7th at 7:02 p.m. and I'm calling this select board meeting to order. Uh 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. >> Okay. This meeting will be recorded and broadcast live over the Lunberg Public Access channel on Facebook live on the Lunberg 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 any other items not listed may also be brought up
for discussion to the extent permitted by open meeting law. And just so folks outside of the room know, we do have Brian Leighton is um in attendance. He's on Zoom. So our our votes tonight will be by roll call.
Okay. And I have uh I have one announcement to make before we get started. And that is that there will be a community blood drive. Um the American Red Cross will be at the library July
14th from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. Um donating blood is very simple. It takes about an hour of time and it is a very meaningful way to help save lives and support patients in need. So appointment appointments are encouraged. Walk-ins
are welcome as space allows. You can call to make an appointment. You can call 1800 uh red cross. And do you have Glenn any announcements or Brian any announcements? Okay. All right. Then we'll move on to public
comment. Any public comment from the public? >> Um go ahead. Whoever >> Carol you went. Okay. >> Good evening. I'm Carol Ashambo, 662 Page Street, and I want to thank you for
hearing my public comment this evening. As you know, as a result of the override vote, there are no townsponsored band concerts this year. In talking to people in town, many felt this tradition should continue.
Pete and Debbie Lincoln have offered to sponsor both a town band concert and a jazz band concert. The town band concert will be held on July 20th with the rain date of July
27th and the Jan jazz band concert will be held on August 3rd with the rain date of August 10th. Both concerts will be held at the Lincoln Pavilion behind the Eagle House from 7 to 8:30. The Eagle
House supporters will sponsor concessions and everyone is welcome. And I want to thank the Lincoln for their generosity. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> I also want to extend a very sincere thank you to Pete and Debbie Lincoln for
uh donating and allowing um at least a couple of these concerts to proceed this summer. So, thank you very much. >> And thank you also to Steve for continuing to organize the band. >> Um in there. Here we go.
My name is John Rabbit, 314 Thousand Harbor Road. And first of all, you admire my hat, right? Lunberg, Massachusetts. And it's available for purchase at the Senior Center. They $20. You can't get a better hat for that
price. That doesn't say that says more. Okay. The reason Oh, I'm coming tonight and I will continue. I noticed you just ran an ad for their reading buddies program. Renee, you know about that. You signed up >> and I I got the email about training. Yes. >> Excellent. Excellent. Okay. For those
who aren't aware, uh our schools are in par with all the other schools in Massachusetts and generally in the country. Our reading scores for the third graders, the fifth graders, less than half read proficiently. And it's
primarily because of some changes that were done back in 1990. And essentially, it dumped phonics. What we're trying to do is bring that back into the schools. And we're working with the uh Kim Scarfy, the director, as well
as our senior center and Deb Goodsell. And we're trying to essentially get a group of seniors that can go over and read with the third graders first start. We have essentially a training program slated for August and uh hopefully
deploying in September, but September is a crazy time of year. We we get that when schools are especially starting up. So, we're going to try and supplement that as much as we possibly can across the spectrum. But the other side of it, there might be some more money coming
into town. It was just a rumor out of Boston perhaps. And if it is, I would very much hopefully make sure that our senior, excuse me, our uh select people realize that putting 28 to 30 elementary
kids in a classroom is nuts. It's totally nuts. We're throwing those kids away. And there's all sorts of literature. There's all sorts of science. If you have the ability to influence how that money is redistributed, if it comes, if it comes,
please put it into the elementary school. Please. Okay, that's all I want to say. And remember, senior center 20 bucks. Can't get a better deal. Oh, thank you. Bye-bye. >> Thank you, Jack. Anthony Skellenbriny, Five Valley Road.
Um, I just recently celebrated my sixth anniversary of being a citizen of the town of Lunenburgg. And in those six years, I have been involved with the building process, the building maintenance process, the building design process for Lunberg's municipal
buildings. in uh for five years, five of that six years. And yet we have made no progress in creating a successful project. And and when uh and when you're doing something for that period of time
with no success, it seems to me that it is incumbent upon the select board and the town citizens who were involved in this process to take a different approach. Um, I once worked for a three-star general who said when you find yourself in a hole, he says the
first thing you need to do is stop digging. And I would propose that as a select board considers what its goals and objectives will be for f fiscal year 27 with regard to buildings that it consider taking a different approach
than what we have done in the past. And first and foremost, I recommend that the select board consider establishing a plan for all of the town's buildings because they're all related. They all need work. They um some are newer than
others, but we have a wide variety of facilities that needs a holistic plan. And if the town is ever going to be successful, you know, I don't want to be here next year celebrating my seventh anniversary and my sixth year of being
involved in buildings and not having some success in convincing the town's voters that we have a plan for how we're going to manage our building base. I know that you're going to consider this at your meeting next week. I highly encourage that you take a holistic
approach that you task the Lunberg Municipal Building Design Committee with creating a plan that looks at all of the facilities that are required for this town to operate successfully and efficiently. You know, from what I see, the town has a reluctance to adopt
plans, and I don't understand why. For example, we have a master plan which went through a vetting process over a much longer period of time because planning was deemed not to be important. And here we are with a master plan that
has yet to be approved. And that's an that is an example of what I see as a town's aversion to doing planning. And that has to change or I will be here next year to address the select board and say I've lived here for seven years and we've been unsuccessful in doing
anything with our buildings in that six or seven years. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Any other public comment in the room? Seeing none, anyone online? I don't see any hands.
>> Any public comment from the board? Ryan. Okay. Um, we're going to move the agenda items around just a little bit and uh take up as our next item uh the ratification of the appointment of
uh Brad Mcameir to the position of detective. Good evening. I'm uh proud to recommend Officer Bradley McNamera for the position of detective. Brad has been employed with the Lunberg Police Department since 2014. Brad eventually
was assigned as our school resource officer in 2018 and implemented the department's first comfort dog program that we know as Hank. Now a statewide and national model. Brad has also wrote and currently manages the grant funding
of a co-response mental health clinic for both Lunberg and Lancaster and in partnership with Open Sky Community Services. To date, Brad has completed nearly 2,000 hours of training across investigations, digital forensics, crisis response,
crimes against children, along with a graduate certificate in crisis response and behavioral health. Brad has conducted investigations resulting in numerous arrests and prosecutions of offenders. He is a certified sexual assault investigator and affiliate member of Massachusetts internet crimes
against children task force. He has also developed a particular focus on digital and cyber enabled crimes. He is certified and trained in many various internet investigations and mobile device investigations. Much of his work has been a collaboration and cross agencies. He has
partnered with the FBI, Homeland Security, United States Secret Service, and the DEA. These partnerships have sharpened his ability to coordinate complex investigations and bring cases to successful resolutions. Notably, he was the first officer in
Massachusetts to successfully seize Tether through a burn and reissue process, recovering approximately $110,000 that otherwise would have been lost for victims. demonstrated the kind of forwardlooking investigative capability that
increasingly defines modern policing. Brad's skills translate directly into real benefit for the citizens of Lunberg. Crime today does not stop at our town line. Fraud, exploitation, and cyber enabled offenses reach our residents through their phones and their
computers every day. I am pleased to promote asked to promote Brad to the position of detective and I know he'll continue to do valuable work that ensures the safety of the community. Thank you for my request. >> Madame Chair, I am pleased to support
the chief's recommendation to promote Mr. McNamera to the position of detective. Um, I've worked with Brad now for a little over a year and a half and I have seen that while his uh service to the schools through the student school
resource officer uh appointment um and his service to the community uh with uh the comfort dog Hank um he has a lot of skills in those areas but I also see that his passion um has shifted over time um to this area of work. We are
blessed to have him serving on our force. He is not only an asset to the community of Lunenburgg, he is an asset to the region through his work in this area. And I am happy to see what he can do um for those cyber criminals and other crimes that he'll uh his work in
sexual assault and uh with rape victims is also commendable. So uh with his focus now being geared towards detective, I I really am happy to see what you can do and I'm so proud of you. Any comments, Brian?
>> Yes. I would just uh say congratulations. Welld deserved. Well earned. Um I've had the the privilege of working with Brad while I was on the school committee, too. And he's uh the ideal officer and I'm excited for this u promotion for him. I know he'll do a great job.
