and >> um calling this meeting of Manchester by the Sea for to order. >> Jeff >> Brian >> here. >> Kathy >> here and is here and John >> is here. >> Okay. The first order of business is
public comment on non-aggenda items. I see a hand. Please stand. Identify yourself. Give your address. Yes. Um, my name is Jim Starky at 13 Tux Point Road. >> Thank you. >> All right. How long do I have?
>> Um, please make it as short as you can. >> I'll make it short as possible. >> On January 6th of this year, this committee passed the provisional mooring program, >> which was a comprehensive, fair, and transparent program that allowed people
on the waiting list to rent moorings at boatyards. that had previously been strictly illegal. Since that time, virtually every element of that program has been violated seriously.
The most important element was that the only people eligible to rent morins were people bonafideed members of the on the waiting list who'd been there for at least one year. The harbor masters assigned 12 people to
rental morins of which only three were actually on the waiting list. Nine were not and that is a strict violation. Secondly, it was supposed to be transparent which means that first it required that
the harbor master list the same information about people on the rental list as people regular moorings. He has not done that. He published names but he did not publish boat names. So you cannot possibly tell who has a rental
morin and who does not. Third, there is a requirement that every boat on the moringin permit the rental moring program have a distinctive moring sticker on their transom. I went out and looked today the 12 boats on the rental morins only three have any sort of
waterway sticker and none of them are visible from six feet away to be able to tell whether they're a rental moring sticker or not. I don't know what they are. I know they're not distinctive. I have pictures of them and you cannot tell what they are. The next problem
deeper than this is the existence of most of those morings. In 20 24, the harbor master without any authorization whatsoever gave Manchester Marine 10 extra moing permits that they
could use for rental and he added another two this year. There is no basis in our moring regulations for that and the state D rules require that the fiber master assign Laurian off of a written
policy which does not allow that. The to make things a little bit worse you might wonder what the harbor committee has to say about this. The answer to that is nothing. The harbor master sent
them a communication saying that he was being investigated and suggested that they not take this up. And the harbor committee has an official policy of not discussing the Manchester Marine warnings. This is a mess.
This can't be resolved tonight. Obviously, this needs some attention, serious attention. What is happening in the harbor is not what was approved by this committee. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Um, are there any other public comments here or online? >> And I actually had something to >> Yes. >> Um, so not sure if this is a non-aggenda item or related to the action items, but we've had some conversations with the residents um on Ocean Street
>> and um we used to have an action item >> related to that, you know, coming up the options. I I've heard that the grant we applied for most recently we were denied. Um so I think the neighborhood
would like to get together with Tony um to discuss what we are going to do with the $100,000 that was approved at town meeting. Um if we can get that moving that the residents would appreciate. >> Okay. So you'd like to have that put on
the agenda items? >> Yes. Yeah. Yeah. And I think just the action is and I think for us a meeting with Tony and the and the residents. >> Okay. First >> first. But I I think we should track it on our action item list so we don't forget about it. >> Okay. If that's okay. >> If I can just add to that. I've spoken
with one uh resident there. I think it would be and and I've spoken with our DBW superintendent and Sue. I think we have a list of uh neighbors in the area from past grant application, you know,
uh efforts. Um, but it would be really helpful, you know, if any residents in that neighborhood are watching tonight, um, if you could reach out to my office so that we can put together at least like an email contact list so that we
can organize, you know, those neighborhood meetings the most efficient way possible. >> I I think that's terrific. We I think we can start with the list we have and then, you know, on that. >> Thank you. Are there any other
comments? Um, there is no chairman's report. Um, this meeting is being recorded. Forgot that. Um, are there any other things that we need to track on our action
list? Thank you. Um the first item on the agenda is the singing beach ocean rescue and a recognition for Dan Carlson and Dave Seymour and I think you are prepared to speak to that.
>> Thank you. I Sher Marshall with Dr. Clarkson. Um I know I've already reached out to you guys through email but just to give everyone else a kind of a recap. Um I'll try to be brief. Um, but I would like to recognize two residents, um, JC Moore and John Carlton, as well as my
staff, I believe, and Dustin K lifeguard and Owen Doyle over there, assistant beach manager. Um, and the, uh, two residents are risk their lives on Sunday, August 25th, to save two swimmers, or one swimmer I'm
going to let you guys speak to, um, that were in distress on Singing Beach. And on the surface it it was uh almost a routine call. Swimmer in distress and lifeguard had stabilized the person on the beach. The police with the ATV were
right there. Um brought the victim up to the circle where there was an awaiting ambulance who checked him out and they refused to go. So you know the short story is swimmer in distress. You probably all saw it on Facebook. Fire department posted it. Swimmer in
distress refused care. That's it. End of story. Everything went exactly how it was supposed to um for our emergency response. Then as the story behind the story started to evolve, I learned a lot more. Um I learned about two residents, John
and Jay. Um I'm trying really trying not to get emotional. Um who separately were on the beach with their families. Um and they heard the distress calls coming from the water and did not hesitate but ran in. I have to say there was a third man who
we're not sure who it was still uh remains unidentified that also was a big help. Um but the two men went right into the water during very hazardous conditions at the time. Very good swimmers and it was hazardous for them too and together they saved at le one of
the two teenagers and the third person saved the other. Um, once hearing this stories, it really became apparent to me that this was no routine emergency response, but more of a story of you guys don't want to hear it, but heroism
and selflessness by the two men. With the knowledge I now have, I can see that this went from a routine emergency response to a near tragedy for the entire community. The story very easily could have gone another way and we'd be meeting to discuss healing as a community.
Thank God that is not what we're here for. Um we are giving public recognition and thank there are really no words strong enough to fully express the depth of my gratitude. Uh what you did was more than an act of courage with an act
of compassion and selflessness. John Carlson JC and Owen um thank you very much for your bravery. Thank you for your quick thinking. Thank you for being there when it mattered more than anything and what you did will not be forgotten. And I
want to give two gentlemen a chance to speak because they know the story better than I do and it's a great opportunity to really um get across to the public about water safety and awareness. >> Thank you.
>> Was that what are we supposed to do here? >> Well, you know what? It sounds like you kind of started first. So maybe if you want to tell a little bit of your story, just to make people a little bit aware of >> Yeah. And I I think that that's the genesis of um I'll speak for John here
of us coming here tonight. We very much appreciate the recognition and um are humbled by it. Um but really the the fear to me is like processing this with my family and other friends that were on the beach and their report back was it looked so normal and that you guys had
complete control of the situation. Um the reality is and you may you probably had better control than I did. Um but it was not that. And you know thinking about the kids that were there and the the the people in this community who I care deeply about is to understand a
little bit of what that ocean could bring at times. Um and try to make informed decisions about about what you do because the reality is is I probably was very close to not being well enough equipped to to handle that situation. Um John is a very different
story. Um but uh not trained in that situation and turns out I'm not in great shape. Um so I I was humbled pretty pretty quickly during it. Um but no, it did start with the third gentleman who if this message could get to him, I think John would say the same thing. We'd love to talk. Um we've had an
opportunity to talk multiple times and it's been very healthy I think for both of us. Um but he did he saved the first child. Um that's when I recognized that he was trying to fight him in. He was too far for me to get to, but they got washed up onto shore. And essentially, like what I remember is him dropping the
kid down on on the ground safely and with zero hesitation diving back in into the water. And that's when I recognized that there was there was a head bobbing out past the uh past the wave. So, um you know, I happy to discuss like what went on during it if you guys want to hear. I'm also happy to to give the
stage to John to kind of kind of put some context if he wants to. Whatever you guys want to do here. First I want to thank Jay because together we did as a team. Uh
still just kind of fun uh traumatic but um I was with Caroline my wife and getting ready to go and all of a sudden I heard somebody out somebody's drowning.
