for the order. Um, Jeff Delaney. >> Yes. >> Policy. >> Yes. >> Kathy, >> I'm here. >> And >> and John is here. >> And John is here. >> Um, there is there any public comment on non-aggenda items?
>> We're being recorded. >> Ah, we're being recorded. Yes. Thank you. >> You just moved into the second spot. Hear me, Mr. Chair. >> No, thanks. >> Um, hearing none. And does anybody see? >> I ordinarily when somebody putes puts a
hand up, it shows up on the screen. So I will assume that there is no public comment um that have no chairman's report other than this is a multiol um
actions action and um action items. Are there any comments or anything that we make on the action items? I I updated the target dates with Debbie after our last meeting.
>> Um, and I had I had a uh I met with Sarah Kton today about the Harvard management plan. >> That might March 2nd might be a little early. There's still some some work to do before bringing it in front of the uh
select board, but other than that, I think these dates are are good unless unless there's any comments from the board. >> Just a question on the Ocean Street one. Um based on what we know, deliberation
in June sounds about right. Um, have we sent a communication out to the residents yet to let them know we finished data collection or >> I was going to wait until after we meet with the engineering firm which is uh today's Tuesday. I think we're meeting with them tomorrow.
>> Okay. >> So, it'll go out by the end of this week. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> We get a copy of that. I hope >> of the of the communication >> of the engineering report. >> Yeah. I don't know if if we actually have like a full report yet. They've
what they've basically done is they've um they've collected data. They had tie gauges out there. They've done a lot of topo analysis and things of that nature. Uh so we're kind of having a regroup to talk about what's the next step in their process and when we have our public
meeting. >> Okay, >> which is likely going to be that first week in June. Okay. >> Uh so whatever I get from them, I'll be happy to share and then we'll we'll send some sort of communication out to the neighborhood by the end of the week to let them know that we're planning on that first week in June for a public
meeting. >> Awesome. If you could just copy us on that too, that would be awesome. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Okay, the first item on our agenda is to open the annual town meeting warrant
and that's you. >> Okay. I move that the select board open the annual town meeting warrant. >> Second of Jeff. >> Yes. Ryan, >> yes. >> Kathy, >> yes. >> Answers, yes. >> John, yes.
Okay. Um, we have articles from the Authority. We need to um address that. >> Yes. So, we have five five articles uh from the planning board and four of them
are zoning articles. I see Chris only's here from the planning board. We could probably speak to a couple of them. We've talked with the planning board about those four zoning articles which is um downtown zoning, senior housing,
uh ins and update to ADU bylaw. And so as zoning articles require a unique process with the planning board where articles are sent to the planning board for them to conduct a public hearing which they'll be doing on March
9th at 7:00 p.m. and then they put together a recommendation that they'll get to us prior to the end of March so we can include it in the uh in the report from the finance committee in the book that goes out to all the residents. Sarah.
>> Yeah. Are you on NV on number one because I can't get in? >> Um, we are on we are on two I believe. >> Something's slowing up. >> Yeah, we're on two.
>> I'm just gonna reclaim host then. >> Okay. Yep. Someone else go in the other room. >> All right. So, do you want want to hear? >> Yes. I'd like I think you'd like to hear from the planning board of >> Well, okay. Do you want to go through
each one of the articles >> in large? Not not in Sure. So, um, first off is the, um, downtown zoning bylaw, and that proposal is to, uh, basically
to change the zoning to reflect what's actually in the downtown instead of what's in the G district, which is what currently encompasses all the downtown. Uh and one of the big things we're trying to do is to allow
um residential uses by right above commercial uses. So mixed use >> uh currently that requires uh special permits and variances to accomplish and uh causes a great deal of trouble. The
other thing we do we're doing is prohibiting single family houses in the downtown. they take up a lot of space and don't provide uh much benefit to the downtown. We're trying to support the commercial and retail uses in the
downtown and um single family houses don't do that very well. So that's the gist of the of the think I'd like to let people ask questions after you go over each one. >> Are there questions on the two downtown
districts? I guess just in in general, are we looking for comments and questions now or will that really be handled at the March 7th event? >> You can ask them now. They can be March 7th might be a little more efficient, I
suppose, but uh we're always uh anxious to get comments from everybody. Frankly, we've had a couple of public forums on the downtown zoning and we've gotten very little negative, in fact, no negative comments at all. I think it uh
I think people generally like the idea of a vibrant downtown and allowing commercial commercial underneath of residential above accomplishes that very well. Um >> and the next is
>> next is senior housing. So, uh, senior housing, we're one of the few towns anywhere that doesn't allow or doesn't have any provisions for senior housing. Um, I've been trying to get this onto the books for a long time. It's been very frustrating. We've had all kinds of
technical reasons why we've been unable to do even present a plan to the town meeting. Uh in this iteration of it, we're allowing senior housing with a special permit in any district and with a density of no more than 10 units per
acre and a maximum unit size of 80, I'm sorry, 60 units. Uh there are some changes in the in the districts. The D district and the G district would allow housing on a
halfacre lot on the other districts on a full acre lot. So that would mean that in the G and E districts it' be essentially a five unit maximum
uh on a minimum lot size and in the other districts a 10 acre project could be done on a minimum lot size. Obviously if there was a 1 acre lot in the G district then you could put 10 units on it. In addition, we're
requiring that uh for every five units, one be affordable. That's similar to what's in the MBTA district. And uh that there could be some leeway for additional affordable units, one or two extra units if they were
affordable. Uh and finally, there'll be a local preference uh for town residents, their their relatives and town employees to their preference in living in these
properties when they get developed. >> You've used units in two different senses. I think you said 10 units on an acre and 60 >> 60 be maximum. So if you had six acres,
I could have 60 units. >> If you had 10 acres, you could still only have 60 units. >> So each Okay. So there's no description of height or >> they would follow the same height and setback and block coverage requirements
as for the district underneath. >> Okay. Um The next is ins I just have one question on this and it goes to that that question that I had asked I guess at the forum. >> Sure. >> So are you going to have in the March 7th uh meeting kind of some sort of a
handout that says this is how many lots actually meet the requirements. Oh, you got in your hand. >> So Sandy Bodmer Turner, God bless her. >> Okay. actually took the MBTA data for the whole town and put together a schedule for how many lots in each district are larger than one acre larger
and between 1/2 and 1 acre. So townwide there are 689 lots bigger than an acre and uh between 1/2 acre and 1 acre there are 499 lots. Uh there are obviously fewer of these in
the D and G districts. Um uh and quite a few in the E district, as you would expect. And we think the E district might be a great location for conversion of uh one of these mansions,
one of these big estates. To turn those into a senior housing property would be a great way to save a historic structure that couldn't otherwise be used. So, I don't know how many lots are in town. I know that there are 2,200 living units, just ballpark. I mean, this is
half of them, something like that. >> Yeah. Of course, there's no way of knowing how many of these lots are actually >> Well, yeah. >> suitable. That's be for a developer to think of it. >> Good info. >> Okay. On to ends. So ins is pretty
straightforward. We're uh allowing the special permit an in of no more than 12 units in the G and uh downtown districts and also in the LCD.
The last in we had was I think in the E district. But you know, is the old quarter in in I guess it is. >> It is. >> Yeah. >> Well, it's too bad that we don't have any of them now in town and it's hurting
our commercial businesses because people stay in Rockport or Beverly or someplace else. >> Okay. And and the ADUs >> and the ADUs is very simple. was a very
straightforward one. In the D district, when we uh approved the ADU bylaw, the previous bylaw, we said, well, the D district allows two family houses by right, so why would you
possibly need an ADU? But in fact, an ADU is different from the second unit of two family house. We had an instance of a family who wanted the ADU uh but it would couldn't be approved because they
weren't allowed into the D district. So, we're just cleaning that up. >> Any other questions or um for a motion? >> Yes. Move the select board accept and submit all four zoning articles to the
planning board for a public hearing. >> Second. Second. >> John. >> Yes. >> Says yes. Kathy. >> Yes. Brian. >> Yes. And >> yes. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Okay.
The next item is um the FY27 operating cash budget and CBC. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, the the first I'd like to just start to say that
we're on we're on schedule. Um the finance committee is moving right along. As you just saw, the planning board is sticking to uh citizens um citizens petition. Well, all articles are required to be submitted uh 60 days
prior to town meeting, which is Friday, February 27th. So, we opened the warrant tonight, added uh inserted some articles from the planning board. Um, and citizen petitions have to be submitted by the end of the month to be included. Um,
we ask that if there are any citizen petitions out there that they connect with Eli, uh, our moderator, and and bring them in as soon as you can. Uh once you get signatures on a citizen's petition and submit that to the town, we
can't make any edits to the text. So if there's any legal issue, um it's it's almost too late. So if there's anyone thinking about doing citizen petition, you bring it in, we'll take a look at it, make sure it's written correctly, and then uh go get signatures uh or
offer it to the select board to take it up >> um on your own. Um the finance committee has met every Thursday since uh since the beginning of January. We've gone we've gone through almost every single uh operational
budget that's been on uh their agenda. We have to we did have to um skip on veteran services and town administrator select board just because of timing. We I think we'll get back to those this week. Um what's left is
assessor, inspectional services, benefits, pension, uh insurance, and school. Um school is should be uh presenting to the finance committee not this Thursday, but the
following Thursday on the on the 26th. Uh after that we'll be getting into um reserve fund capital debt service postemployment but uh benefits and any other budget edits that come in over the
next few weeks. So I'm very pleased with where we are in the process so far with the finance committee and the planning board. Um, we seem to be on track to have a book to the printer by the end of March with everything included in it.