>> Yes. And I would just echo all those comments in congratulations and we are very fortunate to to have you your service here in town. I also want to congratulate you, but also thank you for wearing many hats the last few years and
the work that you have done on the investigative side and cyber crimes and everything else in addition to all the SRO duties and now to be focused on that. I'm I know that much more can be accomplished and you we truly are lucky
to have you. >> Thank you. >> Would you like to say anything? >> No, thank you. Uh, I'm just going to continue to do what I do and thank you for uh this opportunity and promoting me. >> All right. Um, do we need a a motion? I >> You do. You need a motion to r
>> I will make a motion to ratify the town manager's appointment of Bradley McNamer to the position of defe detective effective July 7th, 2026. >> Second. >> And this will be a roll call vote. Glenn >> I. >> Brian >> I. >> And an I for myself. Congratulations.
>> Thank you. >> Did you do they want photos or no? >> Mr. Mantimero, do you want a quick recess? No, no, >> we're fine. We're fine. We're fine. I DIDN'T DO THIS JOB FOR 5 YEARS ALREADY. IT'S OKAY. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. Just going to t It's fine. Okay. Have a good night.
>> Bye guys. >> Hi. >> Okay. Um resume our regular schedule here. Uh we have the uh director land use. I can't talk tonight. Uh Steven Wallace here to
present on the midyear updates for land use. Do you have a presentation actually or >> he has the document in the file? >> Can you Oh, you can share it. >> It's not a presentation. It's >> I've got an extra if you need it. >> Okay. No, I can pull it up. I just can't
share. >> Okay. Uh Steve Wallace, your planning director. Um I've been on board for 5 months now. I've been able to accomplish a few things and I've got a bunch of other stuff in the works. I thought I'd come
by and tell you about it. Um, the bulk of my job is managing the planning board's case load. Uh, we've got a very busy office. I'd say that probably takes up about 2/3 of my work week.
Um, for the special town meeting, which I guess you're going to have in November. >> Mhm. >> Okay. I've got a handful of housekeeping zoning amendments. Um, there's some misused terms in your
zoning bylaw that need to be fixed. There's half a dozen references to a retail commercial district that no longer exists. I've talked with town council and he seems to think we can roll these into one big housekeeping amendment. So,
that's how we'll do it. Um, for next year's town meeting, annual town meeting, the planning board and I are working on four significant zoning amendments.
One is revising the town's inclusionary zoning bylaw. That's where we require developments of a certain size to set aside a certain percentage of of housing as affordable. um that hasn't been used very much since
its adoption. I don't know if it's ever been used. So, we want to come up with something that's a bit usable. We're also going to work on a senior housing bylaw. Now, senior housing can be built one of
two ways. If you're looking for affordable senior housing, those are best done as town projects. town sponsored projects on town land. And I've looked at what the town has for
land and unfortunately none of your parcels are suitable for senior housing. So now I'm going to take a look at your tax delinquent parcels and size them up for senior housing. and if I see any,
I'll flag them and keep an eye on them as they make their way through the tax title process. The other way, if if if you can't have a town sponsored project, then the other way to build senior housing is to incentivize the private sector to build
it. So, that's what this bylaw that we're working on will try to do. >> Okay. >> Can I ask a quick question? >> Certainly. When you say that we there's no town owned land that's suitable, what what makes it not suitable? I'm just curious. >> Environmental constraints, not large
enough. Okay. >> Um out in the in the hinterlands, far away from municipal services. >> You you want to get something that's with within at least a mile of town center. Okay. >> And um fire and police and emergency
services. And what size parcel generally >> you could make it work if you have municipal sewer? Uh somewhere in the range if I I'd say the lowest you could go is probably 8 acres. Ideally, you'd want
something like 15 to 20. >> Okay. >> Um another thing that the planning board and I are working on is a minor site plan provision. Um,
this is a technique for streamlining our permitting process. What we're trying to avoid is when a new business comes to town and they move into an existing building >> and they're not changing the outside of the building. They're not adding
parking. All they're doing is putting up a new sign and maybe doing some interior renovations. There's no need to put them through the full-blown site plan review process, make them come up with a $10,000 engineering plan and all of that. Uh
that's not a very businessfriendly approach. So, we want to streamline it. So, for something that's uh a simple change of use that it's a minor site plan review, um that's a technique we worked in that's worked in other towns.
>> Can I ask you another question? >> Sure. Does it matter if that business has not where the new business is moving in if that the the prior business hadn't been in business there for a while? Like it was just vacant and unoccupied land. Does that factor into this at all?
>> No. If it's an existing building that's commercially zoned or industrially zoned >> and the you the new use is allowed by zoning. >> Yeah. >> Just go get your building permit. >> Okay.
And lastly, we're going to work on revising the town's cluster housing bylaw, which hasn't gotten a lot of mileage either. Uh, I've given drafts of all four bylaws to the full planning board. We're going
to have a couple working sessions on those over the summer and I'm hopeful but that by the end of summer we'll be ready to roll these out to the other boards, commissions and committees, have a couple public forums,
revise them over the winter, and get ready to bring them to the annual town meeting next May. Okay, moving on. Um, one thing I've been able to do is revise the planning board storm water permit
conditions. They were all over the map in terms of sequence and now we've got them in sequence from your initial preconstruction meeting with town departments through the installation and
inspection of your storm water techniques all the way through the issuance of the occupancy permit. So now we've got it in in sequence and it makes it easier for developers to understand well we do these first things then we do this next
round and then we do the last few things then get our occupancy permit. It's not all over the board anymore. Also revised the planning board fee schedule which hadn't been revised in about 10 years.
Um, one of the things that I was asked to do initially uh by the board was investigate the state's housing choice grants program. Unfortunately, my research indicates that we have not had enough housing
growth in the last 5 years to qualify for that grant program. Um, but we'll keep an eye out on the number of building permits issued and maybe at some point we'll reach a threshold where we're eligible to apply.
Um, update the town's housing production plan, which is about uh five or six years out of date. Uh, the There's a song about that.
>> Are we back? >> It sounds okay. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Sorry. >> That's all right. Um, like I said, the regional planning commission has applied for a grant on our behalf to update the plan.
We should know in September whether or not we got that grant. Uh developable lands mapping project. That's a grant I got from the regional planning commission. And here's what that's going to do and what it's going to tell us.
Back in the year 2000, the state funded buildout mapping projects for every municipality in Massachusetts. So we have numbers from the year 2000 that says that uh Lunenburgg has x
amount of available commercial land and x amount of industrial land. This mapping effort will update those maps. So we'll be able to figure out how much land we had back in 2000 versus how much land we have now. we'll be able to
figure out how much we've grown in terms of commercial and industrial development. >> So that looks at occupied land then or does it look at >> it looked at all the land in the zoning district. >> Okay. Doesn't matter if it's occupied or not. >> Nope. Um we start out with all the land.
We deduct all of the land that's occupied. >> We deduct all the land that you can't build on because of environmental constraints. And then you're left with your vacant developable land. Okay. >> And you can divide into that using multipliers to figure out how much
square ft of commercial and industrial floor space you have room to accommodate. So we'll be able to match up our new map against the old map to see how things have changed in the last 25 years and what we have left. Now that's going to
inform my economic development related zoning changes going forward. Also on that map will be the municipal water and sewer lines. So that's going to tell us what services we have to
offer new development and that may inform some of the grants we go for in terms of extending infrastructure >> and you think you'll have that by the end of the year that >> they're working on the map now. I got a set of prelim preliminary results. I
haven't seen the map yet. >> Okay. Um, I will say that uh, Lunenburgg gets 8% of its tax revenue for commercial and industrial development. In the planning world, if you get less
than 10% of your tax revenue from commercial and industrial development, you're technically a bedroom community. So, I would like to um hopefully address that in some manner or at least get you pointed in the right direction.
Moving on. Um, I was part of the working group for the request for proposals for selling uh 925 Mass Avenue. I understand that the RFP
uh it's either going to be released this week or it's going to be. We think it's going to be released tomorrow at 10 am. It's currently with town council for one final little glitch. Otherwise, it's next Wednesday at 10 a.m. >> Okay. So, I imagine I'll be part of the
group that reviews what proposals we receive and and all of that. Uh tax, title, property disposition. I did take a look at what the town owns for surplus land and you do have about
half a dozen residential lots, vacant residential lots that you could sell for development. Um, you might want to consider dishing off one of those lots to Habitat for Humanity. Just a thought.