I turned and I saw a head in the water. I think I saw him go down, but the bottom line is I just ran stripping my clothes off as I'm running. Um, handed my phone to a woman. I had no idea who
she was. I said, and I was in the water before I knew it, going out. Luckily, um, I've had training as a dive master to rescue people and exactly what to do
and what not to do. And uh, once I got out there, Jay and I together got the kid calm and was able to bring him in without instinct other than, you know,
with the rough conditions. Um uh once we got it in, both Jay and I were exhausted. Hadley stepped up, took control of the situation, which I'm thankful for. Got the kid, took care of
all the necessities because people don't know this, but even once you get out of the water, you can drown even not being in the water. So, it's really important that not only people get pulled out of the water, but
then once they're on shore, they get the appropriate care because even on the shore, things can go bad and all that work and all that effort could be just lost in a split second and without any notes. So, it's it's it's everybody
working together and um came out with a great success story. Um I talked to Caroline said like I could think of was I well I don't even think I don't even
know if I was thinking but at the after I just kept thinking I hope that somebody would do that for our kids if it was. I mean, both Jay and I are fathers. Um, and we know between the two of us like we know a lot of kids in this
community and we would do it for anybody and anything just like the lifeguards just you know it's what you do. So that's that's all I have to say. >> Thank you. made a lot of good points and uh we just
we all appreciate that board I believe has significance their appreciation as well for two of you can come Thank you. And thank you to everyone else who was involved in um turning us
from an an utter emergency to a wellandled situation and I we appreciate your confidence as well as their heroism. >> Yeah, I I and I'm sorry we haven't gotten a chance to meet yet and a lot of
it I don't remember but I remember how they got there at the exact time I needed her. Um, we need to get the kids to dry land and I don't I think I might have Sorry if I swore at you. >> I can't. She acted so instinctly and uh the
community should be should be very very very proud of her. So >> great. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you all. >> Often we don't know when we first hire you guys, you know.
for us though. >> And I'm sure you're never really sure you have seen the stuff and and thank you for closing the beach. >> Yes. But that undertoe was way beyond what anybody should have been knowing
me. Thank you. >> Well, what people don't know was the day before >> my friend and I got yelled at by Howie kindly, very kindly, very nicely. Two old guys were causing trouble swimming
in the ocean. She's very kind. >> Very kindly kicked you out. >> Well, pleasant as this has been, I think we should probably move on. >> You guys do
Nice to meet you. >> Yeah, of course you're good. >> Next item on our agenda. Um, okay. Is is um the planning board. Sarah to talk about the rental meeting. She has
some PowerPoint. >> Can you I know. >> There we go. >> That shared. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um I just find sometimes it's easier to get my thoughts together and
put together some bullet points. So um Um so good evening everybody. Um Sarah Kraton, chair of the planning board and uh also chair of the harbor uh management task force, not in charge of war. Um so the planning board had a retreat
at the end of the um beginning of the summer and we identified uh several priorities for the coming year. Those are downtown uh zoning district, senior housing and driveway entrances. Um also we have a long list of future projects.
The top one most important one is uh rethinking or understanding the um a few the future planning for the general district. Uh the districts D1 and D2 there's some confusion about those we need to fix. Um and examining the
thresholds for special permits. Um, so you know, we've been really working hard on upgrading our zoning, which I I think is sometimes was uh looks like a wilderbeast. You know, it's got all the parts don't well align with each other and um hired a consultant a number of
years ago. We've been chipping away at these exciting um zoning changes. So, um, should we have a November town meeting is the topic that, um, I wanted to just talk through tonight and brief you where we are on a couple things. If
there were a t a November town meeting, these are the things that we would um, talk about. Um, downtown district, creating a downtown district, um, senior housing or a piece of senior housing,
driveway entrances, some housekeeping. we always have a list of uh things that we can fix quickly when we have time. Um and uh the accessory dwelling units um the attorney general uh should have come back with their approval hopefully um
for the two bylaws we did in the spring. Um and they've asked for another 60 days which would put it about October 15. There was something bure uh simple to fix. if they have an objection, we might try to do that. It's complicated, obviously, with time to to really vet
it. So, quickly, um why would we do a downtown um district? Um first of all, dur sorry, um during the MBTA um zoning process, it was identified that we were kind of
vulnerable to um the pressure for residential development. Um we're seeing that with the redevelopment of the cargo property um from a commercial large commercial streetscape to residential and have some uh uh small um retail and
we held a forum where residents very much said we um expect that it's a commercial retail downtown and uh not in so many words but what was interesting is all the visioning was about we could have a commercial this and we can have a retail that and No one said we could
change the downtown core into all residential. That just it was just assumed that commercial. Um we've been talking a lot with the downtown improvement committee. Mark's been going to all their meetings. Gordon Brewster um has been going to all their he's on their on the downtown improvement
committee. Steve and some of the other members come to a lot of our meetings. So we've been going back to court. Um and we want to preserve some of the commercial retail uses in key areas. Um we also hired a consultant who's expert in downtown issues. Um and to allow and
change our zoning to allow mixed use. Um so the idea is that we would have a new downtown district, a subset of the general district, although it become its own district. Um we are going to have a walk tomorrow at 5 um to walk around and say, "Okay, what about this? Should this
be in or out?" Because you don't want it to make it so big that it's unreasonable or so small that it's impact. Um, we would allow mixed use in the zoning change, encourage the preservation or expansion of commercial and retail and have a special permit for conversion to
residential. Um, a lot of discussion with the public about why that, but I don't want to get too much in the weeds tonight. Um, our timing is that we had a June forum, so many of you attended along with 60 others. Um, we've had several planning board meetings with the
general permit committee. In July, we had a um meeting where we had a lot of input from business owners um as well as the other public. We have a working draft doing the boundary walk tomorrow. Um we'll have another draft at our first
meeting in September. We'll be ready to have a public forum or two in September and a public hearing in October if we are moving forward for November 10 meeting. That's um here's what that district might look like. This is the area we're going to walk tomorrow night.
So, please join us. Anybody, you're welcome to to join us. Um the next issue is senior housing. Um we don't allow senior housing as a special use. Sometimes um some communities allow deed spe uh senior
housing and with a density bonus, small or large depending on the community. Um having uh senior housing helps that problem of um allowing seniors to age in town. Right now our zoning allows charitable nursing homes, hospitals, and
sanitariums. So it's outdated and it doesn't allow those in the LCD. Um so if you were going to have a hospital, one would think that the LCD would actually be the logical place to have a hospital. we're not likely to have a hospital. But but just as a as an example of why we need
to keep updating this stuff. Um so we either need to revise that or delete it and and do some other things. Um what is senior housing? It might be small uh converting my home to
three units that are deed to be for 55 plus 60 plus in perpetuity. Um, and I would get a density bonus perhaps. Um, that's an example. I find we've got two drafts on the table that we've been working on for three years. Might be
medium-sized units where um there could be a a dozen senior housing units in one of the districts or several districts or a larger um more of a um senior housing
facility perhaps than the LCD. Um so uh of course they will have size limitations, regulations, parking and um I think we're contemplating all of them with special permit permission. We've been working on this for three years. We've had a couple of drafts. Uh
Chris Mary Foley and I held a number of workshops. We interviewed people who had built senior housing in Hamilton and other places. Um, right now we have uh a draft and we'll be working on it some more this this month. Sort of the same
schedule as the downtown. We're a little bit behind on that on on it lags a little bit but I think we are prepared to meet have additional meetings if there is going to be a down November town meeting. Um, and I think we might put this forward incrementally. We might
first just do the small and fix the language about the limited commercial district and not try to iron out every detail in the middle based on public input. Um um the next issue is the general bylaws.
