Welcome to tonight's meeting of the Lunberg Select Board. Today is Tuesday, September 23rd. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. 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 two. In October, the Lunberg Public Library will host a number of special events to celebrate the 20th anniversary of our
beautiful library building. Those events include one, a kickoff celebration on October 3rd from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. featuring a performance by the Lunberg Middle School marching band, the announcement of the friends of the Lunberg Public Library summer writing
contest winners, a presentation on the history of libraries in Lunberg from Bill Tyler of the historical society, and refreshments from local small businesses as well. And the second, during the month of October, library visitors of all ages can find three
scavenger hunts to explore this gem of a library. Each complete scavenger hunt will be automatically entered into a prize drawing. In addition, a library of services fundraiser will be available with patrons able to claim donated skills and services from members of our
community in exchange for monetary support of the friends of the Lunberg Public Library. In third, a month-long celebration will conclude with a closing ceremony on October 24th, a birthday party style celebration with cake and fanfare.
Winners of the scavenger hunt prizes will be announced and representatives from the friends of the Lunberg Public Library and the libraries board of trustees will briefly address the community. >> All right. The event will conclude with a 75minute concert.
And finally, the Lunberg Community Spaghetti Supper will be hosted at the Lunberg Adult Activity Center tomorrow, Wednesday night, from 4 to 6:00 p.m. There will be pasta, meatballs, bread, and soda. $7 for adults, $5 for seniors,
and $3 for children. All right, up first we have a toll booth application for the Eagle House supporters and the Lunberg Teen Center in support of the Lunberg Adult Activity Center and the afterchool program at the
Teen Center. And the date is October 25th, 2025 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. So, we have Andy and Nicole here. And for a bit of background on this, u they were both trying to get um toll booth set up for obviously separately for
their organizations, but it happened to be on the same date and then they came up with the idea of pretty much combining them and I think your plan is to just split the proceeds. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. Awesome. Well, thank you for coming up with that solution. It uh solved a headache that we had. So, if
there are any questions from the board? No, I I'll just abstain from this vote just based on the concerns with the policies. I understand that they've adhered to adhered to the policy. >> Understood. Do you want to voice what the concerns are? >> Just overall overall safety, but I I could I could go into more detail once
when and if we ever like review the policy, but >> Understood. Any other questions from board members? >> No. >> No. Anything else you guys want to say? >> No. >> Just thank you for the opportunity. >> Yeah, >> of course. All right. Well, with that, I will um move to approve the toll booth
requests from both the Eagle House supporters and the Lunberg Teen Center for October 25th, 2025, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. >> Correct. Second. >> Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes unanimously.
>> All right. Thank you both for coming in tonight and I hope you guys uh have a good toll booth. >> Thank you. >> All right. See you guys around. Okay, up next we have earth removal permit renewal. So two are on here. Only one of them uh is going to be considered
tonight. Um so the first is PJ Keating 998 Reservoir Road permits SBER-25-1-2-3-4-5 and 6 formally permits 15 16 17 27 30 and 57. Um the other one that we're um not going to be considering tonight but
is actually going to be uh renewed at some point um another night is Jim Latanzi 780 Northfield Road permit 61. So we do have Brian our building commissioner here. Uh he inspected the site. So we do have representation from uh PJ Keading here as well to uh answer
any questions that board members may have. So I'll open it up to the board now. Are there any questions on any of these permit renewal applications? >> Mr. Chairman, through you if if we just want to maybe inquire to the building commissioner. He inspected the sites um
what his findings were and if he has any recommendations for the board on renewal. >> Okay. And he is on Zoom. Brian, do you just want to uh share your opinions here? >> Um so yeah, as most board members are aware, I've inspected this site from both the Lancaster side and the
Lunenburgg side. So, I am familiar with it. Um, site inspections this year were very smooth. Um, they're making improvements with equipment, dust control measures. They've got some new misting systems in place. And despite the very dry season,
the dust controls were great. Um, I mean, I think I passed two water trucks during the tour in less than an hour. Um, yeah, all the sites are in compliance. Some of the parcels they still aren't really using. They just keep it on the permit. Um, it was just
orderly as always. >> All right. Thank you, Brian. That's definitely good news. Any questions or discussion from board members? >> No. >> All right. Is there a motion then to renew uh the PJ Keating Earth removal permits?
>> Uh, I move that we renew the PJ Keating Earth removal permits. Do I have to name all of them? Okay. As listed in the agenda. >> Second. Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes
unanimously. All right. Thank you guys for coming in tonight. Thank you, Brian, as well for joining us. >> Do you want to just have him >> Oh, I'm I'm pointing through you to this camera. Do you want to just have him speak to his inspection? We had um so
Mr. The Antanzi had originally sought to not renew his permit and as part of that um the building commissioner went out just to inspect the site and um based on that inspection he's going to renew. Do you want to just explain? I think there's only a small amount of material.
>> Um so yeah, this started with a large sand pile up in the back resulting from his tree removal. Uh not tree removal, his uh Christmas tree operation as you guys may or may not remember from when it was issued. He didn't sell off all the material. Um there's still a sizable pile out there and he expressed interest
today in now renewing it. Um again he's running the trucks as required going on to Northfield instead of on the Chase Road. What few trucks there are I think he said he sold 1,000 yards total. That would be at most 50 trucks maybe off the
site. I don't have the exact number. I don't know that he had much of a log in terms of how many trucks came off. Seemed pretty low impact. And I I know now he's going to be seeking to renew instead. >> Okay. Yeah. So, we need to get that application ready and then we'll have it
before us in a future meeting. >> All right. Any questions on that one? >> All right. Thanks, Brian. >> You're welcome. Have a good night. >> You, too. >> All right. Moving on to public comment. Any public comment from the board?
