All right. Good evening and welcome to tonight's meeting of the Lunenburgg Select Board. It is 6:06 p.m. and I'm calling the select board to order. We're going to do the pledge of allegiance at 7:00. I move to enter into executive session pursuant to MGL chapter 30
section 21A3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares and I move to enter into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the
litigating position of the public body. Second roll call vote Glenn I. Brian I. Renee I and I for myself we are now in executive session. Is he able to join the
All right. Good evening and welcome to tonight's meeting of the Lunberg Select Board. Today is Tuesday, August 19th. 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. 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 the ratification of the town manager's appointment of Sha Zarate to the position of lieutenant of the Lunberg Police Department effective
August 19th, 2025. Good evening board. Miss Warren, I would like to recommend acting lieutenant Shawn Zerate for the position of lieutenant of the Lunberg Police Department. Shawn is a lifelong Lunberg resident and attended Lunberg High School. Shawn has a bachelor's degree in
criminal justice administration from Columbia Southern University. Shawn was first hired by the Lunberg Police Department in 2009 as a reserve officer and later appointed full-time in 2011. Sean has also worked as a reserve police officer of Fitchburg
State College from 2004 to 2009 and Ashby Police Department from 2006 to 2009. Lieutenant Zerate was our senior sergeant in the department with over six years of supervisory experience. With his 20 years of experience in policing and his experience with the Lunberg
Police Department, I believe Shawn is extremely qualified for the position of lieutenant. Shawn is a valuable member of the Lunberg Police Department. He has served as our first school resource officer here in town. He is also the current uh firearms instructor, field
training uh instructor, alert Alice instructor, and RAD instructor. Shawn has successfully completed the FBI leader trilogy leadership courses, and he's also an active member in the community, volunteering a lot with the club in Lunberg and many other town
programs. Shawn is always willing to help any way with all Lunberg community events. Shawn has been the acting lieutenant in the department for eight months and he has excelled at this position. Shawn is an excellent employee and a true professional with a high work ethic that is always willing to help out
for the residents of the town and the department. Shawn always goes above and beyond to accomplish any task. I respectfully request that acting lieutenant Shaun Zarate be appointed to the position of lieutenant. Thank you. Thank you, Chief. I'll pass it off to
the acting lieutenant now if you uh have any words you'd like to say. Just want to say I'm very grateful for this opportunity. I don't take it lightly and uh I work with some great people, the chief, the officers, fire chief, and as well my family standing
behind me. They're the ones who have been with me the whole time and my friends. So, thank you. Thank you. Well, congratulations on your appointment and I appreciate everything that you do and everything that you deal with on behalf of the town truly. So, thank you very much. I'll open it up to uh any questions or
comments from the board. Congratulations. I know it wasn't easy for you to do all that to make the uh the letterw writing by the chief easy. I'm sure it was easy for him, but that took a lot of work and dedication on your part and uh you know, we appreciate your commitment to the town.
Thank you. I would like to also congratulate you and also thank you for your service. Appreciate it. Thank you. I'll add my congratulations as well. I was here when you were appointed acting lieutenant and so it's nice to see you now officially um become full-time
lieutenant. So congratulations and thank you and the rest of the department as well and and your family my family right here for the support I know and um again congratulations thanks to the town manager. Yes. So, I wholeheartedly support the
chief's recommendation of your candidacy to this position, and I am honored to call you not acting lieutenant, but lieutenant. Um, it has been great to work with you over the past six months. I didn't get to see all eight, but I have been thoroughly impressed with what I have seen. And to the department as a
whole, um, I've been thoroughly impressed with the department as a whole. uh to your family. Thank you for sharing uh your son and husband with us and with the community of Lunenburgg who is benefited by his presence. Thank you.
All right. Awesome. Well, with that, I will move to ratify the town manager's appointment of Sha Zur to the position of lieutenant of the Lunberg Police Department effective August 19th, 2025. Second. Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes
unanimously. Congratulations. Thank you. Yep. All right. So, we're going to take a brief recess. We'll be back in just a couple minutes. [Music] All right, we are back in open session. And up next, we have a response to the
select board tax investigation report by um Linda Kajka. Chaika. Chaika. Okay. The principal assessor. Good evening. Good evening. Hello. I'll look for you. Want me to speed this up a little bit? Sure you can. Sure.
All right. So, um through you, Mr. Chairman, to the board. Um the board has considered at a previous meeting um the tax investigation report. And what we wanted to do um is while we were talking about the tax investigation report, what
we wanted to do is address to the community all the things since that time that have been occurring to address the issues outlined in the directives that were issued by the department of revenue. Um and the department and board of assessors has made some great strides
in making some positive changes um so that we ensure that something like this never happens again. So, um, our principal assessor, Linda, has put together a synopsis of what they have done, what they've working on, and, um, what they're going to continue to be working on. And we're joined with by
Sarah Kramer as well from the board. Yeah. Okay. All right. Um, in response to the select board investigation report that was received on May 20th, uh, the assessing department had already begun addressing most of the issues outlined in the
report. As of November 2024, the assessing office has been fully staffed uh with a Massachusetts accredited uh principal assessor, an experienced data collector uh that holds a Massachusetts appraisal state license, and an
administrative assessing assistant with several years of management and customer service experience. At the time of the adjustment in lean values and the substantial adjustment being made on the lakefront properties in fiscal 2023, the office was only staffed with two
employees. One being the principal assessor uh that was not a Massachusetts accredited assessor and an administrative assessing assistant who had been employed for the town for 14 years. Uh when the 2023 bills were sent out and the homeowners became aware of
the changes in their valuations, the principal assessor was on family medical leave and the administrative assistant was handling the office alone during this crisis. Due to the public reaction to the fiscal 2023 bills, the entire
board of assessors resigned and did not run for reelection. Additionally, as a result of the 2024 5-year revaluation and the fiscal 2023 lakefront crisis, the Department of Revenue established certification directives uh which must
be completed by fiscal 2029. These certification directives are being addressed and have been incorporated into the assessing department responsibilities and will become annual procedures and u uh policies as well.
Um, in response to these certification directives, uh, the assessing department has undertaken the following and I'm going to read you the the do um, the first directive is the cyclical reinspective directive and they're asking us uh, as for as in regards to
cyclical inspections of properties, descriptions and over specific spec excuse me specified time period should be implemented or if already underway should be continued. Assessors should maintain their cyclical inspection program such that all real property
should have a visit history reflecting an inspection date no older than 10 years. Each personal property count must also be inspected every 5 years and um we have um started implementing um this uh by inspecting 10% of the
properties every year uh which is recommended by the department of revenue. Uh the assessing department has initiated this program and will continue to inspect properties going forward. Personal property is also inspected by our contractor RRC when the forms of
list are received every March and personal property has to be reviewed every 5 years. A formalized cyclical program is also being conducted uh right now by vision appraisal and we have a three-year contract which started in
fiscal 2025 to inspect 500 parcels each year. All properties with a visit history inspection date of 10 years or later are being inspected and this will be a continual effort to ensure that all real property is inspected every 10
years. In addition, when the data collector and the principal assessor conduct field inspections, the data on the record card is verified and counts towards a cyclical inspection. The next do uh directive is the income
and expense data directive and they are requesting uh the assessor should maintain a program of annually mailing income and expense forms to all income produc uh producing properties. Um, and these will include multif family apartment buildings, mobile home parks,
commercial and industrial classes with a second mailing to follow up with non- filers. And we have um actually in response to this income and expense uh data directive. Uh we mail out the income and
expense forms in January every year. Uh we have also started a second mailing program uh to follow up with nonresponders to the first mailing. The third uh do neighborhood directive um is as follows. The assessors um it's
a neighborhood review directive. The assessor should review all residential neighborhood delineations in accordance with the indicated land value and adjust them as needed by the next certification. Consideration should be given to conducting a neighborhood study
for all residential parcels and market areas. Neighborhood 3, which is the largest neighborhood and the waterfront neighborhoods will be um annually reviewed and refined by the assessors. Um we have actually uh are in the
process of implementing the neighborhood review directive and a group of community volunteers reviewed the existing neighborhood and determined they hadn't been updated in 15 years. The definitions of the neighborhoods will need to be addressed with the scope
of work. The assessing department has developed an RFP to find a suitable contractor to assist with this directive. The next directive is the land schedules directive and the do is asking that the assessor should review land values and
adjust the land valuation system as needed in a uniform and equitable manner. Sales of water influence parcels and parcels with view adjustments must be monitored annually to support all land values and adjustments. Condition
factors should also be reviewed to um to be sure that these are applied consistently. Reasons are noted and supported with the market sale data. Assessors will need to review their pricing of unbuildable waterfront parcels.
and the assessing department. Um I've already actually started reviewing all the fiscal year sales and based upon these statistics the land values will be adjusted uh based upon this data with the assistant of vision appraisal who is actually doing our interim adjustment
process. Uh there are many parcels that are receiving a lean condition adjustment and we are currently reviewing those. The next directive is the personal property second home directive. Uh the department of revenue is requesting the
certification review indicated that a new analysis of residential second home personal property must be conducted for valuation of these accounts. For the next certification, the assessor's office should conduct a review of the parcels to ensure that the
parcels are correctly listed as second homes and that all second homes are included in the annual forms of list mailing. The assessor's office um in 2023 um is um all that categorized all known
second homes and reviewed them to determine uh whether they're year round or seasonal um without a permanent heat source. and a seasonal designation was developed for seasonal homes. All known second homes receive a forms of list
mailing. The completed forms of lists are given to RRC, which is our personal property contractor, and they generate the personal property values. The personal property exemption in Lunenburgg is currently $2,500. And what this means is that any personal
any property with a personal property less than 2500 is exempt uh from the personal property tax. Uh the next DOI directive is the sales verification directive and they are asking that the assessor's office uh
should begin a formal verification program of all sales that occur in the community including a full physical field uh measures and inspections. All permits should also be uh field inspected as conducted as conducting a
full physical reinspection would count towards a cyclical reinspection program. Uh the assessing office um has actually started the sales verification process. We did hire a permanent part-time data collector who conducts daily inspections for permits and sales verifications.
And the formal sales verification program was established shortly after I started in July of 2024 and it will be ongoing. Uh the data collector reviews all the sales weekly and schedules appointments with property owners to uh
conduct property inspections. The inspections verify that the data on the property card is correct and monthly sales are also reviewed with the multiple listing service data and through inspections. Uh the multiple listing service also provides
photographs and data about the property which assists the data collector in verifying the property's data. A postcard requesting the inspection is mailed to new homeowners requesting an inspection appointment. And if there is no reply then a sales questionnaire is
sent requesting verification of the data by the homeowner. Uh we have some other um directives. The interim year adjustments that the do has requested. Um they are requesting that the property valuation adjustments should be made annually as needed and
every year in the interim years between the community's 5-year certification cycle to ensure that all assessments reflect flow full and cash value as required by general law chapter 59 section 2A. Assessment should be
equitable and consistent within and between all property classes as evidenced by accepted mass appraisal methodologies. Intramyear adjustment programs may be performed inhouse or contracted out using professional assistance um as your
staffing situation dictates. We have um currently review all sales annually to verify if um any adjustments in the assessing valuations are required. Envision government solutions has been contracted to review and adjust
interim adjustments as required. The next directive um is the chapter land directive. The do has requested that all classified chapter land should be inspected in the field or through the use of orthopos to ensure that the
actual current use meets mass general law chapter 61, 61A and 61B requirements for the respective requirements for productive land, actively devoted land and usage as allowed per each chapter.
