6:30 by the sea select board to order. John >> here, >> Ann is here. Kathy and Brian >> here. >> And Jeff >> here. >> Okay. Um, are there public comments
on non-aggenda items here or remotely? is read AI meeting is being recorded by AI. >> Yeah, I just got an alert asking that it may just be a new function of Zoom
>> or I know Debbie uses a separate tool outside of Zoom, but I didn't know she downloaded the script >> or has been replaced by artificial intelligence >> downsizing already. So there's nothing in the chat if >> Okay.
>> chat. >> Nobody's Nobody has put up a hand. >> No. >> Okay. Fine. Um I haven't got a chairman's report. Um and is there anything you would like to
do with the um with the agenda with the action items? Okay, great. Um, the next item on the agenda is the review of
the fire department's fee schedule. I gather to the chief is here. >> The chief is on Zoom. >> Yeah. >> Good evening. >> Yes. Would you like to just give us an idea of what's changed?
>> Um, so the fees over the course of uh forever uh haven't really been updated. They were last updated in 2021. uh doing a little research and comparing us to about 30 to 35 different communities, I found that other communities were charging for some
things that we weren't. Um so I compiled the list and basically I took the ones that made the most sense for Manchester, added those in. The one thing that you'll see is the admin fees are new. Um a lot of our inspections and the fees that are associated with them, uh the
fees is determined by Mass General Law. uh we are able to add a administrative fee on top of it because we're going to electronic records management system and we can kind of prove that there's an added um cost over and above the traditional permit fee uh historically.
So uh in the areas in which we can do that I have done that and I've also uh documented the mass general law that correlates to each inspection when relevant. I'm intrigued that we went to uh a a a
uh an electronic record system and it's more administrative work than it was without it. >> It's more the cost of the records management system um of the ongoing upkeep of it, not so much um personnel
hours. It's um technological fees if you would. >> Okay. anyone >> and this is consistent with other communities. >> Yes. >> Yeah. My only question was um how you
know had you taken a look at um how whether or not some of these fees really cover the cost of the fees of the actions that you're taking. >> Yeah. Um, so in doing so, I have to say
obviously the fee itself within the Mass General Law U guidelines on some of those. Um, ones that we did add that I saw a need for, um, you'll see the, uh, cooking fires on Sing Beach. Historically, those have been free. Um, upgrading that to $10. And then also
adding, um, a fee onto if a, um, somebody's found having a cooking fire without a permit. Um, that's come up a few times this year. So that's uh a newer one. And the other one was uh inspector uh inspections for liquor licenses. Um historically we did not
charge a fee for that. Uh but um obviously that takes um time and staff hours uh to complete those document those and then correlate with the or coordinate rather with the other town departments. >> So I guess so that's great. And then my only other question is how how do are we
collecting the fees? Is the collection um non- labor intensive as well. >> Yes. Um so we have three different avenues we can do fees. Um we'll be rolling out a full online system. Our vendor is uh just getting that up. But we can do um credit cards they can do
automatically online. They can um burning permits for instance is a great example went live this year uh through our system. the resident just goes onto their portal, gets a burning permit, pays for it, and then it comes into a Q system for myself or the captain to just
basically put our eyes on it and approve the permit. Uh other ones, obviously permits are tied to inspections as well. Um so sometimes there's multiple things going on, permits and inspections. >> Thank you. >> What's a tent permit? Just curious. Um
so for large events um if people have a large uh tent on their property uh they need to have fire extinguishers, carbon dioxide detectors depending on what type of heating elements are being used for foods and things like that. We see those for a lot of the weddings on some of the
estates on the ocean. >> So are these the maximum we can charge under the state? >> Yes. Um and these are the maximum that I found from any community. uh basically um from the 35 uh different communities
that I pulled. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> So So when you you updated these um your fee can be any number up to the max here, >> correct? With the uh so for instance like a smoke detector inspection, Mass General Law dictates it's $50 and
there's no administrative fee. So sometimes depending on what the um verbiage is in the uh code um we can or if it's silent then we can charge an administrative fee. >> Okay. And and that was done based upon referencing other communities because
that's not an Mass General law requirement or >> correct. >> Okay. And a question on these annual fees. Is that does annual just mean if somebody comes in and gets one of those annual uh annual permits, it's good for a year from whenever they got it?