Any public comment from the public? Come on up. Hi, my name is Rob Foster. I'm the chair of the formerly Lunberg High School Alumni Association, now called the Blue Knights Alumni Association. We're in the process of reconfiguring and stressing
putting in systems and things to make the >> Sorry to interrupt, but just before you go, uh, can you also state your address for the record? Address >> 25 Fview Avenue, Lunenburgg. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> We're in the process of reconfiguring the association to make it a much more
powerful fundraiser than it is has been in the past. We wanted to make the town aware that we're holding our uh banquet at the bull run on November 2nd. We're shooting for the maximum number of people that the fire laws allow us in
the sautell room which is 250. We usually get about 110 120. And uh I also wanted to let the town know that our honores this year are But, uh, those are the people who we're
going to honor. And then we don't usually honor faculty, but this year we're going to honor Pete Lincoln because um, it's welld deserved to say the least. And it's an interesting coincidence that both Deb and Pete are being honored at the same time. Um, so
we encourage people to come out. Tickets are $45 a person. They can be garnered at our uh our website bkalumni.org or on our Facebook page, Blue Knights Alumni Association. That's it. Thank you very much.
>> Thanks for letting us know. We can definitely help make this announcement, too, so more people see it. >> Appreciate it. >> All right. Awesome. Thanks for coming in tonight. >> All right. Any other public comments from the public? Any on Zoom? Not seeing any.
>> All right. Up next, we have ratify the town manager's appointment of Penelopey Beish as library page effective September 24th, 2025. So it >> this is an entry- levelvel position and Penelope has shown great eagerness in
wanting to join the library and has um absolutely researched uh what the program's mission is and we are excited to have her start her first job in her life with us. >> Awesome. Sounds great. Is there a motion? >> I'll make a motion to ratify the town
manager's appointment of Penel B. Beish is library page effective September 24th, 2025. >> Second. >> Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Those no. The motion passes unanimously. And next, acknowledge the resignation of Amy Driggers, the
assistant accountant. [Music] [Applause] >> Okay. I'm going to kind of be talking about that directly into my town manager report. So, >> we'll talk about it then. >> All right. Town manager.
So, um, through the chair to the public, uh, the board is aware, um, the town of Lunenburgg has had some pretty substantial changes in our finance department. Um, so we, um, we had a planned retirement for the payroll and
benefits position. Um, Nancy Oor, who has been with the town for some time and has a tremendous amount of institutional knowledge uh, as to our systems and our collective bargaining agreements, is retiring. um at the end of October. Um
for that position, the position was advertised at the last meeting of the select board. You appointed a replacement. Um that individual unfortunately has taken another position. Uh we did another round of interviews for the position and made
another offer. Um that person has declined the position. So we will continue to uh interview candidates. uh we are finding qualified candidates in the applicant pool. So we know that we are marketing this position correctly.
It's just a timing issue. Unfortunately, what that means is we may not the time is running narrow for us to have overlap in the position. We really wanted a month of overlap at least for this position. Um so
let me pause for a plan and segue into the next item. So Amy Driggers is our assistant accountant and I was very sorry to um receive her resignation last week. Uh she is going on to neighboring Lemonster for a position in the
controllers's office and while we wish her well um we had an immediate vacancy in that position. So uh there is a a contractor who has worked in the past with the town on accounts payable. We have brought that contractor back. Uh he
is starting he is a retired finance director. He lives 10 minutes away. Uh he's worked with us in the past. He is currently working on a contract three days a week in Rockport. So he can provide us two days a week, Wednesdays and Fridays for accounts payable services. The reason why I paused for a
moment on the plan for the payroll benefits administrator position is because we are actively interviewing qualified candidates for the accounting position. uh we had a lot a great pool of candidates for that position. So, it's possible that Steven may be able to
slide from the accounting work in a contract over to the payroll and benefits. I'm going to talk to him about that tomorrow on his first day here and see what the feasibility of that is. Um if not, I'll be looking for another interim contractor in in the meantime. Um, and then last but certainly not
least, our finance director, Azie Ayala, is going back to the uh private nonprofit sector. Um, and he's off to be the executive director of the Latin American Health Alliance in the city of Worers, which is a huge and tremendous opportunity for him. Um, upon receiving
his resignation, I uh got a contract in place for transi transitional services with Eric Kinsherf uh CPA. He provides these services across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Uh he is already meeting weekly with Ezie. He is assisting with closing out our books for
FY25 and we have interviewed for that position and we have uh I had a round of interviews. There was another round of interviews held this weekend. Thank you for uh to the chairman uh Caesar and Renee and Chris Manard who were able to
pull that together quickly. this is a critical position especially with the other two vacancies. So, uh we do have an offer out and we have that offer accepted. So, um I'm I guess excited to say for the first time um that Katie McKenna I'm happy to have her joining us
as finance director and we can be talking about an employment agreement uh at the next meeting of the board for that. So, um while my I have a few other items on my town manager report. So while my topics are slim, um this has uh