Each parcel should be reconciled with the annual uh application and use classification the CAM system and all files should be reviewed to ensure a property recorded classified tax lean is on record and
that reconciles to the classified usage and the current owner's name. The assessing department um has already uh reviewed um the chapter land applications for 61A and the inspections have been conducted to ensure that all
the regulations of 61A land are met. Our next focus will be to review all of the 61B properties and then conduct inspections uh to each site. Subsequently, a full review of all chapter land possess to ensure that each
property also has a tax lean. And the last uh directive requested by the do is the open positions directive. And any and all open positions in the assessor's office and on the board of assessors should be filled as soon as the town can locate qualified
candidates. Um all open positions have been filled in the assessing office. Um the assessing office is actually fully staffed for the first time in three years. These positions include a part-time data collector, a full-time administrative assessing assistant, and
a full-time principal assessor. There is currently an opening for the uh board of assessor member uh which has been vacant um and is open uh since the election in May. So we are seeking another member. Um in conclusion, I just wanted uh to
note that the current assessing department staff were not employed at the time of u the lakefront tax crisis. The board of assessors was newly elected after the former board of assessors resigned and the current assessing staff
has worked diligently to reorganize the office, follow up and update many of the necessary assessing functions that were not completed due to staffing issues. The assessing staff also focuses on providing excellent customer service to
regain public trust of the residents. As an example of the progress uh that we have achieved, the total number of real estate tax abatements have actually declined over the past two years. Uh we had 37 abatements last year uh for
fiscal 2024, excuse me, 2025. Um and um there was um 37 for 2020. So, I'm sorry. There was 42 for 2020 fiscal 2024, 37 for 2025, and that was in comparison to
427 real estate and personal property abatements in fiscal 2023. There will definitely need to be a continued effort by the assessing uh staff uh to fulfill these certification directives and the assessing office will need to will need the continued support
in funding by town management to ensure that these are being conducted annually. I'd like to thank you and um answer any questions that you may have. Sure. Thank you so much, Linda. First to the town manager, would you like to uh respond? Yes. So, I want to publicly thank uh
Linda, the entire team in the office, and the board of assessors. Um, I often remark to Linda that the town of Lunenburgg didn't get here in a day uh with this issue because she is so
wanting to fix everything yesterday and um it's going to take a while to unpack. Um, but we are certainly on the right track. I think that this thorough write up just shows all of the things that we have been working towards to
check things off. Um I know that you have the perseverance and diligence to drive through this wall at whatever cost, but um I just wanted to publicly thank you and acknowledge the work that you and your team have been doing. Oh, thank you. Of course. Thank you. Any questions,
comments from the board? I'll just comment thank you for sharing your unique skill set with the town of Lunberg. We c certainly are appreciative of that and I know it's not always easy to be a municipal employee. So, thank you. Oh, thank you. Appreciate that. I would like to thank you as well,
Linda. Um, I am the liaison from the select board. So, I haven't been at to any of the actual board of assessor meetings, but I've watched you on YouTube, watched all the meetings. Um, and I think the board of assessors in you and your team are doing a great job. Um, I also wanted to give a shout out too that you did you're meeting up with
the senior center and doing those uh meetings too for the exemptions. I think that's important, too. Um, uh, I just think it's a great team. I think Brian and Sarah are doing a great job and I think, uh, for the public, please watch some of their meetings. I think it would be great, uh, to work with Brian and Sarah and it's a
great opportunity. There's a seat open, so hopefully somebody jumps on it. So, um, I also want to say thank you having been here for the Lake Waterfront tax crisis of 2023.
I know what the current board walked into. Um, as you say said a couple of times, the staff, the board, it was all different. It's all turned over. Yeah. But, um, the current board and and the current staff have done a lot of work. I
think you've made great strides in regaining the public trust. Um, I know I used to watch those board of assessor meetings religiously when this was getting cleaned up. um I now feel I don't need to for quite some time now. Um so um I just want to
thank you for all the work that has gone into cleaning this up and um I did have one question and it's mostly just to um cuz I anticipate the someone out there may be thinking of this question the
cyclical reinspection directive when you say that 10% of properties will be inspected each year. Can you just expand upon what do you mean by inspection? Uh we are required um like I said we to do the DR recommends 10%. So what that
means is we actually notify the public. So we're sending out a postcard right now. Um if their house is on the list to be inspected if they're within that period. Uh we notify them by a postcard and vision appraisal will show up. Um,
and he'll start out doing an exterior inspection. He has identification. Uh, he'll leave a door hanger if no one is there. Uh, if someone does not want an interior inspection or doesn't want an inspection period, they can go call our office and we put them on the list not
to inspect. So, um, and if, um, if no one's home and his name is Josh, who's currently doing the inspections, he'll leave the door hanger and it's just to request a call for an interior inspection. It's totally up to the public whether or not they want. We we
would like that cuz it helps us verify the data just to make sure it's correct. And that's one thing that we do want to stress to residents is to check your property record card because your tax bill actually comes from the assessed value. So, it's it's good to just check
that data. We encourage people every year to look at the record card and if there is a question, call us. We'd be glad to come out because most of the time, you know, our data is great, but it's always good to we check the measurements when we go out. Uh we we go
through the the front and the back of the property record card. So, so that's kind of what the cyclical is. Thank you. cuz I know the the question about outside interior inspection has has come up in the public before. So, thank you for I do see that Sarah has her hand raised. I don't know if she wanted to just jump
in real quick. Yes, I I did I actually wanted to point out um Linda explained that perfectly what happens in those inspections. Um, but I just want to point out that those types of inspections are supposed to happen in in interim years between every
five-year inspection. We're supposed to and it has always been the rule for as long as there I know there's been assessment that 10% is supposed to be looked at each year. The fact that residents aren't aware of that and people who have lived in Lunenburgg
longer than I have never had that cyclical inspection just shows how much ground work Linda is having to do to make up for things that hadn't been occurring in the past. Okay. Thank you. Can I I can I ask a question? Sure. So, um, just to for the public to
expand upon the question by member MK, when you if if you're not granted access for an interior inspection, you make some assumptions, correct? Yeah. And so, you are assuming the what the house
um quality is or or what level it's up to based on things you're seeing. So, sometimes you're assuming that things are improved to a level that from the outside it looks like would be the case, but you're making an assumption by not being allowed in that might be affecting
the tax bill in the wrong way. Exactly. Right. So, so I just wanted to emphasize that point that you're you're not there to make the Taj Mahal out of every property in Lunenburgg, but to value it for what it is and without seeing it,
you don't necessarily have that data. It can be difficult. And we we um also check u open.gov gov for permits and we do review the MLS which actually does provide photos but if there's no recent sale it's difficult for us to to make a
determination. So, we do encourage people it's really important to to check the property racket card and and again, you know, we're we're very fair and equitable when we do the inspection. We review everything and and that's one thing is it's it's I think people worry
that to have the assessor come out, but sometimes it's a good thing because if there's an error, we find it and we correct it. Any other questions? Well, I just want to thank you as well you and your team. Um, you know, I think it's well established that you guys
inherited a mess. Uh, but your dedication uh and commitment to fixing it and making sure that processes are in place so that it doesn't happen again and your commitment to rebuilding that trust with the public is self-evident and based on conversations that I've had
and the things that I've heard, I think it's truly working and I think you guys have uh succeeded in that. Well, thank you so much for all the work that you do and for coming in and preparing this presentation for us in the community tonight, Linda. Okay. Thank you very much. It was nice to meet all of you. Thanks. Thank you. Nice.
Have a good night. You too. Okay. So, we will jump down to appointments. We have two that are here in the room tonight. Uh so, we can do the appointment of Pette Beardmore and Gene Dri to the Lunberg 300th
Anniversary Committee. if you guys would like to come up and just introduce yourselves and let us know why you're interested in serving on the committee. I know you guys have been uh active in participating with the committee before and I believe have uh volunteered as well. Um when I was at the vendor fair,
we had a booth and think you guys were there. So you guys are already involved in the process. Good evening. Speak. Uh my name is Paula Pedmmore. Um
I'm a Lonoenburgger. I was born here many many years ago. And uh my family came here in the late 29 almost 30 and bought a a uh 40 plus acre farm with a house, a barn, and multiple ancillary
buildings for $6,800, believe it or not. And I'm one of seven, the seventh of seven. and my father never had a dime to rub together till the land was developed and he stopped farming. So that's all of Fair View Road
down West Street from Lminster Road to where you stop the hill. He owned all that land. Now there are multiple houses on it. So in my life, my father served the community. I was talking to uh to a local neighbor the other night of
talking about my dad had a uh thing like a banner on him and uh during the war he was a uh scanner for
people who didn't cover their windows during the war. So that's where our as far back as I wasn't even born yet. Uh service to the town. Um my maiden name is Chapter Lane. My brother Ray serviced
the town for a thousand years. My son was on the school committee. I was on the school committee for many years during the 80s. I served on not one but two bylaw revision committees when we were trying to find out how many of these excavators in Lunberg and how much
land they owned and where it was and if it was being run properly. Um I lived on the Cape for a few years and loved every minute of my living there but always missed Lunberg and came back
uh we went in 16 and came back uh just two years ago. So, I was asked if I was interested in it. Of course, I'm interested in it. My husband and my son were in the play for the 250th. Uh, I was pregnant for my second child
then and was not that much involved. He was soon to be born, but anyway, I'm happy to serve and do what I can because this is my home. Awesome. Thank you so much, Jean. So, my my family's history does not go
back as quite as far. Um but uh no we moved here in 1956. Um so you know I completed 1st through 12th. Um and uh you know my mother was
the treasure of the historical society for many years. Um my first husband was a Lunberg graduate. He went into the military. So, I spent a few years in Japan and Korea and San Antonio. Um, and
then when my mom passed away, my dad asked if I would come home and my family, you just say, "Sir, yes, sir." Um, so we came I came back in 94. So, my daughter got to attend all of the same schools I did and she graduated in 2006.