Um driveway entrances are regulated in the general bylaws change we made a number of years ago. The planning board used to go out and sightwalk every single driveway curve cut. Now, it's the responsibility of the DPW and only those that are sort of oddballs uh don't meet
the regulations come to the planning board. But what we've learned with the DPW is that um the regulations in the bylaw are super restrictive. They don't allow for um special cases where two driveways, for example, make sense
because the topography or the um or something else. Um, and so we want to fix that by doing sort of like what we've done with storm water, keep the authority in the general bylaws, adopt regulations by the planning board that can be more easily amended as things
come up, create a um a uh special exemption process and um move the standards to the regulations. Um Mark's been working with DPW and fire already and he has draft of the regulations. So, it's really just a uh pretty simple
change to uh strip all of that regulatory language out of the general bylaws, create the planning board authority with the public here to issue regulations. Um some odds and ends. Um you know, we have
some language that's still out there that's uh you know, not allowed by law, so we should strike that. We've got some um footnotes in the table of uses that are confusing. Got more than one. Um and
improperly numbered. Uh we still have a list from the um Marowski. Um and like I said, we might tweak the ADU bylaw we hear about from the attorney general. So those are uh we have a list. We'll have draft um if there's a November town
meeting, we'll we'll work hard probably have a special uh one off off cycle meeting to hammer those out and all of them I think are pretty pretty simple. Um so that's the I think that's my last slide on that. Um so um that's the
November town meeting. Um what we would put forward I don't want to get too much in the weeds on any of those issues. is happy to talk with you and we will be back to you to tell you more about the specifics. You'll see a draft. >> Um but that's what we would bring
forward in November. So I'll stop there for a minute and >> questions still work to do. >> Yeah, I'm I'm mostly concerned about the timing. I think it was your first slide. >> This is ready. Everything else was Well,
if this happens, this happens. That's ready. If this happens, this happens. That's ready. >> Let's just take the downtown for a second. Yeah. Just >> if we only did that at least. I mean, I think we could do that certainly. And there's some of these typos in the general and the driveway is ready. And
that doesn't make a robust town meeting. >> Um, might give Eli a chance to get his uh uh feet wet. Um, and um I I'm sure we would bring a uh at least a part of senior housing forward. I mean whether
we bring it comprehensively or whether we you know say let's do the small conversions and hear what the meeting has to say. Um I do think that I know the MBTA's uh zoning task force did exemplary public outreach that was a very complex issue with um multi you
know over the course of and it's almost unreasonable we we just you know you can't do that for every issue. I think the downtown issue is um kind of expected of us. Now we can wait till April. Um the concern is that people now have the wind have wind of it. So you
know there's a lot of pressure for residential um conversions for for residential properties. I'm not going to say whether for residential conversions. Hard to say. It obviously depends on people's leases and their their own particular circumstances.
So, um, you know, if you've got anything else on this November town meeting, we will we'll be there. It's kind of it is certainly your call. >> Um, I think Eli has Eli has asked to speak. >> Hi, can you hear me? Okay,
>> that's fine. >> So, um, let's see. So, first of all, just from a pure logistics standpoint, I'm actually almost home. So, if you want to discuss things a little bit more, so I can get
home and not be driving, that's fine. And then I can speak or I can speak right now. Which is your preference? >> Um, I think we can probably find five minutes worth of of things to talk about. >> Talk about the Harvard management. >> Yes. Why don't you?
>> Yeah. All right. All right. Eli, we'll talk about talk in a minute. Just before we move on to that, >> y >> um I think it would be helpful if you could maybe lay out a little bit of a schedule. You know, I know the date
isn't set in stone yet, but >> there's a lot of >> it would be November 10th. >> Okay. So there and then there's a lot of I know there's a lot of leadup, you know, required leadup time with zoning changes. So just kind of seeing what that schedule looks like would be
helpful, I think. Yeah, I think we kind of look worked through that today and that um if we would we would present it to this I think those you have to present the select board in your first meeting in October. Um and we would hold the requisite planning uh public hearing the
next day if we have to. I mean and um and um yeah we have the >> Yeah. So after we submitted to the select board in the end of September where you're meeting in our first meeting in October, we would have the
public hearing after that sometime between that meeting and town meeting. And um so the articles are close enough that another months with a couple public
input sessions uh is perfectly a reasonable time period to have it completed. Um we're really talking about creating just a small our downtown area separate district. policy maps. Um, very
specific, very focused zoning for that. Uh, there are some differences, but not a lot of dramatic differences from the, uh, general district. This is only 20% of the entire general
district. So, it's a smaller area. So, it's right now just in the next few weeks, we'll be doing the refinement of what we've drafted. Um and then uh the driveway bylaw is pretty much complete.
Just the final walk through with Chuck and Nate Chief. And uh for senior housing, we have to the planning board kind of has to discuss exactly how how do we want to break it up or do we want to
bring it higher than which was drafted previously uh to to town meeting or or kind of say well larger um hand over a certain size
there's a density that's already been worked out. And so some of those things the board just kind of needs to decide how they want to present to them. >> I think the feedback that we get and Sarah is a lot more familiar with the
feedback that they received as well. >> Yeah. I mean I think it's it's kind of a coin. I don't think we have this isn't I don't see this as an emergency personally, you know. Um but uh um I wanted to just we and we will add some
meeting we have to add a couple meetings um in September to to chug through some of the stuff we need to do. But um so that so uh >> yeah my my thing is really just making sure I know that there's uh you know either by statute or by bylaw there's
required meetings and notice you know 14-day notice for a special town meeting there's certain uh requirements I'm sure I have to get up to speed on that you know as far as I imagin does a a book for a special town
meeting. Um so right so or if there's any materials that need to be printed for the meeting you know just kind of having all that stuff in mind and then of course you know we have to fill out the forms for the attorney general for you know those dates of those hearings
and when they were posted so that the pro the process uh meets all the requirements. So just making sure that you know we do have a special time meeting that we have all that ironed out ahead of time and >> so yes for the zoning changes we have plenty of time to go through and meet
all the requirements for the changes I'm not familiar with what's required to actually hold meeting >> we'll work together on so that that's what we would do like I said makes my fall a whole lot nicer if
we don't have um I just think it's kind of depends on how you feel about the urgency of the downtowns only. I mean I that's that's um the the um I think people during MBTA
said this was an issue. We have we held a forum in June. it was very clear that people want to they didn't say zoning specifically mixed use came up but um that's the but I'm not sure you hold town meeting for that single issue
>> that's you guys get to make that decision >> uh I'm reluctant to try to push this this fast I think that uh because the the zoning MBA task was set a pretty high bar and I'd like to even even if
it's a scale down version of that. And I think right now we're trying to sell a square pegging around hole and I think we can do a better job uh if given the time to really get out there and engage the public. So that's just been a little bit rushing through
something. Although I think I appreciate trying to get Eliag slide him in comfortably. Uh you know it's an expense benefit that the town should incur at this point. >> But we also want changes we put forward to be successful extent. Um,
>> but you never know how the meeting how talent feels until you have a town meeting. >> Say you're going to have a town meeting until you until you say you're going to have a town meeting, >> right? >> No, until you actually have a town meeting. What the the I think we
certainly learned with MBTA that the the the noise was disproportionate to the votes. >> Realistically, what kind of timeline do we have to decide if we're doing this or not?
>> Well, like I said, I need to find out exactly what the posting time requirements are for a special town meeting. Uh, prior to that, any zoning change would require a public hearing, which has its own posting requirements. I think that's a 14-day notice in
newspapers and >> yeah, >> public places. Um, and then after the hearing, I think you have up to 21 days uh to put together a recommendation. I don't know if that if that type of recommendation you would want to get out to the public before the
meeting. Uh, so there's >> because I think what we're all asking for is a timeline, right? >> Yeah. >> Need a chart. Love your charts. Thank you, by the way. >> Need a picture timeline. And if November 10th would be the proposed >> I think November. Yeah.
>> Um, then to your point, Tony, let's work back from that, right? And when then is the drop dead date by when we need a decision? I would think it's going to be >> either our next meeting or >> first meeting October would make it
really >> close really close. >> The other thing just to say just from a November 10th is right before November 11th which is holiday which makes it a >> four day weekend >> potentially four day weekend. So that's
not a great uh I'm sure there are good traditionally we do it on a Monday. I hadn't thought about >> Yes. um November 11th. Um >> I would think that's not a great day to get >> um we could
>> Well, we could do it. We can't do it a week later because that's getting into Thanksgiving. >> So maybe that we don't have It's really up to you. I don't think we have a strong Eli, are you at home yet?