Um, moving on. Outstanding 53G accounts. Madam Chair, before we move off of that Habitat for Humanity conversation, um once we're through the um summer goals and objectives workshop,
um if the board was inclined uh to have Mr. Wallace back and present a couple options more on on what lots he thinks might be suited for a Habitat project. He has worked uh with Habitat in the past on similar projects in other
communities and I know it's something he's looking to tee up um if the board was inclined to hear that a presentation on that topic. >> Good. >> Okay. Outstanding 53G accounts. When a project
comes before the board, uh developers are required to submit a fee that covers the review of the planning board's consulting engineer. We've got about 70 outstanding 53G
accounts going all the way back to the last century. So, um I've been working with your business office to return those funds. um we've knocked off about 20 of them so
far and I work on that as time allows but uh would like to straighten out um your books planning boardwise. So that's a something else I've been working on. >> So what does that fee typically
>> $2,000 typically? >> Okay. >> And if we need more, we ask for more. >> Okay. >> Some projects are so small they just require a cursory review. Okay, >> we'll ask for like a thousand. >> Um, I'm also working with your economic
development commission and I prepared a doing business in Lunenburgg web page which can be accessed from the town's website and the EDC's web page. I put together a spreadsheet of new
businesses that have come to Lunenburgg since the start of the calendar year. Um, I've worked with the the EDC is working with the North Central Mass Chamber of Commerce to arrange a few
ribbon cutting ceremonies for some of our new businesses. We just ordered a giant pair of scissors and a big roll of red ribbon. And so, look forward to some of those events in the near future. love to have some
select board members attend those events. They're always fun. Um, I will mentioned that our EDC is supportive of the planning board's minor site plan review effort as it's going to
make it easier for new businesses to make use of our existing businesses. And a new project I'll be taking on is um now that I've actually found the town's uh American with Disability self
evaluation and transition plan um I'm going to work with uh Chris Ruth, our building manager, and the building commissioner to spot up a couple ADA projects that we can um go after funding
for next year. That grant round opens up in the spring of next year. So hopefully we can size up a good project to apply for. >> Okay, that'd be great. >> That's it folks. Questions?
>> Madam Chair, through you. Um there was it's not on your list, but where there was a public comment earlier today about the status of the master plan. I think a it's timely that you're here giving your presentation because while the comment was made that the town doesn't care about planning obviously hearing the
five months of work of by Mr. Wallace speaks otherwise and but also speaks to the fact that we do have quite a bit of plans that are dusty and outdated and do need to be taken off the shelves and updated but that that's exactly the work that you're working on but if you could
just speak to the master plan >> I will do just that. Uh the planning board will uh vote on adopting the master plan next Monday. We've had it for a couple months now. Um it's been more of an issue of giving the board
members time to read all the way through it. Um and uh that master plan, I've read all the way through it. It's been my guide in terms of picking what projects that I want to work on.
Um, so, uh, your master plan's not going to go to waste. I use it all the time. >> Good. Good to know. >> Yeah. I would just thank you for the update in the highlights. It's really, it highlights how important your role is
as well as the role of the planning board in our community. So, I thought that was very helpful and thank you. >> I will be back here in January to give you my 2027 work program. and then I'll come back mid year and do this whole
thing all over again. >> Great. >> All right, >> Brian, any comments? >> Just uh that I appreciate your work and uh keep up the great work. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Anytime. >> And Mr. Walls, thank you very much for coming in. >> Have a good night.
Okay. Um next we have Patrick Flattery and William Tyler Historical Societ. Do we have >> No. No. Patrick. >> Yeah, I don't see him online. Okay. >> Sorry. >> We have Ann instead >> and I'll be able to share that. You just tell me when. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I can. Anytime.
>> Okay. >> Good evening everybody. I'm Bill Tyler and this is Anne Nelson. We're both members of the Lunberg Historical Society's board of directors and we're coming before you to present a gift to the town that will commemorate the more than 300 Lunberg residents who served in
the American Revolution between 1775 and 1783. This project has taken years of tedious research and it involved many people who spent countless hours identifying and more importantly verifying the service records of these soldiers through
pension records and other sources. Um Ann's going to go a little bit deeper into the explanation of the uh militia and some other issues. >> Yeah, I'm a tedious researcher. Um, and so in 1771,
Benjamin Bellows, the Bellows House, the adult activity center, gifted to the town some land. And in the deed, it states that the purpose of the land is for a training field. Um, and that was in May of 1771. In October, 5 months
later, Dr. John Taylor also gifted additional land that abudded that land and that created the lower common. And this was a training field for the soldiers. So 1771 significantly before
um the funding games really began. But this is when all the taxation is going on and things are starting to heat up particularly in Lunenburgg. But pretty quickly on um all males age 16 to 60 had to serve.
So farmers, tradesmen, boys had to learn to become soldiers. And Dr. Taylor provided training manuals. He had purchased training manuals. And we know this because that was published in many newspapers across
the state that he had performed this very patriotic act by providing manuals. Um, and so it's important to us that the lower common be the home for this monument because that's where the
training happened. Many of these men and boys went on to die. People lost children, spouses, brothers. Um, and so that's sacred ground for us. And if you know me at
all, you've heard a Dr. Taylor story. I have a little bit of an obsession with Dr. John Taylor. >> I think it's more than a little. >> Okay. Two of his four wives are buried in South Cemetery and a couple of his
children. He was very very involved and we're lucky to have him. He's an interesting interesting guy, but we're lucky to have him. He was part of the committee of correspondence. He was part of the committee to ratify the declaration of uh to ratify the
constitution which he voted against because he was concerned about taxation for farmers. Farmers needed cash and he was worried about that. Um so we would like it to be on the lower
common. This is meant to be our intention is that this be a gift to the town. It is not our intention that the town incur any expense with this monument. It's to be made of granite. So, it should not have any um expense
and maintenance to it. We want to be sensitive to where any other monuments and memorials are on the lower common. There's a fairly ugly tree that maybe could be coming down, but um we we want to have input from the select board as
to where it should go. Maybe it should be away from the street. There are occasionally accidents at the corner of Whiting and Lancaster A. So, we should think about that when we're placing it. We should maybe think about who mows
that lower common. And we don't want to put it in a place where whoever ms it says that's the stupidest place to put it. It makes it so hard to mow. Who else should we talk to? What's the best way to approach this? Um what would next steps be? Um, and can we cooperatively
pick a place for this monument to be? I would like it to be there so that when you drive into town from Lancaster A, from Lemonster Road, from Massav, you see this glorious monument. Memorial Park is a lovely park. We've
all been there and it's a lovely little park, but it's a little park and this deserves a more prominent display on the common where these men trained. Just a little description. The obelisk is going to have four plaques on it each on each
side and approximately 75 names on each plaque. Uh they'll be um it would be enumerating all of the soldiers who served. Um we'd like to have it erected towards the end of 2027 so it's in place for the 300th
anniversary in 2028. >> Mhm. Um, like I said, we'd be happy to have uh, you know, you guys come down and take a look where you think it would be a good place for we have some ideas. Um, but basically this is our that's our pitch and uh, we take happy to take any
questions you guys have. >> So, I can see it says it's 10' 4 in tall. >> I can't quite make out two foot three. >> Is that right? Two foot on right. >> I can zoom in on it.
Two two feet something. Yeah. >> Two. >> Yeah. Two. >> Oh, that is a three. Yeah. Just tilted. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> And this is a local monument company we're working with. Um and we had a couple of options on the granite and selected the more expensive one that is
less likely to crack and freeze and get water in it. >> Do you know what the plaques will be? >> Bronze. Bronze. >> Bronze. Yeah. >> On all four sides >> on each side. One for each. side. Yeah.