I ended up um following my mo my mother's footsteps. I was treasure for the the historical society for 17 years. Um and uh worked locally at workers credit union. I am still there. It's funny. I started my career there in 1972
and then they brought they they took me back which was interesting when I came back in '94. Um I've been on the executive um not executive I'm sorry economic development committee um for I think three years
now. So, it's probably about time for me to move on. I did drive a tractor. My father was very involved with the uh 275th. I got to drive a tractor. If you want pictures of proof, I do have that um at home. So, um of course I know Deb Lincoln very
well. Uh she graduated a year of a year ahead of me. Um you know, plus some of the others that are Kathy Clark is also on the board are on the committee as well. So, um, it's my home. Awesome. Well, thank you both. I'll open it up to any questions or comments from
the board if there are any. Uh, thank you for coming forward. You're two amazing candidates and, you know, I could listen to your stories all night long, all night long. The the, you know, the resource that the two of you provide is is, you know, unmatched. But, thank
you for your willingness to to share it and volunteer your time. I have a correction. part of my dementia. It's my age, but it wasn't the 250th that my son and uh it was the 275th 75th. Yeah. Because I'm I'm old. I'm gonna be
80, but it's I'm not that old child 50 years ago. Well, he he is in his 50s, but it wasn't him. It was the second one. Thank you, Jean. Thank you, Pette. I think you both uh provide unique perspectives that I think will help the committee a lot, and I appreciate you
volunteering. Mhm. Thank you for volunteering and thank you for sharing your stories. I can only imagine how the town has changed since you've been here. Um and I'm sure you have many many stories more stories to tell. But um again, thank you for
volunteering and willing to participate. I had a little addendum that you I'm happy to share with you. My husband is in the process of upgrading the history from um the 50th to the 200th to 250th to the 300th. He's been working at it for a
year and a half and has another year to go before it will go to publication. He's interviewed just about everybody in town. Um police, the history of the police station, what changed the fire. Um but recently because my dad was a farmer in
Lunberg for so many years we have been very uh attached to Marilyn uh McMillan who is a proctor one of the multi multi thousands of pro proctors in Lunberg and um we took her around for a whole a
morning. We picked her up at 10:00 and we stopped at 1:30 to take her to lunch where she was almost exhausted. She's approaching 89 years old. And her history is that when she was a child raised on West Street at the pinnacle of
West Street from Sunny Hill to Hollis where all that U-shaped development is, that was all her father's land. And um there were close to 50 farms in this town.
Some of them being milk processing areas, but all related to farming, which is just amazing. Well, stupidly we didn't take work, you know. We're we're not of that generation, you know. So, Billy, my neighbor, Billy Tyler here, uh
said, "Can I borrow the tape?" and oh my god. So we so we couldn't finish the town so we did oh I'm sorry electric avenue over you know all that end of Lunenburgg
and um her mind is like a steel trap. She was born here. She was educated here. She married a farmer here who was a Canadian descendant who came to help a very an ill farmer, Winnie Brown, off of Lminster Road where she still lives. And
she knows the plot of land, who their children were, who they married, where they are, blah blah blah. But now she has the tape and she's going over the original notes. And so it will be a treasure to this town to think. I
mean, I remember as a kid multiple, but not anywhere near as many as her. It's incredible how this town has grown and and she's kept up with the development of all these farm properties, you know, how many houses are on them and how many
families are in them and blah blah blah blah blah. If you want a resource for anything in the town history, she's on Lemonster Road, McMillan, Cherry Hill Farm. You see the big barn? Anyway, just thought I'd mention it to you because she's an incredible human
being. Incredible human being. Thank you. All right, hold on one second. Okay, I move to appoint Paul Beardmore and Gene Dri to the Lunberg 300th Anniversary Committee. I'll second that motion. Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes
unanimously. Congratulations. You guys have been officially appointed. Make sure you guys get sworn in. Yes. And I with the town clerk, I'm assuming you guys know that. Um and yeah. Um and um the next meeting I think is next uh next Monday, right?
Yeah. The Yep. Mr. Chairman, can I just ask a question to Mrs. Beardmore? Sure. Will you be providing a photograph of your son in that play for the occasion? I think that that should have been a contingency.
I I I don't know if there's one somewhere. Okay, I will look for it. My husband and my son were in wonderful going right through the center. Yeah, you have to find that. Yeah. All right. Have a good night, guys. Okay. Announcements. I have two. Let me
just pull them up. Oh, no. Phil wants to hang for the announcement. Um, it's all right. Okay. Hey, there will be a Touch a Truck event this Friday, August 22nd, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Department of Public
Works at 520 Chase Road. This exciting community event gives kids the chance to get up close, sit in, and explore a variety of vehicles and equipment from firet trucks to police cruisers to construction rigs and more. In addition to the town vehicles, the Lunberg Water
District will be present, as will Proctor Landscaping with a truck. Hollis Hills Farms will be bringing a tractor. The mobile studio from Fitchburg Access will be on site. POW will be bringing a truck. Aldridge will be providing a tow truck. Keing will be bringing a loader.
There will be lots of food at the event uh with donuts donated by Dunkin Donuts and Dipping Donuts. Uh the Salvation Army canteen will be serving hot dogs. There will be pizza from Bad Larry's, etc., etc. It's going to be a great community event. And again, that is this
Friday, August 22nd, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the DPW, 520 Chase Road. And uh save the date and mark your calendars for 25 years of memory, a community commemoration of a local
treasure, Wham Park. The historical society is going to be um holding this event Saturday, September 13th from 12 to 2 at the historical society. There'll be a lot of Wham memorabilia on display and the opportunity to share your memories from
the park. The police department will be selling special commemorative Whamm badges and you can get a picture with the Wham clown for $5. There will also be a book signing for the Waym Park Images of America book. Uh so stay tuned for more information on that.
I did have a announcement uh that the library is hosting a story and meet and greet with Dr. Jod Fortuna, the new superintendent of schools. It's tomorrow, Wednesday, August 20th from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Thank you. And I do also want to mention I missed out on one um thing for the
touch a truck. There's also going to be a stuff the cruiser drive for school supplies. So, if you're able, uh, please pick up some school supplies to help fill the cruiser. All right. Any other announcements? Okay.
Public comments. Are there any other uh public comments from the board? Any public comments from the public this evening? Mr. Burton? Yes. Hello. Um, I'd like to address the town for all the issues that have been
going on um with my family. Um, it it's been pretty incredible and um, a conversation that I had with Miss Warren just the other day was incredible. I I've never seen anything un so unprofessional that it was just concerning to us that we wanted to raise
it to the select board. We've heard that there's multiple issues going on in town and this is why we're being attacked. I think the the select board understands, Mr. um, we you Mr. Warren, Mrs. Warren and Caesar have had a a conversation with us back 6 months ago. Didn't do
anything. Just sat there and listened. We don't understand why the town doesn't step up and talk and mediate what we've gone through and what we've discussed except for they will put pictures and and comments in face on Facebook which
we don't have access to a town only Facebook page that we don't have access to. However, public figures, meaning police officers that don't live in town, have access to that page and watch the postings go on. It's incredible to us
how that can occur. How how do you give police officers access to a Lunberg only page when they don't even live in town? Or are they watching it during their their their you know office hours when they're on duty? That could be happening as well. I think the town needs to understand what we've been going through, the the expense that the town
is spending at coming after us and and trying to document us to be the individuals that we are not and and instructing the narrative and basically following making a narrative out of my family to the abuse that we've gone through, calling us idiots on Facebook.
Does the town and the select board members think that is proper? That's what I'd like to ask and I'd like a response from that. You can't even respond to that. Dead silence. Dead silence from the the board. Why? Why? When we've raised these concerns continuously.
Can someone please speak? Mr. Burton. So, this is your public comment. Okay. This isn't a conversation. Uh, no. Continue with your public comment. It's a question to be addressed on our letters that we have sent to the town manager. they they do not get replied to
multiple public records requests that we have very concerns with. Why am I listed on a danger list that no one can tell us why and no one can tell us no documentation thereof because it was a setup from day one and we we have documentation and evidence of such. But
now the town is defamed, black ballalled and trying to remove us from our house and our family. my wife and three kids have to live at home by themselves. Why? I had to live two hours away just to avoid the wrath from the town and the the the the harassment and intimidation
and the stalking events that the police have looked the other way because they're helping individuals. They're protecting these individuals. Why? And why doesn't the town respond? You all sit there with your mouths quiet and with a dumb look and on your face and don't say anything. Why? Why? Please
help us. Mr. Mr. Burton, this isn't a conversation. You are making a public comment. Would you like to continue with your public comment? I have no more public comment, but it is a question that I'd like the board to answer. You can answer it not here tonight. Why don't you answer it via email? Why don't you answer it via a
letter? Why don't you respond to our public records request on a timely fashion and provide us the records that we want so we can get to the bottom of this and end it? It's been a 10-year situation. We've been attacked in town. Like you you basically take someone and they get attacked. A police officer
tries to cancel an ambulance. I end up in two hospitals. Why? And then I continue to get attacked. Is that like the same thing you would do to anybody else? Why would you take someone that's gotten raped and do that again to them and and continuously harass and provoke someone? Why are these things occurred
in the town of Lunenburgg? It's a question for everybody. You don't have to answer that, Caesar, or anybody else on the board if you don't want to, but we'd appreciate a letter and try to help help us understand why why this all occurs. We don't understand it.
Honestly, it's to silence silence us. Why? Because we've raised concerns to the town. We've raised concerns to the town of individuals in our in our town and nothing but attacked. We're like the turtle boy of Lunberg without a murder for Karen Reed's trial. That's exactly
what the situation is. Mr. We've had videoap modified. We've had a lot of things go on that no one is aware of. Have a good night. Your public comment is over. Good night. All right. Continuing on appointments,
ratifications, and resignations. We have uh let's see. Ratify the town manager's appointment of Victoria Ledger as videographer effective August 20th, 2025. Thank you. A little bit about uh Victoria. She has a master's in
integrated media arts from Anamaria College and a bachelor's in video and photographic art with a minor in creative writing and media studies. Um she has experience creating video content for Anamaria's art department. Um she has taught at the graduate level
teaching video studio productions. She's proficient in video editing, um camera shoots, and TV productions. and I think that she's going to bring a wealth of experience um and to help fill some gaps due to some recent vacancies in that position. Awesome. Any questions or is there a
motion? I'll move to ratify the town manager's appointment of Victoria Ledger. Is that um as videographer grade three step three effective August 20, 2025? I'll second that motion. Any additional discussion? Those in
favor say I. I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes unanimously. Okay. Up next is the appointment of election workers and terms to begin September 1st through August 31st, 2026. And just note that that um no it's actually 2026. I know it says
2025 on the agenda. Good catch though. And there are eight. So uh Glenn Reinhardt, Republican, 53 Pearl Street as the warden. Judith Halagan, Republican, 29 Elizabeth Street, deputy warden. Kathleen, Democrat, 337 Waym
Road Clerk. Judy Haley, Democrat, 184 Highland Street, Clerk. Susan Andrews, Democrat, 81 Horizon Island Road, Inspector Joanne Berseron, Democrat, 306 West Townsen Road, Deputy Inspector Jane Ramley, Republican, 4550 Lemonster Road,
Inspector. And Donna May, um, partisansship not noted here. Uh, 277 Highland Street, Deputy Inspector. Any questions on any of that or is there a motion? I'll make a motion to uh appoint
election workers as read. I'll second that motion. Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes unanimously. Okay. And up next, we have a couple of resignations to acknowledge. So, the
first is Max Anderson, equipment operator, effective August 8th, 2025. Um, I can just read them all. Matthew Allison, planning board member, effective July 30th, 2025. And Joseph Hurley from the sewer commission, effective August 13, 2025.
