need to refer anything I mean I think there are certain areas where sure we could but I don't think it's a necessity to refer anything to the bylaw review committee especially the way that our charter establishes them I know some communities
do have standing bylaw >> committees where all bylaws go to them for um you know uh deliberation. That's not how our town government works. Our charter doesn't establish one like that. So it's just not the purpose of our bylaw review committee. Now does that
mean that it's not going to be discussed there? No. It it may uh it probably >> the change could come in annual tail meeting if this does go to who? Yeah. >> Yeah. I'm I'm in complete agreement with that. >> But I want to hear what what the discussion is next week. >> Yeah. Okay.
Hold on. We got a couple pages to flip through here. >> All right. So, that was L and now we're on to M. Notice of town meeting. We voted to include this and we voted recommended 50. Any discussion on this bylaw change.
All right. Not hearing any. Article N, noise ordinance. Uh so I know that um the chief of police is reviewing feedback and this is still being uh reviewed and also uh town council is uh going through it as well. So
>> yeah to that um I shared um an email um in your in the packet uh from the police chief but I just want to for the public [Music] read some of these thoughts.
Okay. So, um the chief is concerned about unintended consequences um specifically around commercial businesses and um and as well as landscaping companies. So, he has
concerns about some of our large um commercial properties that run operations overnight during especially the summer months, but some at all times of years. He has concerns about the um the timing of this building and whether
that would be um inadvertently picked up and um some concerns about timing um hours of operation and hours of the time specifically to avoid the issue of the landscapers with the leaf blowers in the
morning. We're not This was an article that was not intended to be overly broad. Um, just >> this is, sorry to cut you off. This is creating a quiet hour of 900 PM, >> correct? >> Um, >> is this written? >> Yes. Yeah. On weekdays and weekends.
See, I'm like, so >> I have lots of questions. >> It's not a quiet hour. It's a um, so one of the things that we didn't want to do with the noise ordinance. Well, let me start with the problem. So the problem was um
complaints um about activity and the police did not have a ordinance to enforce and so it becomes a little bit difficult for them to
enforce. What this is not intended to do is to uh curb this commercial type of noise. you have some noise ordinance is in noise ordinances in communities that are specifically drafted to um affect
the commercial noise. It also was not intended to be overly prescriptive where we're getting a decibel meter route. Um so it was a reasonleness standard from off property at a certain distance about
that noise. Could this be solved by an HOA bylaw? An HOA setting up fees? >> Most residents don't live in an HOA. >> Okay. >> I have a hard time with this for a lot
of different reasons. Um I hadn't had a chance to really thoroughly read it before this one, but I am completely against the Nor's ordinance at 9:00 p.m. because I think there's going to be a lot of unintended consequences, especially in the summer months. And um I have lots of thoughts, but I'll leave
it at that for now. >> Right. >> Yes. So >> I mean this isn't just about commercial noise. >> No, it's not. No, that's what we're trying to avoid is the impact to the commercial noise and it didn't start from commercial noise. >> I do know that a noise ordinance different than this one was brought up
several years ago and did fail at town meeting uh pretty resoundedly. >> Um >> so I I don't know what the reddraft is going to look like. Um, I also think there should be a public hearing if we're going to be bringing this forward before it goes to town meeting. I think
that just us talking about it in this this is a huge in my opinion a huge deal. Maybe the town meeting floor, but I think that this is this has been a hot topic in our town. >> So, I'm just concerned about concerned about this. >> I don't disagree that it's controversial. I actually think that this is probably one of the more
controversial articles. What I do have concerns about though is that when we are picking and choosing which articles are going to hit a public hearing and which articles are not. Um this is so we just to illustrate this point and I'm
kind of picking on comments from everybody. Article L APDC bylaw we just talked about one treatment for that article. Article M, notice of town meeting bylaw. We t talked about a different treatment of that article.
Article N, bylaw, noise ordinance. We talked about a different treatment. So just in articles LM and N, we've talked about three different treatments. >> Maybe we need a policy about how be doing things. >> So a bylaw traditionally
>> does not have a public hearing. A zoning act does have a public hearing. I guess it's I used that word but I didn't necessarily mean public hearing has discussion is what I should have said. Okay. Cuz a public hearing does have a certain level of formality. I didn't mean a >> information session or something.