>> I am. Uh, okay. So, originally when I heard about this, there were basically two articles that were going on to might go under the warrant. Sounds like there might be potentially more than that now.
Uh, so first a question. Um, if in fact we delayed until spring, would you then be expecting to bring more items from that list onto the spring the annual town meeting?
>> Um, good question. Um I certainly downtown uh district certainly the gen the uh driveway entrances those are both I think they're relatively easy to understand but they would they are our priorities and I think um yeah I think
we've been talking about senior housing for three years. So um I know that uh several members of the board are very very um anxious to um to do that. So, I think that we would have those three. The others on my list,
I think we'd defer. >> We don't we won't know, Eli. We won't know until early October if the attorney general has any suggested to ADUs. >> Uh so, if we get that in time to include
that would be really really close. I I doubt we have enough time. >> If it's a a technical detail, we'll be able to >> uh so that could be a spring possible spring article. What's the danger of delaying if what is it in our ADU
article that we're protecting in town that we would lose if we waited until spring? >> I don't think anything. I think I think the attorney general would just rule something, you know, illegal and it just wouldn't
be effective. >> So, we had two idea articles. one was the under 900 square feet which is um adding regulate sort of guardrails around what is what is required by law. So um if and we suspect that there may
be two pieces of that that that might be ruled out accordingly to spread those. The interesting thing to me is that they uh delayed ruling on the larger the 9001 to,200 square foot use which is unusual
is was surprising because we can tell everybody that's kind of pink what we want. I mean it's that's not there's no law around that and so we have no idea why >> they waited on that. Um, and the uh
short-term rentals in ADUs is something we've heard very well on mediev. >> It's also possible that it could just be backlog because every >> community, you know, the ADU law went in so quickly, everybody was taking it up at springtime meeting. So, it should
could just be backlog. And >> my my concern is at the moment we have no protection until the attorney general rules that our bylaw is legal. I think your zoning goes back to the date of your effective date god
>> once approved. >> Once approved >> once approved today >> today we can't that would change or something >> well it doesn't much matter because I don't think you've got enough time in your timeline for them to come back >> unless unless we here during September
we can make any correction. I would say if we're going to have a November town meeting, we pick up the phone and call them and say, "Listen, you know, we want to Right." So, so I um I actually like the idea of having a separate town meeting dedicated to this
topic. Um there's more proposed zoning changes than I thought. I I thought it was only going to be one or two, but it seems like you have a potential list. And before we throw in the towel and say
we're not going to do a town meeting, I'd like to see a timeline because what I'm hearing from the people who are doing the work is that it's doable. And I just wonder, we all got upset with what happened with the cargo
building. The long time between now and next April, how would we feel if we said, "Nah, let's not have a town meeting. We can wait." and another property is sold and becomes residential. How would we feel that? I would not feel
good. So, I would rather try as hard as we can to make sensible changes. May not be everything we think we need to do, but sensible changes and get them approved. Let's take an iterative approach if we can.
>> I do think November 10th would be >> No, I don't I never heard the November 10th date, so I get it. I >> so in in terms of um timeline I don't think that this will would be a
particular issue this time around but the deadline for submission of um citizen petition articles for a special town meeting is 28 days in advance of the meeting. So that backs up into um you know around October 10th or October
12th 14th. I'm not sure the ex exact date. I didn't count. Um uh but ahead of any actual town meeting, I would be inclined to um give people the opportunity to be aware that they
they have a a deadline like that. Um it's always my preference for people who have issues that they want to get onto the warrant to actually hand them to the select board and see if the select board be would be willing to take them up. Um
I've not heard of any um pending issues that people might want to raise. Um but if you delay the decision very much um it becomes much much harder to notify people, give people reasonable
notification to give them the opportunity if they wanted to to go to the select board first. which means if somebody did submit a citizen petition article, it might not be formed very well. Uh we've seen that happen in the
past. So I would prefer to know much sooner rather than later if there was actually going to be a a special town meeting in the fall. Uh so I would not delay your decision very long at all. I would not like to see I don't think that
full list of things that you had on earlier in your presentation arrive at the annual town meeting all in one block. I think that might be a bit much to tack on to a regular annual town meeting >> which is probably why those
administrative things get hit. Right. >> Um I just checked the calendar. Um, Thanksgiving is November 27th, which makes the 17th 8th possible date. So, just for the sake of your timeline. >> Yeah. Okay. Well, we can certainly get a
timeline to you. >> Yes. >> Um, next week or today. This week, the days. >> Yeah. This week. >> Well, we can't talk about it until two weeks from today. >> Right. >> You'll have it for your meeting. about >> and and and could you give us also a
draft of the the driveway? Anything that you have that you might are serious consider? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Sure. >> And I guess certainly if you um there may be a consensus maybe Tony has a recommendation that it's a nogo in
particular. >> So we'll be okay. >> Okay. Um, right. Vic, do you should I go on to the harbor? >> Yes, please. >> Okay. So, um I know you uh um uh take up various um issues for
updates. So, Ann and I were just chatting that I think harbor management task force comes up next time. So excited. Uh so what the harbor management task force has actually been we've been chugging along for a year and a half uh
to develop a plan for the harbor. So there's not a lot of definition to that. Um a harbor is actually broadly defined by the uh policies that are out of DP. a harbor management plan that includes actually
the coastline and the beaches and the main harbor. We said it includes the beaches, but we're not dealing with beach policy. It's just like we have a whole another staff and group that deals with beach policy. Um it's grant funded. We have a $100,000 grant and I'm not
sure where that's from. And at Bion's recommendation, Urban Harbors Institute out of UMass Boston was hired to do the bulk of this work. Um so why um there hasn't ever been a harbor management
plan. Um there it is something that many other gifts which has Marblehead has many harbors have. Um and um a state approved plan would allow us to develop certain land use changes that might be
water harbor related um that you would not otherwise be able to do if you don't have a management plan. and um you know not sure exactly what those would be right now but um we're thinking about a few ideas um to particularly
promote uh the commercial aspects of our um who's on the harbor management uh task force um this is the list I think you appointed >> these folks but just to refresh your memory um here's uh hardworking group we've actually had 19 meetings which is
surprising like I said we are not dealing with waring polic Um we had early on constructed this kind of verose mission statement and one of the members is actually rewriting it but um it gives you at least a sense of what
we were trying to uh to to do um and it's evolving. Um we've had public input from a forum that was well attended back a year ago. uh urban harbors sent interviews and a survey and the committee is held 19 meetings I think.