>> Correct. >> Okay. It's not like it's renewed. If they renew it two years from now, well, then the clock starts again when they renew it. >> Exactly. >> Okay. I understand that. >> Okay. >> One other question. We have a carnival coming up in October. All right. All
those trailers, who do we have to inspect those trailers? The the residents are there. Is that police? Is that you? Is that health? >> All of the above. Uh so the food trailers typically um are the propane is licensed in the community in which they reside. Uh for instance, I just did a
food trailer this morning uh for one that it home bases Manchester. Um then the board of health has to come in and do a visual inspection of it actually set up and typically we'll do a walk through just to make sure that uh everything looks copic.
um ignorance. What are hot works? >> Uh welding, um brazing of pipes, things like things of that nature. >> Okay. So, something a plumber might be doing an open flame or
>> Yeah, open flame. Typically the um a plumber fixing a water line does not cons uh con constitute a hot works permit um if they're brazing or if they're welding steel would be one. Um and there's certain caveats to that
based upon occupancy classifications as well. Um you know if it's a high hazard occupancy uh that might trigger a hot works permit and a detail. Another question. Uh, how many permits are issued per year, typical year, and
what's the revenue associated with that? >> Um, that is a great question. I will have to get back to you on I can probably shoot you an email in 20 minutes when I just pull the report ahead of time. >> And do you have very many? I see on the bottom reinspection fee. This is
whatever certain inspections uh there were problems. Does that happen very often or? Um it happens probably once or twice a week. Um and it's unfortunately usually the same um people um for the uh
real estate agents, things like that that basically should know better. Um and this is just a mechanism to make sure that when we go out, it's done right the first time. Um and many times the guys will go by and actually do a previsit and we don't charge for those.
is when we're actually out there to do the inspection. >> Okay. All right. This This is like real estate agents, fire uh fire detectors, things like that. >> Yeah. >> They know what they've got to have. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Any other questions
here or remote? Okay. Um >> a motion. >> Yes. I move that the select board approve the fee scheduled as recommended by the fire chief. >> Second. >> Jeff. >> Yes. >> Brian. >> Yes. >> Kathy.
>> Yes. And says yes. And John. >> Yes. >> And just um if it's okay with you guys for implementation of October 1st just so I can do some notifications um and things like that. >> Is that okay with us? >> Nods all around. Yeah.
>> Perfect. Thank you. Um, right. The next item on the agenda is the Northshore Regional 911. I update assume that our
officers are here to talk about that. >> Yes. And you have you have a memo >> in the backup with some statistics there. Uh the chief and I had a call with Northshore Regional today uh to kind of go through some of those
statistics and some get some other updates. Uh I'll let the chief uh really give the the overall but um it you know from my understanding and it sounds like we're having a very good experience with Northshore Regional. Uh they're fully
staffed. They're looking to staff up even a little bit more because they have uh North Reading joining um by the fall of this year. Um and it seems like uh we're we're things are going really well. Took a bunch of notes, but I'll
let you uh just follow up on what Tony said. So, uh Jake and I continue to be involved in the chief executive uh boards uh so we get regular updates uh from them. Uh, North Reading is going in
uh finalizing their uh uh onboarding fall of 25. Uh, Raleigh has recently gone in. They went in kind of like we did uh on a emergency faster pace because they were losing staff. Um,
Boxford is looks like the beginning, excuse me, Groveland is December, January time frame they'll be going in. Uh Boxford is sometime in 2026 later on. Uh and Hamilton should make a
final decision sometime in September. Uh when they when or they will go in or not. Um they're staffing. They got five new hires uh she told us today and seven in
the pipeline. That should cover the uh the new onboarding uh communities and things that we've done this year. Um one of the things that regional took over is to help us with some radio
infrastructure uh in the Magnolia area of of town. I think Jake could probably comment more on that because he was more more involved in. So those are some of the high level things that we discussed today. No, I just, you know, I think that
they've the staff has spent a lot of time with police and fire here, uh, with, you know, whether that be trainings or ride alongs or, uh, continued communication. Uh, they've talked, they've done some training on
terminology, um, with the fire department and the blue card uh, um, incident training. uh so that when they are dispatching and they're getting information back and forth between our staff and their staff
um they're able to you know do that efficiently. Um so it sounds like uh it's been going really well and the fact that they've staffed up and are going to staff up even more uh doesn't raise any sort of concern for us. Um they give us
an annual report on their uh you know their timing rates. Um so we'll monitor that on an annual basis to make sure there's nothing no issues. >> What are their timing rates? >> They they were going to send me the report and she may have sent it to me
after we got off the call, but >> I haven't looked through it. They they basically they measure uh from when the phone rings and till when they pick up you know so from ring to pickup time and then from pickup time to dispatch time every other
you know after that the response timing is really on us on us. Uh so what we would want to keep an eye on is that you know their staff levels are high enough or staffed well enough that you know on their end there's no extended
>> start ringing and ringing and ringing. >> Right. Exactly. But it sounds like there hasn't been and they they said that when they've onboarded Manchester by see it was it was you know like a model uh >> process because got the ball rolling
while he's on the really >> Yeah. We were the first. >> I think a lot I think a lot of other communities were waiting to see how our onboarding went and they saw how well it went so they jumped on board. >> You should discount,
>> right? Right. A little bit of something every time >> every time someone else calls I want a piece. >> So how much how much input do you have before they take on a new customer? uh they discuss it at these meetings when uh the you know the the executive meets with the chiefs and the town
administrators and then there's a vote. >> Okay. So there is a vote. You are I just want to make sure we are voting because that was one of the things that um the existing communities had to let us in. >> Right. >> I want I just wanted to make sure that is still the case. >> Okay.