>> Yeah. There we go. Q&A whatever. >> Right. >> Engage a forum. >> Can we Yes. >> I forum. >> No, I completely agree. I think this is I mean on there's been a lot of talk in other articles for sure, but I actually do think that this is sort of like the sneaky one here that's going to end up being uh the most controversial one. And
I still don't really know where I'm on on this one. I understand the reason why it was necessary and it was truly, you know, unfortunate situation that we weren't able to uh enforce because we didn't have something on the books and that's why it's here. But no, I completely hear you, Amanda, and I agree. So, >> I just think that there's going to be
some there could be a lot of unintended consequences and 150 ft from a property line. I mean, a lot of our houses aren't even that >> that's that's a pretty I don't know. I just >> plainly audible at a distance of 150 ft from the property line.
>> I just That's You can't have any noise outside of your house after 9:00 p.m. within 150 ft of a property line. >> Barking dog. >> Wait, that's just I Sorry, I don't mean to be >> No, that's okay. I just I I think that there's definitely something that we're
trying to craft around. Um this is an area that definitely unintended consequences are possible. Um, I also think that we have to put some level of discretion on those that are enforcing
the bylaw. Um, that they are going to be exercising their discretion as they go out to enforce it. Um, so let's see what town council comes back with for a rewrite to see if we can
contain some of those. But um yeah, I think that there is probably more discussion that's needed on this article >> for sure. >> Is the chief coming next week? >> Um potentially >> if council is able to do a reddraft and we I think it's this is going to kind of
come down to whether or not um timing really on this one. >> Could we put this off to the annual town meeting? It seems like there's no chance that this, you know, for a lot of the same concerns I had stated previously
this like I can't imagine you can >> you know getting this in place and having input from the town town's people because you know that as to the previous point that that could really you know affect everybody in town if you know the
APDC affects the people in the APDC. This is the entire town. I I can't imagine we're going to have a bylaw in place that we could pass at the
special town meeting. >> Yeah, I understand. >> I mean, are we just torturing ourselves or or the the those crafting the bylaw? >> Yeah. >> The work if we're going to bring a if we're going to bring a bylaw to the annual town meeting, the work has to be
done whether he drafts it now or he drafts it later. That just again it seems like lack of you know public involvement. >> This is the process. >> Agreed. >> This also came organically from the public. >> Yeah. >> Very much so did.
>> So all right. >> I think if we have the draft before next week if if the chief the lieutenant could attend that might be helpful if we have a chance to have those questions. >> Yeah. I think you know it's really going to come down to >> timing like you said. >> Council is going to reddraft it. Does that lead to more questions or does that
satisfy? And there's going to be somewhat of a binary that forms based on that. >> All right. So, we'll continue this one. Article O, MBTA zoning act compliance. We voted to include it and we voted to defer. Do we want to hold on to our
deferral here? >> These are the two planning ones. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Well, >> until after their public hearing. >> Sure. Okay. So that's O and the next one as well. Let's get through these pages. And
then article P, same thing. All right. Article Q, amendments to the salary administration plan, position titles and grades. And we have an update for the temporary position for the assessor. >> Yes. Give me a moment.
So, um talked a little bit about that, um article that was on the May town meeting for the do directives uh funded at $27,500 uh for the board of assessors to do
phase one of the do directives. We talked about how we um had put that out for an RFP and had no takers. And so, there were a couple options. Do we package this as do we the full amount
that we think it's going to cost and go back out and do an RFP at a higher amount or is there another way to do this? um in talking to labor council and knowing um kind of what the the team's skill set are and what they're
looking at. One of a possible way to resolve this is by adding in addition to we had already talked about the conservation agent and lean use director uh director of planning and economic development on the SAP adding a title um that's very limited um that would be
special assistant to the assessor temporary on the SAP. This would allow us to hire somebody and they wouldn't be a contractor. that they would be under the control of the town as an employee um but in a temporary capacity.
their grade would be four asterisks which would line up. There's already on that on that sheet. Um if you look to the if you look to the back of this document schedule a page 16 and 17 on the bottom of page 17
you already have one asterk two asterk and three asterisks. So this would be to add a fourth asterct subject to an employment contract. So um that this would be a very limited special assistant to the assessor
temporary in nature that's not graded on this traditional grade um based on the nature of their employment with the town. We don't necessarily want them to follow the provisions of the SAP in terms of holiday pay and all that. So the employment agreement which would
cover their working conditions um essentially it would be an employee doing contract work but under the control of the town. So we have grappled with how to handle this project. Um we have put it out for bid and received no
bids. Um and this is a way that we can undertake the work um without having to continue down the procurement process of obtaining a contractor through an open procurement.