>> Nice. >> Now, while we're on the topic, can one of you explain the significance of the buttonwood tree and why there was a buttonwood tree planted on July 4th? Well, um, according to, uh, folklore, I
mean, there's no, you know, proof, but supposedly, uh, Captain John Fuller, um, when they left before they left for conquered, uh, they planted a a buttonwood tree where the that granite trough is right now. And, uh, it lasted
until 1938 and it came down in a hurricane. >> Okay. So pieces of the buttonwood tree were crafted into lots of things, buttons and gavels and stools and we have lots of that at the historical society. A second buttonwood tree was planted outside
Captain Fuller's home and is still living. >> Ah, thank you. >> That's a wonderful project. Thank you. Yeah, I mean it's something that we uh one thing that kind of strikes me is that in 1775 there were there was under
a thousand people living in a lunar and 300 men served. I mean just about every able-bodied man over 16 served >> up to 60. That kind of I didn't expect >> Yeah, they ended that pretty quickly. 60 wasn't really a good age. I was going to
say 60 also wasn't 60 then >> what once they moved to the continental army and away from militias um the the age limit >> and the other captain involved was captain George Kimell he was 19 years old >> as a captain >> captain >> so a lot of these men had sort of
honorary rank from the what we call the French and Indian wars with the England called the seven years war so they oftenimes came in with rank already >> okay um so the design is set. >> Yep. >> Construct. I don't know how long it take it would take to
>> There's some lead time. We just need to tell them >> it takes 6 months basically to create it and uh there'll be some obviously some installation time and things like that. >> So you're looking a year and a half from now roughly to have it. >> Yep. And I assumes a ceremony of some kind.
>> We're going to Yeah, there'll be there'll be a ceremony with some probably some reenactors and and that type of thing. >> Okay. Probably be in the winter it sounds like if it's the end. Yeah. >> of the of 27 >> and like Ann said that the the town's
not going to incur any spense expense in this at all. So it's all >> So is it donation or fundraising? >> It's meant to be a gift from the historical society. >> Yeah. >> Okay. We have lots of patrons who uh who support us and um if there's anything
that we've missed that you know unforeseen cost or expense you know we'd like to know about that so that we can head anything off. >> I think the biggest thing from my understanding is that you're looking for some guidance on the location >> and permission.
>> Right. So, >> um I I would suggest that the board I you know perhaps convene jointly and just with >> Bill and Ann and and maybe >> DPW director facilities
>> and Chris Ruth and just talk about what makes sense and why and kind of look at look at some >> right yeah >> safety I don't know >> when do you so if you would need permission to go to the next steps in the next month or so Yeah. >> Yeah.
>> So perhaps we could coordinate something, >> you know, whether it's the full board or a representative of the board. >> Yeah. Does everybody want to look or do people want to designate an >> an we we haven't have any we don't have we besides that rendering, we don't have any technical drawings yet, but we
didn't want to do that step until we had permission to to do it. So that's going to take a little bit of time. So we just wanted permission that we can just move forward. Um, but in the meantime, we can take certainly take a look down there as a >> I mean, I I kind of view it as two steps. Permission to place this on town
property and then exactly where on that property and and it sounds like >> to give permission now. >> You could take the first vote tonight so that they can move on to next steps. >> Well, I don't know. Can we? >> Mhm. >> Well, yeah. I mean, not not not for placement, but just in order
>> permission to to place it on top >> would accept the gift. No. So it's whether this agenda item is specific enough presentation by Patrick on regarding revolutionary war memorial. >> I kind of think it's not specific enough but you know >> I don't >> I'm always
>> a war memorial is always being placed somewhere um >> at a at a location to be determined. What if what if between now and um the meeting of the 21st somebody perhaps looks at some locations
and then we can formally know >> you want down >> on the lower common they >> Yeah. But exactly where on the lower common for us do you So that's my question. How when do you need to know the exact placement like >> I think not until it's ready for delivery.
>> I think I was looking to give permission to >> just place it on town property. That's the first step. Exactly. >> Yeah. Okay. >> That doesn't need a vote. >> So, we could put Well, no, it doesn't need exactly where. So, we could put on the next agenda if you were inclined to vote for the permission. Next agenda, you wouldn't need to be here.
>> They can take that vote and then you have the >> At least that's out of the first step. >> First step, >> right? Right. So for me as you were standing sort of on Massav looking at the gazebo sort of behind the gazebo toward Whiting
and a little to the left seems like it would be the best location for it. There's a couple of other memorial things in there you'd want to stay away from. >> Right. >> Yeah. And I can't picture it in my head right now. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> And I'm trying to imagine >> back in the middle there's a tree. >> How how tall is the gazebo?
>> It's fair it's fairly tall. Yeah. So you want to think about that. So that's why you want to move it over a little bit so it's not right behind >> and not right in front of that watering trough either. >> Yeah. >> Having DPW director and the facilities director also. >> Okay.
>> But um I would be fine. I mean obviously I support placing it there but I just think we need a more specific agenda. >> Yeah. >> You guys agree Brian? >> I would agree. I agree with Renee. I think um I think location-wise I think is the more important part. I think it's
also communitydriven too. We want to make sure the community uh supports it. I think the more people are that are aware of it I think the better location we can come up with. Uh just a couple of ideas. Maybe having a public meeting or even a listening session uh at the park at the gazebo area I think could be
helpful. Uh people could come and and put in their two cents. Uh even putting stakes in the ground where we think the ideal spot is. Maybe even a note with the stakes or an email address that they can um give some feedback to. Maybe even an online survey where people could literally put their marker on the the
online spot where they think it would should go. Um and just getting feedback from the public, I think, before we put anything on the ground. >> Cuz I can imagine maybe wanting to have a little path brick pathway, you know, from the gazebo to the memorial or something like that. You know, it's not grass, it's
>> Yeah. >> papers or bricks. >> Right. Right. >> Okay. Well, this is it's very very cool. >> Yeah. Thank you very much. >> Yeah. >> Any I just think that the timing between
both the 250th and the town's 300th, it could not be more perfect. >> Yes. That's that was our our goal, too. >> Mhm. >> And it's amazing doing this research, the new things that we learn or certainly things I didn't know. We had Scottish prisoners of war in town,
housed in town. I had never heard that story before. They came after the Battle of Bunker Hill and it was all over and they were immediately taken prisons of war. They came by ship. Uh, and I I just hadn't heard that story before. It's fascinating.
>> All right, there's no other questions. Thanks a lot for coming in tonight. >> Thank you. >> Um, okay. Our next item is uh meeting with the trust fund commission which is currently one member um regarding the
appointment of Richard Howard. Is Richard avail is he I don't see him online. Is he coming to >> I don't know. You were supposed to notify him for the application. I never received your application. So I never received an application directly from >> Oh, you better Yeah, you better come up to the mic.
>> Yeah. Sorry. >> We don't need to put this on tonight. If he wants to wait, that's fine. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, here's the thing. So, I was never given an application from the uh assistant town manager that there was any kind of information with regard to
Richard. Richard was here uh when you did appointments a couple weeks ago, made some statements and so on and so forth before the entire select board. And the notification was for today on the 7th. That notification was at the
select board's request to have a joint meeting, which would be up to the assistant town manager to be able to notify the applicant, not for this board, because I never received an application. >> Madam Madam Chair, I'm going to stop. I I have no idea what he's talking about.
You you you are saying that you didn't receive a copy of his application. Did you did you ask for it? Because we had communications about this meeting and you didn't ask for it. So, Madam Chair, if he needs to see this, we can table this to the next agenda. Not a problem. >> Mr. Howard, could my understanding was
he like everyone else, >> you know what? The negligence of the town manager in this matter, the negligence of the town manager for not processing paperwork is not my issue. >> I am, please don't interrupt them. I was in the middle of speaking. >> My understanding is when someone is seeking an appointment that they they
submit. >> So, you do something different form. I talked to all the other applicants who were here the other night and they were contacted by the assistant town manager. Were they not >> after submitting their >> madam chair the assistant town manager is Julie Bello. Julie Bello has not
contacted any applicants right >> for any position I without speaking to Melissa I'm not sure was there an was there an application submitted for Mr. Howard >> receive anything >> for a volunteer we don't usually >> so we haven't received an application
for Mr. Howard, you had the information from him at the last meeting. You have a process that has been described by town council to this board and to Mr. Bowen. Um, he is advised of the meeting tonight. There is no application. Um, he
has served on the board with this individual for a period of a year. I would imagine that he would be able to make a vote tonight, but if he would like to see an application, we can certainly reach out to that individual and get >> Well, that was my point. My point was was that he had already given a presentation to this board at the last
meeting that he was at. He presented himself, but he wasn't on the he wasn't on the agenda. But Richard also informed me via email that an application was filed. >> I didn't see one coming again. We can fight about the procedure, but >> I'm not all I'm going to say is I I
would I'd want him present here. >> Absolutely. I agree. >> Um >> I'm in 100% agree. >> It was public comment at the last meeting. um it wasn't on the agenda to vote. >> Correct. >> I don't understand why he didn't pull papers,
wasn't nominated at caucus. There was plenty of opportunities to avoid this whole thing. Um so that's why I really want um want Mr. Howard present. >> Absolutely. And I agree and I would prefer him to be present. And that was my concern is that I had emailed Richard
um just tonight when I noticed that he wasn't here. I sent him an email. Okay. Um I do have email communications from Richard that he said that he did submit paperwork um to uh Miss Bellow and that he
um he said that he was here the last uh meeting which was I think about a month ago and he said that you know I was it was I think it was on the appointment list that was set and he happened to be here. And so my concern is is that if you're telling me that there wasn't a
paperwork filed, that would be calling Richard a liar. Is that what this board is doing? Calling Richard a liar? >> I did not receive it. It doesn't matter. Madam Chair, can we just move forward and have Mr. Howard come uh July 20?