been the top priority for the office. Uh I have to give credit to my staff for being very um uh malleable in dropping everything, reposting, interviewing. Ezie has had more interviews. Um he's thought he's
filled this positions so many times over. So um I really appreciate the work that everybody's been putting in. Um, I think folks are really, you know, concerned about making sure that the transition happens in a good way. Um, the next item is the bag fee increase
that was voted at the previous meeting. Uh, we said an October 1st start date. Residents, you have a little bit of a reprieve. October 15th is going to be the start date. So, go out, buy your bags. We're going to start messaging it this week, but um, get them now. You got
15 extra days for the lower price. So October 15th is the day for that increase. Um I want to thank everybody who pulled together the Whalm 25 years of memories event last weekend. I am official wearing my Wham shirt. You're
welcome Mr. Tyler if you're watching. Um, so that was it was really great to see so many people come out and look around the room and talk about how Whalm impacted their life, whether they remember going there with their parents who have since passed or they worked
there. The indelible mark that Wham has left on this community was evident in that day. So, it was nice to be able to commemorate what once was 25 years later. Um, and I think that that's it for updates. Uh, so current recruitments, we
have the payroll and benefits position that we are actively interviewing for, the assistant town accountant that we are actively interviewing for. The offer has been accepted for the finance director position. We do have a 9hour a week dietary aid position that is
posted, but we are not um currently interviewing for. So if anybody is interested in that uh position send in your resume. Uh same with equipment operator we are actively interviewing there. Uh land use director we have started interviews um today actually it
will probably be a few more weeks of interviews for that position. Uh the children's staff librarian position is posted. I do not believe interviews has started yet there. Administrative assistant to the building department. We've had a number of interviews and we'll continue that into next week. Uh
offer going out for the recreation director position uh this week. And that is it for recruitments. Um and the same list of appointed and elected boards um as last time. I'm happy to read through
those, but otherwise I will forgo the reading of the boards and committees that are available. >> I think that's okay. Any questions? Does the planning board participate in the interviews for the planning director? >> Uh, so I have invited the planning board
chair to participate [Music] and the building commissioner and myself and the HR director round out the full complement of who's been in the interviews. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions?
>> All right. Thank you. Moving on to current business. right of first refusal for 222 West Towns and Road and this was in chapter 61B. Um so we have recommendations from all the boards and all of them recommended not to exercise
our first right of refusal. Um so I'm just going to open it up to discussion um and see what board members say. I don't know if you've all had a chance to uh actually look at this property and read all the feedback yet. Um what's also the timeline for this? >> So so good question. So, um, the
>> it's 120 days. >> Well, it's 120 days total. So, we have time for the board to make a decision. It's the the actual date. Uh, where's my email? Hold on one second. I'm tell. So the
November 19th is the 120day date, but we are at the point where the select board does need to make some decisions. Um so the select board's office once you receive feedback um per your policy that
feedback is to be discussed at a public meeting and then compiled and um sent back to all the other different entities that have weighed in. Um it would be my recommendation if the select board also is inclined to wave its right per the
recommendations that we wave this notice requirement of the policy um sending it back to the boards. >> Sure. >> Um if there is a vote of the select board to pursue. So it's this is a soft vote tonight. I guess it's either if if you're going to wave your right. It's we
can say that we're going to end the process tonight. But if you there's a majority vote of the select board to pursue um the to exercise the first the first refusal rights then it would be placed on a future agenda for a public hearing. >> Okay. Gotcha. All right. Thank you for
that. Um are any board members um interested in actually exercising a right of first refusal for this property? >> Not. >> So we we heard from the other committees that none of them recommended that we exercise our right of first refusal. But do we get any feedback from them other than we don't recommend?
>> So sometimes we do. Um >> I didn't see any but I don't know. >> Yeah, we have all these emails. >> They just said they don't recommend it. >> I didn't notice any. >> I think there was one from Open Space that said that it didn't it wasn't contiguous
>> with their actual requirements because they have quite a few about what meets it, I'm pretty sure. >> And they've all voted just so the board knows this application was submitted twice, >> right? So, they've voted twice. Um,
>> let me go. So, it might have been in the old one from open space where they did give that reason why. Just give me a sec. I'll pull up that email. >> Related to your question, I'm assum I'm getting we're getting a little off topic here, but this is more about our policy. I do think there's a way that we could maybe like improve this and maybe like standardize like exactly like all right,
like don't just tell us that you voted. Maybe like um you know, give us some actual feedback and we could like determine what that looks like or something like that. Yeah, possibly a reasoning or reasoning why, >> right? >> I mean, I'm not familiar with the property. So,
>> Mike Hill, right >> for open space? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Oh, he just said no. >> Yeah. I didn't really um see anything other than whe whether the votes uh were in them.