>> So we walk me through we can't the difficulty with hiring an individual under a contract outside of SAP. >> I have no mechanism to do it. So if I want to hire somebody,
they are either being hired as an employee under the SAP or a collective bargaining agreement, right? Or we're putting this out to bid. We're not hiring them. So we're not exerting the level of control over the person performing the work. They're an
independent contractor and they're bidding on a contract. So, it is in that competitive marketplace following um supplies and services contracting and they're bidding on it. We've tried it. We could try it again at a higher dollar
value and see if somebody bids on it or we can bring this internally. Don't RFP it and do it through an employment agreement. >> So, you essentially have a contract position in SAP >> for a defined period of time
>> when we have the funds for this. So there's there's 27,500 that was appropriated at the Mtown meeting which we believe is sufficient to at least cover this first part of the task >> benefits.
>> No, that's why employment agreement, right? So that we're really defining the terms and conditions of employment. Um talk to Mark Terry about how to labor council about how to do this. Do we just say that any any employee could be
temporary and any employee could be contracted? Well, that certainly we could argue about why that has some benefits. Um, this is really limited in nature and so to try to keep it limited in nature that it's about this one project. We have
this need for an employee that's going to be limited in scope, >> unintended consequences if we did it the other way, which seems like to be our theme tonight. if we had it open-ended versus having it >> if we scripted if we go back out >> I'm gonna need more money. So the 275
wasn't enough. Um and and probably we would have to package the whole project. Um so we would if we go and that would be under article whatever. Uh so the op the alternative
for this is article E. So if we go out and we we fund that do directives at the higher dollar value at the November 18th town meeting, we would craft another RFP. We would put it out and we would see what happens.
And I can't answer that. And so it's just uh that we don't know what the responses are going to be to an RFP. Does changing the packaging of it, changing the dollar value, changing the scope, does that get
anybody to bid on it that didn't bid, question mark. If the answer is yes, then okay. Um we just wouldn't have the level of control around them that you would have as an an employee. not necessarily
fundamentally flawed in that, but um if if we don't get anybody, we're now looking at we're back here and this is Maytown meeting and the work hasn't happened and um >> we're in trouble. >> We're getting there.
>> So, this 275 is for one piece of the whole deal. So, and >> and to be clear, where that number came from was um the interim town manager basically taking a stab at what he thought it may be. >> I'm just wondering for the rest of the
do directives, do you imagine we're going to have to take the same approach to and how much would be left? >> They are. So, I it's it's Yeah. Um we can certainly ask the assessor to dig into this more next week um when she's
here. the um it some of the work has been done in house and already is being done in house. Um this is particularly around the quantification of the neighborhood codes. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Because I'm worried, you know, if we
don't get someone to run for board of assessors, >> the board themselves would not be undertaking this work. No, no, but that whole office will >> Oh, >> that whole function will really >> Mhm. >> And how long do you imagine this
contract would be? Do you know? [Music] >> Initially, no more than a year. Initially, we'll see. We're >> 75 for one year. >> It's not It's not a They're not working 40 hours a week. Yeah.
>> Okay. All right. What do we want to do with this one tonight? Do we want to vote to include it? >> Are we Are we ready now or were you still >> I can >> last time we didn't we >> Yeah, I mean it's going to So I've
talked to council. He might word Smith language. >> Really? It's it's which way do we want to do we want to create a temporary position or do we want to fund a bigger project? I I would h >> seems like the easiest way to do it.
>> There's not Yeah, it's there's not >> We also could do this and might not get >> that either. Fill this position, >> right? >> I think we already tried the RFP process. >> We don't have enough funds for it. >> A bigger RFP we don't have funds for.
Yep. It's creative. >> Yeah. I mean, >> do we want to hold off on voting to include this? >> Do you want to hear from the assessor? >> Yeah. She's going to be here next week. We can talk to her about this as well. >> Sure. >> Okay.
>> I didn't mean to just say sure and like make that. >> Sure. >> It's fine. >> Yeah. >> Unanimous. Okay. >> Next week. >> All right. In article R, salary administration plan amendments.
>> So, we had two discussions last week that we said we were going to pick up today and I think um we have some clarification on. Um so, the first one we were discussing the grievance process. If someone didn't feel comfortable um submitting to the department head and that language is
added back. So, um, whatever was there before that they're not comfortable with it, then they can go to, uh, the human resources director. >> Awesome. >> And then the other one, um, was >> Can I ask? Sorry. >> Sure. Go ahead. >> Which one are we looking at? >> The one that's >> the one that's separate, not the one that's in
>> Yep. This is the This is the whole Yeah, the SAP. >> I had it stuck in my >> um, and the other one was the one that Amanda brought up regarding promotions. I'm just going to have to find it again. Yeah, it's section >> 7D- what was it?