>> The uh Jess I'm looking at this. So the fireworks those that was Neml's trailer >> that was by uh the department of fire service trailer. >> Okay. And then there was staffed by two. >> I would strongly urge you guys to take a
look at that next uh they're going to do it again this year. >> I mean Todd took me through it uh last fireworks and there was a call going on while we were there. >> Yeah. It was interesting. So I would if you got an opportunity when it's set up take a look at it.
I'm looking at the statistics and it looks like from 24 to 25 keep going at the rate we are will be like >> 25% more than last year. Is that about right? >> It's more 2025. >> Yeah.
>> So is that is there a reason for that or is >> I think it's accurate more accurate recognition system. So it's not that maybe not >> well I think some of the call volume has definitely gone up of both police and fire can speak to the fire department
but uh I think on our end most of it is the new records management system that's accurately logging these calls. >> Yeah, I just noticed that as a book went down. Oh, it's only half a year,
>> right? Yeah. and and and I also think it's the better training. It's a better quality product. So So better information is going in because we've had better training. >> So it's just >> it's all about what you're putting into it. >> So it's getting better as we
>> It's good. >> And I I will add that they're very receptive when we've had some questions or um comments from the public that um we investigate. They're receptive. They give us all the information. They give us the recording. Um, and you know, a lot of times people when they call 911
over stress, they don't want to ask questions, but those questions are really important, especially on the medical side of things because they can give pre-arrival instructions and they're going to dictate the level of service that is dispatched, especially if there's multiple calls going on. So, um, you know, I can't uh speak high
enough of them. They do a great job. They're professional and more importantly, they're responsive to any issues or inquiries that we make. So when you say the record management system, we've been on the system now what three years or something. So in other words, I'm assuming they changed
the record management system and all of a sudden there was a change in the data that it was at one trend or maybe no trend. >> Yeah. >> And all of a sudden it jumped. It's not like it's been going straight up. Okay. So I understand the conclusion. Is your
feeling as a long-term officer that actual the actual call volume is is up or >> I think the our call volume is up especially mental health calls. Uh I think that's a component of it but I think that
the information that's going into this system is better >> as and it's tracking what we're doing better. >> Okay. >> Right. So, uh, when we went on the system, um, originally, we had some, um,
duplicate systems here in Manchester that we were considering getting rid of. So, we Okay, >> we still have them. >> Still have Okay, >> that has not been resolved. >> And is it do we know why that is? Is it just we really like them better or is it
we just don't have the time and energy or money to do? don't have the can't find someone to adequately put take the data out of the old system and put it into the >> so it's data conversion data >> conver so >> plus it's the cost >> so your historical data is still in the
old system >> the old system >> okay so um >> some of it I mean some of it we have to keep forever some of it we don't really need to keep so uh after talking with town council >> when when Greg was here at the time we
decided It's easier and quicker to take everything and put it in then rather than uh than than the pick and choose and try and go through it all less and it be more cost effective.
>> Your IT group helped you make that decision. >> It did. Yeah. >> Okay. >> It was about that. >> Okay. >> Just because um historical data um you know there's always some new fangled technology. Do you remember did you ever use a floppy drive? Right. Okay. Right.
And then oh we had to get rid of those. So we had to decide what to keep and what. So the innovation isn't done and it will never be done. So you have to think of the historical data as baggage and over time the cost of that baggage
does start to increase. So, I think Tony, as we enter into budget season, it's always worth taking a look at gosh, is it is it cheaper to get rid of the baggage or is it cheaper to carry it? >> It's going to be long term. It's going to be cheaper to spend the money now to
have it. >> That's that's what I'm I'm 40 years in it is what I'm kind of getting at. So, thank you. Yes, you >> faster way of saying it. So >> we have to figure out a way of um understanding what data we have to keep
and just do the dirty deed and get it over, you know, to the new system or to archive. You know, sometimes it's just an archive that you look at and don't touch. Um you may not need the the data in the new system. You just have a separate cheap archive system. Um but
over time that gets very expensive. If I remember correctly off the top of my head, we're paying about 7,500 a year for the old system and the cost was about 24,000. >> Yeah. And and is it running on old computers like or Yeah. So that's that's
just going to get ugly. We got to bite the bullet and figure out a plan there. Okay. Thank you. Is the problem with upgrading finance of money or finding um someone who can do it? I don't think it was money, so to speak, but it was finding
someone finding someone with the skills to do it, right? >> Well, you can always find someone with the skills, but it's a rarer and rarer skill the longer you wait and therefore it gets more and more expensive and therefore that's it's always a matter of money. Um, and the rarer the skills, the more money you have to pay to get.