So, Yeah, there's nothing else really there to discuss in terms of actual recommendations. Um, but all of them said no. >> Yeah. >> So, Glenn, that was a no. Brian or Renee, any any interest? >> No, I would uh go along with the
recommendations of the other boards and committees. Uh, and I also um would like to see the property on the tax roles, too. >> And through you, Mr. Chairman, to the public. Um the board is seeing it but the public is not. The the um buyer or the seller has submitted buyer I guess
has submitted a notice of intent of what their intent is to do with this property and it's to develop six uh buildable lots on the parcel. I think the total parcel because it's two lots is I see Mike's on here. I think it's around 13 acres
that I Mike >> it sounds right but I can verify. >> 13.31. >> Yeah. Okay. That's what I remember seeing. >> Okay. >> And there's one one uh structure currently on the there's
>> on the total of 13.31 um acres for the entirety of the lot. Part of the land is not in chapter. Part of the land is in chapter 61B recreational. >> And uh and so there's one structure on
the part of the land that's not in chapter land. >> One home. Right. >> Okay. We do have um Mr. Blood on. Uh he was the gentleman who just uh spoke. Um I don't know. I think he's mostly here to answer any questions regarding the
plans. Is that correct? >> Okay. And he is the seller. >> Buyer. >> Buyer. Okay. All right. Any questions for him as since we have him on here? >> Nope. >> Nope. Okay. So, do we want to actually
vote on this tonight? vote to wave our first right of refusal. >> Fine with me. >> All right. Is there a motion? >> I'll make a motion to uh wave our right first uh right of first
refusal. >> First Yeah, you got it. >> Um for 20 22 West Townsen Road. >> Second. >> Okay. Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. I. >> I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes unanimously. All right. Thank you, Mr.
Blood, for joining us tonight. >> Okay. Up next is representation by me, Talerman, and Costa, the town of Lunberg, and the city of Fitchburg for the contract for the supply of water. Uh, so this is something that we'll have to vote to authorize the town manager to sign, but I'm also going to have her
explain uh what this is. >> Sure. So there is a older uh intermunicipal agreement between uh Fitsburg and Lunenburgg for the sale of water. That agreement is expiring and it's time to execute a new agreement. Uh
need Talerman and Costa represents um both the town of Lunenburgg and the city of Fitchburg uh which is normally a conflict. um unless the parties acknowledge the potential for a conflict
um and then but say that we don't reasonably that common representation would be okay. Um in this letter from them they say that their understanding is that the firm's representation will be limited to serving as a scriber to draft the firm of the form of the
agreement. The firm will not negotiate the terms of agreement. Um, so you would be voting tonight to authorize me to sign, which would mean that we would acknowledge uh that the town understands the advantages and disadvantage disadvantages of allowing me Teleran and
Costa to represent both communities and that if a conflict does occur um that Lunenburgg can sense to the firm representing uh essentially we have to each of us will have to get our own counsel in the matter and we can't use
common counsel. So, uh, his understanding is that it's not going to be a negotiation. Um, but if it is, they may have to withdraw, but otherwise mutual representation in the matter. >> All right. Any questions on that?
Okay. I will move to authorize the town manager to execute the um >> representation. representation letter um >> by me Talerin and Costa of the town of
Lenberg and the city of Fitchburg. >> Second. >> Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Those opposed? No. The motion passes unanimously. >> I should say for the record, I believe Fitchburg's already approved it as well. >> Mhm. Okay, cool. All right, moving on to old business
discussion on annual Oh, and special uh town meeting warrant articles. So, we do have a draft of the um booklet here, the warrant. Um I wasn't really planning on going through each and every single one of them since we do have a couple weeks
until the warrant closes or um >> for the public next Thursday. Correct. October 2nd, 5:00 p.m. >> Okay. Um do you know the date that we need to mail the warrants out? Do you have that readily available? I don't have that in front of me. >> I just want to look at the calendar
here. Okay. So, the absolute deadline to get it in the mail is November 4th. >> November 4th. Okay. >> So, we have it for almost a month. >> That's actually very >> But what about printing? >> Yeah. So, it has to get printed unless we unless we don't do a booklet.
>> So, that's not like our actual like we must have it completely finished. November 4th is the date that it needs to get the post office is sending it out. So >> So we should >> So we have a couple weeks though, >> but really we have like the first two weeks solidly of October to go through
vote on um articles that we're definitely including in the warrant and our recommendations. And I feel pretty good about that. Um 3 weeks potentially if we really need to. >> I'm hearing the articles are still coming in. I just heard a planning board uh simple zoning change articles coming
in, but >> okay. uh one of the items if I do want to raise at least one of the articles uh to the board if that's all right. Mr. Chairman, >> um if folks want to open
>> I just want to make sure it's the right one. I think it's the TCP roof estimate. Oh, that's not in color. Okay. All right. If folks want to open the TCP roof estimate document August 25th.
>> Ours is in color. >> Yours is in color. >> It is. Yeah. >> Oh, good. Okay. So, uh we had talked a little bit. There had been a town meeting warrant article for $300,000 for repair of portion of the roof that um is going to be in the part
of the building that's being decommissioned. We had talked about potentially moving that funding to move it to another part of of the building um to replace the roof there. Uh Chris Ruth, the facilities director, did cost
out the total cost for the roof, which is uh including a contingency fee. He's estimating that at $1,360,700 for the roof replacement. So, I did ask him, "Well, what could you do with the money? How much roof could you do for
that 300,000?" Because I figured that would be a question that came up. And there are two areas overlaid that are green, >> two rectangles, both covering approximately six classrooms, except one's covering the cafeteria and gym. In
response to that, I said, "Well, where are the leaks?" And naturally the answer is in both sections. >> Right? >> So okay so I did reach out to him and say well in your professional opinion what is your recommended approach? Do we
do we take this in pieces and repair what we can now with today's dollars and the funding that's available or do we bring this through the traditional capital planning process for the full roof? And in his professional opinion, he thinks that by doing it in sections,
we could be exposing issues in the future. Um, and that his preference would be to bring the full project through the capital planning pro process and do the entirety of the roof. >> Mhm. >> What does he mean by issues in the future?