>> Yeah. When you're every two weeks, right? >> Madam Chair, I want to address nobody called Mr. Howard a liar. What we're saying is that Miss Bleo is not involved in reaching out to >> Oh, that's okay. >> She's not involved. We can accept that. >> What I was saying is that Miss Bellowo, for the record, is not involved with
reaching out to applicants. Um, I don't know without speaking with her um whether anything was received. I'm happy to have anything forwarded me, Madam Chair, I am happy to have anything forwarded me to that was received. I wasn't aware that there was an issue. There is plenty of conversation with Mr. Bowen about this. I feel that Mr. Bowen
is just wanting to hear to make an issue out of nothing. And we were prepared to have this agenda where he could have been appointed tonight, but here we are continuing it. >> I want to make an issue out of nothing. Why Why are you shaking, Miss Town Manager? Are you a little anxious? >> Stop, Mr. Bowen. I will ask you to leave
if if you're not willing to just listen. I will Let's I will get the appointment of Richard Howard on a future agenda. I will have uh Melissa You do have Mr. Howard's email to contact him to confirm availability.
>> I do not believe. >> They have been sending their emails to uh Richard Howard at lunenbergmma.gov. I received numerous emails that responses to Richard Howard have been to his town email which has been cancelled. >> You know, Mr. Bowen, I I really don't
like being interrupted. I'm trying to be very civil here. >> I understand that and I'm appreciative of that. I'm just trying to make clarification that he doesn't have an email. and accuse our staff of of not doing. We don't know. I have not seen if the form is submitted electronically, we
get an automatic email notification. That did not happen. >> Correct. >> If he submitted a hard copy, I don't know if anyone No one here has received it. >> So, no one has received it >> for whatever. Let's just get the
paperwork in. We will confirm receipt of it. We will get them on a future agenda >> and okay then that's direction. >> I don't think that frankly I don't even think that an application is required. This is a person who has just served for a year. They came to this board. >> Thank you. But
>> Mr. Be here in person. >> I I understand that. But in terms of the application, it was Mr. Bowen that raised the issue of the application. I have never raised an issue of an application. I assume that we were coming here to appoint somebody who had served for the past year. Obviously, Mr. Bowen has taken issue with that because
there was no application. So we're >> well I didn't take that. I said that I had informed Mr. Howard about the application process. >> Not here. So >> yeah, I informed him about the application process cuz my understanding was that the application process should be handled and that the application
process should be the next process on an appointment. Okay. And Miss town manager just said that the application process was not necessary. And if he did it or he didn't do it, then that would mean that basically he could just come here and show up and be able to give his testimony and so forth before you
>> and he will be present at a future meeting. >> Yeah, I can arrange that. >> Well, let's just leave it at that. >> Yeah, I can most certainly arrange that >> and we will need to hit contact him through his personal email or >> I have his personal email and I can send
it to Melissa tonight. Okay. >> Will that work? >> Does that work for you, Melissa? Okay, great. Thank you. >> Absolutely. Awesome. Thank you very much. Appreciate you. >> Uh, let's see. >> Appointments, ratifications, and resignations. We have a ratification of
a seasonal cemetery laborer. Braden, Rozer, >> Roer, >> Rozer, >> would you like to tell me your comment at all? >> He's he's a seasonal cemetery labor and we're happy to. He's not He's a new employee. >> Okay. Uh, is there anyone like to make a
mo I have any questions? First of all, before making a motion. Okay. >> I would motion we ratify the town manager's appointment of Braden Rozer as seasonal cemetery laborer. >> Second.
>> Okay. Uh, roll call vote. Glenn >> I. >> Brian >> I. >> And an I for myself. Motion passes. >> Uh, okay. Okay. Now we have an appointment of Anthony Niccastro or regular member of the ZBA. He was
currently an associate member. Correct. >> Correct. And he served as an associate for a number of years. >> Okay. I'm just going to pull that up quickly. >> And that's acceptable that he's a sitting member of the planning board.
>> There's no prohibition against it. Whether it's an acceptable or not is a determination that you can make. >> Yeah. It's it's allowed because one's elected and one is appointed. Correct. >> It's allowed because multiple elected, I think. >> So, you can be on on both the planning
board and ZVA. It's a community by community decision whether or not there's a prohibition from serving on more than one board. >> Um, but there is no um express prohibition against him serving on both roles. If in your determination you don't think that you could serve both,
then that would be up to the board. >> Are you familiar with communities that do have it? Like it's not an exception. >> My last community, I had a select board member who was on the planning board and the zoning board of appeals. So, >> I mean, I personally I I like to have
the the link between the planning board and the zoning board of appeals because >> they they really apply to the same topics. So, I think it's pretty good to have a a nexus there. >> I think there is something about not having being on multiple elected boards, but I could be wrong. I thought I heard
that or someone told me that. And maybe I'm just making it up. I don't remember. Um, >> Brian, any comments, questions? >> I have no questions or concerns. >> Okay. Um, there is a vacancy because
James, uh, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to pronounce his name correctly. Bezar Koskarsski, >> I'm sorry, there's talk in the room that's distracting. >> Bezar Bezar James Bezarowski retired from the ZBA. So, he's filling that
vacancy. >> Is if there's no discussion or questions, would anyone like to make a motion? I'll make a motion to appoint Anthony Niccastro as regular member of the zoning board of appeals. >> Second. >> Okay. Uh roll call vote. Glenn
>> I. >> Brian >> I. >> And an I for myself. Motion passes. Okay. That brings us to the town manager report. Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a relatively long report tonight. Um so I
appreciate your indulgence. Uh first up is the FY27 state budget which is nearly finalized. So last week on July 1st the legislature passed the 63.4 billion budget for FY27. Uh the final bill also included that
outside section relative to the foundation budget review commission to examine the K through2 uh funding formula that this board had submitted advocacy letters around. Um the governor has done days from the passage of the bill to uh veto, approve or propose
amendments and has not acted as of this date. Um however, based on the conference committee budget, if that's what the governor signs, Lunberg will net an additional $471,121. There is an additional $418,56
in education funding, $30,623 increase in unrestricted general government aid, a $43,375 uh,000 increase in veterans and elderly exemptions, and a $66 decrease in
stateowned land. There is also a $20,867 increase in the assessments that is attributed attributable to an increase for charter schools sending tuition. So, all told, that again nets out to an additional $471,121
in revenue. Uh, also included in the FY27 state budget were several earmarks for the town of Lunberg. There was a $20,000 earmark for the Lunberg public schools for technology upgrades and $45,000 for the Lunberg Fire Department for the replacement of aging portable
radios. So, thank you to Representatives Kushik and Scarsdale and Senator Cronin for their advocacy uh for Lunenburgg in these two earmarks. Uh we'll see if they both remain in the governor's budget. Following up on those increases um to state funding um and calls for a special
town meeting, both the select board and myself have been receiving messages of advocacy calling for a special town meeting to appropriate these additional funds um that are believed there will be additional funds. We just don't know the exact amount until the governor's budget is signed. But um to appropriate those
additional funds, so to share publicly uh where things stand on the matter of the special town meeting on June 24th, 2026, the school committee voted to request that the select board schedule a special town meeting. Following that vote on uh the 29th, the school committee chair voted that the um the
school committee chair formally transmitted that request to Miss Em, the select board chair and myself and the superintendent and chairs of both the school committee and select board are meeting tomorrow to discuss this request, the anticipated state budget and the potential next steps. Um what I
have publicly articulated at least in some communications is that the um it has been expressed that teaching positions will not be restored. And so what I is not clear to me at the present moment is um around calling a special
town meeting um and the timing thereof and what would be gained from that. Um but I look forward to that conversation tomorrow morning. um FY26 fair share supplemental bill for the winter recovery assistance program. The um FY26
fair share sub bill funded the winter recovery assistance program, the RAP program and an additional $100 million. 80 million was distributed for via a formula and 20 million was distributed based on commu for communities that had extraordinary hardship in winter storms
which Lunberg does not um have that. Um, but these funds can be used for pretty much any snow related cost. Um, not regular salaries, but overtime, salt, supplies, contractors, equipment, um, vendors, any of those things. So,
Lunberg's aortionment is $228,154.34, and that will be used to offset the snow and ice deficit. Uh, goals and objectives workshop preparation. As the board is aware, next week we're going to be starting to talk about goals and objectives in a workshop. And so in preparing for that, I asked department
heads to voluntary voluntarily provide their feedback um as to the town manager and the select board goals. They were asked what FY26 goals should be continued, where there may be room for improvement or efficiencies, and where the focus should be for the upcoming year. Um you have a blank copy of that
in your meeting folder if you want to look at the form that was submitted. I'm starting to get those responses coming in. have asked for them to be returned tomorrow and I'll compile them all and put them in your meeting packet for review um for over the weekend. Um but those will be as shared with you in
advance of the workshop so you can see um where department heads were coming from. It was important to me that we don't just have a top- down approach to establishing goals and objectives this year. Um employee special merit awards. Uh the announcement for the special merit awards went out today. So we are
soliciting uh nominations for awards in communications, efficiency and pinnacle of excell excellence. Those are each of the three categories. Um what makes those categories and why somebody should be nominated for those uh different categories. There's uh an explanation of
each of them on the website. All employees, non-union members of bargaining units, full-time, part-time, intermittent, seasonal are all eligible to uh qualify for a special merit award. However, members of elected or appointed boards, committees, and commissions are not eligible. It is for staff. Um, we'll
accept nominations from citizens, members of boards, department heads, fellows, employees. Those are due um July 31st by 5:00 p.m. Uh, one award in each category and those folks will be recognized at the employee event um which will be planned for August.