Okay, moving on to the town manager report. Okay, thank you, Mr. Chairman. It's been a while since we last convened, so it's a little bit long. um for updates this evening. So I had previously reported about some programs that were available
through uh National Grid and we are going to be working on a portfolio prioritization plan uh with National Grid through Massave. Um this is a highle analysis of buildings within the portfolio and from this we'll receive a
prioritized list for electrification a report presentation and next steps. We're looking at Turkey Hill, Middle High School, Library, Primary School, Public Safety Building, DPW, Town Hall, Ritter, and Eagle House. TCP has also been recommended, but we're talking to them about whether or not that's appropriate considering the
decommissioning work. Um, this comes at zero cost to the town. Uh, this is 100% being funded through the utility. Why National Grid when they're not our utility, some may wonder. Um, Unatil is just too small to have a team to operate in the space. So, National Grid uh takes
that on for some of the smaller utilities, but we're excited for the partnership and to develop a plan for reduced energy usage in these buildings. Uh Noba Valley EMS funding. Thank you to the entire legislative delegation for their efforts in securing $5 million in
funding for the area's fire and emergency medical services. Uh this funding, of course, is intended uh to address the costs associated with the closure of the Nishobra Valley Medical Center. Uh, Chief Sullivan joined regional chiefs at the ceremonial bill sighting in Beacon Hill. Um, I believe
that was last week. Um, we do not know yet how these funds will be distributed particularly other than that they're going to be distributed through the Department of Public Health. Um, but how they can be expended, what they can be used on, the parameters around that, we haven't seen that yet. Um, what we will
say though is at this point with the funding not being secure year-over-year, although that's the intent, I wouldn't want to put any operations on this funding. Um, open span open space recreational plan has been extended. So, thank you to the Lunberg Open Space
Committee who applied for and obtained a three-year extension on the town's open space and wreck plan. These expire every 10 10 years. So this means instead of having to complete a whole new plan, we can use the current plan and continue to apply for and be eligible through for
grants through June 2029. So um thanks particularly to Mike Tuhill um the committee chair uh for your efforts in this area. Uh the senior means tested tax tax exemption. You've heard us talk about this a lot. So uh the assessor and board of assessors presented on the
senior means tested tax exemption on August 13th. Um the goal of this tax exemption is to provide property relief to older homeowners and help them to be able to remain in Lunenburgg. This is uh an exemption for seniors who were granted the circuit breaker income tax
credit and meet certain income and asset criteria. If you were not able to make uh that meeting on at the U Eagle House on August 13th, there is the 22minute video available on YouTube. Um if folks don't have access to YouTube, please
call our assessor's office. The information is also available online. Um, but the deadline is fast approaching of September 3rd. Um, so if you think you want to learn more, there's a lot of places that you can look for more information on this.
Uh, the Nshoba Associated Boards of Health nursing hours remain on pause through uh the months of September and October due to staffing issues. They are uh hoping to have a new nurse um on boarded and oriented in time to resume
those hours. in November. Um if folks do have public health nursing questions in the meantime, they can contact uh the associated boards of health and they can put you in touch with somebody. Um the they're also participating in a community health survey for the region.
Um you we are going to be posting this on our page um over the next few days. We had a lot of traffic and we didn't want to clutter our social media and website page, but we're going to be posting this survey. It takes about under 10 minutes. um they're looking for data about the overall community health
so they can approach issues from a regional level. If you're really eager to hop on and take it right now, you can go to the NSO associated board of health web page and find that link for the survey. Uh department head goals and objectives
since the select board and um and I have established goals and objectives who have now taken those to department heads um and rolled them out for the fiscal year. uh their goals and objectives are based on the overall goals and objectives of the town as well as items that are being initiated at the
department level. Um as I understand this is a new endeavor uh for department heads. They haven't participated in any annual goal setting before. Um but we're excited uh to start the process. Mosquito updates. So, the town of Ludenberg had the fortunate uh or
unfortunate designation of being the first community in the state with a uh animal that passed away. And um that animal that passed away did have West Nile virus, although um I have not seen whether that was the cause of death. Uh that animal,
which was a goat, resided on Goodrich Street. Um Central Mass uh mosquito control has been sampling mosquitoes in that area. There have been no mosquitoes in that direct vicinity that have come back positive. However, mosquitoes sampled from other parts of the town
have come back positive for West Nile virus. So, we know that there's mosquitoes in the area with West Nile virus. We're advising um all residents to take appropriate precautions, be mindful, especially when out after dusk. Um get rid of standing water, wear
appropriate clothing, and take appropriate measures. Uh town offices will be closed this Thursday, August 21st from 1 to 4 uh for our annual employee appreciation event at which time the special merit award um will be announced
for the first time. Um we're going to have those awardees back before the select board at a future meeting to recognize them in front of the whole community. The awardees don't know who they are. Um so I'm excited to give them those awards on Thursday. But I really want to thank the community for um
nominating so many folks. I had an incredible amount of uh nominations to consider and if I could give them all away I would. So uh Representative Scarsdale reached out to let us know that the Lunberg Public Schools is receiving a grant through the
mass cyber grant program in the amount of $24,234 to upgrade three end of support switches that will enable patches and more advanced security protocols to be implemented and also prevent um some threats. Um, so that's great. External
funding is always great. Um, as is our chapter 90 final aortionment, which our final figure for FY26 is huge. 883,172.118, which is well over what we were expecting at TAW meeting at $690,000 and change, which is over the normal
aortionment. So, um, I think we have a lot of work that we can do with those additional funds, so they won't go to waste, but glad to see it. All right, project updates. Following the joint meeting of the select board and the municipal building design committee, we've received some additional information on very rough potential
costs about next steps that were discussed. Um, Taylor and Burns did provide a ballpark estimate of around $80,000 uh for the town hall and Ritter building uh next steps plus $40,000 for Brooks
House. Should we consider uh looking at that as well? We also received a ballpark estimate if we were to go out and start over using the data that we have the base layers that we have if we have a new design fir firm but not including the Brooks house at about 210.
So in short looking at about 120,000 to stay with the current designers 210 if we pivot and then Brooks House at a 40 on either case. Um, with that information, uh, we are thinking about having another joint meeting to discuss
where we should go and next steps so that they can get some more direction. But I think regardless, anything it will be a sprint if we are to get this on Maytown meeting at this point with the redesign.
Okay. On August 4th, the town had a bid opening for the Wallace Park Court resurfacing project. We received one bid, but that's okay because it was under what we had budgeted. Uh so we're performing our diligence and entering a cont contract in the next few weeks. Uh
the access control project is underway. You might have seen some the key locks have been changed out and the access reader systems will be installed in the next several weeks. Uh in the last manager report, I reported that the town had opened bids for the cleaning of
municipal buildings. Unfortunately, the lowest bidder uh declined to enter to the contract. So, we've now issued a notice award to the second lowest bidder. Terms of recruitment, we have um vacancies in the position of dietary aid at nine hours per week, meal site worker
at 36 hours per week, payroll and benefits coordinator at 32 hours per week, executive assistant to the town manager and select board at 36 power hours per week. Equipment operator at 40 hours per week, videographer 2 to 10 hours per week, although we announced one, there's one more. And loose
director will be posted this week. Uh board and committee vacancies for appointed boards. Agricultural Commission one vacancy APDC 1, Cultural Council 2, Associates for Green Communities 2, Historical Commission 1,
Personnel Board 5, PAC 1, associate member on the ZBA 1. Here's a new one. I heard that we have a representative, well new to me, not to you probably, but representative to the first Middle Sex small town collaborative, which is um I believe being run out of Senator
Cronin's office. I think it's representative's office. Okay. Um so, uh that was Josie Gilchrist and so we need um it's a select board appointment to that. We need a new person there. And then um we
received an application for uh the Montichus Regional Vocational Technical School. We have one application in, but we haven't formally announced that it's open and available. That's an appointment of the select board school committee and moderator. So I am announcing officially if anybody is interested in serving on the Montichus
Regional Vocational Technical School Committee. if you want to send your applications to the town manager's office and then we can convene these three groups or two groups and one person for appointments. Um we have some vacancies in elected uh boards. So we
have uh for elected boards board of assessors has one, planning board has one, sewer commission now has one and trust fund commission has one. And that concludes my manager's report for the evening. Thank you. Any questions for the town manager? Have you reached out to the
planning board planning board to see if they're going to appoint a representative to the Lunberg Municipal Building Design Committee? No, but I can. Thank you. All right. Anything else? All right. Thank you again. Moving on to
new business. So, first we have the vote to set date for fall special town meeting and the opening and the closing of the warrant. So, the proposed date of special town meeting is November 18th, 2025. Um, the date for the warrant opening is August 20th, 2025, which is
just tomorrow, and the warrant closing is October 2nd, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Uh, so those are the three things that the select board has to do for town meeting. So, first, we have to call it, we have to set the date and the time, and then we have to open and close the warrant.
Um it's typical for us to just open the warrant the next business day and then close it um according to the timeline that's in the bylaw which I believe is 47 days um from town meeting. So that's what this calendar is following. Um but other than that this is uh pretty
procedural. Any questions on this? Okay. So, I will move to call a special town meeting for Tuesday, November 18th, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the Lunberg Middle School Auditorium and uh open the
warrant on August 20th, 2025 and close the warrant on October 2nd, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Second. Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes unanimously. All right. Up next,
discussion on warrant articles to be sponsored by the select board. So, this is going to be an ongoing conversation um just to decide what the board wants to um initiate and bring to town meeting so we can start getting it drafted and reviewed by town council. And in addition to that, um I believe the town
manager has a list already. So, uh we can start with that list to go through it and see if there's um consensus with those as well. Do you want to just start there? Sure. So, um I've been kind of keeping track as I hear things um coming along.