>> So, we thought it's also it's not just the skill of converting the data, it's understanding. Yeah. what you have to keep or >> so we thought we had someone because Beverly just switched the IMC from the system that we still had
>> uh and he regional work with us to give him to uh give us a proposal but then all of a sudden he was like no I'm not doing that >> yeah yeah >> we're getting I'm I'm on the young side I'll just say of the technologist that you are talking about you have a window
of opportunity and you need to get on it otherwise it's just gone Absolutely. I >> I'll just add that and chief if you don't mind I'll add that you know having regional 911 especially right now we have a we have a few officers that are
out on leave uh maternity leave or paternity leave and you know so having regional uh and avoiding having to actually man the the front desk there really helps us out you know as as far as having
officers on the street as far as overtime cost, things of that nature. So, there's another huge benefit there and it's and it's being seen right now. Currently, we have four people, four full-time people >> actually. >> Wow, it's a lot. Yeah.
>> So, we haven't been managing or staffing the the uh the desk. So, what we ended up doing was having the officer in charge of the cell phone, the region's transferring calls to that cell phone rather than have them come off the street.
Sounds as if you're moving into the 21st century. I >> know. The relationship is uh doing well. >> You'd hope it. >> Jake, do you want to add anything? >> Uh, no. I I think that um it's going very well and it's um there's a lot more
coordination. I think you think adding in a third department, if you would, a dispatch department, it's actually brought all of us closer um just because we can concentrate on our uh area and then it makes all the areas flow so much more smoothly.
>> What an excellent outcome. >> Yes. Um, and I can certainly testify that when you call >> Oh, yeah. I called to pass you through. >> Excellent. Thank you very much.
>> May I ask before the police chief of police leaves because it's hard to find him. I have something very good about them that I would like to um >> It's this is if you have something nice to say about >> Very nice. >> Okay. because I wanted to appreciate
what they have done for my husband this past week and I'm sure you were maybe told by the two young men who went to the train station. >> Yes. Because I Tim and I had gone I didn't know that the chief would be here tonight >> and uh uh I went to the police station.
So I got the names of the young men but uh we had gone to the for his checkup and uh because the train was coming I said we're not taking this one. going to saw you stay here pass in but stay well 20 minutes later my husband was gone so
I thought he had gone someplace anyway I went crazy a little bit I didn't know what happened and they were very helpful there to go everywhere looking and so on they assumed that he took the train that was leaving to come to me so they got in touch with you I suppose here at the
department I see all >> because they were down I was told by my sons when I asked them to go and see if their father was arriving that there were two Tim told me there were two young men who were very nice and I have to say that the the ones who have accounted accounted you know police
anywhere for anything they have been very nice people including the gift ticket ones you know nice >> and they're very polite and very nice >> and um um they my husband said that they
were very nice two young men one was Zach remember the other person's I didn't find out who he was right something and um they offered to take him home because they thought maybe he might be in trouble or you know I said no I like the exercise you go but I just
want to thank them >> they were they have been always very >> okay anything else can be said about regional 911 >> oh if they need an IP guy our youngest
son worked for 16 in a big IT place in available. >> All right. Good night, >> folks. >> Okay. Um, leazison reports, Jack.
>> Um, let's see. for the DPW. Uh they're signing a contract this week, I think, with regard to uh a contractor who will install the meters. And so that should happen, start start to go within the next few weeks, but I know they have a contract out to a
final bidder bidder that they've decided on. And second, they've uh added some better marking on the foot path between the parking lot and downtown back here. I don't know if you've been there recently. >> Last weekend, I noticed it right away. is very helpful.
>> So, they've got they painted on the on the on on the asphalt some arrows and things and comment the way to downtown, etc. >> And they'll also be trimming, in fact, maybe taking down, I think, a couple of the trees along the pathway that are well, they're dirty in the sense they're
dropping branches. They're not really offering a whole lot to the the um you know, to the pathway there. So, I think they're going to take uh take a couple of trees down, but I think that's in Henderson's Henderson has put some X's
on a few trees, so they'll uh they'll come down. Um, with regard to the historic district commission, they had a meeting last Thursday and they approved some solar panels on a house in uh on Harbor Street or I I guess on on Bridge Street.