Um the challenge with the public input is that the context and the background matter and urban harbors has had a challenge their practice to take input categorize it into issues and recommendations but they often don't know that certain things already exist
or certain things don't make sense or certain things um don't you so we've had to do a lot of helping them to to kind of make sense. What we've we're trying to avoid is a laundry list of you know 102 recommendations that are
overwhelming. Um so we've we've been ch a challenging client I would say to man um our progress so far is they've compiled a significant background about the resource area all in one place and
we're in the ongoing process of findings and recommendations. They were originally called issues and we're saying let's call them findings um which is is a little bit more thoughtful um uh and like I said it's hard for uh urban harbors to evaluate public input. Also
the difficulties of the open meeting law in a document of this size is very challenging when you want to get everybody's input in it means that you have to have it's a tedious process and uh so the next step is we're sort of
finalizing these issu findings and recommendations setting priorities and they to go share with some of the key stakeholders you folks the um harbor advisory committee um and sort of our big picture that doesn't always get said
out loud that we think is the word we're in the harbor and the coast are the treasures that define Manchester. Um, if you look at the Manchester hymn, um, the coast and the, you know, it's it goes without, it's it's so obvious, but it is what makes us special from everything
from our views to, uh, access to boating to, the ability to launch, kayak, the ability to take a walk on the beach, um, and bring your dog. Um, so there are five key areas that Urban Harbors has sort of sused out. We reorganized them
and refined them here. Uh, and I'll just give you the couple of key takeaways on each just so to wet your appetite to think about it. Again, all in draft phase, all just work in progress. So, the first is to support the marine
economy. That has three major parts. The boatyards and the water support, tourism, and shellfishing. Um, and uh, beach is in that tourism. Um so you want to think about harbor and broadly speaking although many of the recommendations have sort of focused on
the what we consider the inner the the harbor itself um provide safe and navigable water wise of course um sort of obvious right but we're not sure the big issue that we've talked a great deal about we've asked urban harbors for their advice and they don't have the
experience on the issue what is our capacity obviously it's a finite harbor is a finite resource um you know it's only so big um and what is our ability in terms of capacity of glories we're not saying that we are at capacity
necessarily except in some areas we might be approaching um what about peak use because in a harbor um with safety and water peak seems to be the most important people you look out there right now navigation is easy nobody's
going up and down the harbor but you uh yesterday uh or Sunday afternoon, everybody's coming into the scooter races. A squall in that kind of situation is a very different that's the what you have to really we think you have to really think about. Um emergency
response staffing and funding what how much can we afford um and how does that limit the resources um and uh facilities maintenance. more facilities we have, you got a 20 year plan to prepare docks and all those things. So um
maintaining public access um the urban harbors folks sort of always want every all of their plans say increase public access and we push back and say we have a ton of public access particularly for residents um to the waterways through
Tux Point to Nasco Park to the beach to uh programs but we need to maintain it and keep an eye on it and not and also things like views and vistas so that approach that help the tourists um ensure healthy water quality. While we
um test beaches for um as required, we don't have a comprehensive water quality uh um set of data. So, while there's a recommendation out there that somebody in the public said, which is to limit fertilizer application along the harbor
to prevent growth in the harbor, we're actually not sure if that's because we don't have data. It's a nice idea, but you know, we want policies that are based in fact, not just in conjecture. Um, and then obviously the climate planning that the town has done is
largely focused on downtown and the flooding. We need we have some recommendations about thinking more broadly. Um uh and one that we're testing right now that thinking about is what if there were a more streamlined area uh permanent process at least
within town for some of the coastal work for hardening certain facilities. What if there um so for example if there was a uniform seaw wall height so that if Mark raises his seaw wall to 10 feet and Tony does eight feet and John does 12
feet you know that that's kind of the person at 8 feet who came first is going to get hurt, you know, like so uh there's some work around that with KCOM and and whether the state will let us do it and those kinds of things. So all of
these are things that urban harbors actually hadn't really thought about too much, but they're doing a good job of keeping up with us and um uh it's a work in progress. So that's all I have to say on that. We meet again um Thursday at
5:30. Unfortunately, I know most of you will not be there because you'll be up at touch point and I'm sorry I won't be able to be >> um so um stay tuned. >> Um that's all I have for tonight.
>> Questions? >> Just uh just one question. So all of the all of the data collection are done. It's all done. that although they're constantly coming back it sounds like to the committee for various clarifications because the history of
>> the data collection by the um harbor management folks gives a public opinion data as well as background data. Um we had sort of thought that they would be doing water quality data and this question of capacity that they would be able to help us
think about you know what do we spend compared to other towns or how much public access we have compared to other towns and that kind of thing. Um and uh there's there is they have a softer science softer uh social science approach to it.
So, but I think there's some I think we've identified some important things that we need to continue to keep an eye on. >> Can I ask a question? >> Yes. Um, please. >> So, um, are any of the,
>> uh, this is Eli, sorry. Um, are any of the items that you're looking at um likely at this point to generate um articles on this the annual town meeting warrant that are regulatory as
opposed to financial in nature? >> No on financial and no on regulatory. I think it's too soon. I think at some future uh date there are some potentially reg regulatory things but I think um
some of them are policy type things that can be dealt with by um uh Harvard advisory perhaps we're we'll be figuring out who um I don't see too many um town meeting things certainly not in the near term. >> Cool. Thanks.
maybe maybe >> maybe funding requests for additional research or something like that, but we haven't crossed that bridge yet. >> We need to cross that bridge. I think there's some of it that's I think that the the water quality protocol is
established and urban harbors has helped us to specify what that in depth would look like and there are people who do it. Um the capacity question is a much more nuanced question >> timeline. >> I think uh they want to be done by
December. Um I think that's what the grant is or the contract. Um I'm less worried about having it be a pretty document and more worried about having it be a a helpful document. >> They're quite focused on it being
pretty. Anyone else in the room online? >> Thank you very much. >> Yeah, thanks. >> Hopefully I won't shut the whole meeting. >> Well, if you do, we can restart it. We're pretty good. >> Anybody has any spirits?
>> Well, just because I have sign anyway, I think. >> Okay, excellent. >> Okay, we're still here. Good. Thank you everybody. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. The
next item um for the national grid hearings and um I >> I move that the select board open public hearing the petitions of National Grid to install underground PVC conduit 23
Old Neck Road, 6 Friend Street and 61 School Street. anyone was gonna >> um Yeah. >> Yes. >> Brian. Yes. >> Stanley. Yes. Ann says yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. The hearing is open for
um um 23 Old 6 Friend Street and 61 School Street. >> Is there anybody from National Bridge who'd like to speak? Yes. Hi, my name is Michael and I'm representing National
Grid at 44 Street in Beverly. And yes, so we are we have these three petitions for 600 street 2309 and >> 61 school 61 school. Yes. Um yeah. So
we're just we're petitioning to install cond for 61 school. So the position is to install two 3 inch concretes I think approximately 20 ft >> because the customer is requiring is upgrading their service. So we need to install new conduits that are big enough
to um install new cables to feed them their 400 amp service they're requesting. Six Front Street almost the same thing. Um the customer is upgrading their service. So we are petitioning to it's from it was two three inch conduits also
me 20 ft from an existing manhole to property and uh 23 old neck uh we are petitioned to install I think it's about 285 ft of two 4inch conduits
um so the existing conduits and cables cables that we have running under um neck grow right now is very old there uh rotted the conduits are breaking. So we are replacing the we're replacing uh the
conduits the cables to meet our current standards that we have right now for our infrastructure and also we're installing bigger cables to feed uh uh bigger cables to feed uh 23 neck uh 400 amp service.
Will there any questions from the board? >> Not here. >> Are there any questions from um people who are signed in the moment?
I pretend for people who are present. Um, in that case, um, um, I think we can close. >> Pretty promote. Yes. >> Yes. >> I move the select close the evidentary portion of the hearing. >> Second.
>> Jeff, >> yes. >> Brian, >> yes. >> Kathy, yes. Says yes. >> John, yes. >> Okay. Um, the next is you, John. Uh assuming we have no comments here. >> Assuming we have no if you had comments,
you should have commented during the hearing. >> Check. >> I move the select board approve the national grid petitions to install underground PVC conduit to 23 Oldck 6 Friend Street and 61 School Street. >> Second.
>> Further discussion. >> There are Yep. But for just for further discussion, there are some conditions that uh the DPW submitted to us which will include in the permit to national grid. >> Yes. Having to do with the reconstruction >> restoration of the roadway.