Use of the TC Pacios um behind their building area uh by T-ball. I had talked uh previously um about the food pantry relocation and that if the food pantry uses the school street site that a new
location for T-ball would need to be found and so at the last meeting of the school committee uh the school committee did vote to allow T-ball the use of the area behind TCP. So that is one obstacle that has been removed. Um the 250th
Declaration of Independence delivery. So, thank you to representatives Kushik and Scarsdale for helping to recreate an important moment in Massachusetts history by uh delivering to Lunberg its copy of the Declaration of Independence. So, 250 years ago, over 300 copies of
the Declaration were sent to each parish in Massachusetts. It was required that they be read aloud um by the ministers in all of the churches and then uh recorded into the official town records. Um the process by which they recreated these documents followed the process
from 250 years ago and it's pretty cool and if folks want to learn more about that document is on the town Facebook page. Several uh project updates. We have a camera system installation project that's going to be starting this week. Souzar it will install and replace
security cameras across four town buildings. Town Hall, Ritter Building, Eagle House, and DPW. This project was funded as part of the FY2025 capital program at $36,450. Work is beginning at Ritter um and town hall this Friday and will continue next
week to Eagle House and DPW and should be completed by the end of next week. We have an IFB that is going out tomorrow uh to install sewer service lines at 100 Laurel Lane. It was recently revealed that the lateral line was not installed in 2005 despite the construction plans
and asbuilt showing otherwise. So, the town of Lunenburgg owes 100 Laura Lane a hookup. Um, Flatill Road Bridge, the notice to proceed was issued to Kodiak on June 23rd. And for the uh adult activity
center and uh teen center flooring, the notice to proceed was issued to Taly Floors on July 1st. Um, you heard me mention earlier about 925 Mass A. We may have an I pulled it from my town manager's report based on town council. We may have an IFB that'll be released
tomorrow um if not next week. Current recruitments, we have the assistant town manager posted at 40 hours a week. That position is posted through July 10th. The fire chief position is posted internally only through July 15th. Uh, an offer has been extended for the
outreach coordinator uh, for 36-hour week position, principal assessor 40-hour week position. Both first and second round interviews have been conducted and we're now conducting our diligence. Um, the police officer at
40 hours per week is posted and there have been some interviews. um principal clerk for the facilities and DPW departments at 10 hours a week. Interviews are being scheduled and uh while we have enough lifeguards to
almost make it with good staffing, we could use a couple more lifeguards. So if folks um are still thinking about what to do summer and they have some hours and they have experience um as a lifeguard and they are interested, please apply.
And that is the conclusion of manager's report. >> All right. Thank you. Any questions? >> Uh I did have a question about the the school update. That was great that we're uh that Lunberg's getting additional 400 plus thousand. Um you had mentioned that
it might not be additional teachers. I thought from the school committee meeting too they had mentioned potentially staff though like interventionalists, >> uh specialists. Well, we're going to have the conversation tomorrow, but in the meeting, school committee meeting, I saw it was made clear by several members of the school committee and confirmed by
the superintendent that educational staff would not be support uh restored. Um that it was going to be for the Ignite tutoring program and also for um potentially a uh
professional development training around literacy. There was some conversation around um around potentially um paras um but the specifically stated the redu
classroom size sizes would not change regardless of the funding was stated several times. >> Okay. I just datewise, timewise, I just I want to consider hiring if if there is going to be any hiring that that would be influential on when we would have a town meeting.
>> I I think at I think it's almost impossible to have a town meeting before September with the timing requirements. Um but again, we're meeting tomorrow and we'll see what folks say. >> Great. >> Um any other questions, Brian?
>> No. >> One. >> No. Do you know anything about the um the next steps for School Street and the food pantry? What >> I actually had um some So Nancy Beach had been traveling um and I had reached out to her
>> earlier this week and had a little communication back with her um prior to this meeting. So, two things. Uh, one is that the she she stated to me that Noba boards of health have board have
indicated to her that um reactivating the septic that's there would not be allowable and a sewer tie-in would be required. I asked to see that email and to understand why that is um being stated. And I have heard just through
the rumor mill that there have been some concerns raised by the APDC relative to the use of trailers at the location um even though they were temporary. Um and so I asked Miss Beach if she's heard the same. I don't have a response to that, but that's so the the two where we're at
is what's going on with the hookups. Sewer hook full sewer hookup would be costly. >> Is there a sewer? I had heard there was a sewer line run there at one point. septic, but I don't know how the sewer sewer I don't sewer does not go back to that field.
>> Okay. >> Not that anybody is aware of on staff at this point. >> Okay. All right. So, there's nothing no nothing we have to do. Nobody's waiting on us. >> Okay. Good. All right. Uh, new business. We have the
adoption of the IRS mileage reimbursement rate. So, this is something um I don't remember voting on this in the past. It's something that should be done. So, basically, when you
use your vehicle, your personal vehicle for work, for business, you get and you drive x number of miles, you submit that and based on the IRS mileage reimbursement um times the number of miles, that's how much you get reimbursed. Um currently
that reimbursement rate is 725 cents per mile. Um so town manager has prepared a motion to um that we can vote on to use the current rate today but also going forward just to cover us um because if
this has been done in the past we can't find documentation of it being done in the past. So just to be safe we'll do it now. So, um, Glenn has has the motion for us. Brian, >> great. Thank you.
>> I move that the select board adopt the current Internal Revenue Service, IRS, standard mileage rate of.725 cents as the official mileage reimbursement rate for all town employees and officials authorized to
use their personal vehicles for town business. And further, the select board authorizes that any future changes to the IRS standard mileage rate shall automatically become the town's mileage reimbursement rate effective on the same
date as established by the IRS without the need for further action by the select board unless otherwise directed by the board. >> So I would just little correction though was 725 though not cents.
It's Oh, so sorry. No, it's 72 cents. Yeah, sorry. 725. >> 72.5 cents. >> All right. I'll second that motion. >> Okay. Any other discussion around this? Okay. Uh, roll
call vote. Glenn >> I. >> Brian >> I. >> And an I for myself. Okay. Motion passes. All right. The next item um we're actually going to pass over this evening. This is ratification of teams union local 170 collective bargaining
agreement. This is for the DPW. Um we are waiting on town or labor labor council right to review. >> Yes ma madam chair just uh for those watching um the the board has voted in executive session around um this agreement and now we're reducing what is
a brand new agreement. This isn't because this is a new bargaining unit. It's a brand new agreement. So, we're reducing that new agreement to writing. Um there's a couple of discrepancies that we picked up that we're verifying with our labor council and then we'll get that before you. >> Okay.