Uh, so there's less we're trying to have less handouts, you know, at town meeting. Um, for I I handed out this pack to you all. This first page is just the updated
print out of uh of expenditures. So, as you can see, the uh recommended budget um is is balanced. In fact, there's an additional $26,465
there that we have yet to uh >> yeah, allocate or recommend an appropriation for. We're still waiting on final numbers from uh ins health insurance although we've gotten an indication that that number has gone uh
is more likely to be around a 15% increases versus our original was a 20% increase. Uh we've gotten we've received an updated budget from the school that reduced uh their from their first number
significantly. So we're fully funded at the at the school's current number. This also includes um full funding of OPED. So we wouldn't have to uh we we could start drawing down on the trust starting next year. So that would put us a year ahead of the
original schedule. >> We're going to make it this year's payment plus next year's payment. >> Correct. >> Which is not uh this year's payment was around 360. 420 would have included. You know, it's
not it's not 360 and 360. Yeah. >> Um, >> will that raise up about $700,000? >> Yeah, it's still kind of I'm a little uh unsure on that number to understand how,
you know, how the interest works into what we can draw down on the trust, what we still owe on an annual amount, you know. >> Yeah. But it but it's a significant difference and helps us significantly going into next year. >> Uh the other the big the other big like
outstanding number here is what is our curbside collection contract going to cost us? We're work we're putting pressure on Republic to get us an updated number daily. Uh we're also um you know starting to reach out to some other companies uh because we're not
really getting um the answer as fast as we want. We've been told we will have a number from them uh an actual budget number um by the end of last week. We didn't get it. So we're just continuing to put the pressure on Republic to get us an
updated number. That's a big outstanding >> um variable. But as far as operating budget, uh we're in we're in pretty good shape right now where we are. Um as I said, we haven't talked about
capital yet or or we haven't we've talked about capital, but the uh finance committee hasn't made any formal recommendation on capital items. Uh that's the second page. It says 78 in the bottom corner of the packet I gave
you. One of the big um one of the big items under the capital is the uh retunda restoration. So we went back and forth a lot about whether we fund the retunda restoration through
CPC or whether we fund that um on our own. the the finance committee and the CPC uh felt pretty strongly that they prefer that we don't fund the project through CPC but they are they they are willing
to provide an additional 250,000 potentially go up to 350,000 uh this current year towards the cost of the project and then we would have to borrow the remaining amount.
uh we did an analysis to see what the tax bill impact was on that borrowing and also what the CPC impact was for that borrow if we had gone through CPC and there was concerns about you know the debt service long-term debt service
through CPC handcuffing their budget in future years to do other large capital projects. So I have updated our application to the CPC to make a request for 350,000 this year and then as part
of our capital proposal um borrowing the remaining amount through the town >> is going forward then the CPC would not be contributing any money to that project >> once so there's a yeah CPC can't
contribute funds for town debt service. If so, depending on how the project timeline works and when we actually borrow for the total cost of the project,
uh maybe they could contribute additional funds next fiscal year, but if we borrow before that, then they wouldn't be able to. >> Okay. Um obviously uh PAS is another very uh
you know one of the bigger capital improvement projects proposed for this upcoming year. Um even that that uh the most recent updated number is around $16.5 million
that is out on the street and the the procurement. We're hoping to get results about a a week to 10 days prior to town meeting. So if there's any, you know, substantial increase in the cost of the project, we can quickly make that
adjustment and be prepared to go to town meeting to ask for the for the for the borrowing amount. >> Um, we may be able to go through the SRF program through the state for that project. We're waiting to for the uh DP's
um IEP to get published to see if our project is included and then we'll do an analysis to determine whether that makes more sense for us to go through that program or to borrow on our own. Um they do offer long-term lowinterest loans.
Sometimes they include debt forgiveness. um how that law low interest compares to our own and our bond rating >> we're unsure of yet and but there are requirements through the SRS SRF program
that could lead to increased costs on the total project. So that's what we need to do is do that evaluation and actually um DPW is working with the um consultant to structure the bid documents that we get
a base bid uh of nonsrf program project and then alternative bid for if we did go through SRF and you had to meet all these requirements then what would your projected cost be? So this could be an easy way for us to do that evaluation.
Uh, Central Street Culvert is uh is is on here for $5 million. The thing about the Central Street Culvert project is that uh while we'd be asking for the authority to borrow, we might not actually borrow the funds because we currently have brick funding
that uh is in litigation for extension. if uh and that's a na national litigation amongst uh attorney generals from a number of different states. If that fails, we're also uh applying
for state funds through the MVP uh action grant for $5 million. And hopefully we know by July uh if we end up getting those >> if we end up getting that grant. Um,
and then we'll have some time. >> So, so we authorize the borrowing, the title votes to accept the to bond. We don't bond and and we hope that money comes in and we don't have to. >> Yeah. I think to that point, uh, the
Chuck and Native both said they can't go out to bid until they know that the, uh, the funding is in place, >> right? >> So, this allows to stop the process going, right? >> Yeah. So the construction construction schedule for at Thalber is basically
Labor Day to so early September to March in order to in order to execute the project in that construction window. We really need to know by April to put all to, you know,
to be able to go out to bid, have, you know, a a contractor under contract, mobilize, and get that project done on on a on that schedule. So, there's pressure to get the project done as soon as possible because there's always a
risk of of issues with the culvert. um you know structural failure or even just you know DOT coming in and saying this is structurally unsound, you can't drive on it. You know those are issues that we've
seen in other communities. So we don't want to take too long. So >> but we don't want to jump the gun too early. >> We don't want to jump the gun too long too early either. So I think that if if
this gets approved in April and then in May at May's you know election it's approved at the ballot we would then be trying to see if what happens with brick see what happens with MVP and probably
make a decision you know early next calendar year for next winter. it'd probably be too late anyways for us to do something for this upcoming winter. >> Um, we don't have permits in hand yet either. It's still going through that
chapter 91 process. So, um, >> well, it gives you a year to figure out where you're going to be basically. >> Right. >> Right. But if we were, you know, we talked about do we potentially not ask for the authority to borrow the 5 million at the
upcoming town meeting and wait until next year. But then if brick and MVP don't work out, that could jeopardize not, you know, winter 26, but it could jeopardize our ability to get the project done winter 27. And
now we're looking at winter 28. So, we're trying to >> be in a position to get this project done at the latest next, >> right? >> Now, it could be assuming we have, and that's an assumption, if there's a there's a town meeting in November,
>> it could be on that on that warrant, >> correct? That timing is okay. >> No, no, I think he's saying we put on the April one. >> That's correct. He wants to put on there and I'm fine with that. >> Yeah. >> About But you haven't had the capital discussion yet. >> Yeah. In theory, I guess you could wait
until November to ask. >> Okay. >> Or if it fails, you could ask again. >> Yes. Right. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But I think um the message that, you know, it's important that we explain to residents that we're asking for the
authority, but we are not going to utilize that authority until we feel we absolutely need to. Our hope is that we're able to utilize the grant funds from the federal government or hopefully we get state funding to replace that. >> So,
how are we going to explain this? >> I guess >> kind of like Yeah. Thanks, Sergeant. >> Uh, in after once all the articles are finalized and all of our numbers are finalized and the book goes to the printer at the end of March,
>> I'll be hosting uhformational sessions to go through >> leading up to town meeting to go through the articles and provide that. >> Tiffany will will videotape them of >> we'll probably do them hybrid, I assume.
So >> they were recorded and they could go on. >> Yeah. Yeah. And um we're also utilizing all other, you know, the Cricut articles, Manchester, the website, you know, trying to get as much >> Yes. >> prepare people as best as pos possible
leading into town meetings. >> So I have a question. So if we end up bonding the past ourselves, we have to bond the covert and then whatever ptox down the road as this all adds up. Is
this going to start affecting our bond rating? >> Uh it shouldn't because your you know your reserves uh what you you know OPE would be fully paid off. All of these would be most of
these or all of them are are voted on by debt exclusion. So there's a funding source attached to the debt service. So that shouldn't >> should if we were borrowing them without debt exclusion. It could
>> because now it's your operational budget, your general fund paying that debt service. So that could be an issue. But where these are essentially debt exclusions, it shouldn't. Okay. So that column under borrowing, that's kind of where the thinking is right now.
Those four projects plus TUX. >> Doing the math, it's about 30 or so. A little short of that. >> Yeah. If you flip after the capital table, the next document, which is a spreadsheet, is uh
top left that says capital financing through borrowing. So your proposed authorizations PAS is 16.5 for a 30-year term. Ratunda is two, Central Street Culver is five, dredging
is 1.9, Tapen is Tap Street's 4.1 and then if you go to the next page, it gives you a tax bill impact for a $1 million home, a $2 million
home, and a $2.65 million household. um what each of those dollar amounts uh what the tax bill impact is for each one of those >> assuming a borrowing schedule that you you made an assumption about >> a 30-year
>> when you're going to use the money. >> So for instance the PAS 16.5 on a 30-year term uh for a $1 million household it's a $42 tax bill impact and then you can see that as you go
down. Yes. >> Try to kind of layer them together. >> Really helpful to have each item itemized like that so that way a homeowner can say, "Okay, so if I vote for this, this is this is my >> what I haven't seen, and maybe I'm missing it because there's so many
numbers. Is there a bottom line? Here's the here's here's the current year's um tax bill for a $1 million $2 million household. Um the operational budget adds this much to your tax bill just on a one pager and each project as you've
got broken down here so that they can see the total impact potential impact to their tax bill >> um with everything including the operational budget. >> Yeah, we we definitely have it's not included here but we >> I think that'd be a good communication tool. Yeah,
>> because once they see the big number, they'll either say, "Okay." And they won't dig into the details or they're going to say, "Whoa, >> maybe not." And then start digging into the details. So, I think it's you start from the top down. >> Okay. >> It's good. It's very helpful.