>> 11 >> 11. Yes. Um okay. So I think if we just continued reading we would find um so after the change it also states they may also receive at the time one or more step rate increases provide the maximum for the job is not exceeded if the
department head recommends that qualifications and performance warranted and the town manager approves. So that flexibility um seems to already be in there. page six. >> Yeah. >> Up the bottom. >> So this was the discussion around
internal promotion. Yes. I mean internal. >> Yeah. >> So it looks like the flexibility is actually already in there. >> Oh, >> it was hard hard to read. I think the red line with red and blue and different colors. So >> I read that multiple times and I don't
know how I missed that. >> Okay. And I think that was it. Is anyone remembering anything else that we um had last week that was still open? >> There was a question on sick leave bank incentives. Who else had them? >> Oh, >> the unions. All unions.
>> Mhm. >> Okay. Has anything else changed here substantially that you want to cover for us? Or sorry, Amanda, go ahead. >> On the sick leave incentive, what is the clerical unions incentive now? I feel like police and fires, that's a whole separate ball game when they're on
a 24-hour schedule, but give me a sec. >> And what section is that? Do you know? Uh, [Applause]
I think it's 7020, I'm assuming. Okay. >> Oh, >> 70. >> 21. >> That's weird. So, employees who don't do not use any sick leave within a six-month period calculated quarterly.
Oh, >> calculating it quarterly for six months. >> I think that could just I think that's a leftover from it was three months, >> right? Now it should be twice a year. >> Yeah, that should be changed. >> Yeah, >> give me a sec.
>> I'm in the ask me. >> I know this was something that had has come up previously. >> I'm also curious how many of our SAP members are getting this benefit. >> The sick leave incentive. >> Yeah. Is it I don't remember. Yeah, >> it's widely.
>> So, in the conversations with staff, this is the biggest area where they have issues with it. Um, especially as articulated staff that um
does not have as much vacation time. They really use it to boost their vacation time. You know, I think I'm willing to seed the point. I think I've made my point that um I think fundamentally incentivizing
>> not using sick leave in exchange for personal days is not what sick leave is for. I don't like the incentivization of people potentially coming to work sick. Um I think that there's remedies for sick leave abuse.
Nonetheless, all that said, it certainly feels like, at least to some, that something's being taken away. >> I'm willing to seed the point um >> it's in the clerical one >> to be I I'm trying to pull it up to um pull it up to bring this up at a later
discussion topic. Um if that if that um helps. And Amanda, let me ask, I don't have the I have the older one. Do you know when that unless it's I go to my office? Do you know if that was in the last iteration
>> the 23 version or was that a new ad otherwise I'm going to go grab it from my desk? >> No, it was not a new ad that's been in there unless they changed something. It's been in there. >> I'm not control fing incentive. Okay. Um it's just a bad f. Let me check quarter.
Ah, okay. a threemonth period >> um one additional day for each quarter. >> Okay. >> So that's Oh, we did change it. >> So it's the same. >> Wait, is it three? Is is three >> employees who don't do not use any sick leave within a three-month period will
be entitled to one additional uh personal day for each s quarter. So it's quarterly. It >> is that the current contract? >> This is the 2023. I can go grab the current one. We might have it might have gone down to three times a year instead of quarterly.
>> Let me see. >> I don't know whether that actually happened or not, but that was a discussion that got brought up. >> Not that it >> and now we're saying twice a year in here. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. I just would like to keep things the same on this for I think those two
units are similar and I don't really want to have one different from the other at this point. Yeah, I can understand wanting consistency and I'm also okay with scrapping this. This is the, you know, sticking point in all the changes in here. Um, so that's where I'm at on this one in particular.
>> Sick leave. Okay. I'm looking at the most recent MOA. I don't either. Yeah, >> I think I have. It doesn't look look like it got changed in the last MOA. >> Then it might have been taken off the table. >> So then I would say we leave it as is
personally. >> Okay. Yeah, I'm I'm fine with that too. >> But I don't know how other members feel about >> Wait, three months or six? Every 3 months or six months? >> It's three months right now. >> Okay. >> Leave it as >> Leave it as is for three months. >> Okay. Ignore these changes then. Right.
>> Okay. >> Got it. >> Okay. All right. keep as is. >> I still think it's wrong. >> I know. I I agree with your argument. I do. >> Um >> All right. Any other um changes in here that you want to highlight?