Okay. So, the next item is um about the cable advisory committee and designated the positions on that committee as something that is called special municipal employees. This came up um because one of the
members is doing some proono legal uh council for the skate park and he reached out to the uh state ethics commission to see if there was any conflict of interest with him continuing to do that legal work um and being a
member of the cable advisory committee. And I don't know how much into the weeds you want to get on this. I am not going to get into the weeds of conflict of interest and the Massachusetts Ethics Commission, but uh suffice to say their feedback was and their recommendation
was to make the positions on the cable advisory committee what's called special municipal employees and that would um allow this individual to continue his um his proono uh legal work with the skate park.
So that needs to be done by the select board and it applies to all positions on that cable advisory committee. Did I miss anything that's important or say anything that's wrong? I don't think you missed anything
that that was wrong, but just I so while this particular board has not voted first that designates special municipal employee status previously, the town clerk has a list that she shared when we were seeing if this one was included as
a special municipal employee that goes back all the way to um 1963. And so the finance committee has been voted, the charter commission had been voted, the moderator. So um ultimately
it's it's up to this board and but you're correct. It does go to the whole committee would be deemed special municipal employees >> and it is in effect until you vote too recent to >> correct. Now, what it doesn't do, which I think is important about the conflict
of interest law, is it does not allow them to anybody that was deemed a special municipal employee who was representing the town. You can't represent the town, I mean, represent a private client, it matters before the town, before your own committee. So provided that there's still the
separation of duties that he's advising the skate park as to their relations with the parks commission and the cable advisory committee as to the charter renewal license >> or contest. >> There's no conflict in those two rules. >> No.
>> Yeah. >> Are there any questions there? There was a document about special municipal employees dropped in our in our folder. Yeah, I didn't I didn't see any problem with declaring them as special. >> Okay. >> No concerns.
>> Okay. Uh then I would entertain a motion um to that effect. >> Uh I motion we vote to designate cable advisory committee as special municipal employees. >> Second.
>> Okay. Roll call vote. Uh Glenn >> I. >> Brian >> I. >> And an I for myself. Motion passes. Okay. The next one is also uh we'll need a vote on. This is the taking of uh at at 890 Flatill Road. This is um
regarding the Flatill Bridge project. So, this goes back um town meeting did vote to allow the select board to take by eminent domain um some of the the property around that project uh for access and whatnot.
And we did do that, but that temporary easement expires before the the work will be completed. So, uh, town council confirmed we do not need to go back to town meeting. Correct. Correct. >> And we just need to take another vote on
um another temporary easement. So, this this one uh expires would expire December 31st, 2027. And there is uh a cost of $600, right? The appraisal >> for the for
>> diminish value of the property, right? >> Does anyone have questions about that? >> Nothing. Okay. Um Glenn has the motion to read for this one as well. I hereby move that the select board acquire by eminent domain for the necessary health
and welfare of the inhabitants of the town of Lunberg for municipal purposes and specifically for improvements to the bridge on Flatill Road over Katakumug Katakunamug Brook as authorized by article 10 of the
town of Lunenburgg special town meeting of November 161. one in that it further authorized the board's chair, Renee Mki, to execute and enter into any and all documents
necessary to effectuate the acquisition of the following property. A temporary easement located at 890 Flatill Road, Lunenburgg, Massachusetts, depicted as temporary easement area number three
area about 1,83 square ft on the plan entitled easement plan of land in Lunberg, Massachusetts, prepared by VHB, Inc. comprised of two
total sheets dated January 6th, 2023 to be recorded with affformentioned order of taking in the Wister North Registry of Deeds and and I'll read it literally and that still further the
board award damages for said eminent domain takings in the total amount of $600 to the affected record of owner. of said land. >> Second. >> Okay. Any additional discussion,
questions? All right. Roll call vote. Glenn >> I. >> Brian >> I. >> And an I for myself. Motion passes. Okay. Uh final vote I think for this evening is regarding if you remember we did this for the annual town election.
So, vote whether to use the constable or a police officer. Um, we have a number of elections coming up. We have the special town election on August 8th, the state primary election on September 1st, and the uh state election on November
3rd. So, if we could vote now whether to use the constable or police officer for all three of those elections, that would be efficient. Well, I would go with police. >> Can we can we can we do it in tears? If
there's no police available, then >> they can use the >> con. >> I define available with police officers. >> I mean, you know, >> I mean, I I think police should >> they have done it in the since I've been in town anyway. They've they've done it. Um Brian, what do you think?
>> I would support the constable doing it. Um it it would be a lower rate. Um, but also I would like to see the town manager reaching out um to see the availability availability of both the police and the constable just so we have that information ahead of time when we
go through these um appointments. Um I think that would be important but I would support the constable doing it >> well with respectfully with this lead time if if there it's a month in advance if you say the police the police are going to be ordered to cover the shift
>> and I think the chief we when we set the date did was the chief notified of the date >> of the special >> of the special yeah and the others are se more than a month away two months >> September and then November Um I'm inclined to to keep it with
police. I think when we this came up at the annual um the cost >> the cost was higher. >> Was it significantly higher? I don't >> um I know that um the town clerk recently received an invoice. So we can
check that invoice against the proposal. >> Okay. I mean the the fire or fire the police fee is it's fixed. It's a known number. It's a known cost that we could determine. Um I think the constable was
>> I think it was a fixed proposal as well >> that you but it has to be proposed. It's not it's not something that is um you can look up and get it's proposed each time. Correct. So,
it it sounds like Glenn and I support the police for all three. And Brian, you would like to see confirm availability and a cost breakdown. Is that right? >> No, I don't need a cost breakdown. I know the constable is going to be cheaper.
>> Does it matter how much does it matter what the delta is? If we want to vote, that's fine. We can vote tonight. I'm not It's not a make or break here. >> I would like one one reason I'd like to vote tonight is is to confirm, you know, so it is
confirmed for police that they do in fact need to cover. >> I think it's important for everybody to know whether they're doing it. So, I would like to get the vote done tonight. >> Okay. Um, >> would someone like to make a motion? >> I would move that we vote to use police
officers for the special town election on August 8th, state primary election on September 1st and state election on November 3rd. >> I'll second that motion. >> Okay, this will be a roll call vote. Glenn >> I, >> Brian, >> I,
>> and then I for myself. Motion passes. Okay. Uh this last item for uh approving the special town election warrant for August 8th special town election. Um we need town council is needs to review some of the language.
>> The town clerk had because um yeah so let me explain if if you don't mind me. Um, so the recent change uh from town meeting that we are no longer mailing the warrant um and that we're mailing a postcard um has been approved by by the
attorney general. And so the bottom language on the election warrant references the method by which notification was mailed. and the town clerk with this new language wants to just be ensure that she's using the
right words for the election. >> So, I know we do have to sign that by August 1st. So, we need to do it this month. So, we can um if it's ready next next meeting, we can do it on uh next week. So, we'll pass that one over for
this evening. Uh, let me do the We do have one warrant, right? Just one. >> Okay. We have an accounts payable warrant in the amount of $561,7040.
Um, Brian, >> do you want to do it all three of us docuign or should >> I do that? Or do you want us Glenn and I can sign it tonight? >> Whatever you can stop by. I can stop by the town hall Wednesday or Thursday.
That's fine. >> I can throw it in docyign. >> I can do it electronically, too. Doesn't matter. >> Okay. Whatever's easier for you, Melissa. >> It takes two seconds. >> Okay, we'll do it sign. Brian, >> sounds good. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, and minutes. So, we have, I
think, four sets of minutes. Brian, thank you for doing um reviewing a couple more sets. So, we have some old minutes from 2025 to May 13th and June 17th. And then we
have um the May 19th, 2026 minutes from the select board meeting. And there's also the minutes from our executive session on June 16, 2026. First of all, have has everyone had a chance to read them and would be ready
to vote in them? Okay. Um, I just want to call out the executive session minutes quickly. We would be voting to approve and release them. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> Because they are executive session. So maybe we want to do that motion
separately or >> try it. >> The minute takers are going to love this. I'll make a motion to approve and release the executive session minutes from June 16th, 2026.