>> Uh the the next page was this. This was just I included to show you this in case we you wanted to talk about CPA, but this was the analysis we did on what the if we had borrowed the ratunda project through CPC, what the uh impact to their
budget looked like. So, if we had done a $2.3 million borrowing uh at their existing 1.5% CPA rate on a 10-year bond, uh their available budget in fiscal year
27 after a $283,000 debt service payment was $280,440. So that you know with they're typically have around4 to $500,000 to allocate on an annual basis that would have been a
pretty significant impact to the CPC annual budget. So I think that played into some of the discussion and the decision that we made to just seek funds this year from CPC and then borrow on our own.
>> Think of a good compromise. >> Yeah. And then the last document stapled in here is just a very very preliminary draft warrant. As you can see, there's a lot of highlights here that need to be
updated. Um we have a lot of uh a lot of the language or articles are uh with KP law who's looking to provide us some language and um there'll be there'll be
additional articles added added here and I'm you know working closely with Eli too on how some of these articles might find themselves into a consent calendar to streamline the voting. But this just wanted to show you the
update of where we are. >> I think for your ne for the next meeting, we should be able to give you a a cleaner, more solid initial draft of the one. Will the MOR have the operating budget broken down as it has
been in the past with separate items for um treasurer, collector, accountant or will they be bundled into the slider? I think it's going to be similar to how it was last year where we
uh the motion speaks to the total in each category where someone can hold >> y >> um and then come back to it afterwards. >> But I don't you know it's not going to be um >> so you don't have a land use category
with everything underneath it. But >> correct. Right. >> As if they were still separate departments. >> Yeah. I think is I'm trying to be as I'm trying to keep it as consistent with what's been done in the past as possible. Okay.
>> Um, the one part I, you know, I got to find out more about is on the borrowing articles and how that how that is either included in the motion for say article six or if it's
separated out. >> We generally have separated out. >> Okay. Yeah. >> And I and if we if we utilize SRF or PAS, it would absolutely need to be separated out because that's unique
borrowing language. So, uh I'll get that worked out before our next meeting. Like I said, I just I would like to see that total just on a one pager impact of the tax bill was line items. Yeah. But it's it's really helpful to have it. So,
thank you and thanks to Andrea for putting that together. >> Yeah, >> that that list did not have the CPC the uh rotunda on it. I don't think the list in here because you you weren't settled on how that's going to fit together. >> It in the I think it is there.
>> One, two, three, four, five. Which one is >> 15 number 10? >> So you got five listed here. >> There might be on the next page.
>> Oh, it's run over. >> Yeah, Ratunda Central Street. Oh, no. They're all five right there. Y Okay. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. All right. That's my
270. >> Do you have the update on the tax bill for the operational budget as proposed right now? >> I don't have it with me. No. Right. I've seen it. Andrew was working on it. >> Okay. >> Um and I didn't have it. >> We need to see that the next meeting.
>> Yep. >> And is so is a select board uh comfortable with that approach on the rotunda? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And I think it I think especially be important, you know, at least at a minimum to be, you know, in in line with
where the finance committee and the CPC are. And both of them seem to be pretty pretty adamant that we uh just seek funds this this year and and borrow on our own. >> Is that a project that would then be scheduled because I think all the permits are mostly in place.
>> I think we're still waiting on >> Yeah, there's one there. But is is that is that a winter? >> Yeah, the the hope is that we have, you know, in April all the funding sources related to the four big harbor projects
are secured. So that's Ratunda, Morris Pier, Dredging, and >> Reed Park, >> Reed Park. And um and we have permitting for most of those projects. I think we're just on rotunda
and dredging. We're waiting on one more each. >> So the idea we would we that we could save a significant significant amount of time and money for the town by procuring all four of those projects together
and doing them at the same time under one contractor. >> Yeah. >> So that's the goal. >> Come and park himself in the harbor. >> Exactly. >> So that would not be this coming winter but the following winter. It could be this winter. >> Could be this winter. >> Could be.
Just depends. It could be two of the projects this winter, two of the projects the following. It kind of just depends on >> what permitting and and and funding. >> Okay. Um
the discuss next is discussion items and a request for recreational use of Rose Hill Cemetery extension for the high school winter track. Um please introduce yourself. >> Sure. Brian Davis uh for Sumac Lane. I'm
also the head track coach at Manchester High School. Um so the request is a very limited and supervised request. The Rosedale Cemetery Extension cage loop happens to be a perfect distance. Uh
it's 200 meters approximately. Uh and we do have um I I you have a one pager that I submitted, but I can go through some of the details, but the the key part is and obviously sensitive to the rules that govern the cemetery uh
and balancing out some of the needs here. We have a very small number of athletes. There's typically a group of five or six who once per week typically will do an interval workout. So an interval workout consists of let's say six loops of that extension with a one
minute rest in between each loop. Takes approximately 20 minutes typically for the workout. That's about as extensive as we run them. Uh and then they're done and they're off. Uh and the proposal is that you know we have these limited supervised uh interval loops that we are
able to do there. Um we're very resource constrained with respect to indoor track. We don't have an indoor track. We run the sprinters in the hallway but the distance and mid-distance runners these groups we need to do their interval work because there's no hallway that's 200
meters long and we can really get that in. So we will typically bring them outside to do it. Um, we have been I've looked at multiple um areas to do it around town. I think I've laid those out. Um, I've taken my uh my measurement
wheel and gone around many culde-sacs and many loops. Um, we have been using the upper parking lot of the school um which we've measured to about 200 meters. The issue there is it's uphill one section uh and there is traffic. You
know, I've had a police car. I've had uh some DPW moving a trailer, you know, we watch it carefully, but there is traffic there. It is it is uphill and so being that the cemetery loop is right there. It's a very convenient and good solution
to avoid that. It's an enclosed and safe area. So, I'm just looking to see if we can, you know, take advantage of the safest area that we could find for it. Um the key obviously is that you know this would be a limited school. This
would be very controlled. It has the uh the sort of controls over it of the athletic department and the school. Um and you know I'm I'm open to a trial period. I'm also you know understanding that given the schools involved that if there's an issue um then you know the
privilege goes away. But it's a very small period of time very much like a permit for use of some facility. And again it's something that um you know given the uh the resource limitations it would be very helpful for the team. It's
very close to the school uh winter track. It's cold as we all know this winter is very cold. We like to get the kids out there get them to do their interval and then get them back to the school and get them warm as soon as we can. So we avoid injuries and things like that. this keeps them also off the
street and so forth. That's the general um request. Um and I I thank Tony and I thank Chuck for helping me through this. Um sort of a quick informal request that has now become an agenda item, but I I hope that information was helpful and
I'm certainly willing to feel any questions. >> Uh so I I I saw your your appeal your your information. And it was very helpful because this has come up a couple of other times and we really didn't have any background. So I appreciate that. So you've got about a
dozen times that you're going to use it. 10 to a dozen or something. 10 to December. >> Yeah. Depending on the number of weeks. Oftentimes we won't have a week, but it'll be Yeah. However many weeks the uh the season is. So usually about four times in December and about four or five
times in January and the season ends in February. >> Right. Right. Oh, I understand. Uh given the amount of snow this year, would you be doing that? I happened to go down there and they plowed it. >> I did. I did see that. I went by it today and saw that it was plowed. Yes. >> And so I would you use it under
circumstances like this or really because it's a little tough. There is snow around and that's >> Yeah. So we that would be one of the situations where we would use it. You know, you meaning uh it is a plowed area. It is often plowed. It is often open. >> Slippery though. It's not It's not
perfectly plowed. Um, well, we certainly don't use So, I will say we don't go out in conditions when it's unsafe. And if it's unsafe there, it would typically be unsafe someplace else. But >> truly, we don't go out in conditions where it's unsafe. Often times, I have
to send the kids running around the halls at the high school, but the safety always comes first. So, if it is not a clear surface, we don't use it. >> Okay. >> Yeah. No, I know that the cemeteries are used by any of a number of people, including I taught my grandchildren to
ride a bicycle on the cemetery. It's a very convenient spot to do that. It was the other cemetery down by >> Pleasant Street. >> Pleasant Street, but uh nevertheless has a little road you can kind of work a little kid. The people are always walking there. I I see that. So,
>> okay. >> Well, I have family buried there. I personally don't have a problem with it, but is there a policy issue here? >> Yeah. So, the cemetery policy uh does not allow recreational use in the
cemetery. Uh but there is a section that says uh special cases may arise in which the literal enforcement of a rule may impose unnecessary hardship. The board of selectmen therefore reserve the right
without notice to make exceptions, suspensions or modifications in any of these rules and regulations when in their judgment such action appears necessary and such temporary exception, suspension or modification shall not affect the general application of the
rule. So I read that as if if the select board feels there's that the rule is imposing an unnecessary hardship, you have the authority to suspend temporarily suspend that rule.