>> Okay. >> That's part of that motion. Okay. Yes. >> And says yes. Kathy. >> Brian. Yes. >> And Jeff. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um
the other item was a request for a hearing for 146 bridge street and that was involved putting a conduit into a private road and I think that the
select board is not in a position to offer that >> right. Uh so technically uh the authority of the select board to hold a hearing on this type of petition lies with impact to the public way. Um it
seems to us that the impact here is solely on a private way. >> Uh the so it really isn't for the select board uh to provide for a hearing or approve or deny or or install conditions. That would be the
responsibility of the uh homeowner and the third party uh owners of the private way. >> Unless uh National Grid um does any sort of deed research and determines that
where they are proposing the conduit does impact public property. Um it doesn't seem like it does. >> It does not. Uh we did, you know, I will say we did hear from a number of neighbors. Uh we
also heard from the contractor of the of 146 Bridge Street. Um it sounds like that there is some discussion that uh will be having that they will be having in the future uh along the same lines talking about you know required
restoration but it's not for the board of select the select board to oversee. If they change their mind and want to go out to Bridge Street, then >> they would come back. >> There's there is absolutely no penalty for this. I've been skipped over now.
Welcome to bring back whatever is necessary. >> Ask a question. >> Yes, of course. >> My name is Ron Skates and I'm on the board of the Corin Avenue Association. So if they go out to Bridge Street from the property directly, that means they
don't have to have a hearing or anything like that. >> So then then National Grid will come back to us as and we will go through it as we did with the other >> Thank you. I misunderstood. >> Yeah, >> I um thank you for presenting. Um
John, we will look forward to I hope we don't have to hear from any of you >> on this top >> on this. You can work it out. >> Good luck. Thank you. Thank you.
>> Okay. Um our next item is um the introduction and appointment of Max Nerd. >> Yes. >> So I interviewed Max uh last week for
our facility planning committee. >> Um I was extremely impressed with Max's uh eagerness and dedication already to the town through the sustainability committee and his background. uh really would provide some value to
the facility planning committee. I'll let Max talk a little bit about that. Uh but we talked about um what you know his ability to serve on the committee. Um he feels he's able to do that even though he serves on the other. He thinks he has
he believes he has the time uh to uh dedicate to the committee. uh his background he has a master's in uh public policy and a minor in energy and environment. uh his public, private and
nonprofit sector uh experience especially in this uh environment uh will serve us well as he sees how uh some of these big decisions about largecale capital projects and their
level of efficiency can uh impact the town's future costs. uh the cost of insurance on these buildings and even possibly put us in a position for favorable funding or borrowing
opportunities because of those efficiency measures if we choose to go >> even >> but he has experience uh actually you know in his professional life >> uh seeking out those types of
opportunities. So with that, thank you. Oh, great to be back with you again. >> Nice to have you again. >> Thank you. No, my pleasure. It's honored to be considered. I Yeah, I was, uh, I I've been working with the sustainability committee since January, so it's when I last saw you also. Yeah.
And I think that my interest of the sustainability committee was really not just in um, you know, there's been a lot of folks on waist streams and trash, obviously quite a pertinent topic these days. Um not a friend. >> No. No. Uh we'll not touch on that. But
um for me the question really is also on kind of future um not just greening of community but it's really making things more resilient for the future of course just heard from about course coastal hardening and those sorts of measures. It's extremely relevant to think about
how future public facilities get built. Um the other key piece is that there is and this is something the sustainability committee in coordination with DPW will hopefully bring back to you at a certain point. Um the climate leader communities grants that are available from the state if different community if communities
kind of commit to various actions create plans to net zero um all these various things. It basically could unlock you know another million dollars or so to offset potentially um you know decide to upgrade some of the facilities compared to a kind of business as usual plan. uh
that could actually be offset to some extent by um some state grants. And so the point simply is that you know we could make buildings more resilient which could result in potentially lower insurance costs over the long term saving town money um could be obviously lower environmental impact or energy
usage of these facilities also builds which also again saves town money over time. So um it's really about thinking about how to coordinate those pieces, you know, so bringing the lens together in a way that hopefully will be be long-term uh better outcome. I
think the last piece that Tony was just mentioning just in in in the case of issuing bonding for these facilities be be built. um there are precedents around uh the the state as well as uh certain municipalities of Michigan say green bonds or other kind of special bonds or
kind of the use of the proceeds of the bond negotiate the bond what it's being used for is being more transparent. Um private investors actually quite like these issuances. There's more transparency. They know where the money's going. say we've invested in this impactful sort of product and you
can actually see a lower u financing cost ultimately to the to to account for doing that in some cases not in all cases but in some cases. So um my point is Tony and I were talking about how that there are case studies out there of how it's done. So again if we're going to be issuing long-term bond you know we
may as well make sure that we're taking advantage of all the different um angles you can do to to again keep it fiscally responsible. So that's my little spiel. >> What? Go ahead. >> No, I'm just
>> Yeah. Yeah. I thank you for raising your hand again. That's two committees, but that's great. We feel lucky given your background and provide some input on a lot of projects that are really front burner for us.
Okay. Well, I move that the select board appoint Max Miss is it Miss Serby or Miss Serving >> as an at large at large member on the facility planning committee for a term to expire on June 30th, 2028. >> Second.
>> Further discussion. >> John, >> yes. >> Yes. Kathy, >> yes. >> Brian, yes. And >> yes. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for coming back. Sorry we made you sit through that was great. Oh, very interesting. >> Might be surprised.
>> You have a very low inflow bar. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um >> Okay. um Mchester Rotary um is in the consent agenda, but
please explain to us what >> what we're doing. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. So, um we uh we had a uh fundraising auction last May and one of the things we put up on auction was a lobster boil on the beach and 16 people
bid on it and won it. And so now we're trying to perform that task of delivering them the dinner probably, you know, it's on September 13th and it's probably going to let start at like 4 in the afternoon and it ends like by 8:30, 9:00. It's uh just food, uh, you know,
no liquor or anything like that. Um, but um, you know, the town rec committee clearly advised us that we should come before the selected to use the beach, okay, select a board, and that's why we're here. Uh we still have to get our permit for the food from the uh health
department and notify the the fire department and see what he had to say about us having a propane, you know, oil blowing the food. So that's the extent of the thing about 16 people. There could be a couple of people that aren't from town, so we'll probably talk to the
chief about just letting him know that we might have a couple of people. It's probably after hours. September 13th is still in the season when you shouldn't be there if you're a non-resident. So we'll think right it's October 1st I thought when you get back to the beach. So we'll talk to everybody. We know the
drill for most of the big things we do. This little one caught us by surprise because there's only 16 people coming. So that's why we're a little late on doing this. I've as a member of former member of the Rotary I I work these besties been very
successful and uh they're diligent with everything they do. I would certainly make sure to check if he's helping >> there's I mean there's a couple of us who sort of say uh certified >> I mean because I don't think Sean's going to be there. >> Yeah. Yeah. Sean pretty much gets free
pass with Wendy pregnancy. Yes, >> my my update. I haven't done an update class, but I am I was certified for rangers. >> Okay. >> It's it's in the consent agenda. We will vote on that all at once. But I
>> there are no questions and and a recommendation. >> Thank you very much. despite his recommen >> despite your recommendation. >> Go a long way. >> Have a good night. Well respected. >> Thanks guys.
>> Thanks. >> Okay. Leaz on updates. John. >> Uh yeah, got a couple of things here. Uh, I mentioned the DPW contract with the installers of the meters last meeting and they have signed that
contract and in fact the contractor is going to put together a video that they'll put on the website that will go through all of the installation activities for a typical installation um installation work for a meter and more to the point go over how the software
works so people can put this on their phone and track their meters. So all of that information will be in a video that will be done this month and they will start this month with the installation of the meters. Um,
Chuck also mentioned he's pushed up uh the to-do project with regard to the sidewalk to the beach from Masanomo to the beach and he wants to redo that sidewalk that's been I think on the to-do list for some time, including the
the section that is cement that is that curbs around the parking lot. He'd like to redo all of that. probably expand the parking at the uh sidewalk a little bit, put in a curb and uh have some ADA compliant um
>> ramps >> at the intersections. So, he's going to try and work that out with the the the folks, the contractors that are going to be working on Mil Street and Forest Street that are cleaning that up after all the construction that's there. So, that is uh something that may happen as
early as October. So, planning on that. Um, the library, um, I attended a meeting with them about a week or so ago. They're busy, uh, planning for an ADA compliant bathroom.