>> So, the um for the all the previous reasons that you know I don't need to go through. >> Hold on. We'll we'll get there. Don't worry. >> Um yes. So minor um there was a change
in in your a clarification language in 70-3 qualifying language that I had added. I took it out. I don't think it's necessary. I think the original language read fine. Um it was about um the position of all
employees and then it was comma characterized as parttime A, part-time B, full-time. I I think it's fine the way it stood. So, I >> backed off of that. Um, and then we made the change about the um
the uh if you don't feel comfortable going to your department head and you have a grievance, what to do? Um, I had a pretty open-ended um opportunity for folks to come in and talk. I did have one person that came in um and uh wants
us to craft some clarity around the grievance proceed if they are many members of the SAP are department heads. So all the language around grievance and um that they need to go to their department head or if
there's discipline department head um that we should clarify what if you are the department head and so that was a good point. I think we can add that in easily. I think that's it for anything really substantively. Um I know there was some
discussion about whether or not we want to bifurcate this article into one or more pieces. Um >> yep. >> Not I didn't really want to undertake that effort um without without knowing for sure what folks wanted to do.
>> All right, Glenn, go ahead. You were going to say something. >> Uh just relative to the personnel committee, I um you know, not not to indicate my position either way. I I'm I'm um the uh arguments to eliminating have
quite a bit of impact on me. I see I see the the relevance specifically with the lack of um membership of that board. But for all those previous um issues I mentioned earlier for previous like APDC whatnot, I just think it's premature and
lack of um input from from the public. So I think it's a little premature. And what in particular in this article though? >> Um just the um is this talking about separating the you know the abolishment of the personnel committee? >> Okay. Is that what you're really talking about here that you think it's
premature? Is it the personnel committee part or there other substantive things? >> Well uh >> article >> predominantly the the uh personnel committee. Yes. >> Okay. Understood. All right. Well, >> acknowledging the fact the bylaw rec bylaw review committee is not going to
review it. >> Sure. >> Well, they may stipulate to that. >> Personally, I think what's really important to bring before voters at this town meeting is the vacation and the sick leave and actually changing that. And I do believe that we need to act
with urgency on that. the personnel committee stuff. Honestly, to me, I that's not a priority that for this article, at least in my opinion. So, we can have the conversation about whether or not that needs to be a part of it or if we want to split it out or if we don't want to include it at all. >> I think we can have that conversation.
>> Yeah. And and I, you know, and this one's a little bit different in that this has actually been on town meeting floor and I have made amendments trying to fix the the uh the issues. So, yeah, I'm I'm fully behind fixing those issues 100%.
>> Perfect. All right. Where are other members at? >> I think we should split. >> Okay. >> The personnel committee from the other SAP amendments. Um, I think that that split makes sense.
It's a lot to um to put in one article and I that seems like um a division that makes sense to me. Um I think if we do that we need to present the the changes in
SAP like just call them out to make it clear what the changes are instead of I don't know if if we're planning on sharing I don't even know which document it is anymore. >> The this whole Yeah. >> summary the whole
what happened to it. Give the computer people paper. >> Yeah, >> I know. >> Did you take it? >> Take what? What did I take? >> Nothing. >> That one? The one? >> This one? >> It's that one >> that I wrote on. Oh, yeah. This one. Yeah. Thank you. >> Um
>> 70-1. 70-2. >> She needs this. >> So, so one answer is I think breaking it into two makes sense to me. Having the personnel committee and >> is that what you need? >> No, I've got it all. It was sitting right in front of me. Ryan pointed it
out. Um, that seems like like uh splitting it that way. >> Okay. >> Makes sense to me. >> I would agree with uh member Mi. I think the >> there's going to be people who are concerned about the personnel committee. Um I personally support all the changes,
but I think that's a >> maybe a bigger fight and a harder vote. >> Yeah. >> For the public. >> Yeah. No, I understand and I I can get on board with that as well. Amanda, where are you at on this? >> I'm I think that's probably the best idea. Um I'm supportive of all of the
changes. I know I think I've been pretty vocal about that, but again, like you said, I think the most important changes are the ones for the employees. >> Mhm. >> Are there things in here for you that not employee related, but the personnel
committee or other changes that are more important than others that we should be emphasizing? I mean it looks like a lot of changes. So I think however we present this needs to be I think that the the biggest
the biggest issues are bringing the SAP into the 21st century. Um I think that you have seen that we are not competitive and we do not do a good job retaining. Um but even more so the
treatment of new employees under the SAP makes it very difficult to recruit. Um so for me um I think that that is the mo this was driven largely from the discussions that happened here with this board in
response to feedback that you've heard about employees. That's the most important um to me. Um I think that you know the the personnel committee
I think that um you know there certainly could be additional discussion that's happens on it. You know frankly um if I'm going to be honest I've been accused of engaging in
a power grab. Um it behooves me to stay silent on this issue. So, let me be clear right now. Um, other than hiring above a step four, there is no personnel committee. The town manager decides it all. It behooves