So I guess that's the judgment that you're making. >> Is it a hardship? >> Is it a hardship? Yeah. Um like I said, I don't have a problem with it. I know there's some people out there that maybe do have a problem. Um,
I would be in favor of it on a temp some sort of temporary basis and take a look at it after a season or whatever and see how it goes. I guess uh I'll echo some of the things that uh
Jeff said that I've heard from people who have loved ones there and there is some concern there. Then I look forward to cons, you know, I'm I'm pleased to see the the limited times you plan on using
it. Okay. Uh so that's a plus. I just have to wait and I'm wrestling with this now. suspension of the rules for hardship for uh an indoor track team and uh the
feelings of the general population as the use of the cemetery beyond what was there was a reason why that policy was written. So I have to I'm still wrestling with that. Um, as a former track mom, um, every
other place where I've lived, the the track teams used the cemetery, but it was mostly long distance. So, it was the cross country, one mile, two mileers. My son was a 400. They didn't sprint in the cemetery. They were fortunate to have an indoor track, you know, etc. But I'm
unfamiliar with um the concept of the sprinters with a shorter distance um folks looping around the the cemetery like that. So >> it's not the same >> not. So So which events are we are you? We're talking the distance folks
typically 2 miles 4 miles 2 miles 800 >> 8,000 indoors thousand typically that 600 and I think maybe I didn't make it clear but the sprinters they do they're in the halls because >> that's their distances you know you're doing 50 m 20 m 30 40 um it's just like
you said those groups who you can't >> but not the 400s and those relays you're not going to be practicing relays >> no we don't don't practice relays we don't practice relays. Uh, and I'm certainly, as you can probably tell, I'm open to very limited restrictions. The
time period is very quick. You know, obviously very respectful of any kind of conflicts. Um, it is that small loop in that small section. Um, and you know, I'm open to up this didn't work that you know, we tried it. This didn't work. I
understand that. Um, we want to be very respectful about how it's approached. It's just a re it's it's it's you know it's I understand it's a tough situation. It's a perfect safe enclosed location, >> right? >> But also it's a cemetery. I understand that.
>> And and you know like like uh John said, you know, a lot of us taken our kids to cemeteries to teach them how to ride a bike. I learned how to drive a stick shift in a cemetery because they're they are used for because it was a safe enclosed environment. I wasn't going to hurt anybody and
>> run down any headstones. you're down. >> I was too far away. So, I'm very responsive. >> So, I am also inclined to um give it a try. Give it a shot. Yeah. >> You know, um with the You were very respectful of the boundaries, etc. I was
just worried about the sprinting and the handoff of the none of that's going to happen there. No, you know, we don't let the sprinters out of the building. >> There you go. >> They are. Um, could we make a motion to allow this for the 26 27th season only? Um,
just so we get the idea out. If it turns out that there's a huge upcry, we can res we send that in November. >> Um, well, it sounds like the season's over for this year. >> It would be for next year 26 27.
>> Okay. So, I move that we approve the temporary um utilization uh allowing the the track team to utilize the the U cemetery extension loop as outlined here on a temporary basis for the 2026 2027
indoor track season. >> Second. >> Further discussion. John, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Brian, >> yes. >> Yes. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much for your consideration. I appreciate your time.
>> Hope you have a good season next year. >> Have a great one this year. I hope you cricket. Terrific. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um the next is uh permit facilitation and
training for land use for Gary presented us with something. um you briefly >> what what are you actually asking for because you've given us a whole list of what people should and shouldn't do but
I'm not sure you want us to go through that item by it >> no no I have some points to make I'll avoid the specific examples Gary Gilbert 11 magnolia just as a reg um so um the statements asked cities
to expedite permitting and it seems that um we as a town should get involved in this effort. Um land use board members once they're appointed um they have no training but they have immediately really profound powers, judicial powers that have big effects. Um land use
decisions um have serious financial implications for people. They last for many decades, you could even say centuries. And bad ones can cost the town money as we've seen from time to time. uh and with with this judicial power I think there comes responsibility
not only for the board members u but also for the town because after all the applicants who come before these boards are completely powerless you know they're there typically with an engineer and an attorney a lot of times they spend money ahead of time just to get their applications in and then there's multiple meetings that can go on and on
and on and they're usually really mute to say or complain about anything unfortunately um the town uh uh I feel a number of us feel should provide some sort of guidance and training and help develop policies for how the boards could
operate or protocols. Um the citizens or applicants certainly would benefit because there'll be less time and less money involved in getting applications approved and better decisions. Um boards themselves could benefit by having less meetings, shorter
meetings and better decisions. And the town could benefit with just simply better governance in general. Um so as I discussed with Tony and an earlier um the idea here is to set up a study committee with a member of each of
the four land use boards with a couple of at uh at large members and I even have an attorney who's already volunteered to help provide some guidance as we we get some general discussions going. I think initially they would be sort of open discussions like how are we going to handle this
because there's many many examples which I'm happy to field questions and provide some specific examples as to why this is needed but um I think initially it'll be sort of an open-ended conversation and perhaps we'd invite people in town who who've um have experiences uh good or
bad with the boards to come and and and present them and we could see what we can get from that and maybe some of it can turn into policy and some of it can inform us if we do and training and find guidance to the board. So that's my basic proposition and I'm happy to field
questions. >> Question, have you uh chatted with the chairs of the various committees that are involved about this >> uh chairs? No, but some members in some different committees. I've already got a couple people that are interested in in I know there's a number of people in
town that are interested um uh to be on the ATL large members if there's any. And um uh no, I haven't gone to what's >> not for me to take that next step yet. >> Okay. All right. Just Yeah, just informally.
>> I I'm thinking of some people in a number of boards, but >> Okay. I don't I'm just trying to figure out how much time I got a ton of committees. >> Another committee. >> Yeah. >> And how much time is involved? What are you asking of the people of these? How
many who's involved here? The planning board, zoning board? and conservation commission. >> Those three, those are very important boards. >> Well, that's why you're doing this. >> Well, >> but I think we could flush out a we would have a general discussion. I think
within two to four meetings, um even after two meetings, we'd have more of a handle on this and have an idea where we're going because we would talk about, you know, specific examples will be very very helpful and and we talk about it and say, well, what can that turn into? and we make a list of points for if we
have train if the town wants to have some training sessions or guidance sessions or whatever you want to call them we could start to get something tangible in short relatively short term I believe >> is there a reason I'm sorry >> good Kathy >> um I was just going to suggest
so first of all it was a very comprehensive document thank you Gary I um I would summarize your document with one of my favorite phrases make it easy for people to do the thing. Okay. And
where I disagree is with the complete focus just on the boards and committees. Personally, I think the whole process to your point is very inefficient. I was wondering if we could focus on the process because personally I think town
employees, okay, so the the boards we all change, right? We get elected, we get appointed, we leave, whatever. It's the town employees who are truly responsible for shephering a resident through the process. I'm not clear what
the process is. I personally would start with that. Do we have a clear documented process for permitting? Is it well understood by everybody involved including the boards? Um, that's personally where I would
start. I've done a lot of process improvement stuff over the years and I'm not sure there's clarity there. >> Well, I think Susan that te's up this one, >> okay, >> which is uh and I've talked to Jared on
this and Tony and I have talked about this for a while now is needing an ombsman position. Okay. That would shepherd someone. We have to make this town user friendly. Yes, that's >> because I can tell you that
any developer who wants to invest in this town and ask a couple of questions is going to walk away. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. So if we can find and again someone who is wellversed in the whole process can then
this is what you have to do and they can bring the whole plan to that one individual as you point out and then they can telling these are the boards that you have to these are the permits you have to pull this is the boards you have to do and this is oh by the way uh the the steps you go before this board
before you go to that board right >> okay so >> I mean I was on the ZVA Right. >> And I don't know how many times we say, "Okay, pending approval by the comp pending this." So I think that I think that we're getting there, but I just wanted to just
>> Yeah. No, I agree. I think at some point a a single point of contact for a resident, right, to shepherd them through the process makes a ton of sense. Um I would propose that could be a temporary position because ultimately if you have a clear process
um you can enforce the process and accelerate the process through other means but other than just adding a body to it. So, I'm just suggesting we start with the process, see where the gaps are, and I love, you know, Gary's idea
of using some uh things that went well, some some approvals that went quickly versus some other approvals that didn't go so quickly, you know, using those use cases to kind of test out the process. But I would start with a process um so that people are um
not willing to spend their time on it but um uh you know I just don't want any I don't want to feel punitive right there were some statements in the document that felt a little um punitive for lack of a better phrase and I just
think it's the process when a process and a structure is not efficient everybody suffers and like to stop at that point. >> Could I say I think that's a little bit of a se a separate parallel process parallel thing. Okay, I don't disagree on woodsman someone to help shepherd
things through. Up till now generally the building inspector has been very helpful. They'll say, "Hey, you're I can see from your plot your lot. You're not anywhere near conservation. We will let them know you're applying for permit, but you're not going to have to deal with them. You have to deal with these two boards or three boards."