>> Second. >> Okay. Okay. This will be a roll call vote. Uh Glenn >> I. >> Brian >> I. >> And I for myself. The motion passes. And then a motion for the remaining. Make a motion to approve the
uh select board minutes from May 13, 2025, May 19th, 2026, and June 17, 2025. >> Second. >> Okay. Uh roll call vote. Glenn >> I. >> Brian >> I. >> And an I for myself. Motion passes.
Great. Thanks. And did you want to >> comment on the executive session minutes? >> Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Now that those uh minutes are released, I did just I know that there were a number of um employment agreements on the last uh select board meeting and just wanted to
go over the highlights of those. Uh folks that are interested can read the full set of minutes, but um there was an employment agreement approved for facilities director Chris Ruth um providing for $7,500 vehicle stipen for using his personal vehicle as opposed to
a town vehicle, which is commensurate with the stipen received by the building commissioner for the same. um as well as an increase to four weeks of vacation. Um employment agreements for the human resources director Julie Bello and Council on Aging Director Deborah Goodsell to increase their vacation time
to four weeks. Um an employment agreement for the DPW director Bill Bernard uh to increase his wage to a step eight on his current grade of 17 with subsequent 2 and a half% increases in both FY28 and FY29. four weeks of
vacation, a $1,000 stipen for tree warden, and a $500 clothing allowance, as well as codifying the practice that we currently have with Mr. Bernard to allow him to drive his municipal vehicle to and from work with the caveat that if he is out for longer than 5 days, that
vehicle is returned to the town. And lastly, a step increase on grade 10 for Melissa Richard from grade four to six uh due to the added administrative functions assumed due to the elimination of the IT and communications manager.
And so those were the the key elements of each of those contracts for those that were wondering. >> Okay, thank you. That brings us to committee reports. >> I have none. >> Brian, do you have any? the school
committee met. Um the town manager discussed some of it. Uh there was some public comments uh from the public about restoring trying to restore the middle school athletics. Um they were talking about boosters and how the boosters can help. Uh they talked about fundraising and also ensuring compliance with title
9 district policies. Uh the superintendent announced the uh state earmarks for the facility improvements uh the town manager had mentioned. Uh they provided updates on summer hiring. uh they outlined uh some guidance for the donations as well. Moving forward,
uh the committee also unanimously approved uh to request the select board call special town meeting once the state budgets finalized to appropriate additional chapter 70 educational funding. Town manager spoke to that. Uh members emphasized uh any recurring state education aid should be used to
support recurring educational needs uh such as interventionist literacy initiatives, tutoring and staffing. Um and they approved as the town manager mentioned the TC Pasio's property for T-ball. Uh and then they had an FY26 fourth quarter budget report uh which a
much was had a much smaller surplus than expected or in previous years as well. They'll meet again on July 29th. That's all I have. >> Okay. Um I have two to give. Uh one I there was a meeting of the 300th
anniversary committee on June 29th. Um, this was the first time I attended one of those meetings and it was really interesting. Heard a lot of interesting stories about history and not not really far back history but like when current committee
members were younger and they're growing up in town and telling these stories. It was really it was really uh entertaining. Um, so they talked about a lot of the plans that are going they have a lot of things um planned or in the works.
um including a um fireworks show for what they're calling first night with a K night um that they are currently working on. Um they have a number of other events and fundraising
um that they are planning. They've talked about calendars. They're working on um putting together a calendar of current residents who have been in town for a long time. uh commemorative coins and so on. Um they also discussed
forming a 501c3 kind of like the friends of a library or the the friends the eagle house supporters um to help with um fundraising and and donations. So I would expect that will happen. Um,
their next meeting is July 27th. And my other report is the finance committee appointing committee met last night. The finance committee is now um fully
uh >> staffed. >> I was going to say staffed. Yeah, I was going to say manned but personed. Um, so we reappointed Chris Manard and Jason Mioni and uh for three-year terms and Peter Beardmore was appointed to the
remainder of Jean's term for two years. So I don't think I didn't see an agenda come out for this week. I think >> we're trying to have a joint meeting with them next week. There was an email that went out from the chair um suggesting that this Thursday be
canceled and he was polling folks for a brief overlap of a meeting next on for our meeting next Tuesday for the year end transfers. >> Yeah. >> Uh so that's those are all the reports I have. Um upcoming meetings. So we are
scheduled to have our goals workshop next week on the 14th. Um we may also have at the start of that if the if there's a quorum of the finance committee available um a joint meeting to vote on year end line item transfers
because that requires a vote of select board and uh finance committee. So stay tuned for that but it shouldn't take long and would be at the beginning of the meeting. So then we could get to the goals uh discussion and that would be for select board and town manager goals.
Um to be honest, I don't think we'll complete that in in one meeting. Um so I would expect to carry that over. Um town manager mentioned in her report the questionnaire that went out to
department heads and we will have that by the end of the week um to review and get their feedback. So taking kind a bottom up and a top down approach to goal setting and kind of what I call a zippering of you know meeting and and
aligning on goals. Um so what I was thinking and what I would like that to ask um our board the board to do is to think about um highlevel areas and goals that um for the select
board and town manager um and submit them to Melissa since we can't share or deliberate outside. Um and then Melissa if you could drop them in our folder just before the meeting. Um, so if we
get them to you, so you have them when you come in on Tuesday morning. Is that enough time? >> Whatever. I can keep them off a drive and then >> Okay. Okay. So, if we can um just send them to Melissa uh by the start of her Tuesday morning, that would be great.
And because we'll be laying, you know, eyes on on each other's thoughts and and the town manager's ideas for the first time at that meeting. That's why I don't think we'll we'll we'll see how we how we do
and how far we get. But um would you guys what are your thoughts on on that plan or or >> Well, it sounds particularly considering we'll have the two new members come August.
>> They will be Yes. I think we'll be done before then though because we don't have the dog hearing on the 20 July 28th as we tentatively put a placeholder so we have that meeting um as well. I think we can get
them done in July. Maybe I'm being too optimistic. >> It was getting done. I think it's okay to also review them again and make any revisions as needed when two more members come on. >> Yeah. I think like how we always approach goals at
work was it's a living document. We always did a midyear check-in adjustment. Um and I I think we did a midyear last year as well. >> So um and I think that's all for the 14th.
That's right. Um and the 21st we'll see if we need a meeting. Um town manager will not be available. Um so I think if we do have a meeting it would be a light one.
Any vacations absences that are going to impact any Tuesdays coming up? >> No. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. Um Oh, I'm on Zoom. I have to check. I hope nobody's in the waiting room because
>> so I'm now host I've been sitting over here chuckling. >> Okay, cuz I think my >> when that email just I mean the laptop it just >> you just did the automatic like I'm >> it went to sleep. My Mac automatically. >> Okay, there is nobody in the waiting room though.
>> Um my bad. >> There is one member of the public that is present. I'm not sure if they're here for public comment. >> Okay, no one in the room. Is there any public comment from town manager? >> Uh, no. >> Any comment from the board? >> No.
>> Yes. I did uh prepare a statement uh as we uh um as we consider the request for the special town meeting regarding the approximately $400,000 in additional chapter 70 educational funding expected from the Massachusetts legislature. I believe it's important to
note I've consistently advocated for increased state investment in public education and improvements to the chapter 70 funding formula. For the past 7 years, I've consistently advocated for increased state investment in public education and for reforms to the chapter 70 funding formula. Lunberg, along with
many communities across the Commonwealth, has struggled uh under a formula that has not kept pace with the true cost of educating students. This additional funding represents progress towards correcting those shortcomings and I believe it should be used for the purpose for which it was intended to
support our students and our educators and schools. Uh this is not a one-time issue. As the legislature continues to evaluate and improve the chapter 70 formula over the next several years, we should expect additional adjustments as
the state works towards a more equitable and sustainable funding model. Until those reforms are complete, I will continue to advocate for every dollar of the new Chapter 7 funding to be directed to our schools. Our students deserve to benefit from the additional educational
aid that the Commonwealth has recognized is needed. Um, appropriating these funds to the school district is consistent with the position I've taken for several years now and believe is the right decision for Lunberg. >> Okay. Thanks, Brian.
>> Okay. Okay. If there is nothing else, Brian, motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make a motion to adjurnn at 8:45 p.m. >> Second. >> All right. Roll call vote. Glenn. >> Hi. >> Brian. >> Hi. >> And an I for myself.
Meeting is adjourned. Have a good night everyone. >> Thank you. >> And see you next week.