So, we have uh easement to take the uh license for the ramp for or a butter and make that license permanent through an easement for 21 Main Street. Um uh there's been discussion about merger
of the historic commission and APDC. Um Tony Skellenbrini is already talking to council about on that. Um there's been some talk as we are doing the design for the uh Eagle House for their parking. Um
and the the playground that's there uh is likely going to need to be moved um for that project. There's been talk, although it doesn't have to happen at this town meeting, of transferring Kids Kingdom from the school committee's care, custody, and control to uh the select board's care, custody, and
control. Um there was a previous town meeting vote for funding for TCP roof. So to move, but that was specific to the part of the building that's being decommissioned to move that funding um to another portion of the building. Uh
changing to a postcard for TA meeting. Uh we have updates to the SAP. Um repealing the sick leave bank and merit award program from the SAP. not repealing them as programs, but just repealing them from the SAP. And we know
we have the MBTA zoning act. So that's what I am tracking so far in addition to the normal standard articles. Okay. Any of that stand out to anyone? Do we want to discuss any of those tonight? Should we discuss the uh postcard idea
for the warrant because we as a board haven't talked about it. Yeah. Yes. So, it would be good to know first of all that it's something that we want to actually bring to town meeting. Um, I think we should I think it's a good idea. I think the warrants are very cumbersome. Um, so what do you guys think?
Yeah, I think it's a good idea. Yeah. Yeah. I I did I did like the unique aspect of having receiving that in the mail. It was nothing I had I've heard of before, but I do like the idea of it becoming it it is still it would still be available to those who want it, right?
And the QR code. So, I think I think that's a good compromise. So I'm well I think we need to make my opinion a hard copy available to people they can call Mhm. and have it mailed to their house maybe if they are unable to go we can have it at the adult activity center you know
different places the library that it could be picked up and they can request a hard copy right and not everyone knows what a QR code is. No I'm sorry. Go ahead. No you go. And it's important that we're just putting it before the voters to see what they Yes. Absolutely. So we're achieving the same
thing. It's just not going to be as expensive because mailing one to every single registered voter in town is very expensive. Like $7,000 or something like that around that ballpark. Yeah. Yep. And it also shrinks the timeline for getting the warrant out and that's a pain. Every single town meeting we run
into it and it's it's really an issue. So if I remember right, I think we estimated like extends the opening of the one like three weeks. Yep. Three weeks. Yeah. Mhm. So um Yeah. So before it went, you know, to
whoever's going to draft the language, this board had never discussed, right? So I don't Do we need a vote? Um, no, I don't think so. You need a You need a You'll need a formal vote when we're finalizing it. But I think I think to start drafting
drafting the language, I see I see where potential vote may be. Right. Okay. Yeah. Enough. Umh there were a that was a long list. I don't know is there anything else on that list that we could um I think there's things on this list
that we have to do right like um so I think the the easement for um council is frankly already working on that language but the easement for the ramp uh we have to do um
I know that Mr. Scullenbrini um really wanted the historic commission and APDC merger language to be on for the Maytown meeting. Uh we felt very Oh, he is joining right now. I know say very uncanny but continue.
I'm talking about you right now, Mr. Skellyy. So So he's already been having some discussions through council office hours with town council about how to make this work. there were some maybe some misunderstandings that town council had
that in the last office hours um Tony was able to clarify for him. So I think council was a a little worried about a path forward with the language but I think Tony got him there. So I do want to clarify who has the intent of actually submitting that warrant. Is the intent that the select
board would do it on their behalf or is this just something that you're tracking to actually like get completed? So, at the the final decision on any warrant article, it is the select boards unless it's petitioned. So, you always get that final vote, but um the historic
commission is at this point championing it until it's submitted. Thank you. Um then I I think the kids kingdom you know whatever that's probably not critical path for this meeting but
I you know I guess is there anything that we needed to discuss tonight tonight anything for you to start drafting whoever to start draft if there's anything that's not on this list right okay that okay that we're not tracking the intent is so that we can get ahead
of getting it drafted and reviewed so yep So, uh, the state had provided Lunberg with additional chapter 70 funding. I don't know if that would go through us or the school, but I think there should be some communication with the school department if there's going to be an article for
any additional funding from chapter 70 to go to the schools. Mhm. So, I will say that there's typically, well, I I don't want to speak for typically in Lunenburgg for a special town meeting because I haven't been here, but there's typically um articles,
money articles that bills of a prior fiscal year, budget adjustments that are a vehicle for emotions like that. But, um chapter I would just say additional appropriation article.
Okay. Anything else that we want to flag early on, Glenn? Well, just with Did you mention that the Kids Kingdom would be transferred to the the Select Board as opposed to like Parks and Wreck? So, why wouldn't it go to Parks and Wreck?
Eventually, it probably will, right? But it's as it gets moved, it's just easier for the select board to control and shepherd the process and then and then once it's moved, then you transfer that to the parks and works commission.
Good question though. [Music] Anything else that we want to flag tonight? Okay. All right. Discussion on bring your own bottle policy. So, this request was made
by a business owner of I believe a nail salon. was it? Um, who was interested in pursuing a BYOB type of situation at her salon, which I recently learned is a thing that happens sometimes. Um, but the way that our policy works right now
is that it's tied to a Common Vic license. So, you know, you have to be a restaurant or whatever that serves food in order to serve alcohol. Um, so this is on here for us to decide if we want to modify that policy to allow for BYOB
uh in establishments that don't have a common VIC that uh don't necessarily sell food. Uh, so right now this is just uh up to a discussion. So I'm just uh really looking for initial reactions from uh board members on this and whether it's something we would want to look into.
Absolutely. So what does this what would this open up as far as other businesses? So So right now well everywhere BYOB is not regulated by the ABCC.
So all BYOB is regulated by the local licensing authority. So the way that we have it currently, if you don't have a common VIC, if you're not serving food, there's no option for you to have a BYOB.
The select board could um open that up to all business establishments. You could open it to certain business establishments. You could index it to other type of licenses. So,
um, instead of just a common VIC license that you hold some other type of license, um, you could make it that it's just spas. I mean, so you can make it as limited or as broad as you would like.
Um, but again, the ABCC is not going to be operating in this space. This is just us controlling what occurs. Um, I will say that I think that I have concerns about alcohol um that is not being provided by
the purveyor of the establishment without food. Mhm. That that it that linking of the food and alcohol is critical. But that's my opinion. I'm also kind of concerned about this because I mean you go to your appointment, you're drinking who knows how much alcohol and then obviously
you're getting back in your car and driving out and continuing on with your day because let's be realistic that's how everyone gets around in this area. Um so I don't know if I really like this either. U and that's sort of where I'm at right now.
And if people are of of aid bringing in the alcohol I mean just the enforcement part piece of it. Um, have you experienced of this in other towns before? Um, I have not in a town that I've worked in. Okay. I've only had, you know, restaurants that have Bob. They don't
have a liquor license. I'll say I've gone to salons that have a wine and pouring license that they're controlling it that they're pouring that. Yeah,
it's a little better than Bob, but I do have concerns with this. I think uh I would definitely need more information to support this. Does ABCC can regulate the poor license? Okay.
I I mean I just see it as a bit a businessfriendly decision and this uh the request was really well um articulated with all the um you know the standards of serve safe and whatnot. Mhm. But uh yeah, I just I do just see it as
you know as a a responsibility of those who are particing in the in the um salon and and consuming consuming the alcohol that you know there's no control over them having it before they leave. Um and you know I just I just see it as
a a a businessfriendly Yeah, I no I understand that side of it too. Um, and I tried to get there, but I just couldn't really get past the reservations that I have with alcohol in general in this context. Um, so that's
just sort of where I ended up uh landing in my initial reading of it and I haven't really been able to move past that yet. So, so I guess specifically to the board, um, you know, this was put on here because I didn't want to do a whole lot of research and a whole lot of work on
this if the board was not inclined, right, to go in this direction. Yeah. So, I'm still not really seeing where we are about putting resources behind this endeavor at this time. What's involved in getting a poor what what's it called? The poor something
poor license. Pouring license. Pouring license. I was going to bring that up too. I would be more interested in exploring that than a a modification to the Bob. As an initial step, do you want me to go back to this lency and say, are you interested in trying to see if you can obtain a malt and wine?
Yeah, I'd be okay with that. I don't know. Food's probably going to come into play there, but food's going to come into play. Spa with I just like then you have the board of health probably, right? Yeah. I don't know. It's one of those things that on the
surface sounds great, but it's like, uh, what is that opening up? I mean, you're taking on risk with that. What's the other side of that coin, right? So, I don't know. May maybe you could have that conversation and do not
extensive research into it, but I just don't want to be on a fool's island, frankly. Yeah. So, um I really if I mean I if I could just get a straw poll of research or not re like are we committing?
I'm a I'm a yes for research. I I think it would be at least you know a good a good uh message to send to the business community that we're open to trying to make things better. I am curious to see you know what are other communities doing? how many communities, but that's I know that's
going to be a lot that that's substantial research and I would say that that's the minority of communities are having a Bob at a salon, right? And that's the thing you would you would know for sure if this was more common place and you know that's kind of enough for me and Go ahead.
I can only think of salons in one community that they have they're pouring. I feel like we have a lot of stuff on our plate. the town manager has a lot of stuff on the plate for this year and I I don't support the rec up the fall town meeting. So yeah.
Um yeah, I agree. And you know, like I said, I didn't really get there. It sound like we had reservations from three out of four members um here. Although Glenn, you know, I fully understand where you're coming from and you know, I agree with that point as well, but for me it just didn't really um outweigh the risk. So
could this be something that the public could take to an article for a fall or springtime meeting? uh a warrant article. It wouldn't probably be rise to the level. No, it has to be a select board policy. Select board is the is the licensing authority. But I mean certainly maybe maybe this
applicant I guess we'll call her business owner. Maybe she wants to help and do if in a conversation maybe she can has the capacity to do some of this research. I'd welcome that. Yeah. So I would have on her own behalf or just let's park this for now until maybe
some freedom. Yeah. All right. Get an executive assistant. Sure. Interviews on Monday. Great. Are we all on the same page on that then? Okay. Great. All right. Thank you. All right. Up next, ratification of the collecting bargaining agreement with New
England Police Benevolent Association Local 353, FY26, FY28. We're skipping over this um because um some of the legal ease is still going back and forth uh among the attorneys. Um but we I believe are in a place where um there's agreement. So, we just need to finalize
that and then it'll be back on the agenda. Recommendations to the master plan steering committee on the master plan update. So, we got this sent over to us. Um, it was sent um I was away for military training for two weeks and I
just got back and I truly still need time to really read it. Um, but I just put this on the agenda so that we could um just have it on our radar and know that they want um pretty much well actually pretty much all boards and committees in town to really submit their feedback. Um so we will go through
everything that's in this draft of the master plan and they are looking for that feedback by October 1st. So we still have some time. Um, but this is here really just to introduce it and put it on everyone's radar so that we can um really start looking at that and then we'll start going through and compiling
our recommendations. Um, I don't know if um, Glenn, I know that you're the liaison. Do you want to No, I think that I'm new to the new as in that role, but I think you you hit the nail on the head. It's just those those uh categories to the right on the
spreadsheet are what they're looking for, you know, specific answer answers to and they have it sectioned out for the the areas they think are specific to the select board. Gotcha. All right. Great. Okay. So, we'll pick that up and we'll go through
it. Sorry. So, Shannon, I don't know if is that the chair at all? It is. I don't know if she want has anything to add. Yeah, sure. So, Kim, we see that you're on Zoom. if you'd um like to add anything uh you may. If not, that's okay as well. I know I'm just calling on you
out of the spot here. Oh, no, not a problem. I actually joined right at the perfect time um for this. So, yeah. No, not pretty much what Glenn said. You know, we're soliciting this feedback for the draft recommendations um to all the various committees and we
did outline um you know, which committees we thought were appropriate for which recommendation like which ones it might impact. So, in that case, yeah, we're we're looking for feedback, specific feedback for the questions that are on the top of the spreadsheet in like row A. Um, and you can just go
along for each recommendation. Um, answer those questions, you know, and feel free to ask any questions you want to Glenn or myself. um you know for for clarification cuz there there a lot has gone into it and we've tried to plan for
you know new eyes but you know not being new eyes myself it's hard to anticipate every question you might have um I did forward a um presentation that the consultant over under provided to us last week that kind of gives more of a
visualization of the draft recommendations. So, um, feel free to also take a look at that. It might provide some context as well. Okay, great. Kim, while I have you, I'll ask any, uh, members if they have any questions about this process, if there's anything in particular.