If if there's two different ages of the roof, if there's seam lines, if there's just not being constructed as one project to complete one piece of membrane across the entirety of the new roof. >> Well, the two green boxes.
So, yours isn't color. >> I know where the green boxes are. So, there's still this the rest of this purple >> is outside of the green box. >> So, what So, if you were to do the entirety of the purple section, it's 1.3 million. Okay. >> So, that's his recommendation so that
you do so that you don't have the jigsaw effect on the roof of just doing one of the green boxes >> or just doing the two green boxes. >> So, you can only do one with 300,000, >> right? But >> yeah, >> to do both is going to be less than 1.3, >> right?
>> Almost 1.4 million >> and >> maybe 600. >> The obvious question is what is the future of TCP? Right. So this is your the the town remains to be in a bit of a catch22 with all of these projects. The more the town
says they need to know the long-term plan for this building, the more the town and defer maintenance at the same time, the more the town guarantees what the plan is for the building. >> Right? >> If you are deferring m maintenance year after year after year, the plan is going
to become solidified for you. Mhm. >> So, um, but it is his recommendation that we don't we leave, uh, the $300,000 in the prior year capital for now. It could be part of the funding mechanism for the $130 million project. Um, not a
lot of it, but a portion of it, and that we piece the funding together, but don't >> don't do this in sections. Do it in one fell swoop. >> Okay. So the concern I have would be would that be delaying the the roof repairs where there's already currently leaks?
>> Yes. So it would >> unless unless capital planning you so you'd be potentially delaying it by a year if capital planning decides it's a priority to fund in FY27 if capital planning it says no we need
more information or we get feedback that we really want a full-scale study and who knows it depends on where that goes. If it's a year, I don't know that I have those same concerns. If it's five, six, seven years delaying making this
decision to not repair part of it. Don't know if that makes it worse then. But >> now the beige portion the top is that a foregone conclusion that that will be abandoned? >> So it will uh at this point it's being
decommissioned so it's not being used. Uh the next step for that beige section is that there will be the asbestous remediation in that section because that's needing to happen no matter what way you go. And then that section waits
for the overall plan. Um either renovate that section as well or that that section's ultimately removed from the building. I can't say obviously at this point with any certainty, but I have heard that that's the way that folks seem to be leaning is to remove the back portion.
>> And is that roof leaking as well? >> So that's the so the back portion and the first um three classrooms on the on the left and the right as you go back there, that's the section where the $300,000 was slated for and that was directly
over the administrative offices for the schools. Um, and the leaks were the worst there. >> And PAC was there too, right? >> Uh, no. Around the corner. >> They had leaks, too, though. >> There. And there's leaks in other areas. >> So, no decisions. I just wanted you to
be aware of that. So, that that's when you look look at that document, that's what that means. Um I'm happy to discuss any other articles um as contemplated. >> Mhm. Yep. Anything in the warrant or
that's not in the warrant that members want to bring up for discussion tonight? >> Uh the only thing I I had brought it up before was the the additional chapter 70 funding for the schools. if there was interest in having an article there uh
for that. >> Is there any update on this conversation? >> I mean my answer to that is the same. So there already is an article for that. That's been the answer that's the same. I have not heard I have had my private conversations with the superintendent.
>> Thus far I have not heard any use or need for the money. So reiterate use or need for the money. I am not inclined to transfer any of this money at fall time at at the fall town meeting. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I had a question about the personnel committee article.
>> Okay. >> Um >> I I just want to I want to clarify. Sorry. I just want to add one more thing, but in my conversations with the superintendent, I did say that the article is there. >> Mhm. >> The motion can the motion can change up into including the day of town meeting.
The article to carry it is on the warrant no matter what. >> Mhm. Okay. So it was just done differently last fall town meeting. That's why >> that was totally unnecessary and I don't know why it was done that way. It could have absolutely >> I think that's what's throwing me off. >> Yes, it was done as a separate article last year.