And uh Nate was there and he informed us that there is a bill in committee that will require ADA bathrooms to have an adult changing station which may it has to come out of committee but if it hits it would be in 2027.
An adult changing station is like a dental chair and is a very large structure that would change plans for a lot of bathrooms that get built because you need several more square feet for this. Right now, ADA bathrooms need to have a a child
changing station, which is a just a shelf that flips up against the wall. This is not that. So, they uh are trying to move along as quickly as possible so they'd be grandfathered in and it's not would be would not be something that they'd have to wrestle with because that
they've got limited space in the library as we all know. But, um >> nice fiction section. >> Yeah. So, uh, and other than that, um, well, you're going to report, I guess, on on the lunch today, I guess. And, uh,
>> you can the Seaway. Okay. All right. Um, we several seniors of which I am a member went to, uh, lunch using the Kada um, shuttle today. >> We got a picture. We're going to have an article. It's going to be very nice.
Something to promote. And we went to uh, what was the pub? Shridge. >> Chop bridge pub. Very nice. So, they picked picked everybody up at their houses, took us all up there. Tony was there, so was uh so was Deb, myself, and
we came back. Everything worked very smoothly. They were on time. And uh it was something to see how the service worked as well as to uh get some material to kind of promote Kada. So, uh we all just called said, "This is where
we're going." And by the way, there'll be some other people who'll be calling in the next day or so. And there were I guess total of seven of us. What? So it's very >> it's like $2 after >> that's free. >> That's right now it's free. >> Right now it's free through the end of the year and depending upon grant
situations it may be free beyond that but it's I think it's been free for maybe two years or so for quite some time. It did cost $2 one time and then some grant money became available and so uh >> but it's it's minimal if it does cost. >> Yeah, it's $2. It would be $2 if it were
if that were to change. So anyway, it's it's an effort to kind of get uh a little more high-profile uh exposure for that service here in town, which will go and do everything. Our town our town van service is very good but it really focus focuses on medical uh services and has
limited numbers of time during the week that it operates. So it really has to focus on that and KADA will take you anywhere within its for you know wherever you want to go within its service reason region which is very similar to what our services. So uh
that's what the story is with the seniors and I guess that's it. You'll speak about the K. Sorry. >> Yeah. Just to that point, I think, you know, we were on two different vans. They were both like extremely clean and accessible. >> You went out on one and came back on another one. So,
>> both drivers were very personable and and careful drivers. Uh we had really good conversation about, you know, the value in using the service. you know, the fact that you don't have to worry about parking, you don't have to worry about driving, you don't have to worry
about u a number of a number of elements and you get to, you know, chat with the folks that you're going on uh to lunch with or >> um you know, maybe meet some new people, but there's a lot of value in it and we're going to try to promote that through a through an article uh next
week. So, >> yeah, the band's hold 12 people and so we were seven. So, that was good. So, a couple things. Let's see. On bike and ped, they have been working with the Rotary Club on a fall community fundraiser.
Um, a bike biking fundraiser. So, um I guess the Rotary is taking the lead on this and just looking for input from bike and ped. So, they may be coming to us at some point for approval of something because I think Masco is the hub. Um it would include a children's
obstacle course, an eight mile family ride and a longer route to Essex. So again, Bike and P is just supporting it. The Rotary seems to be driving that. Um also the recent kids pan mass challenge had very strong support from the
community. 54 kids had registered and there was possibly a hundred additional raised 8 to10,000. Um, I believe the they also the the bike and bed committee also recently provided support for the brick sidewalk program.
I missed that meeting where they actually discussed the brick sidewalk program. Mark gave a um presentation. Mark Resnik to bike and ped to support um brick sidewalks in the downtown. But I I missed that particular conversation
so I didn't get the specifics on that. Um >> I I did too. I know I know that he talked about potentially um bringing it to you tonight, but we ended up uh pushing it to our next meeting because still had some more
>> communication to do with >> DPW. Okay. Yeah, I'm interested in learning more about that. Um you know, as a lady who sometimes wears heels, I'm always hesitant on the cobblestones and the bricks, but I'm sure it can be done in such a way that we won't increase our
risk for falls. Um let's see what else. Um I think uh so the bike and ped committee also um is participating in the upcoming coastal cleanup with the sustainability committee on September 21st and also they are going to be either are
or going to be performing walk audits. So just going around looking at our local sidewalks for the conditions and bike accommodations. I guess kind of just taking a look seeing an inventory, you know, what what is what's the state of the land out there. So that's um
that's in a bike and ped uh the facilities planning committee. We um Chuck and Nate gave us a nice tour of fire station, police station, and Essex's public safety building. Um, and
this Friday we're going to uh our DPW Rockport new DPW and the proposed DPW site on School Street. So, um, I happen to write a lot of things down. I took a lot of notes about requirements and
there are definitely some opportunities where I think we just need to think a little bit differently and not assume we need some of the space we already have. For example, uh the police department downstairs, they have this area where they have all of these old archive
documents. Well, there are other ways of handling that rather than building a room or space for that in a new police station. You know, you can have the documents uh offloaded to Iron Mountain or some other supplier which does document storage as
a business. Um or you can digitize them, whatever. So there what I tried to look at when we got our tours is tried to think about what are the requirements we might need to push on a little bit and also um when we toured the new Essex
facility um made note of tried to make note of some lessons learned both positive and you know things they would do differently so we can take advantage of that. But the tours are very helpful and I thank Tony, you and Chuck and everybody for putting them pulling them
all together because they are really really helpful. >> That's it. >> U the um you heard Cher >> what you didn't hear was actually what happened
and apparently the two kids were not swimming initially. when they were uh playing some kind of football or ball and a wave came in and took the kids feet out and dragged them out and that's
what happened. So, uh you know, it wasn't like they were out there. They thought they were safe. >> Yeah. >> So, that's something that uh that what we saw was was excellent, you know, response. >> The carnival, they approved the carnival. uh they will be before us
probably next meeting because uh the potential exists that the Legion is going to get involved with alcohol. So they want to get uh just submit one application. Uh it'll be a fundraiser for the Legion
as well. And um been just the discussions have evolved about actually maybe in the future creating an entire homecoming week starting with because the Cardboard boat races the uh previous Sunday and they're doing something
throughout creating a homecoming week and ending it with the carnival. >> Uh discussions with the the Masons about moving their lobster bake to that weekend as opposed to what it was two weeks ago and everyone's on board. It seems like it could be a committee. >> Which weekend is the
>> That's the after the boat race. >> So the uh this year the Cowboy boat race is the 12th. So it'll be the Friday, Saturday, Sunday following that. >> So it usually right after uh >> Columbus right after the top pill ends. >> I was going to say you don't it doesn't
compete with the top. >> Uh so that's going on. So we should see that uh next meeting. uh the naming of the fields uh they've followed the recommendations and uh as far as
publishing it I think it's on the website and they'll be uh they've got it narrowed down to two names at this point and uh we'll be presenting hopefully be able to present something to us in the not too distant future what their recommendations are on that.