Okay. Not seeing any. So, thank you so much, Kim. And, uh, we will get this feedback to you as soon as we can. Perfect. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Yeah, of course. All right. Up next, authorize the town manager to file applications, execute agreements,
and other necessary documents associated with a clean water state revolving fund grant to the town of Lunenburgg for the asset management inventory and planning project. And I am just going to have you explain this one. Yes. So, this is a this is going to be a long a long thing to read, but what this
is is um you might you might have recalled that I reported previously on a grant that we were receiving um to continue the work on our storm water asset system to do the mapping of of all of the system. Um it's $99,000 project.
I think it's like 69,000 is being covered by the grant and the remainder is covered by town funds. Um, but there's a really long uh legal ease that you need to vote um in order for us to sign the paperwork. So, that's what this is. Um, I'm happy to read it into the
record and then somebody could just make a motion. I was prepared. You want to read it? You go right ahead. That's what Any questions first and then we'll make the motion. Anything on this? Okay. So I move whereas the town of Lunenberg after thorough investigation
has determined that the work activity consisting of asset management, inventory and planning is both in the public interest and necessary to protect the public health and that to undertake this activity it is necessary to apply for assistance. And whereas the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the
Massachusetts Clean Water Trust of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, pursuant to chapter 21 and chapter 29C of the General Laws of the Commonwealth, chapter 21 and chapter 29 C are authorized to provide financial assistance to municipalities for the purpose of funding, planning, and
construction activities relative to water pollution abatement projects and drinking water projects. And whereas the applicant has examined the provisions of the act chapter 21 and chapter 29 C and believes it to be the public interest to file a loan application. Now therefore,
be it resolved by the Lunberg Select Board as follows. One, that the Lunberg town manager is hereby authorized on behalf of the applicant to file applications and execute agreements for grant and or loan assistance, as well as furnishing such information, data, and documents pertaining to the applicant
for a grant and or a loan as may be required, and otherwise to act as the authorized representative of the applicant in connection with this application. Two, that the purpose of said loans, if awarded, shall be to fund planning activities. and three that a set award is made the applicant agrees
to pay those costs which constitute the required applicant share of the project cost. Is there a second? Second. Any additional discussion? I just point out that I think that's the longest motion that I have ever made or heard. Um all those in favor say I.
I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes unanimously. Any signatures on that that we need to do? No, you authorized me to sign. Thank you. Oh, gotcha. Yeah, you're right. I just read it. Okay, up next is a letter of support to legislative delegation in
relation to the Nishoba Associated Boards of Health Retirement System. Uh so I will read it so we can you know go through um any modifications. Um but to the town manager, do you want to just give the TLDDR on this? Sure. I will do my best. So um this is
the request that's coming from um the Nishoba Associated Boards of Health. Um, for those in the public that aren't aware, um, it's it's a district. It's a that was formed way back in 1918 and in 1967 they became part of the state's
retirement pension system. Um, but the employer contribution portion was never properly built and so that was discovered in 2014. So they forgave everything prior to 2014, but from 214
to present um they have this growing liability that has not been resolved. So um this is they've been told um over the past they've been working on this since 2014. Um they've been told the legislative fix is what is necessary. Um
they did file legislation last session. Um but Representative Scarsdale, Senator Eldridge um have supported legislation this session which does two things. It resolves um the issues with um the outstanding
liability, but it also changes the way that their uh payments are calculated going forward that they're based prospectively on employees and actuarial studies so that they can budget appropriate for them instead of being retrospective. any more details than that, I'm gonna
have to have the executive director here himself to explain or I can happily ask for um some clarifications if there's questions. Understood. Okay. So, we can read through this um and see if there's anything we want to change. Um support
for H44, H2960, and S1836 in relation to the NHS Associated Boards of Health Retirement System to the legislative delegation of the town of Lunberg. The town of Lunberg is a member of the Nishoba Associated Board of Health, a regional health
district which allows our community to pull its resources and provide robust public health services to residents. Starting in 1931, Nova has provided well-trained full-time staff to small communities like ours. The Nishoba Associated Boards of Health were allowed
to join the state retirement system in 1967. In 2014, the system discovered that they had not been billing Nishoba for the employer portion of the pension provided to their staff. The current staff at Nishoba were unaware of this responsibility and obligation. In their
discussion with the staff of the system, they were informed the system needed to build Nishoba for the pension expense as provided in the law, which allowed them to join as a non-commonwealth entity. They were further informed that any changes to the monies owed or method for calculating the required employer
portion of the pension expense would require legislative action. As you were aware, Noba has been working during various legislative sessions to try and get legislation passed to adjust this situation and last year it became close. It came close, but the bills which would
have provided the necessary relief did not pass. Nishoba working with the state's treasurer's office and the office of representative Scarsdale and Senator Eldridge advocated to get new legislation filed to address the situation. These bills would provide relief in two ways. First, the bill
would change how Nishoba contributes its employer share to the fund. The contribution would be paid on current staff salaries at a rate set by the systems actuarial staff. This simple change would allow Nishoba to budget for this expense during the normal budgeting period. Nishoba has been working to
resolve this payment method for more than 10 years and given the same time since the discovery, the amount of the payment has created a situation that is threatening their financial viability. The second type of relief would address back payments owed to the system. The bills would provide some additional
relief for back payments and would allow the system to work with the affected entities. NHOBA is not the only organization trying to address this situation to make these payments. We are asking for your support of the following bills designed to achieve the necessary relief Nishoba needs. And those three bills again. The Department of Public
Health has been encouraging the formation of shared service arrangements to help local public health departments pull their resources to provide improved services to their communities. Noba has been doing this for the 94 years. Um that's there's a typo right there. That's why I read this. Has been doing
this for the past 94 years. I think that should read. Mhm. and the relief of this pension matter will allow them to remain a strong voice for public health in our community for years to come. Thank you for your continued advocacy and support of the residents of Lunenburgg in partnership select board.
All right. Any feedback on that? How how has it not been addressed since 2014? They the legislature has failed to enact the legislation or or it has failed to get out of committee. It's very possible when you require
anything from Beacon Hill, but and they haven't they haven't budgeted for that expense at all or what they're trying to not do is to not shift it onto the member communities at this point. But it may get to that point in our because we basically the way it
works is um we receive an assessment from them that we pay over to them and that assessment would be marketkedly increased if this fix um isn't achieved and how would that
was that assessment um part and parcel to our decision to get involved in that? like is it is it economically feasible to stay in it or have our own board of health? So I so we would let me answer that in a
couple different ways. So um regional boards of health these regional arrangements do get a lot of support from the state. It is an area that they are trying to support through public health excellency grants. um we would not be able to provide the
same level of services without the Nshoba boards of health um on our own for the same costs um because what you get is you get a registered sanitarian, you have a food inspector, you have um so registered sanitarian to the public
that's who is doing a title 5, we have the public health nurse, um they run clinics. we wouldn't be able to support that level of operations um for that same dollar value. Um and likely probably even with the
increase it would still be the more economically advantageous uh route. But in terms of did the town of Lunenburgg consider the pension liability when we first affiliated with the Associated Boards of Health? I
believe that this I I believe um that this affiliation has been for decades. So that would probably have been well before the 2014 It would definitely well before the 2014 date. Could Could a member of the public compare it to like the OPE the other post benefits?
Yes. Obligation. Yes. Exact. Exactly. Similar just that it's not health insurance they are covering but similar All right. Anything else? Or do we want to make a motion to um approve the
letter as it was modified with that one correction I made? I think I saw after my name. Member is misspelled. Member is misspelled. You're right. I Oops. Okay. Thanks. Did you get the other one, too?
Cuz I Yep. Yeah. Oh, we're in the same document. Probably it's still misspelled. Oh, it's it's okay. There it goes. Yeah, I was going to say it has a little play. All right. Is there a motion?
Uh, I move to approve the letter of support to the legislative delegation in relation to the NHSA Associated Boards of Health Retirement System as read. Second. Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes
unanimously. All right. And last, we have acceptance of gifts, monetary donations. Um, and there is only one. We have a gift of $500 um to the Council on Aging from the Lunberg Friendly Senior.
Um, any questions on that? Is there a motion to approve the gift? Um, I will make a motion to approve the gift of $500 to the
Council of Aging, uh, with gratitude. Oh, council is spoken. I know. I saw it. Okay. I just didn't call it out. Um, yes, I'll second that motion. Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes unanimously. All right.
Old business discussion on triboard meeting of the select board, finance committee, and school committee. Uh so we have our next meeting next Tuesday and it's going to be in this room. Uh it will be broadcasted live. Um sorry, I just got a weird popup on Zoom
which uh took my attention away. Um but yep, next Tuesday and it's going to be here uh in this room. Any other discussion? I have two questions on that. One, will there be Zoom office? And two,
will you three be able to attend because I if I can, it will be late. So, we won't have a quorum if Right. I also um we can talk about that now, but I was going to ask once we get to upcoming meetings. I do want to check for quorum for pretty much September. Um
so, are we um going to have a quorum on Tuesday? Ryan and Glenn to be here for every foreseeable meeting. Great. Okay. Summer's over. Yeah. Yep. Perfect. Yeah. Yes. Oh, do you go back? Summer's officially. Oh, yeah. Back to work.
Oh, the tie. All right. Perfect. So, it looks like we'll have a quorum um next Tuesday in this room. Any other discussion? All right. Discussion on sick leave bank policy. We're going to skip over that tonight. Accept tax investigation report
as submitted. Is there any discussion on this? I think we um had a lot more context into this uh with the presentation earlier today. Um and the intention since um you know this investigation was committed by the select board and they produced that um
report. We just have to approve it as it was submitted. Uh so that's pretty much um all that's intended here. U so any questions or comments or is there a motion to um accept the tax investigation report as submitted? So the report as submitted hasn't changed,
right? We had questions hasn't changed. Um I I I won't be voting to accept it then. Okay. Uh I will have it in my report, but the board of assessors did review it at their last meeting and did um have recommendations or corrections.