>> Mhm. And it's a house that has a couple of flat roofs on either side of the house is like a salarium area and the RS are flat because otherwise they could never do this in the historic district and especially on the harbor because on the harbor both the front and the back
of the house are public ways because on the harbor that's a public way. So, but these panels are not on on the slanted roof. They're on the flat roofs on either side and I guess they can angle them probably five or 10 degrees. you're still not going to see them because the
roofs are flat. So, it worked out. But in the all the time that I've been associated with the HDC, um we've only approved one solar panel and it was back over behind chapel or >> you know in the houses that that are that are over here and it was really
totally out of sight. So, um they did approve those solar panels and that's a novel uh novel approval I think. And uh other than that, Council on Aging the Seniors, still questions about the
docks, how that's coming. Um there was an ad in a cricket on Kada. I don't know if you saw that this this past uh week, so that's happening. And I'll be >> taking our ride with Kada. In fact, you're a candidate. >> Some of us got got mailings from too. >> Oh, okay.
>> No, I got >> Oh, good. Great. >> I didn't. >> Well, that's because you're a child. That's the good news. >> There you go. >> Well, then I have to check my mailbox along with my excise tax.
>> All right. So, that's it for me. >> Yeah. >> Uh planning board um had discussion about proposed changes um bizaring in the downtown or making a downtown district. Um, without getting too crazy
into this, it's mostly based around kind of limiting uh commercial changing into residential, I would say, is the bulk of the whole um proposed zoning changes.
Um, mostly two families, three families, four families, things of that nature. Um, Eli asked them about town meeting and said they'd have to be pretty much
ready by big decision by early September. And I don't know if they'll be ready with this or not. So, I would kind of think not, but guess we'll see what happens.
Um there was a little talk about uh changing not really even a change just driveways uh permitting and that was pretty much just land clean up language and >> this the two entrance or >> well some of it was um more about access
for um emergency vehicles and uh stuff like that. And then uh >> wasn't uh >> grandfathering in existing driveways and things of that nature.
>> Jake had mentioned that they were going through and checking entrances to as part of their uh approach to the uh >> yeah the >> community firefighting. I guess it was checking. >> Yeah. So I think they're trying to make
the sound reflect the parts. Yeah. And uh yeah, that's pretty much all about it. >> The pox wreck uh beach is winding down. They're now struggling. The bill gets through it as Kisley as a staff goes off
to college, but that's an annual event that Cheryl's used to be for. And uh Heather is starting to crank up now for after school programs. uh Tuesdays and Thursdays already sold out. >> They opened up in uh I think they opened
it up in 1 of July. They're already full and that's historic. There's always those two dates are historic fill up. Um as far as any other repents, the uh we should be seeing something about the
uh carnival soon. It's going to be a scaledback carnival. Many vendors because now mod notes are more concerned about just getting the econom that'll be a scaled back version but it
still be the same amount of uh apparatus there. So we still see the same kind of visitors >> out of town visitors. The tide boat race is coming up too. So that on your calendar >> October 12. >> October 12th. Okay. Uh, so I will be
reaching out to uh everyone as far as public safety goes, Chuck with the removable cardboard, uh, Jake and uh, and Todd. So, yeah, I'll keep >> knew W.
>> I don't know. I might borrow it. Was cold last year. Where you are? You got people looking at it's kind of like anything else. You open up your mouth and then you got to follow through with this
yourself in the corner. So that so that's that that yeah ZBA nothing going on this month. So there's nothing new in with the zoning board and I got it. >> Um bike and ped meets later this week.
So nothing there. uh downtown improvement doesn't meet again till September. Um we had our first facilities planning committee meeting on Friday. It was just kind of a get to know you meeting. Uh everyone went around and introduced themselves and um
we discussed um you know some some goals the committee. I think one of the things that uh we we pushed on a little bit is that some of the harbor projects like the harbor master um building or whatever uh was initially deemed out of scope. So I
think we kind of pushed on that a little bit. So I think we have some scope discussions we need to go through. Um there are some things we discussed which are really not part of the scope or should be part of the scope. So I think you know one of our outcomes we meet is going to get solid on what the scope needs to be and then um the the team is
uh Chuck and and Nate are going to take some folks on tour for like four places this Friday. The police station, fire station, Essex public safety building, and the DPW building. Did I miss any? >> I can't go on any of them. So Chuck's
going to give me a guided tour of DPW and I think maybe one other person on the committee can't make it this Friday as well. So, we'll try and coordinate um what we've missed, but um you know, other than that, I I think it's it's good. It's just we've got to get crisp on our scope. Um and then uh we're going
to push on some next steps. And I would say next steps as opposed to timeline. Lots more to come here. The school committee will not be meeting tomorrow. Um, their next meeting is on
September 2nd, which is the same time we're meeting. So, um, that's not going to be a good time to introduce you. >> Um, uh, I did make it to a, uh,
board health meeting. um um where they approved a preliminary septic plan for um the construction way out on some out on
Summer Street. >> It's it's an interesting little piece because there's a very strong cliff and the the the septic system is down here and the house is up here. Oh well. >> Well, no. >> You know what they say? rolls downhill.