this to some extent the process is not too mysterious but this is more about what goes on during the meetings having mult if if if a if if a board has I'm jump to an example if a board has all the documentation in the world on meeting number one they should try to
resolve that thing within two meetings and if they want to go beyond that you know I have something that took five meetings they had all the documentation on day one maybe they should say okay let's have a special meeting in two weeks instead of going on monthly cycle because they have there's that's what I
mentioned boards have responsibilities. So these are things within the meetings. Um they should stop talking like what's the building inspector going to say about this? That's not your purview. People they spend 20 minutes some of these boards. >> I don't I don't disagree off topic that training for board members is a good
thing. Totally 100% agree with that. My only caveat is I think we ought to make sure the process is clear and well understood so that when we train people, we're training them on the right thing as opposed to the way it works now
because the way it works now is is can be a little bit chaotic. Maybe we don't want to train people on that. Let's let's start with, you know, the process and who's responsible for what. I'll get agreement on that. And then to your point, there are some um may not be
Robert's rules of order or whatever, but just some general meeting expectations. You come to your we come to our meeting, our select board meeting prepared. We review our packet in advance. We can have a good deliberation. Um the other boards should operate the same way. And if they're not, then that's a reasonable
uh you know, thing we can remind them of during training. You you are accountable for coming to your meetings prepared. >> Um but I wouldn't start there. That's all I'm saying. I I just >> I'm I'm wondering this looks like it it lends itself more to like a workshop sort of thing
>> rather than a committee. You said you have an attorney that is wellversed and has I'm just wondering if something should be set up like that oneshot deal. Maybe should be once a year. I don't know. Um set up and get these land
boards together and say we're going to chat about you know case studies. you know, maybe they have a dozen of them or something. This situation, that situation, this is so people get to think about these are the kinds of the challenges that well, maybe they've experienced some of them in the recent
year or two and uh how they should be dealt with. But I agree that you've got people on seven people on a committee and they're all coming from different directions. If they've been around for a while, they kind of know what's going on. But for these boards, like even after two years, you're still not sure
about a lot of stuff. >> That's very true. Um, we make a lot of assumptions that we assume that they that they realize and take to heart time is of the essence. Well, they really do need to because it costs people a lot of money to come with attorneys multiple times. >> I agree. >> Or to not make comments which that I've
heard in many boards, not just one of them, what I call bullying statements. They shouldn't make that. Someone's applying. Don't say why are you building this? I heard that many meetings. >> All right. >> You shouldn't really be saying that. >> To keep people from being stupid. Well, if you if you mention things like
this, I think people if you just call it out, they'll they'll modify their behavior, I think. But no one ever tells them otherwise. No one ever tells them, can you talk to a butters outside of a meeting and how much can you talk to them about and at what point are you
actually breaking the law? Um things like these are there's some subtle things here that I think need to be worked out. Some is legal, some is protocol. And I think a group meeting with some um outside in with some at large people would be really beneficial. >> Yeah. >> Are you thinking about a meeting as John
suggested where you would bring the boards together so that it be a large workshop? >> No, I think an individual from each board because you don't No, that would be too much because there's a lot of miscellaneous stuff to cover initially. Maybe the group will say that's the best way to cover. I think I'm picking six
people basically seven. Right. You're you're only educating one person that board at that point. >> No, the idea would be to discuss what might be on a list of topics that you might want to um integrate into training sessions. Yeah. >> Or what kind of protocol?
>> Okay. So, you're talking about building a training session from your initial >> and and potentially uh adopting bylaws or protocol or some sort of um codes protocol for how the boards operate. Most boards don't have any proton data
there's foot stop. >> So who from the town um which town employees should be at that meeting? Because again I don't think this starts and stops with the boards. There are town employees that have jobs to do and they should be part of this
conversation. I think um >> I guess it would depend on you know there's certainly employees that like a con conservation agent land use employees someone from inspectional services as this kind of gets ironed out
you identify >> okay because what I'm what I'm concerned about is the boards make the decisions the town employees do the work you know to make sure the paperwork proper paperwork is filed and it's got all the right signatures you know, they execute
the process along with the applicants. The boards make the decisions. I'm concerned about there being um overlap and and the boards doing work that tenant should do. So, I just want to make sure that if there is such a workshop or meeting, we should identify
from the town employee um which town employee should also be part of that. >> I don't know. Are there any other towns doing similar like has this been done somewhere else or? >> Well, there's a there are t other towns
that have public meeting policy, you know, whether that be about the format of a public meeting, whether they're in person, hybrid, remote, you know, as long as it's not conflicting with the open meeting
law. There are towns that do that. Um there are towns that I' I've heard of towns that try to get together once a year with you know either the chairs of all the committees or you know and uh KP Law might come in and do a uh
like a presentation on ethics and open meeting law and training like that. Um the same >> some of these committees go beyond that though streamline >> but this is targeted towards a particular >> I don't know of anything specifically
like this. Um I think there could be value there. There certainly could be some value there. Um I think you know you got to keep in mind we're dealing we you these are volunteers were either appointed or elected and I think
that there needs to be we talked about this Gary. I think that there needs to be buyin from the members of these committees as to what we're trying to accomplish, what's the goal. I think when it when it, as you were mentioning, Kathy, I think if it becomes punitive,
becomes like, >> you know, a policing thing, there's a negative impact on being able to get people interested in being a volunteer in these committees. Um so I think if it's if there's buying about you know trying to be more
efficient trying to be we still have to follow the letter of the law each committee and and and you know execute their jurisdiction but doing it in an efficient manner you know I think it's if we can get buy in from the beginning that's that's where it starts right
>> yeah I'm just trying to kind of wrap my head around what this looks like you know what I mean >> I I I think in the end we We'd be coming up with some specific suggestions for some protocol that some some of the boards could adopt, maybe a bylaw change
here or there, but beyond that, um, we'd have uh content for maybe an annual coaching session that the town would do with with all inviting all the land use board members and any relevant town employees and go over some of these things that they're assumed to be
obvious, but they're not so obvious unless you spell them out. And there's a lot of miscellaneous things that go on that you know. >> So again, I wouldn't I wouldn't want to um forget Brian's comment about we are all here to serve the residents, right? And what you're trying to get at, I
think, Gary, is to um help the residents get through this process as quickly and efficiently as possible, whether the answer is yes or no. Right. >> That's why we've been on boards and committees for over 20ome years. So, so the question is um I you know if I look
out on our website as a resident wanting to >> you know do an enhancement >> I I couldn't figure it out. So that's why I still say this starts with process. Maybe it's just documenting the process we have. I like John's idea of a workshop. Get everybody to walk the
wall. Put the paper the wall. Okay. Outline what we think the process is because guess what? I bet you're going to find people think the process is different. you you might have five people up against up against there, you know, documenting what they think the process is. You're gonna get five different processes. That's why I I I
think it starts with that. And I agree 100% with Gary training. These are very technical boards. You know, Brian can certainly attest to that. Very very technical boards and a little training, annual training would be a great a great idea. >> A couple things. the uh for instance when I got on the CBA
I for six actually for two months I just watched you know I was altered at the time and then all of a sudden I was pressed into uh uh being a voting member and it was daunting. All right and then
how do you write a uh a decision? How do you review a decision? That just comes with time. One of the there two there things I want to touch on is the concerns I have at times. Some of these some of the uh the boards stray outside the lines. We saw it two weeks ago.
>> Okay. When we were just talking about a simple land swap, >> okay, changing the name on a parcel of land and a member of the uh conservation commission thought it was should have been their purview to review it first. >> I don't know where this mentality comes from. We have to stop that mentality.
Okay. uh you know I think that was brought up uh when there's the uh was it the Chicago building going before uh >> the juicy one >> okay before the
the ZBA and there were questions about egress into the site when in fact that's not the ZBA's purview okay and that hung it up for at least a meeting all right when in fact that's the building inspector's perview. And I think that's
the point you're trying to make. >> That's a really good example. That's one I've seen many times over decades. >> Uh talking about stuff that's a building inspector. It's not like he's an idiot. He's not going to miss it. >> You know, they're not going to get their permit unless they satisfy it. So, they'll talk about it. Classic process
and roles and responsibility. >> That's what I want. I want to tighten all that up. You know, I want accountability is what I want. >> And you have to have it documented to have accountability. We as we as uh select board members there's I believe the recall is been approved right? >> Yes. Y >> okay >> but we have to do something heinous to
be recall. >> Well no I'm I'm saying but we as we as elected officials do answer and there is a there is a uh a process to remove >> yes >> us. I think that we need to >> well >> again there should be the process that
all right am I stepping outside the lines? Okay. Uh, which then brings me, which is probably an insularary to this, I still want to revisit the policy of hybrid meetings for all land use.
>> Uh, no, it's it really isn't. It really isn't. Okay. We're trying to find accountability. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And I've got an email from uh someone who went before this uh the concomrated they wouldn't because it was totally uh
virtual and they wouldn't read things into the record and they wouldn't allow pictures. Okay. And then I think uh so the these are all I think this is all part of the process. All right. and I want to review that policy and I'm going to
>> so I agree with that process and part of the process is um where does a resident go if they believe a board has um decided something outside their jurisdiction or if a board has strayed
um you know I know the select board we have some accountability for certain um you know appointments etc but we can I don't think we clarify for the residents what do you do if you feel you have been wronged um that that should be part
of them. >> You want to avoid that. >> You want to avoid that. But what I'm saying is there are some boards that the select board has accountability for um appointing the members or holding them accountable. So um not the elected boards obviously, but
>> I'm there's there isn't a process now. there isn't a formal um complaint process per se. >> Um so that's something that you could think about creating.
I think I think a my process has to be obviously it's focused on a single individual and and when we did have a vote on having a recall from the select board uh I think it was Eli who stood up and said not for any reason but because
of severe serious >> right >> misales. So if you're if you're going to call people in front of you, it's that's not a way to function. >> It shouldn't be it shouldn't be the
result of somebody saying something >> outside his immediate purpose. >> Um I'm Yes, please. So Christine Rutier, 11 Magnolia Avenue, I'm listening to you talk and I feel like you're beginning to
talk about what a what this committee would be doing. Like there's there's passion, there's interest, there's like, oh yeah, there's this, there's that. And and I'm feeling that that that there's a lot of issues and it's complex that are
already being drawn out by the comments you're making. and and it sounds like that that would be the topics that a committee would be addressing, right? All the points that need to be looked at and explored. Let me make a suggestion.