>> That is so the school budget is voted as part of the FY26 omnibus budget. I would imagine that it was potentially done different that way so that you did have two votes so that you wouldn't fail the other transfer vote that was taken >> if there was a no vote on the chapter
70. that it was separate from whatever the other transfer vote or adjustment to the budget was to unhinge them. You can have multiple motions under the same article to have that same effect. >> Thank you. >> Mhm. >> Renee,
>> um, so dissolve the personnel board. There's no language in there yet, but do you plan or expect to have a proposal like an alternative? Not we're going to dissolve it and we have no >> plan B. So, Julie's been doing a lot of research. She's about done with it. She
has um examples for you from other communities of what they brought to their town meeting. Um I would say that if if we had to have more than a concept of
what happens if we don't have this capacity right now in office to have that kind of policy work stood up in in the background. Um I suppose another way that you could well so right now you could always put a
delayed vote a delayed date on it. So you could do an effective date dissolve it as of da da da to give the lead time to stand up the policies as it stands right now though I want to be clear in the absence of a personnel board because there was some questions about this that came after the last meeting. The way it
is defaulting is that the town manager is the personnel administrator. So without a personnel board, I am it. Um I think people misheard that in the public when there was conversation about wanting to disband it >> and they were hearing that this was a power grab. In fact, it's quite the
opposite of a power grab. It's trying to get decisions that were once spread across more than one decision maker out of one decision maker. So, so in the absence of a personnel board, which it's been well over a year since there's been
a personnel board, and we have not received a single applicant, the town manager administr administers the personnel bylaw. If we get rid of the personnel board, which I think is the suggestion from the chair, then there can be something else to stand up behind
it, such as those decisions that were once vetted by the personnel board could be vetted by this board. So right now, if you want to approve somebody being hired over the midpoint of the wage and step grid, um
that's an approval by the personnel board. Personnel board's not here. So it's an approval by me, but that could be an approval by a body like this. >> Um so I don't think we can stand up all that framework in the background by town
meeting. >> Okay. But Julia's I mean she's put together the research for you. I would say if if somebody wants to take that and put it into policy and make it a select board policy to stand that up then it if it's
as long as it's not office capacity. Yes, I think it's absolutely doable. >> Okay. >> All right. Any other articles or potential articles we want to discuss tonight? Okay, recommendations to the master plan
steering committee on the master plan update. So, the town manager went through and added in uh comments for all of the things related to uh policies and what fun follows under our jurisdiction, what doesn't. Um I do not plan on reading through all of this. So, did you
guys have a chance to look through? Do you have uh any feedback on any of it? And I will not be offended if you disagree entirely. This is just something for you to all react to. So, >> I do not have time to go through this. >> Okay.
>> I appreciated the comments uh from the town manager. I think it was um well written. I think uh the concern is I just didn't want the town manager to have to do extra work. But >> I know >> I think it's uh it was important work to get done though, too. >> Okay. Anything else that we want to um
flag here to discuss before we uh send this back to them? >> Uh if folks do need more time with it, we our deadline September 30. >> We are going to be having a meeting I believe Mr. Chairman before the tri board meeting to do an appointment
anyways. >> We are so possible that we have another meeting. Um, but I think I think this is very thorough. Um, and I appreciate the work that you did to fill in the gaps from uh everything that we did not discuss the last time we had this on the
agenda. So, >> I just want to make sure that it where I, you know, where I kind of said that it aligned with a select board position or that I because I was kind of using what I thought. >> Yeah. >> That that as long as that truthfully aligns with where you're at then. >> Yeah. I'd like more time to review.
>> Okay. Um I mean we could always sort of try doing this asynch asynchronously um over the week too ahead of next Tuesday. Um so I guess if there is any recommended feedbacks it could be sent to the town manager to um compile.
>> Absolutely. >> Um and we could do it that way ahead of the next meeting and then if there's a lot of stuff that comes in then we'll know that we need >> we need to have a discussion. >> Yeah. >> All right. How's that sound? That's fine. >> Okay, moving on. Discussion on the tri board
meeting of the select board, finance committee, and school committee. So, our next one is uh next Tuesday. Uh any discussion on anything related to tribard meetings? >> Who's presenting? >> That's the schools, right? >> No, >> no, no. Okay. No, uh police.
>> Oh, that's October. Sorry. >> Police, fire, DPW, facilities. >> Oh, it's that one. It's a heavy meeting >> and we have been talking to them um about
maybe a little more brevity in some areas >> and um identifying the areas where really call like >> if there's nothing major that's happening if it's just you know >> one to two and a half% we don't need
details but if it's something that is an outlier going up going down something's on the horizon to really identify those areas and and project out as much as you can at least that flagging the issue spots for folks. >> Um
>> I don't know I don't >> good >> I I don't know >> I don't know how folks are feeling about the process I guess so um >> I mean I'm feeling pretty good. I think it's been very educational. I think the collaboration
um it's interesting. I mean, we're still sort of in the beginning of it, so we'll see. Like, I I feel like it's kind of premature to really form opinions on it. I will say I don't think anything negative has really been happening. So, >> we have we have three more nights of
substantive information. So, it's >> it's after the uh after the those that I just discussed, then it's the schools, and that's going to be a long night, I would imagine. Um, and then there is kind of everything else. So, general
government, all the other stuff, right? >> And we're just getting into the meat of it now, really. >> Yeah, for sure. For sure. >> I know there's some people who are saying, "Why hasn't anything happened yet?" >> I know. >> Well, >> it's still early in the process. I, you know, we got to be a little patient. Um, and just let the process play out. Um,
you know, we still have a lot of departments to cover and, you know, we'll get to that part. So, no, that's what I'd have to say to that. All right. Any other discussion on that tonight? >> Nope. >> No. >> All right. And the last thing is to authorize FY2026 to 2028 agreement
between the town of Lunberg and the Monachus Regional Transit Authority or MART for Council on Aging Services. So, we did get that red line document. We can see that the changes in there aren't anything substantial at all. Was there any discussion on any of it?
>> I had a question on page seven that talked about the insurance. Do we now responsible for the insurance? >> Give me a sec. >> It it it deleted a two thou up to $2,000 reimbursement. >> Yeah. The comment said that no longer
reimbursing insurance cost 7. Uh we already Yeah, we so we already did have to ensure that vehicle. Mhm. The only actual change here is that >> the word carrier >> carrier. Yeah. >> Did >> did we receive the same thing?