>> It does. And it will. >> Um the um to Desmond Avenue. Um the hearing had been scheduled for the day after this meeting. Um they had already decided to postpone that for 30
days and made some conditions. Um, one of them was that the uh housing uh Yeah, right. Um yeah, Wendy um be allowed into the house and I gather she has been
um and there that that they have uh by the 28th, which is the next board of health meeting, that they have either uh a sign off by the plumbing inspector or um word from the uh from a plumber with
a contract contract saying what the scope of work is and how how he's going to approach how it's going to be approached. Um and at that point the 30 days will be very nearly over um or they will decide whether to extend
for another 30 days or just um go ahead with right receiverhip. Yeah. Sorry. And That's that. Nothing else that I'm looking at
means until later. Okay. Um, we have the I think that's the leazison updates. Um, we have um the consent agenda. I have a couple a few nits um on
the consent agenda and I don't know Yeah, I mean most of it is not very interesting. Um in the August 4th I don't think that he
John mentioned that residents had requested handicap parking at West Beach. >> Yes, they did. I had a chat with um uh Chuck or I guess it was Nate this afternoon about the feasibility of doing something like that. That didn't make
too much sense because basically if you put up a sign that says this is handicapped parking, the whole space in its surrounding has to meet certain criteria and you're on a beach. >> Yeah. Right. >> Sand and everything else. And this was somebody that had come up come by during
the the festival and she said practically speaking it does not make sense. I guess there was one instance where all the cars were blocked the areas, you know, they're all rocks except for two different areas that you could uh gain access and both of those were blocked by cars. So, somebody I
think in a wheelchair could not really get on the beach, but it's a rare situation. So, I think it's going to take a pass on that. >> But you're just talking the the actual residents have requested handicap parking at West Beach. >> Does it say West or does it say >> West Beach?
>> Oh, it's that's what you're talking about. >> It's white beach. >> It's white. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um >> W here, W there, >> just because it's one of my hot buttons. Um the scoreboard is at the Brook Street
Field or the Coach Edfield field. Um >> Coach Edfield was my home room teacher. >> He was mine, too. So he was spanned a couple long time. Um, and I I was
>> Did you class together school again? >> Oh, God. No, >> that was >> I probably went with your mother. >> Um, no. Um, >> the only other Well, I have a comment on the Boston Post Cane. >> Okay. Well, when >> are we in consent agenda items?
>> Consent agenda items. I'm still >> going down your to-do list. always going down my to-do list. Um, the transfers, and I've forgotten where they are. Um, it would be nice if when they're documenting transfers, it's
where it came from and as well as where it went to. Um, the other materials are available, but somebody was just going to figure out what's going on. It'd be easier if they um
if if the in and out were both were both hand and I'm prepared to approve the the minutes subject to those corrections. >> Make a I move the select board approve the consent agenda items as listed.
Well, with um with changes, I guess. >> Yeah, I'm going to second that one. >> Just second. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Answer is yes. >> You pay it for
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yeah. There is a date for that. >> Okay. Good. August 27th, 1 p.m. >> 20 something Ben Street. >> Let's see. >> Okay, >> let me see. I think I wrote that down
here. Something. Uh 29 Bennett Street across the street from Todd Fitzgerald. In fact, Todd's going to be there because it's his neighbor. >> Carolyn Anderson is 99 years old and apparently very witness. >> A long time. So, join.
So, if you guys can make it, >> great. >> What time is that? >> 1:00 on August 27th. Wednesdays. >> That's nap time. I'll be supervising be supervising nap time. 20 29 >> August 27th
>> at at 29. Bennett >> at 29. Okay. >> There's an award I'll never get. That's for sure. So past awardies past few years it's been they managed to do two years in a row
>> and in fact I was speaking with Debbie she they they award the cane in Rockport they call it the death can >> because I'm a little >> morbid but >> these are >> Yeah if you win it once and you still want to do it again >> more power to you
>> oh some new someone old can move into town, right? >> That's true. >> Yeah, she does. >> So, anyway, um Caroline, I look forward to meeting her and as many of you as can make it should look forward to that, too. In the middle of my day, >> yes, thank you. Uh the state approved
our MBTA 3A zoning um last week, I believe. uh we were notified. So even though it's been a while, um it did get approved and I think it's worth, you know, repeating the I'm sure the many um accolades or uh
that have been provided to those who worked on it, but I know that's a that was a uh a big task for our town and many towns and the planning board and um select board and members of the town meeting and anyone else who worked on
that. Um that was a that was a big lift and you know having it approved was kind of the >> is it >> last step in the process >> that that the attorney general had to approve things. This is the EOHLC. >> This one had to yeah this one uh the
attorney general's office and EOHLC worked closely together on on proving you know the every every town had very different approaches. So making sure that it was compliant with state law and ours is so
that's good. >> So there are no more hurdles. >> No more hurdles >> for that one. >> Um on Thursday we have our uh workshop meeting uh at 5:30. Uh I talked with
John a little bit about >> I thought it was 6. It's 5:30. Uh, we did 5:30 because that's how you had it scheduled. LA the last time you did um since I had it. >> You guys have fun. I'm right away next week. So, >> no, this coming Thursday.