me, Jennifer Warren Diamond, to stay silent on this issue. It does not benefit the town of Lunenburgg to continue in this manner. That said, if folks need more time with that thought and more time to discuss how that looks,
that's fine. Um, I think that there's in the document that was put together about the personnel board and about personnel boards, I think there's folks
um who we rely on for expertise like the division of local services >> who have spoken pretty clearly to the issue. Um, I think that people's personal experiences have spoken to the issue. That said, I don't want to throw out the baby with the bathwater. I think that's
really important that this was being driven by um you know the the need to address the employee concerns. So that's primary. I do think that if we bifurcate the
articles, there's one piece that we're going to want to carry um and and into both and that's the in the absence of the personnel committee language >> to give what happens if so there's at
least one area um that nothing can happen and that's hiring above a step four in the absence of a personnel committee. can't can't do it unless we're doing it with an employment agreement. That's the only way to do it. There is a hard line. So that I think you're going to want to
give give the option that in the absence of a personnel committee, hiring above a step four could be decided by this board. >> Right. >> What what if on 70-12 uh paragraph A
That's the part that she was uh just talking about. >> Yeah. If we deleted that last sentence, >> it's fine by me. I But I I think that I think that the the concern though I again fine by me, but I think that the concern you're
going to have those same folks in the community that are concerned about the other issues, concerned about the deletion of that language. So, um, >> but in in one of my motions or, um, amendments on town meeting floor a year
or so ago, I I think I actually spoke to that like we should be able to entrust our town manager, this the the chief executive officer of the town to hire somebody within the appropriate pay range. Like if you if you hired somebody at you had three years of you know
experience and put them in at at step eight well then it's not going to reflect very well on you >> right although there are you know depending on market conditions you might be doing >> right I mean but you would explain it so I mean I'm not wor I mean I'm open to hearing
>> I think a way that we could fix 7-12A um if we retain the language the personnel committee must formally vote to approve any proposal by the town manager to pay the new employee above the step four. um if in the absence of a quorum of the
personnel committee or if the personnel there's language elsewhere in the SAP that speaks to in the absence of a personnel committee using that same language if the personnel committee cannot convene um this may be approved through action by this board that gives that kind of secondary I thank you for
the vote of confidence but it does give that secondary layer of approval that a lot of members of the public do want to see um and I don't have an issue with that um I just think that we want that uh flexibility >> things that are making it difficult by
splitting it apart. >> But I think it makes more sense because I >> well because otherwise it all sinks or it all >> right right >> and then to sacrifice you know right >> some of the employee benefits. >> Um so that would mean the personnel
committee article should go first. >> No, we can >> I don't think it really matters. I I think I think that we can we can pick up that one piece in the absence of the personnel committee in both versions, right? Or in just the other version. >> Oh, I see what you're if you're
referring to something that >> if if the personnel committee goes away. >> Okay. >> It simplifies the SAP >> the next article the language. >> Yep. So um we should let's let's discuss that
because we may end up if there is consternation around this bringing a lot of that dialogue into town meeting right before we and folks not seeing that this one may be a little bit controversial
and we want to discuss. You don't want that to bleed into the one that we want. >> I almost thought the other way. Let's vote for the employees and then get into the >> so maybe maybe vet that out and >> can the SAP changes be amended on the
town meeting floor? >> So any article as drafted may be amended through the motion on town meeting floor provided that the motion is gives enough or that the warrant article gave enough
room that somebody could contemplate that action being taken at town meeting. So something a a quick change in language that around that specific piece >> abs 3 months 6 months something.
>> Okay. >> All right. So it sounds like we do want to split these two. So we're going to have to reddraft that and we'll revisit it next week. Is there any other um parts in here that we want to discuss tonight? Uh >> just a question with 70-20 the sick leave.
sickly bank. >> Uh should it uh paragraph E? >> Oh, E. >> Yeah. >> Um should it be three consecutive days of work? >> Yes. Uh >> like it's not if you have three three sick days throughout a month. Three
consecutive. Yep. >> Okay. Mhm. >> And and just as a comment, I think it's three days and I know there it's in at least one other um contract, but to require I know it's up to it's the
discretion of the town, but to to demand or request a doctor's note after 3 days seems pretty tough. Like who goes >> It's pretty standard. Yeah, that's three days is the pretty standard. Yeah. So if someone's So how do you determine if
someone's out for three days you just do you every time someone's out sick for three days you ask for >> no really >> that's a discretionary yeah >> yeah so how do you what do you use to deter >> may require >> yeah it is may for sure but >> yeah so circumstances around what the
supervisor knows about the illness super what the supervisor knows about the employees use of sick time what what they know >> it seems short but and and is that at the town's expense the doctor's note. No, that's that that's the employee obtaining a doctor's note.