Okay. I'll just point out, you know, it's more so a product of the investigation team and the process that took place to finalize the product
of it. Um, yeah, just leave it at that. But I guess if if I could just add a comment here. So I think that the the board really has three options. So you have a report, you can do nothing with it. M and then
that's it. We're just going to probably take it off the agenda. There was a report that was written. It exists. Mhm. You could accept it as as submitted. It doesn't mean you're you're just accepting it. You are accepting the receipt of it. You are not agreeing with it. You can have all sorts of carveouts
that as is you're just accepting it upon receipt or you can um undertake the word work as the new board to make the modifications but I I don't know that the prior board members are going to make those
modifications. So so I think that relying on that probably is not a path forward just those other three. I I would just add that I I am willing to accept the report. I I just hope that the board of assessors also um put in
their public response that of their response. Sure. Y uh I missed member MK's comment. What did you say? without any changes and answering our questions and and now hearing that the board of assessors has corrections I I
mean fine it's written it's not going to change but I it's not correct or complete or right I I and then just take it off the agenda because it's not going to be no one on the current board was part of this investigation
which is really unfortunate that it never the report was never finalized. Yeah, I agree with that. So, y I don't think I got a No, I agree. I agree with those comments. Yes. Yeah, we can just not vote on it and remove it from the agenda. I'm totally
fine with that as well. The option one. Yeah. That you presented. Is that where we're landing at? I am curious to know what the board of assessors had to correct though. All right. Well, if they if they vote to do something with it or Yeah. approve with comments, I don't know.
Accept with comments, whatever. Okay. So we're going to move on from that then and amend use agreement for the temporary use of classrooms at TC Pacios by the Shapiro Educational and Behavioral Consultants. So this is just modifying um the term of the agreement to extend it to the end of the year. Is
that correct? Correct. It's the only actual modification there. Was there any consideration to upping the the lease at all? Because I know there was some unsurprised, you know, unexpected costs um with the cleaning. Yeah. So Wi-Fi too
or something. Well, that yeah, Wi-Fi is unrelated to them. So, I think at I think we will be looking at overall usage for the TCP building because there's other folks that want to use it for days um for
events and we don't really have a plan for that. Um this is temporary. Um once we're decommissioned that portion and we have a better handle, I think we will be looking at
those increases. Um at this point, it's I I think that Shapiro would would rent the space from us for the foreseeable future if we agreed to it. So I think that there's room for some conversation there, but that's also why we're just taking it step by step just through
December 31st at this point. Do you think the heating will be okay there? Oh, the heating is more than adequate. Okay. Because I know there was concern in the summer about the Well, but I was concerned about the temperature in the summer getting too hot and inverse.
They have the opposite issue, right? I think we do have some but to to um your point, we do have some other kind of costs associated with that building that are coming to light with users that we'll be exploring more fully. I think
probably in the context of the tribe board meetings when we talk about facility budgets. Okay. Well, that's it. Um Oh, was there a vote on that? No, that's I was just going to make the motion. Um I move to amend the use agreement for the temporary use of
classrooms in TC at TC Pasios by the Shapiro Educational and Behavioral Consultants as described in the memo that lays out the amendments. Second that motion. Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes unanimously. Minutes. I don't think there are any, right?
Okay. Warrants. We have some warrants. Looks like. Yep. Okay. Are the minutes still in the works? Huh? Are the minutes still being Oh, yes. Yes. So, I do Yeah. Good question. So, I I have a lot of minutes that have been
drafted by the minute writers that need review. Okay. Um, I'm happy to drop those as is knowing that if folks want to look at them, but I think that they would benefit from at least a first review. Um, and then I do
have two folks um who stayed on who are still continuing to draft minutes. Oh, good. Okay, great. All right, we have one accounts payable Oh, um, sorry, I didn't see that one either. Uh, so we have two. So, this is an accounts payable warrant in the
amount of $454,861,77. Another and another accounts payable warrant in the amount of $21,46.31. Action items. Any action items? [Music] Oh, yes. Um, okay. Good point. Cuz I forgot I forgot it earlier, so I was
going to move on, but I can we can still ask. Um, so I believe what happened is that someone reached out to you today. Is that what happened? So, so last night, yeah, um I was in the economic development committee meeting. Okay. And um it came up that they're looking
for, um a select board member, um liaison or appointee to that committee, right? Um and I believe it's they're having quorum issues and it would really be of assistance if we could do this. And since we found out um last night, wasn't
reasonably anticipated by uh the chair, I do think it is totally fine if we vote on that tonight. Um, so is anyone interested? Glenn looking at you here. Um, I was looking away. I did I did watch the meeting. So, yeah. Okay.
He was prepared. Um, first of all, would you be interested in doing it, Glenn? Yeah, of course. But with the disclaimers, that list is awfully long of the, you know, um, the committee assignments or whatever. So, as long as there is an appreciation awfully what? Long. Oh,
extensive. Yes. But yeah, I was I was the u ad hoc member from the the planning board. So, okay. So, you're willing and as I was trying to garner some support for the um Bob, you know, have an appreciation for trying to help
the businesses. So, uh yes. And then if anyone wants to review the list I have and wants to to take on a few things, it'll be fine. Sure. Yeah. If you want to send it over, I Good luck. Wait, the list of all my assignments. Oh, that. No, I
don't want to see that, Liz. I thought I I misunderstood what you're saying. Um, okay. So, anyone opposed to voting on this tonight? I think we're totally fine with it. Okay. So, I move to um appoint uh Glenn
Mloud as the select board representative to the economic development committee. Second. Any additional discussion? Those in favor say I. I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes unanimously. Okay. And then for just best practices, what we'll do is you'll see that on
another agenda just so on a posted agenda. So you'll just vote again. But Sure. Yeah, I'm fine with that. Okay. It'll be the same vote, Glenn. Yeah. I should have said it won't anyone wants to. They sure. All right. Committee reports.
Oh, that seems want me to go first? Yes. Online. Um so Agricultural Commission um they their next farmers market is Friday, September 12th, 400 p.m. to 7:00
p.m. at the um TCP. Um I will be away for that one as well. So three out of the four I was unable to to attend, but the first one I went to was um very successful. I haven't heard any reports on the most recent ones. Uh their agricultural fair scheduled for
September 27th from 10 to 2 also at TCP. They're actively trying to get volunteers to bring uh tractors of any size, shape age for a touch a tractor aspect of it. So you could uh send an email to farmers market lunberg
massm.gov if you were able to assist them in that endeavor. Um I will mention this just because it's related to the the planning board but the uh zoning board of appeals at you know complete and separate entity
but related July 23rd uh zoning board of appeals approved a special permit request uh relief to allow townhouse the use of townhouse located um on new west townsen
road. So it's a very very first step in a lengthy permitting process. Uh the ZPA simply approved uh special permit request for use and again use for uh townhouse. The permitting process will
bring this proposal before many boards um mainly the planning board for common driveway special permit storm water management permit and ANR approval not required. That's how they split up the land into buildable lots. Um, board of
health, fire department, conservation commission. So, it's a area that's in excess of 30 acres about 500 ft off the roadway. A Buttstown Forest and Conservation Land on the Fitchburg line, Willid Brook State Forest and West Townsen Road Conservation Area. It's
also adjacent to the former Lahi Tree Farm. The area is located behind an existing home located at 850 New West Townsen Road. Uh it's intent to create four additional lots behind that residence. Uh that would be the ANR and
it would be the um proposal which is basically just uh to present the request for their special permit would be five unit town houses on each lot. So that would be for a total of 20 units. uh two
of those units would be um affordable quote affordable. Um so all are prel pre preliminarily proposed as threebedroom. So essentially again it would be four four units and
each unit would have um five four buildings with uh five units each. So they would have a common driveway. Um and what was presented was not a detailed construction plan. It was
simply presented to highlight the townhouse use. There is stand uh stateowned land to the north. Uh and the O'Brien uh project property adjuts the property to the easterly side.
uh a couple of of abutters expressed concerns at the proposed use as presented to the ZBA. Four members voted in favor, one member voted in opposition. Uh so it's these type of developments that make it you know very important that people watch the planning
board and as well as other meetings to understand what is proposed and have input uh either uh for or against. uh these type of developments are the result in my opinion the these type of developments are the result of calls for affordable housing and quote housing
crisis talking points. If I was a land loan land owner and or a developer I would embrace these talking points as well. Um, so it also falls in hand with the, as mentioned earlier tonight, the MBA MBTA Communities Act, which does
require the town to zone for 2440 familyfriendly units. Um, and again, there's plenty of information out there on the the um, planning board has done several outreach um, sessions. You can find those on um, YouTube to familiarize
yourself with uh, the MBTA Communities Act, and that will be coming up on the next town meeting. uh planning board on their July 28th meeting. They have a new new um administrative assistant that seems to be working out swimmingly. Uh
land use direct position will be has will be posted in short order. Um and I know the the town manager had indicated she was hopeful that there is even a potential candidate in the in the hopper. In the hopper. Yeah.
Um they've mentioned several times the importance of B Brian Gingris the building commissioner he's such a huge asset to them in the absence of a planner. Um they do as mentioned need an additional man uh member and my personal
thanks to Matt Allison I before becoming on that board he was one of the inspirations for me to get involved. I appreciated his um opinion and input on the board. uh and it it will be missed and would like to make sure I thanked him for his long-term service and
hopefully in the future he will rejoin or some other commission. It would be great. They had public hearings on 1083 Northfield Road special permit for common driveway and storm water management plan continued to August 25th. Um, another hearing, public
hearing for 260 Fula Road. That's right on the actually a good portion of that's in um Fitchburg part partial in Lunberg. Um, that was approved and 430 Mus Road vote was taken to correct some storm water permit performance guarantee
account. Uh, open space was covered a bit already from the town manager. Um they did vote on the first right of refusal again for 222 West Townsen Road um declining their recommendation. They
do not believe the select board should execute the first right of refusal for that property and that's come up several times because of filing errors. Their next meeting will be September 3rd. Uh master plan steering committee. I think that was pretty pretty well covered
here. Um, MP MNPO nothing to report. We are there is a meeting tomorrow for 1 PM and I have nothing for MART library trustees um and the EDC. I did I can pre pre-comment as a you know a former um
member. Uh they were discussed quite a bit about the meet and greet. I do think that's a um a very valuable event. It it's it was in its infancy in grassroots initiative. Um it seems like and unfortunately I was away for the the again for the two they had. So uh I was
not able to to uh participate in those unfortunately. Um I do think it's ready for its its next phase. I know previously they talked about the the need for a budget and I I think going down the road that that is something and it's you know for that event and it
wouldn't be a ton of money. Uh I do like the event of the con the um having the event offsite. I think that does change the dynamics of it as soon as you become there's because there's talk about having it in a a town building but I think that you know it's a ongoing conversation and you know particularly
at low it has been at low places ranch and I've always wanted to check that place out. I mean how many places how many communities have like ranches so I think something like that should really be you know embraced and um so I I do like I do like that idea. uh and I think
the informal aspect of it was uh you know the the secret sauce formalizing it and having it be under con uh government control will kind of minimize its allure but you know again that's an ongoing discussion I think the success is a um a
priv private event where public figures are invited and encouraged to the town by town management is is a a great model that way there's a lot more flexibility for the planners as opposed to an actual government-run organization Um, and there's really there was talk
about postponing the event and I think it's I think it's proper to at least have a um a a a placeholder event um agreeing with uh the new chair uh Josie as well as the planning board chair um Matt Brener. And I I always figured I
would never go as long as you did on your reviews, but I think I didn't. Well, like I'm short today. First of all, I just want to point out you were right. I did not notice uh how many liaison you had until that committee report. Um your volunteerism is truly commendable. Um I would feel
I would feel worse about it if I didn't know that you already watched all those meetings before you became the liaison. Um but if you need us to help out, of course, we can we can look at that. All right. I have uh the school committee met on August 6th. Uh they did
announce that Chris McNamera is their new business administrator. They were that he was hired. Um they the majority of the meeting was a workshop though on the roles and responsibilities of the the school committee as well as the superintendent.