Um I think that the document that they gave us is not sufficient to be the um there's a word for it when it's it's the description of what a committee >> sorry it was a charter >> charter. Yes. If if you and your
compatriots would come up with a charter that is clear >> or a task force, >> uh I don't >> a charter for anything that they want to do, but tell us tell us what you need. >> Um because I I'm not prepared to put
together a group of people at the moment based on what I've seen. Well, I was trying to outline I think how many members could be uh initially of course we go back to the boards as a whole >> later at the moment that that's entirely up to you.
>> I would like you and the people that you trust or people you want to have involved come up with a charter. >> Could you explain what you mean by a charter? >> Yes. What is it that you're going to do? >> Okay.
And and what type of membership do you need to get it done? >> And if if you need an an a task force, who should be on the task force? >> Well, that question I think I can answer right now, but I don't know if that's enough. >> I don't know what you're going to do. So, I don't know whether the people are
right. >> So, what would be the outcome? You know, think of it that way. How do you know when you're done? Right? what what's the outcome that you're looking for? Who do you need to help? And to John's earlier question, if you haven't
really talked to, you know, the chairs of the boards, I think just out of professional courtesy, um I would recommend you uh reach out to them. >> Well, I'm not sure that the document that you're kind of describing doesn't come out of sitting down with the chairs of these boards or some representative
from the boards and say, "This is kind of where we're going. What do you want to put together?" and with this attorney you say that uh has some experience in this area. I think from that you get a charter and then you've got some sort of a a game plan for a meeting or a workshop for all of the members. >> So
>> that's what makes sense to me. I don't think you can sit >> the chairs there either just a member >> a member >> and get get started get talking >> and an experienced member because they are going to contribute to this charter >> you know to what what the overall objectives are and then share that with
all of the other uh members of these boards in I don't know a threeh hour or 4 hour session that I think would be led by I don't know anything about this attorney but seems to be a person that probably has experience on what has worked and what has not worked with
these various land use boards land use charities. >> Okay, >> I can guess who it is. >> All right. >> Yeah, >> short list. >> Short list. >> No, I would think I'll reiterate. I would think of one member from each of the boards industry, two atlarge people, one from the select hundreds who are
certainly invited and an attorney and that's enough to get a conversations going. >> But we've also heard that you should have um have employees involved. So would you >> I I don't I'll figure that out. I guess >> we don't have to figure it out here. We don't have
>> Maybe Kathy, you can send me an email who what you might recommend with that regard. >> Okay. Sure. >> Okay. I think I think >> I think there really should be Tony. >> Who who on your team >> is involved in this process, right? And should be contributing again to make
sure that the boards aren't taking more than they should, right? They're decision makers, right? Who does the work behind the scenes here besides the building? I think if this, you know, if the select board, I see it this way, like if I had a, if I
had a goal from the select board to develop, uh, you know, a way for this for the town side of this process to be more efficient, more transparent, you know, prioritizing those types of things. Then I would go and work with the employees
to come up with all right here's some things that we could do whether that be updating the website creating a flowchart you know being a you know h creating a position that helps pe usher people through a process um
that seems to be something that would kind of fall naturally under my umbrella um as far as appointed committees go and whatever policy is going to be determined that that kind of >> yeah that's not
>> that's not really my >> uh element of it. So, I'm happy to work like kind of simultaneously with this effort uh on the town side and maybe there's ways that it overlaps nicely. But, um >> can I ask a quick question and for anyone? >> Paul Lander does a great job for the
amount of time he's here. >> Would a full-time building inspector >> I know. >> Okay. >> Some of solve most of these problems? >> No. >> Um >> some of them, not all of them. I mean
I can't tell for when we were revising the bylaws with this in the planning board they didn't they didn't set a limit submit your documents that your documents could be submitted two days before our meetings people would come in I haven't had a chance to review the documents when you're asking a board to have to establish a protocol
>> you know those are the kind of things that are protocols that we're worried about making it possible for the employees to to set up. >> Yeah, there's there's efficiencies that could be captured with a full-time
building inspector on the town side. Certainly not going to have >> influence over how efficient the conservation commission or ZBA or planning board are with what they do. >> Um but really expensive. >> Might the group might come up with with
perhaps two directions. one direction for toward toward Tony and and one of your ideas on how to improve the behavior of horse, but um I don't I really want to see a concise
description. >> Okay. >> Tony, could you work with that? Work with me on that or we could have a phone call. >> Yeah, I think I have a pretty good understanding of what the where the select board is on it and that's great. We could get a lot done with with one with a conversation or two.
>> Anybody else want to say anything more about this? >> Thank you very much for bringing those forward. I understand your frustration. I hear from Brian that it's causing >> it would it's affecting the town in a serious way. And I believe we should
address it, but I want great little I want more clarity before. >> Great. Thanks very much. Thanks, Brian. >> Okay. Um,
our action items authorize the evacuator to enter into a one-year canteen contract. Uh, let's see. I move that the board authorize the town administrator to enter into a one-year contract with Captain Dusty's Ice Cream to operate the
canteen at Singing Beach for the 2026 season. >> Second. um like a comment on it's made and seconded we can discuss it. >> Well the the issue that I have is not
with Captain Dusties. Give us although you are well known we need your >> John Carlson nonw walkers um I make active use of I swim do long
distance swimming spend the weekends there with my wife and the whole group of friends the comments I have are not directed against Captain Dusties per se but anybody that you choose to rightly police student. Currently, right now,
Captain Dusty's when they sell a slushie, they sell a plastic straw in a clear plastic wrap. I cannot tell you how many of those I have picked up on the beach. They are they litter the beach every day
of the week, every day of the summer, all the way into the fall. And it's the it's not just the plastic straws, but it's the plastic wrappers that are clear. I think the town has a bylaw. >> In talking with Cheryl Marshall, as I
discussed this with her, right now there isn't any restriction on what they sell for plastic. >> I Well, we have a a bylaw around the plastic bags. No single use plastic bags. That's >> that's not what I'm complaining about. Yes.
>> The the the b the bottom line is we have vendors any vendor or proprietor they sell a product they make a prop product they profit from the product
but we as a town and as citizens have to deal with the mess that's left over from the product we sell. A perfect example is this at the breach. Captain Dusty's has no skin in the game or any proprietor
has no skin in the game to ensure that the product that they that they sell does not destroy our beaches or the environment. We as a town have to implement rules that follow that. The plastic bag was a
perfect example. Okay. Our town is a lot cleaner. The environment is a lot better off. Everybody wins. That needs to be done on Sing Beach because it's only it gets worse every
year. And if any of you happen to go to the beach the morning after a weekend or a beautiful night, trash that's there is
terrible. Now, that's not all Captain Dusties, and I'm not going to let fall. But what we should do as a town is implement guidelines that say if you want to do a vendor here, this is what you can sell and this is what you can't
sell, and this is what you have to do to help keep this environment clean that you're selling into. And currently, there's nothing. And if we're going to renew a lease, this is a perfect time to start implementing this and then start working
towards it so when they open up in the summertime, they have a solution. But it is terrible. >> Just comment on that last comment. It would be depending on what the solution proposed
is, but for example, if you required um compostable products that it would be a little late for this process to to to push that because that would affect a vendor's bid
because those products >> have a different cost. >> Uh so they're >> the bid on what they would pay for the rent would change. So that it's a little late for well this but but if this is a one year >> this is a one year you could start working on it for
>> the next cycle if that was something you wanted to consider. >> I'm concerned about compostible because composible is generally over the course of a year or more. >> They're not going to go away overnight. Sure. So, but I I I I take your point, Tony,
but I brought this up to the parks and wreck last year and they said go when they're renewing the lease. I was told to come to this meeting if I wanted to bring this up by
the parks and rec. So be told then that hey you're late to the game is kind of because I'm saying this is where I was told to come to bring this up. >> I just I'm glad you did. I'm glad you brought it. It's it's a good it's good
timing because it's relevant to the topic at hand. Uh I just think it's it would be uh >> okay >> you have to start the process over if if we if we were requiring something that would have a cost impact to potential
vendors changing their potential bid. We'd have to start the process over. That's all I'm saying. And I'm not sure if that's even what you're suggesting. Well, it's one of the board the like for example maybe in the agreement that doesn't affect their purchase is saying
okay you have to commit to having your employees walk the beach and pick it up >> with all the respect with all due respect >> I I can't imagine imposing that kind of uh restrictions on any
business that would be if I'm sell if someone uh buys a pizza box, buys a pizza at uh Bravo, and then brings it to the beach. Are you going to require a Bravo to go walk the beach and pick up the uh the pizza box? >> I'm saying they can help contribute to
keep the beach clean. >> I think they do. I' I've known them for 30 years. Okay. And I know that work does. >> They do. >> I'll get into it. Um, my impression is that the board is not
prepared to require that the whoever gets this contract is responsible for uh plastic on the beach. >> Yeah, I I kind of agree with that. I I um I do think um you're bringing up an
important consideration. My first step would be I I do think it's too late to do anything this year, unfortunately. However, what I do think we should do is learn. What are some of the other beaches doing? Do they have some, you know, restrictions that we don't know
about? I don't know. I I mean, this this is the first time I'm hearing it's an interesting topic. Before changing anything, I would just want to do some learning. >> Yeah. >> Don't Don't they clean the beach on a regular basis? they got some sort of a vehicle that's out there >> that
>> we do that for we >> that gets run maybe like every three to four weeks. That is not something that >> Okay. >> Yeah. It's not really a track. >> See, I I I don't know if you're coming at this from an appearance perspective or an environmental perspective. >> Both. >> Okay. I can tell you that whatever
packaging is there, it's not going to change the appearance of the beach. That is human behavior. And if instead of plastic, it's paper or something else, it's still going to be there. So, it it will it will, you know, kind of go away or uh over time, but it's
still going to be there the following morning. >> Okay. >> Well, that's what I'm saying. It does affect the appearance of the beach. >> Of course, it does. And you're seeing garbage and plastic straws and plaques. >> Right. Right. So, all right. So, from plastic to paper straws, you still got straws.