>> You're looking at 7C. >> Yeah. There there might be a couple of red lines to it. >> Oh, you're looking at the comments here. >> Yeah, the comments. >> Yeah. >> So, it looked like we were eligible for up to $2,000 previously. It So, backtracking a little bit. My first question actually was I jumped to the
juice, but was this actually negotiated or they simply sent this to us? >> Yeah, it's not a negotiated contract. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. My question was, do we know what that insurance cost would be and does it fit in the budget? >> It's comment BF20
up to tax. So, it looks like they were only reimbursing $2,000 in the past. >> Yes. >> Frankly, I don't even know if they were actually reimbursing us or if that was language. I've >> I thought we always carried this. >> Well, it says MART is no longer reimbursing insurance costs. I mean when
>> I don't know if I don't know that answer. >> Yeah, it might not been a change from last year. >> It might well it certainly a change in language but perhaps not a change in practice. >> Um >> yeah, I just want to make sure there's no significant budget impact
>> because this is a three-year contract. >> Yeah, I don't think so. But I don't think you really have an option if if there isn't. Um, I'm happy to go back to them with that question. Um, this contract will expire before we meet
again, though. >> Okay. >> Um, >> what is the date on here? I can scroll down and look. Actually, I have it open. >> I want to say it's the 26th. >> Okay. So, this expires in a couple days. And Mark owns the vehicles. We don't own
any of them. >> No, they they own the vehicle. It's theirs. That's right. >> Okay. So Glenn and Renee, do you do you want an answer to that question before you guys are ready to vote on this?
>> I don't know that we have a choice. >> Yeah. >> Um I'm more thinking this budget in the the next two fiscal years. If if if in practice we've been paying it all along, there is no impact. >> Um >> but the fact that they called out that
MAR is no longer reimbursing insurance costs makes me wonder. Yeah, >> I'm happy to go back to them. Okay. Um, so I'm just looking at this. >> I don't even know what the insurance
cost would be. I mean, it reimburse up to $2,000. Is it that much? I don't know. We only have one vehicle. Is that right? >> They just crashed one, didn't they? >> I really think so. September. What's the update?
I'm just I'm looking at his original communication. >> Okay. >> Actually, so he's asking for it by September 26. It's probably actually September 30. So that's their request is September 26. Um, the contract between Mart and the town
of Lunberg is slightly revised from the previous version to reflect updated insurance requirements and changes in industry standards suggested by Mart's insurance brokers. These updates ensure continued compliance with current risk management practices and regal legal
regulations while also aligning with evolving transit service norms. These changes help protect both parties and maintain. They're just shifting the liability because probably we're the drivers, I would assume. >> Um, [Music] so potentially
we can um we can do it on that I can get that answer for if we do it before next Tuesday. >> Next Tuesday. >> Okay. >> What's the date next Tuesday? Isn't it like the 30th? Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. >> I'll just tell them. I'll let them know.
>> All right. And if not, we can figure it out. >> They'll get a It's coming in before midnight, >> right? Yeah. Okay. Uh so we can do that and then potentially vote on >> one more question. >> Okay. >> But easier than that one. Paragraph D, it indicates that um if the vehicle is
totaled, uh Mart receives the payout. I was just wondering if this uh value is substantially less than replacement cost, are we on the hook for >> That's their insurance. Yeah. Nope.
>> Okay. Anything else on this? Okay. >> Is there is there a way we could approve it in the in the event they tell you that you know that 2,000 is what it is? >> Oh, sure. >> We like it. >> I mean, if it's a $2,000 I mean, it's
not like it would cancel the the program over 2,000, right? >> Especially if we've been paying our own insurance in the past anyway. >> Yeah. So, I wouldn't want I mean, it's a good question, but Elsa, it could very well be if if if it's really not a negotiation. >> You want to take it? You want to take
the vote tonight and then I won't send it >> or No, I don't like doing that. Um, >> yeah. >> So, your vote's your vote. You're authorizing the contract. I guess you could do it contingent upon some that >> uh you could vote to approve it.
>> I don't know what the contingency would be. contingent upon um this the $2,000 not aligning with if we're already not being built for it's probably more complicated. >> Yeah, >> we have a meeting next Tuesday, >> right? I think it's okay to just wait. >> Oh, well, Tuesday is a tri board.
>> Yeah. Well, we have to have a joint meeting before anyway because we're going to do that appointment. >> Yeah, you have to have a joint meeting with is it school committee? Just school committee and the moderator as well, >> right? for um uh Monte >> Mont >> for their school committee. So you have
to have a separate meeting anyways >> before the tri board. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Or after the tri board. >> I >> either way. >> No. >> 10 p.m. meeting. >> Yeah. Um and this I mean it'll be quick too because we'll just approve it and
sign it, you know. I don't think there's going to be much else once we get that answer. So, >> okay, moving on. Minutes. We have executive session minutes from September 2nd, 2025. Have members reviewed this? >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Okay. Uh, is there a motion to approve them? Uh, not for release. >> I'll make a motion to approve the executive session minutes of September 2nd, 2025, not for release. >> Second. >> Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. I. >> I. Those opposed, no. Motion passes
unanimously, warrants. We I don't think we have any warrants tonight, do we? >> Nope. >> Any action items. No >> committee reports. >> Um here library, you you handle library.