Uh the board of assessors met on July 16th. Uh they had 12 of Butter's lists. They had 70 motor vehicle abatements. Uh chapter land monitoring uh 91 total. There was 61 in forestry, 29 sorry 61
total uh six forestry had 29, 35 were agricultural and 27 were recreation. Um there were nine leans that were absent missing applications.
Um they were filing at the register of deeds. They had removed seven due to a lack of response. four were sold and there were issues on roll back taxes because of uh the leans and the new owners um were contacted and as well as the
attorneys. The growth for FY26 was 27,758,770 assessed value dollars. Um assessed values were 398615 um not complete with personal property and less than last year. It was less
than last year. Uh they're continuing to do inspections on chapter land. Uh there was also talk about 41D, the elder exemption. It was one applicant so far, but it was a September deadline. um and they'll go through those on executive session, so nobody's uh in the
public uh with their information. They also met on July 29th. Um and that meeting was solely on the response to the select board report on the investigation. Um so I didn't go through every single detail. I'm hoping that they'll come out with a report and that
we'll be able to view that. So I didn't want to present any of that tonight. Um, and then they also mentioned again that they have a vacancy on the board of assessors since the election. Uh, they also mentioned that the there was a flyer completed too on the the senior exemptions too that Mr. Alonzo was
helping out with turned out great and they were ready to print about 100 to start and uh for the senior center. Uh they also met on August 13th. Um uh an update from the assessor. There was 12 a butter list requested, 17
abatements on the vehicle excise tax. Um there was also some munis support tickets put in uh to try to get support on Munis. Um they're checking with town council on the properties with the no leans. Um September 1st is the
residential estate exemptions mailed out. Uh they have a list already. The chapter land in inspections were continuing. Um basically they were they talked about it tonight too about 10 to 15 years things haven't been done so people are more surprised about the
inspections um they brought up obsolescence which issues about there's about 10 to 60% that are discounted um and then the senior center presentation uh was on YouTube uh on the exemptions and then the September 3rd is their next
meeting and again they're also looking for a new member um and they're going to do a final review of the master plan at the next meeting as well. That's all I have. Thank you. Um, finance committee met August 14th.
Um, I saw part of the meeting. Actually, I was dialed in, but kind of multitasking. Um, they did start to review the town finance policies and discussing them and they will continue to do that in sections at future meetings. So, I assume once they're
done, it'll come before this board. uh talk about the the tri board meetings upcoming which as was stated next one is next Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday the 26th uh finance committee's meeting outside of
the tri board is September 11th and I need to watch the rest of the get more details anything else that may have been discussed that's relevant um storm water met August 7th
Um, so we've been working with CEI to try to come up with a fee structure based on imperous area. We learned at the August 7th meeting that the data we were working with had
impervious data that was from 2016. So, it's 9 years old. The state does not have any updated imperous area data since 2016. So, we're kind of back to square one because we want to use, of course, the
most accurate, up-to-date data. Um, there are a number of properties that have been built in Lunberg since 2016 that were not in that database. So, um, so whether the task force had a goal of
bringing a storm water utility to town meeting in the spring, um, that just became more difficult. Um, so we'll see. still going to try uh to do that, but it is uh an aggressive timeline. So,
um I our next meeting, unless we call one before that, is the end of September, and I'm blanking on the day. Um and that's all I have to report. All right. Thank you. I've not had a chance to catch up on mine since I returned home, but I will and I will
give mine at the next meeting. Upcoming meeting schedule. though we are meeting next Tuesday, August 26th for our next tri board meeting. Um, and are there any other um absences uh in September? I will be out um for what
will amount to 2 weeks for the board in midepptember. Um so I will miss uh I believe I need to check on this definitely September 9th potentially or actually definitely yes um September 16th as well. Um
I will miss September 16th. Okay, that whole week. All right, I'm unavailable. Okay, so we may have lost a quorum for that week. Okay, just that one week. I think I emailed, right? Yeah. Okay.
What about the ninth? Everybody else for the ninth? Yeah. Yeah. So, you're good for the ninth. Okay. Mhm. Anything else? No. Okay. So, that might be it. Okay. So, it's just the 16th and we'll have to work around. Yep.
Okay, great. Thank you guys. Public comment. Is there any public comment from the public? All right. Not seeing any any public comment I believe that's Mr. Rogers. Oh, two.
All right, Mr. Rogers. Uh, are you there? We can't hear. You might need to unmute on the telephone. What do you press? Star. Doesn't he have to press star something on the phone? Star something. He should know. He's Yeah, I don't know. Maybe if you can Google it real quickly and then we'll um
go to Mr. Burden in the meantime. Yes. Thank you. Um, just one last comment I wanted to make. Instead of individuals um posting things on Facebook about our family, why don't you give us a call at 978-582-9255 and ask us what's going on? I think
that'd be more appropriate um without giving us an opportunity to even post anything on Facebook to to defend ourselves to tell you what's going on. It's a trashing and it honestly it's a individuals that post those kind of things are I can't even say the word to our mind,
but it's incredible. He muted, but maybe he All right, Mr. Burton. I muted. Yes, I I said I was That's all I had to say. That's all I said. I said that's all I have to say. So, I did mute myself. All right. Well, thank you for your public comment. All right. Uh, Mr.
Rogers, star six is how you unmute. Okay, go. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Rogers, we hear you now. Oh, thank you. I'm not a I'm not a
friend of technology. Um, thank you for for taking my call. Um I I heard um some discussion about Kids Kingdom and and wondered um because I was in involved with that as were a lot
of people uh what what is uh the movement of foot. No, that it'll be future agenda. Yeah, it'll be um we'll we'll cover in the future, Mr. Rogers. On a future agenda on an agenda or I can talk to him offline.
Yeah. All right. Well, that's fine. I I'd like to uh be involved, but the fact of the matter is that um I I want to give you a little bit of history, and I'll be brief. Uh the Pearson family years ago lost a son,
and they wanted to honor his memory. So, they did a kid's uh kingdom in back. That was the first one. And then when the Lawrence family lost their son, um they they agreed to uh expand uh the
kids kingdom and that's how the current uh kids kingdom is is in place. Uh so uh I'm concerned that that um I thought I heard that the school was going to take back some land and something would
happen to the the uh kids kingdom. And I I just wanted to make you folks aware of this because uh it's not the type of thing that um you know can just be shuttled uh from here and there. And I will also tell you that the the Lawrence
family uh was extremely uh uh generous um and we raised money uh for the Kids Kingdom near the school and we uh they were benefactors to the the uh revamping of the the playground over in Wham. So
uh I I'm I'm very sensitive to what um is transitioning in this particular uh area. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Rogers. Any comments? Uh, no. Thank you, though. Well, maybe.
Let's see. Uh, are there any public comments from the board? I have You guys have Um, I have one. I just want to say last week was the final town band concert of the Oo, feedback.
Um, last week was the final town band concert. Um, and I want to thank the organizers and Mr. Arshambo and all of the members of the town band. Um, I managed to go to all of them except I think two I wasn't able to go to. Um,
and and Mr. Archbo's stories in between us. The uh the songs that uh they performed were were very entertaining. Um, and I think it was it's just a great like small town thing to sit outside and out on the grass and listen to music.
Some I I recognize, some I didn't, but I still found myself tapping my foot and whatnot. Um, so I think it was it's a nice uh summer uh tradition that that we have in town. I want to thank all of those who are involved in in putting that on. Thank you. Heard any other comments from the board?
Any public comments from the town manager? No. No. Okay, Mr. Chairman. Yeah, Mr. Rogers. Um I it's unclear from my perspective as to uh what will transpire. Will somebody get
in in touch with me regarding the kids kingdom? This is it's Mr. Rogers. We're having a very early discussion that will be discussed as agenda items. It's very premature to have anything. But I will say that
there's this is this is just really about funding for the design of the senior center parking lot um that was already approved at town meeting and steps about potentially moving the location of Kins Kingdom to another
location. Um and there's some steps that we'll need to take to move it and we're looking at all that but it's premature at this point for a full discussion I think before the board. Well, just as long as the the powers to be that are working on on this um are sensitive to
the situation. Um that's all I'm cons. Yes. Uh all right. Because uh you know I think I gave a reasonable explanation as to what was involved. So I look forward to hearing uh more about that particular aspect of of uh that
discussion. the the the other thing I would like to to um ask about uh was uh as it dealt with the um Shapiro folks who are lovely people and doing a great job. Um did I hear correctly that that
uh the town is about ready to to uh lease uh some uh um classroom space uh uh to that entity? And then what specific entity uh uh is it? Is it is it the Pacio school or the middle school or
what is it? Mr. Rogers, I public comment. We can't go back and forth like this. If you'd like, I'd be more than happy to reach out. We can talk. Um I'm sure we could have a call with the town manager as well. Um but thank you for your public
comment, Mr. Rogers. Um and we are going to continue on. That's fine. I'm I'm sorry. Sorry, I I I didn't mean to. No, not at all. Not at all. All right. Have a good night, Mr. Rogers. Uh, if the town manager or whomever get
to me, that would be great. Thank you so much. Fantastic. All right. And I asked everyone if they wanted to make a public comment. And with that, is there a motion to adjurnn? I'll make a motion to adjurnn at 9:13 p.m. Second. Is there any additional discussion?
Those in favor say I. I. Those opposed, no. Motion passes unanimously. It's 9:14 p.m. and the select board is adjourned. All right, hang out for signatures.