>> No, I'm not I I I'm not coming here saying you should do this. I'm saying that something needs to be implemented. I agree with Ann that if you go do uh compostable, right, straws. If you buy a
compostable spoon or fork or knife, well, that's unless it's under high heat, high pressure, it's going to take at least four to five years. >> And that that's the point. And if you came in here saying I don't like the appearance of the beach the day after, none of that's going to make a difference.
>> Okay. I I think >> has a very good suggestion. >> Yeah. >> And I'd like Tony to suggest to Cheryl that she check with other beaches and find out what their concessions do to avoid crashing. >> Maybe maybe they have a >> the concession. It may be a policy
around, you know, maybe they have some given tickets on littering. I have no idea. But it may not be limited to the concession. That should be one area we look at. But what are the best practices around keeping our beach cleaner and more environmental? >> Yeah, it maybe need needs to be cleaned more frequently.
>> That could be it. >> Somebody says what? Said three weeks. Once every 3 weeks because when I swim in the morning, that's when they run it. >> And I would say once every three weeks to a month. >> All right. town had at one point
budgeted for a while and your predecessor Greg took a town approved funds and didn't buy it otherwise a DPW and Chuck who's a saint could have could run it as often as he wants but the town chose not to do that.
>> Okay. >> A different product. I mean we have the raking that happens now is is not it's not like a screening for for trash. It's not going to pick up a straw. It's mainly for seaweed. >> It's mostly for seaweed. But >> I'm sure there there are a number of
different things that we could >> consider to help with the trash problem that aren't, you know, wouldn't be subject to this one-year lease. So, I'm happy to look into that. >> So, that's something that we that that the cars and recck department could implement. If they find a good policy,
they could implement it next next season. >> Okay. Um I have a couple of comments on the actual lease. Number one is um in the length of agreement
um ending November 30th for each of the years 2023 24 25 I think that obviously changed >> all that yeah all that's getting worked on >> like 2026 >> doesn't it says three three years >> yeah all that will be
>> okay and and number seven destruction by Um about the fifth line if such damage are insolvent according I don't know what that takes
>> all right >> sign it for years >> what section is that >> section seven line five um unusable to operate is the first are the first words in the in the line >> unable unable to operate due to the
damage. >> Unable to operate due um so so if the select board uh is in favor or supportive of doing a one-year agreement, I'll get an a
updated one-year contract. >> Okay. uh before you at the next meeting. >> Super. >> We have a motion and a second on the table. Do we defer that? >> No. Yes.
>> Um >> and we need and we need to speak to Cheryl. You need to speak to Cheryl and say what's you know what's going on with trash and what are the what ideas out there. >> Yeah. I don't think that that the lease agreement but >> not directly. >> Yeah. But I'll I'll I'll have a uh
one-year lease, you know, one-year contract written up before our next meeting for you to vote on if you if you're comfortable with a one-year term. >> Yeah. >> It's typically been a three-year term. I believe Captain Dusties is, you know, uh only interested in doing a one-year one to make sure you were good with that. If
you are, I'll proceed. >> Okay. >> Um >> who made the motion? >> I did. >> Can you withdraw it? Will you >> I with I will withdraw the motion. and the seconder. >> I guess I was cor second.
>> So we'll come back and vote on this um in two weeks. >> Okay. one closing just comment now. >> Tony, if you could when you talk to her talk to her about also when you talk to Cheryl about the trash and the bins that
are on the left in the sense of possibly looking at um because you go there any morning afterwards whether it's the seagulls or people just being lazy being people and um it's just terrible. It
really is. it. You talk about appearance. If you were to pull in a parking lot, you would you'd say, "What the what the heck's going on here?" >> The other thing is, and this is the last thing I want to say as a point of reference, you know the beads you're wearing now, the Martyra beads.
>> Yeah, I know. >> They've switched. >> They've switched >> to all biodegradable. So, it can be done. >> But I Yeah, I haven't been there for 10 years. >> No, but I'm just saying that's how we as a society need to think. I think that uh
just a comment the uh captain doesn't used to use the biodegradable >> spoon >> and straws and then two years ago there were many many complaints from the consumers about they they didn't >> they didn't well they were collapsing
when they were trying to suck something through a straw and they were falling apart when they were trying to do everything. So as a consumer demand is how they changed that. Well, as a consumer demand, I hope that they sell a product that helps doesn't ruin the beaches with plastic.
>> I'd let We're done with that. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> You just >> um the next is a request to operate a mobile um
>> There's someone here. >> I'm here all day. The only reason I'm here is to Before you start, >> you shouldn't put the town seal on something that's not produced by the town. >> Oh, I apologize for that. >> Yeah, I know you'll be going to other towns. You will you will be more warmly
welcomed if you don't pretend that it's a town. >> Okay, y >> Okay. Um, give us a brief overview and I think we've all read the name. >> Okay. Yeah. Uh, my name is Brett Atkins. I I live in Boston. Um what I am
requesting is to operate this Nordic style uh mobile sauna for Saturday March 21st and Sunday March 22nd um in the parking lot of uh White Beach. Um the idea would be to offer both residents
and visitors of Manchester the ability to um use the sauna and kind of activate um the white beach space in a time of the year when it was otherwise not as frequently visited. Um uh we just worked this past weekend with
Andover Parks and Wreck to uh run a similar type event um for their winter fest which was um really successful and really well regarded. Um, and my hope is that I might be able to uh at the conclusion of that weekend share any and
all uh feedback that we received um for a potential future consideration around um a somewhat more regular appearance. Um, I don't know obviously what the town's uh policy is around partnering
with, you know, this sort of like vendor um or what sort of fees might be associated with it, but we're obviously hoping to do all of that. Um, yeah, it's it's something we've seen to be really successful and people really love. Um, it's been run really successfully in uh
Beverly, in Middletown, Rhode Island. Uh, there's one up in Ipsswitch. Um, so it's a proven operation that is uh can be managed really safely. Um, and just offers a really unique um, offseason
into wellness experience for folks. >> Great. Um, John, >> no, that's right. I read all the stuff. You you touched all the bases there. I don't know if I'm as interested as Brian is, but >> I just I because what was uh confusing
was uh what do you call it? Um the dog day sauna thinking I have a dog. Why would I be >> I didn't know that dogs went to sauna. I don't know. >> So we got I was confused. >> We got about a dozen similar comments at Andover this past.
>> We might have to rebrand. Yeah. >> Um yeah, my question was, yeah, very good information. Thank you. Um I also used to live in Andover. Winterfest is a great event. Um much larger though. Um so my question is um why White Beach?
Just >> why White Beach? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I think you know >> like why not singing beach? Like what's what's >> Oh bigger parking lot. Logistically, singing beach just looked like um it didn't have as close to an entry point
onto the beach. So, we wanted people to be able to be in the sauna, look out at the water, and be able to go right onto the beach. Okay. >> It just looked more conducive to that. Also, >> I didn't really see much of a window. Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> All right. >> I have some updated photos. That's all.
>> I guess my I think it's it sounds fun. Great. My only concern is, you know, so that stretch of beach, um, it's got a small parking lot and if there's a bad storm, you might not have any parking lot. So,
um, March is still winter and we have had bad storms in March. So, what would your plan B be? How would you determine if it's, you know, safe to do that weekend? Because we've been able to plow the road or plow the parking lot. It's not, you know,
it's it's kind of it is off to the >> the side. So, do you have a plan B? >> Uh, well, I think, you know, our we we are weather dependent, so obviously if there's nasty weather, we won't >> It's like the day after because it does get w that road gets washed out a bit. >> Sure. Yeah.
>> Um, yeah. You know, I didn't have a specific plan for that in mind. I had previously spoken to Chief Fitz Fitzgerald about the parking situation. So, if he's still the appropriate person going forward, I could, you know, reach out to confirm um if we get some inclement weather. Um otherwise,
obviously, if we show up and, you know, we we've got a trailer, so if it looks like the ground's not conducive to putting a trailer on it, we, you know, we can't put it there. So, >> yeah, it's just like the um I mean, what is there 20 spaces there or something? I forget. I drive by there all the time, but I don't count spaces.
>> Yeah. So, you know, you have one parking space for your sauna. You must have another space for the vehicle that takes the son of theirs. That's two. And then all, you know, most of your customers, unless they're coming from the neighborhood, >> it they they're all probably driving
there, right? So, you probably got to figure on taking up, you know, >> five or six, seven parking spaces for the for the two days. >> Yeah. Yeah. We we can uh support up to about five people at a time. So, um >> So, that's about seven. And then, you
know, if they're enjoying swimming, they may not leave right away and they'll stay stay around and then so I mean you are it's a good amount of parking that they use it. So I would just you know suggest having a plan B to notify your people
>> your customers um uh you know this ain't going to work the road's not in good condition today. >> Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. And that's why also too we proposed it as kind of like a pilot and yeah if it seems that um you know the space isn't working for the
town or or for us then we would just you know that kind of be the end of it. >> What kind of permission do we >> can we give and should we give? >> This is similar to like a uh special
events permit I would say. uh they'll be required to provide all the standard insurance um which I'm sure you had to do for the other communities if you're on public property. >> So I'm sure you have all that in hand.