Thank you very much. Um the planning board met last night. They had to some training for uh employees for open gov which was quite interesting. Uh special permit for ground mount solar loc located located
at 390 goodrich. They did end up um approving the site plan as well as a special permit for those. Um they do have a public I mean a MBTA communities act upcoming uh public hearing on
October 27th. Uh, I went to the AGCOM meeting last night. Um, the um agricultural fair is this Saturday >> um from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the
Pacios building. There'll be a lot of tractors and I guess some petting zoos and the like. And also there will be an alpaca fest at 10 on October 5th uh from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at In the Meadow
Farm which is located on uh Paige Street right right by Lancaster. Uh that's about it. All right. Uh the school committee met last week. Um they had some open houses last week as
well. um book fairs. Uh they have Penny Wars coming up. Um a meeting for the Washington DC trip for the eighth graders. Um homecoming scheduled for November 1st.
Um for facilities, they had minimal damage to the the rooftop from the fire was quickly repaired. Uh new refrigeration controls for the school kitchens being considered through a grant. Um, there's been ongoing mechanical issues at the middle high school that are being addressed. There's
need for additional custodial staff. Uh, there was a proposed $7,000 grant for to enrich arts experiences was discussed and approved. Uh, they talked about legal representation. Uh, consideration of engaging a new law firm and for legal services due to better
availability and response time. That was discussed and approved. Uh there was a proposal to increase uh Courtney Fuller's hours by 15 hours per week. Uh to increase uh office support at the middle middle high school that was approved. Uh they talked about the
FY27 draft capital plan uh prioritizing projects and the budget update. There's a current the surplus was reported around $63,000 from the previous estimates up from the previous estimates
and that was oh and they had a community Q&A on the the budget and the overage that was it. >> Uh no reports just storm water task force and fin both meet this Thursday. I had my first meeting of the capital
planning committee and the bylaw review committee and I don't know if I gave updates on those since I was last at a meeting. I was gone for two weeks. Um not really much of an update though. Uh they were both the first meetings of the process. So mostly talking about timeline. Um so yep those are at least
uh starting to go now. Uh let's see what's next upcoming meetings. Uh, so next week, September 30th, is our next tri board meeting and then our next regularly scheduled select board meeting will be October 7th. Public comment. Is there any public
comment from the public this evening? Anyone on Zoom? >> Okay. Not seeing any. Any public comment from the town manager? >> No. >> Any public comment from the board? >> No. All right. With that, is there a motion to adjurnn?
>> I'll make a motion to adjourn at 7:58 p.m. >> Second, >> Mr. Chairman. >> Oh, Mr. Raj, I was waiting to see if you had a public comment. Do you? >> I did. I'm I'm technologically challenged and I was having trouble pressing numbers. I'll be quick because
I know you got quite a schedule. Uh the the the question I have, I've got three. First of all, the water uh as it pertains to Fitsburg. Who um is looking for this agreement? Fitchburg or uh
Lunberg? >> Do you want to answer that? >> It's an intermunicipal agreement. It's a mutually beneficial agreement. >> Mhm. So, >> yeah. But but but h how does the Lunberg water district play into this? >> They don't.
Well, they should because they're the ones that have uh and that's the question I have. Are they is the town of Lunenberg receiving water or selling water? >> Um we can we can take this offline if you if you have more questions about it.
>> No. Yeah. I'm I I just, you know, because I remember s uh signing a an agreement years ago with the city of Fitsburg. Um and u you know I I just wondered where the the uh uh situation
is presented. Is is Pittsburgh looking for um uh selling us water or is uh Lunenburgg looking to buying water? That's something. >> Okay. So >> understood. We can talk about that offline though. But was there any other public comments you had?
>> I'm happy to send him a copy of the agreement. >> Okay. >> The current agreement. >> Great. >> No. Well, he's my point is you should a key in the uh water district. You don't have to send it to me because I'm just a bystander. Okay. No. Uh the other the
other question I have is um rumor mill and uh I say that with capitals. Are are we the town leasing um to outside businesses or parties uh part of the
Pacios building >> that's been approved by this select board at multiple meetings? >> What was the question? I didn't hear. Are we leasing space at the >> at TCP? >> At TCP? Yes. To private? Yes, >> we are. Okay, that's fine. Um, the
reason I ask is with the conversations about the the the roof, which will be my next subject. um you know the I think there there's some pretty uh hefty um liability issues and I'm I I hope that
uh all of that has been taken care of and I'm sure it has. But uh with with kids in there and and leaky roofs and you you hear horror stories about that, it's it's a very important issue. Uh the last question I have is the Pacios roof.
Um, the two numbers that I heard were $300,000 for for for pot and parcel and something around a million4 for everything. Um, I wondered if uh the powers to be have
have looked at the possibility of putting uh uh tops, big tops, fixed tops on the roof of the of the patios rather than spending uh that kind of money just as an interrum until we decide as a town
what we're going to do. Uh 300,000 bucks is a lot and a million four is worth. So those are the three issues. Thank you for cutting me the slack and I appreciate the opportunity. >> All right. Thanks, Mr. Rogers. Have a good night. >> You as well.
>> Okay. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes unanimously and the select board is adjourned at 8:01 p.m. Have a good night everyone. We'll see you next week at our
tri board meeting.