>> This coming Thursday. >> Yes. >> Thought I was getting out. >> You almost got out of it. Um, so >> be like me and show up late anyway because you thought it was >> Yeah, he shows us up at 7. >> I thought it was later. So, it's I want to make sure it's 5:30. I'll put that on the calendar. >> 5:30. And uh
>> here right room seven or room >> room seven. Uh we pulled up the uh PowerPoint that Greg had put together for the last uh the last time you guys met and it it looked to you know goals,
priorities. We've talked in this setting about um transfer of responsibilities and things of that nature. So, um, if you have anything you want me to include in that, uh, agenda or PowerPoint, send
it over ahead of time and I'll or we can just go through it at the meeting. >> You have Re's presentation from last year. Can you see that? >> I So, I Yes, >> but just a link to >> I have a scanned version of it that I scanned today. I haven't found the
electronic version of it yet. >> Okay. Yeah, because our email gets deleted every 30 days and I didn't see >> Yeah. Um the Republic strike is ongoing. Uh we've we've tried to work with them on getting
recycling back here. Uh they weren't able to do it this week. We we will continue to meet uh with them and talk to them daily about, you know, need for them to uh need to get their uh services
up to speed. uh we haven't received a bill yet uh for the month of July. I've heard of other communities that have received a bill and that it was adjusted for the services that they actually provided, which is a good sign. I'm happy to hear that. Certainly, if we got
a full bill, we'd be adjusting it ourselves. >> Um >> are we tracking what we're spending? >> Yes. >> Extra. So, we're tracking that separately, right? >> Yes. We're not we're tracking where they are falling short and any additional costs that we're taking on
>> DPW guys. >> Yes. >> What what does the contract say about their responsibilities? >> So our our contract has a forced majour uh section in it that actually protects
republic >> uh from damages due to a strike. Uh but there are um fees that we can impose for missed services and things of that nature. Uh what we've
what we have done with the 13 other communities is have sent a letter to Republic and in conversation with them that uh we don't plan on you know paying them the full rate because of the cause
of the strike. Um, we'll see how that works out later on and how Republic will respond to that. Uh, because legally the contract, um, you know, does provide them some protection, but our council along with many of these other towns
are, you know, gearing up for that conversation. >> When is their contract over? >> The end of this fiscal year. >> Are there alternative alternatives? Yeah. Um
the one of the big topics we'll talk we're going to talk about this Thursday night. >> Um is getting ourselves prepared for that uh contract being up and potentially going out to bid or renewing
with Republic. The procurement law doesn't require that we bid out uh waste services. So we um it is our choice. Uh however, automated collection, uniform barrels and automated collection is what will
drive competition through a procurement process. And so in order to if we want to, you know, put the the most attractive procurement on the table, we have some work to do on our end to think about that. Uh there are we've been
looking at D grants uh related to uniform barrels, but there's a lot of you know public process with that. It's a big it would be a big change for our town. >> Um >> and there are people who can't handle above. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. There's there's a few different ways we can go with the sizes of those barrels and um options that we can give the residents how that would change the bag situation that we currently use. Um,
again, I think there's a there's a there's a large uh upfront public process that we can do to get some input from residents ahead of time, uh, versus just dropping off, you know, barrels at the front step, uh, saying, "Hey, this is all changed."