Um we were mindful of the dates that were chosen. you know, if if he had been requesting middle of June or July, we would have said >> yes because of the, >> you know, the need for parking there uh during the summer months. But for two
days end of March, I think it is. >> Uh yeah, two days end of March, I think, you know, as far as the town's uh concerns, I think we're covered. the uh would I'm just would board of
health practice an innovative uh >> they did not I when I previously spoke with glosser the board of health they said we're not you know we don't need to inspect it um >> it's true so >> we checked the question come up >> I I had the same question and actually
the answer is no they don't they don't have jurisdiction over that >> I just think about people I mean you're not sleeping in Yeah. >> Do we have a fee? >> And they're not serving any food or anything like that. >> Do we have a fee for a compliment? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. For a permit like this, I
think we do. >> Not sure what it is. >> Uh I I mean I think that it's not a bad way to for a trial run. Um, but I think you'd you'd probably see more success if it was, you know, in tandem with other
events like Winterfest in Andover, you know, something like that here. Sure. In the future, >> no, >> I think your name is on this one. >> Oh, just days in here. I move a select board. Uh, approve the request from
Brett Atkins dog day sauna. the use of one parking spot at White Beach on March 21st and 22nd for the placement of a mobile sauna unit. >> Second. >> John, >> yes. >> Answers yes. Kathy, >> yes. >> Brian, >> yes.
>> Yes. >> Fantastic. >> Thank you. Yes. >> Thank you. >> Okay. some updates. Jeff, >> I don't really have much. I mean, the
planning boards, everything for uh town meeting, the HAC hasn't met. I don't know. Do you know when they're meeting again? Because they got that meeting got pushed off. >> I don't. >> Yeah, I don't either.
And Essex Tech, we're just back to our normal day-to-day business lives. uh pox and wreck uh they they approve this this will be coming before the boards and at some future point was the the uh the 5k hit the street
>> that Kelly Kelly uh has done the past couple years. So the uh park recommend voted to approve that they're coming before us. Uh also, um Northshore has requested use of the Pearl Chapel on uh
was it every Sun? >> Every Sunday. >> Every Sunday. Uh and Parks and Wreck has uh has looked at that. We'll move that along to the select board with their approvals. >> I'm saying that it's Wendy Dixon and it's the uh Trinity North Church. Wendy.
>> Yeah, they've been meeting at I think at in Cing Center for a while now. And uh so they're looking for the use of the uh the crawl chapel >> every Sunday. >> Every Sunday >> sounds like an appropriate use to me.
>> Couple months. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. The information is going to come flying folks at a future meeting >> and then uh you know >> my only concern is parking on Rose, >> right? So that I mean that's one of the things that they're going to address.
They'll they'll put that together for a full uh brutal package for the uh this election. >> This being a Sunday, the schools are probably not in session. >> Yeah, this probably not. Uh and
uh and then finally, the uh the beach chairs. Uh there that's another there was two uh locals local kids that wanted to start renting beach chairs at the beach. Uh there were this came up a
couple months ago and uh Parks and Rex sent him back with some homework to do including uh their insuranceances, tax implications, all the all the uh right questions of a future business operator. So, they're
putting that together and we'll and and I'll be forwarded to the select board at a future date. That's all I got. >> Nothing. >> Um, nothing since our last meeting downtown is tomorrow morning. By
competit I think is next week. So, >> um, DVW the things are going along, I guess. Okay. They've been wrestling with snow the last couple of weeks as we all know. I think they're keeping up with it. At least Chuck says that. Had a little tough time with some plows, but I think
everything's back in operation there. And I think all of their operational budgets got passed at the meeting last Thursday. >> The capital is the elephant in the room, >> and they've got a lot of capital that's on the on the on the to-do list, but I think their operation budgets through.
Uh the COA is lost a van driver. He retired. >> Jack. No, Jack and Steve are there. Can't remember the guy's name, but uh so he's retired, so they're going to get they've got to get another van driver, but they do have a perdm guy that's kind
of filling in. So they're keeping up with demand right now. >> How's the utilization of Kada? >> I did not I haven't got data on that. I only have data from when was two months ago. That's a good idea. We should get an update on that. >> Get an update on that.
So yeah, let's uh see see how that's going. And uh the historic district commission, they had a meeting last Thursday, a presentation by John Clemson of the
survey of uh the historic houses in School Street and they held that over at the community hall there. They had like 120 people, a lot of people. and he presented his findings with regard to about 130 houses or so that were in school street and on the side streets
not not um yeah on the side street not norwood but all the all the all the cross streets and it was pretty interesting I was there for most of the talk not all of it and uh there were a lot of people they were just curious I'm going to put my house up let's see I want to see what he is but um he's doing
a lot of work all the objective of all of this to survey this is uh the historic disc permission or the museum. There are inquiries. People want to get their houses and there are a number of houses here that kind of qualify for being on the National Register of Historic Places one way or another. But
you really have to put that in the context of well where is this house? And if you do surveys like this, the opportunity to have um I guess it's the Mass Historical District or somebody that that manages that to get to get that designation goes
up. So, um, Clemson's presentation was well, uh, wellreceived and in fact, um, in the C in the CPC, uh, list this year is, uh, some money for him to do a second study of another neighborhood. He he did an initial study
before any of the surveys were done and cut the town up to 11, I think, seven neighborhoods. This was the first one and the most appropriate to be number one. And so I think the expectation is is that maybe another one will be done. I'm not sure which one it's coming year.
And that's it. >> Well, you've heard about the finance committee. We've got the document from the board of health. Um and um the school committee voted to adopt
their the budget that's in front of us. I seem to have spent an awful lot of time getting absolutely nowhere. >> Okay. You thought it was so well pressed. >> Uh the consent agenda
>> is there. >> That's you. >> That's you. >> Oh, really? >> Thank you. >> I move the blackboard agenda. >> Second. >> Discussion. Jeff.
>> Yes. Brian, >> yes. >> Uh Kathy, >> yes. >> Ann says yes. >> John says yes. Just a just a question on the election warrant. >> Um are we getting some money to help kind of defay that cost or we know that's going to happen or not happen or
where does that stand? >> I believe we will get some funds from the state for the cost of the special election. We'll cover the entirety of it. >> Expect that. >> And we'll have to speak to the finance committee for a reserve fund transfer for the balance.
What is the total cost of that? Dina 14,000. >> I think it was like 14 and I think like half of it gets paid for by the state. >> We're probably into it for seven or 8,000. >> It's a lot. I'll double check those. I You'll know
the exact number when once after the special election and we tally everything up. know exactly how much >> they will have to cancel our regular general election. >> Anybody left to >> Okay. >> Uh we have a lot going on uh between
preparation for town meeting and the budget and preparing the budget. We went through that already today. Uh we're also eagerly awaiting uh information from Maya regarding our uh health insurance
and potential health structure uh health plans, alternative health plans to look at to find ways to try to reduce some costs for the town and for employees. And that ties right into collective bargaining
agreements, negotiations with fire, DPW, and clerical unions. Um, we met with National Grid and the DPW the other day, uh, with folks from the gas side and the electrical side to talk about a number of different issues and
really, uh, stress the importance of communication and cooperation between the town's projects and national grids projects to make sure that we're lining those up together. um
a lot of work with uh the Masonic Hall and the design of the future senior center and working on getting those documents over the finish line so we can close on the sale of the property. Um you mentioned DPW snow removal. I do
want to give the DPW, police, fire, uh, Tiffany communications, you know, a shout out for the work that they've been doing. They've been, uh, you know, really, uh, working long hours and working hard to,
um, remove snow as much as they can and communicate that with the residents and be, uh, effective with the, uh, with the process of that. So, people are moving their cars out of parking lots. so we can then clear the snow um from the
parking lots and move people back in. It's been a lot of work and um we're hoping for warm weather Sunday and Monday because it looks like another large amount of potential snow heading our way. And if it wasn't for all the
work that the DPW DPW had done after the first storm, we wouldn't have room for the snow uh after the second storm. So, uh, it's going to be an expensive year as far as SNL goes, but, uh, it's been a number of years since the last time
we've had this type of accumulation. Um, uh, our clerk's office is also working. You know, they have the special election coming up, dog licenses and census all happening at the same time. Uh, you talked about the COA and, um, some
staffing there with the bus driver. There's also lunch of a month is starting up again. >> I guess she could do it. >> Uh so that's Mary's getting settled there and things are starting to come back. Um we do have uh some staffing
uh items that we're working on in the police department. Two vacancies there and in the fire department filling the uh spots from the safer grant. Um the hard master's office is working hard with renewals. library is working on their ADA design
and um should be at 90% next week. And then late last week on the uh Shingle Hill SLV um housing project, courts
uh court ruled deni uh denying the appeal on the um permit. So we have I think until March 13th or 15 or mid-Marchch uh to appeal that decision. Uh likely
we'll do an executive session next week uh sorry the next select board meeting on the second uh to talk with legal about those options and decide what our next steps are. Are you there for something? I didn't want you to have empty rooms
over there. >> I don't miss it. >> But we miss you. >> Do I have Is there a motion? >> There is. >> Yes. >> Tojour. How's that? Is that specific enough?
All in fame, all oppose. Great silence. Thank you. How are you, Muffin?