>> They add three day sick days onto every holiday weekend. You might want to >> that reflex. >> And now now most doctors do tellahalth. I mean it's not >> Yeah, >> it's not an ownorous thing.
>> All right. Anything else? So, we're not voting on anything tonight with these. >> We haven't included them or >> Yeah, we need to split them though. So, so no. >> Um All right. And that was the last article.
All right. Moving on. Discussion on tri board meeting of the select board, finance committee, and school committee. Any discussion on this tonight? Do we know when our next tribe board will be? >> No. Um, it will be at the end of November. It's Thanksgiving.
>> I don't know. >> Thanksgiving is on >> the very very end. Thanksgiving is at the absolute end of November. >> It's the Thursday. It's the week after town meeting, >> right? >> Yeah. I It might be that it might be earlier in that week. >> Yeah. that week.
>> It's possible for the tri board. It's possible. >> Um I we don't have a date. So >> yeah, I'm just thinking a lot of people travel >> right >> that week. So >> and I also don't want to do it the same week as town this day after town meeting either. So >> or that week. So yeah, we'll have to
>> we'll have to look at that. >> All right. Minutes. Have we reviewed the minutes for September 23rd, 2025? Yes. >> Any feedback? >> Is there a motion to approve the minutes? >> I'll make a motion to approve the
minutes from September 23rd, 2025. >> Second. >> Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed, no. Motion passes unanimously. Warrants. We have an accounts payable warrant
in the amount of 1,613 uh,540.86. >> This accounts payable. Is that what you said? >> Yes. >> Any action items? >> Can we do we have any money to get new chairs? Sure. Yes. They're pretty I was
They're pretty bad. >> I had to swap this one out cuz that one over there is >> Yeah, some of them don't go up enough for us short people. Really? >> My preference is Herman Miller. >> Oh, okay. Noted. I'll check Brimfield for you.
>> Any other action items? >> All right. Committee reports >> pass. >> The school committee's meeting tomorrow. The board of assessors is meeting Thursday. The board of assessors is still looking for one member. That's all I got. >> Uh finance committee met last week. They
uh had their first initial discussion on the warrant articles. Um they didn't take any votes. They'll be voting at a future meeting. um trib. Oh, no. So, they they mentioned um the tribard meetings, they asked if they
could get presentations um prior to those tri board meetings in advance, ideally before their fin meeting, but um that would be like two weeks in advance. I don't know. Uh and they will be scheduling a public hearing and I think you said it was
November 13th. Now, >> that that's what I heard tenatively from. didn't have a date last week. Um, and I I think um, Storm Water is supposed to meet this week, but I don't know if the agenda has been posted, so we may not be meeting.
That's it. >> Did you have any, Glenn? >> No, I I passed. I got a couple upcoming meetings. >> Okay, gotcha. Council on Aging met this morning. Uh, we had an initial introduction of the bylaw review process. So, their next meeting, they'll be reviewing the Council on Aging bylaw. Uh the Eagle House supporters is going
to be hosting a festival of trees event. Uh so basically what you can do is purchase a tree, decorate it, and then donate to them and there's going to be a viewing event that'll be at the adult activity center on Friday, November 21st. And it's their first real fundraiser that they're doing. Uh there was an update on the satellite health
center um that's going in in Grten. So they recently broke ground and are anticipating uh opening potentially in late 2026, maybe early 2027. uh they still have to go and get uh DPH approval as well. Um but they're beginning construction on that. Um there was a
discussion on potentially exploring assistance for safe shower installation for seniors. Uh but it was pretty much just an idea that the chair had posed that she had thought of. Um, and there was also a discussion on the bill for caregivers that was filed by uh,
Representative Kushmeik for um, uh, pretty much refundable tax credits up to $1,500 to uh, family caregivers and uh, those are pretty much the highlights. Upcoming meeting, so we are meeting next week, October 21st.