>> That also dubtales into, you know, a waste um, enterprise account potential. you know, we could look at that as an as a as a piece of that conversation. So, um, we expect that
even without this strike, the contract would increase significantly because the current contract was a holdover from the JRM contract. So, we were already really enjoying a a good rate through that
contract, >> which was inevitably going to go up. Now with the strike, it probably I'm sure uh will be even more of a cost impact, but there's a lot of environmental benefits to having uniform barrels. Um you know,
from keeping things from littering all over town every time we have curbside collection. >> Uh and then having the transfer station is I mean what what we have in Manchester is really a a premium >> offer. Most towns either have one or the
other. So, um, that's definitely going to be a big topic for the upcoming year >> and and and we can talk about it at length >> in two three days. >> Yes. >> Great. >> Um, we had a uh
MBTA uh municipal coordination meeting uh last week or the week before. Uh I have I'm going to be scheduling a follow-up meeting with them. Really, this was to talk about preparing for the winter season. Uh, who's maintaining the bus
stops? How are they maintaining them? Um, the train stations, more of a general, hey, let's get ready for snow season. How could they also are having issues with uh the um
the the crossings and salt building up in the in where where our road crossings are uh in every town. And so coming up with maybe a different way of how to approach those areas and coordinating that with the DPW. But I did ask them if
we could do a one-on-one meeting here in Manchester to talk a little bit more specific about some of the issues that you brought up at our last select board meeting. So, we're getting that >> thing too I learned in the meantime was um it appears I have I let's put it this
way. I have found no evidence that the 70 whatever parking spaces that are MBTA spaces are being managed. >> Right. So given our dire need of parking in the downtown, it's a waste to just
let them whoever wants to park there can park there for as long as they want. They appear to be completely unmanaged. >> Yeah. I don't think they really ever have. >> Right. And that's a lost opportunity when we're talking about, you know, and today I went I just tried to go to
Duncan at 9:00. Boy, you couldn't find parking anywhere for anything. And and so it's just I I think that has to be a subject of um what we might want to take a look at. Uh you talked next week, I
mean, sorry, Thursday night. What are some subjects? Again, parking, you know, um the the um the boat placards we have here for the non-residents. I got to tell you, they go unused
more often than they are full. And so is that something do we want to manage that capacity a little differently maybe during the high months instead of allocating them to voters for a full you know all of those spaces for an entire season or do we
want to do it on the weekends or the you know so I just think we the the feedback we got from the last two parking studies is that we have plenty of parking spaces but we don't manage them and everything I am learning in the past you know month
or two. I I agree with that. We have a lot of white lines that are not being managed. So, it's an opportunity. >> I do see the placards are empty all the time. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I do see >> that's along the fence. >> Yeah. >> And and just because residently parking
is managed from May 1 to October, that doesn't mean those placards, you know, need to be valid for that entire voting season. We could limit it to July and August or something and the rest of the year. those disciplines can use their blackards to put all the spaces in the
same pool, >> you know, though I think there's options there. We we we could really do a lot to free up parking if we, >> you know, come up with >> Yeah, maybe like Yeah, that's probably a good idea. Don't designate certain spots. Just let them wherever they find
a spot, that's what you get. Yeah. >> Yeah. Well, specifically to MBTA, I got the sense that they are looking for partners. >> Yeah. >> In the municipalities y >> on management. >> Y
>> and so I think like you it's an opportunity there that we could, >> you know, help them and get a little something, you know, >> get some help from ourselves on what are we going to do about those train tracks that are going to be underwater in the not too distant future.
So, >> yeah. >> Um, we've also been keeping a close eye on Hurricane Aaron. Luckily, uh, it's it looks like it's going to be heading offshore. Uh, but it, as it was, uh,
over the last like week or so, um, you know, there was some moments there of, you know, which way is this track going to head? And, um, it's the first hurricane of the season. Um, and it it drastically increased from a tropical
storm to a hurricane 5 uh and picked up intensity. Is it >> I think I think it was downgraded to a four now. >> It's now downgraded. >> Oh, three. >> Oh, that's good. But for a moment there, it really picked up. Yeah. >> Are going to come. >> We're definitely going to see Yeah.
riptide and and but luckily it's >> six or seven foot ways >> Thursday, Thursday, midday, Friday. >> Do we have lifeguards? >> Yeah, until the uh >> you may want. Yeah,
>> we can close off the whatever. But yeah, >> long as Yeah, I think I think it's fully staffed. Both the bath house and bike guards and whatever. The red flag up now. Yep. Um, I had a uh introductionary an
introduction meeting with the sustainability committee. Um, I've been working on the COA director job description. I'm hoping to meet with the COA board to get their input. I've talked with um
uh Brendan over in Essex 2 about some supplementary um services that we could find in the meantime. The with this, you know, with this one, it's uh it's not as simple as just taking the old job description and reposting it because of the future of
the Council on Aging with the new senior center. So, we want to make sure that the job description is, you know, preparing us for the future. So, I it's um we're trying to get input from the friends, from the board, uh from neighboring communities that have senior
center and really make sure that we advertise it correctly. >> Um we had a library uh site visit last week too to talk about the grounds at the library. Uh so with Chuck and Nate and some of the friends. Uh so we're
working on some uh needs there after the generator was installed and some irrigation repairs and just general ground maintenance. Um meet with Colonial Power this week on
the municipal aggregation. Um that has been approved by the state. So now we're going to really get into the roll out. um process. And then uh early next week, uh I'm going over to Essex on Monday or
Tuesday. Uh Monday, uh Congressman Molton is coming to do a uh an event uh with the regional emergency management team to talk about, you know, federal funding and things of that nature. So, I'll be I'll be going over there on
Monday, too, to to be make sure that we're present at the at the event. Um, that's all I have. >> Do I have a motion? >> Motion to second.
>> All in favor? I >> Thank you very much.