Public comment. Is there any public comment from the public? Miss Lockwood, >> good evening on the Lockwood 91 Main Street. Um, so today I was talking with a friend and this person said something that it's a
it's a great it's a great quote. I'm going to start using it that government in Lunberg has always been very close to the people and um and I think you know that's something we want to preserve. And what I think the person meant was, you know, the citizens of Lunberg are
part of every aspect of the government, which is a great way to think of it. The bylaw review process is intended to allow substantive changes of the bylaws while allowing for public input and
feedback. So while we can change bylaws and amend them and I think we have routinely done that. I think any meaningful bylaw changes or charters that has always been held at the bylaw review or charter review. And this has always always been more than checking a
box on the process. I mean I I remember many meetings that Amanda's mom has been here doing charats or something of that nature for different things and that has been standard for many versions of
select board. Um you know and within the conversation that you all have had about you know sending ac putting a a bylaw put putting a an meeting warrant article in the town meeting. You know, you I
heard the conversation earlier, but you know, if a bylaw, if a change that affects residents have not been sufficiently vetted, you have the right to send that back to the committee proposed and say, you know, this is has simply not been vetted
enough. And that happened with the community preservation act in 2019. The select board did not add it to the town. It was a proposal by the historical commission. They said, you know, there's just not been enough. we haven't communicated. We haven't done the um
proper due diligence and I think that is a lot of uh there are some very meaningful but warrants that you guys are adding to the to the town meeting warrant that I don't feel has had that public input and you know the I'm glad the personnel
committee the elimination of the personnel committee has been separated by from the changes um you know with all due respect uh Jennifer Warren and uh Diamond I, you know, that's your proposal, but the proposal that I think Lunberg and the residents can have might
be might look a little different than it was if we're given the the time and the process to have proper feedback and and I feel pretty strong about that. Um the APDC while they have been trying to talk about this change that affects so many
residents affects people ability to use their property affects people's ability to to use renovate it has a a significant cost associated with you know how that bylaw is is approved. uh while they have talked there's not been
a single sharet conversation listening session about that bylaw like all these residents in the town in the village district have not been invited to give a feedback and say hey what do you think about that and I think that's a big
failure so being working on something for two years which is not two years by the way the APDC voted to request this to meeting warrant December of 24 not two years ago And it was a meeting that they only had three members and not four. Um, and since then they voted to
actually request the bylaw review to go through the bylaw review which I thought was wise because it allows for public participation allows for public to come and give input. What do you think about this and why not? Um, and you know the
so I I'll I'll leave that with that. But I think I don't think the public the residents of the village district have been given enough opportunity to give feedback on how they feel about this. On top of everything else that I have mentioned on the emails that I've been sending this board since the spring of
this year. Um and despite that nothing has been um you know the public noise uh bylaw interesting we have had one that failed to meeting a few years ago. Um I public spoke spoke against it and I
never actually am Amanda's mom was with me uh on that and and that bylaw was vetted. We did have public hearing sessions in this building with the chief of police because that was a a bylaw that was proposed by the chief of police and it failed even with that. So you
know and Jen you said one thing that really for me was like a huge red flag. I think Amanda mentioned something about you know enforcement and you said you know exercise um the per the people in response for >> discretion
>> for for enforcement who have you know exercise discretion on enforcement that is such a red flag like that is like inviting calls to the police department you know I don't like my neighbor I'm going to call because I hear something from my property um I briefly read that
by law I haven't really discussed it But again I so anyway so I invite you all to keep Lunberg you know government close to the people and it you know beyond the the public hearing to effectively do
more public hearing sessions. If a bylaw if I propose by a fax residence has not been sufficiently vetted by simply inviting the residents to be part of that discussion send it back and just say that's that's your your right to do it. So um I'm a little more I feel a
little more positive about today's discussion than last meeting. I felt like last meeting everything was read and put in the warrant without you know proper proper history of Lunberg of just listening to residents and inviting them to participate on that and I hope that
that continues and last week I was right I don't think you had public comment in the beginning of the meeting when I came so I I ask you to please continue with public comment in the beginning of of the meetings you know there are a lot of people that want to participate and yes I'm here but you know I don't think I
the the Slack board has its bylaws and it says, you know, we want to encourage com comment and participation from the public, you know. So, I hope we can continue with that. So, thank you very much. >> All right. Is there any other public comment from the public?
Any public comment from the town manager? >> No. >> Any public comment from the board? >> Nope. Nope. >> All right. I move to enter into executive session and I forgot what we forgot. >> I forgot. We all wanted adjournment.
>> I was like, look, I'm all packed up. >> I also forgot. I know. >> I was about to make a motion to adjourn. >> Sorry, guys. But I move to enter into executive session and not re-enter into open session pursuant to MGL chapter 30 section 21 A3 to discuss strategy with respect to litigation if an open meeting
may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares. And this is for the Department of Industrial Accidents claim. >> Second. This will be a roll call vote. Glenn, >> hi. >> Brian, I Renee, I >> Amanda, I and I for myself. Uh, it is 9:17 p.m. and we are now in executive
session. We're not going to return open session. So, I'm going to say now uh to everyone watching tonight, have a good night and we'll see you next week.