Uh there's a pickle ball tournament during September 20th. So keep your eyes and ears open for that. >> And um that's it for uh and wreck. Uh ZBA didn't have anything
the month of uh >> August and I I haven't seen what they've got planned for uh that's three weeks away. So that's what I got. Thank you. I don't have too much. We heard from the planning board. Uh Harvard advisory
won't meet till week after next next week. Um Essex Techwise, we welcomed the freshman class of 538 kids, our biggest class to date. Um
which was good. We finished our superintendent director evaluation and Dr. Richio got a great exemplary and we're still waiting on the terms of a possible lottery situation for next year
um from the state. So we haven't >> they they're going back and forth. >> I've been asked about uh Manchester's enrollment to the uh >> yeah 530 in this class >> in the freshman class. That's the biggest ever. >> Uh
>> that's a lot of kids. >> Yeah. How many kids? How many towns and communities have >> seven? Well, 17 member districts and then but it's really like 53 all together. >> And how many Manchester Essex kids are
in that class? >> I don't know. We don't I haven't got the numbers yet. So, they won't give me that for another. >> So, but again, that question first week in October percolate as to what the statuses of that, >> right? So, we're in a holding pattern
right now. There's too many questions and no answers. >> Yeah. >> I think um the school committee is meeting now. Um and um
the finance committee hasn't got itself organized yet. Um, but I did go to a board health meeting um where they uh approved a shared septic system for
a house that's at the end of toward the end of Harbor Street where there's a house and a and a carriage house. And the carriage house has been used for storage. They want to turn it into an actual house that doesn't have any land. They eventually decided that they could
share the septic system with the main house which is large enough has enough capacity. So a little more housing without um doing anything other than approving the septic system. I guess there are
probably other things that need to be I think they've got plenty more approval but there's undoubtedly something else that they need to go for. Um and the gates have got another 30 days. Um they the there was an interior
inspection as people have speculated. There's evidence of supporting um and um they their lawyer is taking a strong interest in in moving things along. um but didn't have
he didn't know of a moving a company that came in and cleaned out um years of of say junk. >> I've seen the commercials point and it all goes away. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Anyway, um I don't it's unlikely that
Jake Gates will have completed everything on the inspection report in 30 days. On the other hand, as long as they seem to be making >> they're moving. I drive by there frequently. Um I saw a dumpster out there last week, which I was surprised. I didn't think we allowed dumpsters on the street, but I'm making an exception
on. But um there was activity. I saw some new siding um going to go up. So I I definitely think there's repairs being made. To what extent, you know, I can't tell just looks like they're moving along. So >> yeah. So, um I I think as long as they
continue to make progress, um >> when is our town when is the town's next visual inspection planned? I don't know if there is another visual inspection planned. >> I think that they >> right now they were just getting updates
on a weekly basis >> uh from the owners of the property. >> And I have forgotten when their their next meeting is, but it's in the third week. >> You should have some evidence though because like I said, you can only see
certain things from the outside, right? and that's that for me. Um, do I have uh Okay, I think I move that the going off
the consent agenda. I move that the select order the consent agenda items A, B, and C. >> Second >> discussion. Yes, >> webstain says yes. >> Yes.
>> Okay. Um >> yeah, you ready? I move that the select board approve the special event permit for the Manchester Essex Rotary for Singing Beach on September 13, 2025 with a rain date of September 14th, 2025
with a condition to contact the board of health for any necessary permits they require. Second. >> Okay. John, >> yes. >> Says yes. >> Abstain. >> Yes. >> Okay.
Um, administration. >> All right. So, uh, first just a quick update on trash. Uh, we are still, uh, only receiving curbside collection for trash and not receiving curbside collection for
recycling. Chuck and I have a call with uh Dan, which is the this region's director, who's been on a lot of the uh municipal calls uh that I've been on, but this is going to be more of a direct
conversation. Uh we we have noticed that there are other communities that are receiving some sort of recycling uh collection. Uh, and Beverly Beverly received a permit from D that allowed recycling and
trash to be mixed. Um, so they're able to do it all together. Uh, IPS switch I think is receiving some curbside collection. Um, but it's unclear really, you know, how consistent that is and what their ability is to provide some
collection for us. uh you know a lot of the communities that are getting that service don't have a transfer station um and are experiencing uh more impact than than we are. Uh so we're you know continue to encourage our
residents to use the transfer station. It continues to be open on extended hours. Um, but we are trying to receive some sort of uh curbside collection for recycling, even if it's in a one every
couple week type schedule. Uh, we've are not pleased with the services that we're receiving from Republic at the moment. Uh, it's been two months, you know, that they've been in this strike. And leading up to July 1st back in June, uh
they told every M, you know, all the 14 municipalities that we that we would not experience any interruption in service and they were planning, you know, to have uh supplementary service installer staff to
to uh install that. Uh they've obviously dealt with a lot of um delays because of the strike, because of activities of the strike or delaying the efficiency of their collection. Uh but we want to speak, you know, directly to them about
the needs here in Manchester. Uh we also want to talk to them about uh the they are owe us a bill for July. Um they've talked about reducing the bill uh to eliminate the cost of recycle
uh curbside collection costs that didn't occur. Uh but I think it goes a little bit beyond that and we want to have a discussion about that as well. Supposedly on the strike they met with teamsters on Thursday but we haven't gotten an update on on where that went.
I believe they've involved a uh mediator. Um, so we'll see. We'll see what's happening there. Also, when I spoke with Andrew at Black Earth, uh, he was we've we've had a lot of complaints about, um, the queue, you know, when a
lot of people when a lot of the residents are going there, um, it could be improved. Also, some uh, complaints that there's uh, people have seen non-residents or people without stickers potentially dropping trash or recycling there. So, you know, stepping up
enforcement. Really need to have the resident sticker to be able to use the transfer station. So, he's going to work on that as well. >> It is it is awkward going in there. >> And the compost side, too, is awesome. So, it it needs some finetuning. There's
no doubt about it. >> So, he's he's going to try he has a couple different ideas. He said he's going to try over the next two to three weeks. Um if if we see an improvement, great. If not, we're going to get a little bit more involved in what that
the fine-tuning of that uh setup. >> Yeah. Um uh on Gordon College, it was uh there was an article in the Cricut uh regarding a meeting that the town had with Gordon College about a possible uh
residential development on their property. a group of um uh you know Manchester volunteers or appointed officials of different committees uh met with Gordon a week ago
or so now or two weeks ago now. Uh it was the first time that this group has met with Gordon. Uh it's very early in the process. Uh there's still a lot of uh details and uh to be worked out. Uh the the
uh exchange or the transaction of the property hasn't been finalized yet. Uh but I will say that you know we are pleased that Gordon is uh inviting us into the room uh in the early phases of the of the conversation. uh we'll be
having some more internal conversations and conversations with Gordon uh about those details and you know want to they they are looking for our input. So that's that's a good uh start to the process. Um but we want residents to
know that we're it's very early in the in the process and that we're going to continue to work with them and ensure that there is public communication around the project. uh senior center. I received a status update from Kinetic. This is the
consultant that we hired to do a fundraising feasibility study. Uh they found they got excellent results. They had over 124 responses which includes 30 plus interviews and 90 plus survey responses. They believe that
our fundraising could be accomplished in a 12-month period. Um, also Chuck and Nate and I tooured the Mason's building uh last week. Uh, so it was good to get in there and see the layout of the existing facility. Uh,
we're working uh with the Masons to make progress on the condo docks. Uh, we want to get those condo docks uh accomplished as soon as possible so that the fundraising campaign can start shortly thereafter. And then I'll be
meeting with the council on aging board on the 10th. I've met with the friends a few times uh with John. I've been trying to speak with some other communities who have a senior center about the job
description of their uh COA director. >> So and and my next step is to get input from the COA board. So I really want to get input from the board before we put that job description out. It's important that we update that to include the future
uh, you know, vision of the of the Council on Aging, you know, and the senior center and whatever type of programming that might be included with that. Uh, we have a touch a truck event on Saturday, September 20th from 11 to
12:30 here in the town hall parking lot. Also, the board of health has their annual flu clinic on Wednesday, September 24th from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the American Legion Hall. Uh, registration can be done online. Also,
if you have any issues with registering online, you can call the town hall, speak to either Council on Aging or um uh if you need a high dose or the board of health uh will help register residents for the clinic. Uh for the
fire department, we have our ladder truck is back in service uh after some necessary repairs. And also the fire department and the police department hosted a school slush event uh last week on the 28th which was very well attended. Um
Kathy spoke about the facility planning committee already. Uh on Monday the 25th, uh uh both Chiefs and I went over to Essex uh for a an event with Congressman
Molton uh to talk about the importance of federal funding for preparing for potential natural disasters. Also, uh we uh last week um members of the Affordable Housing Trust, Mark Resnik and I uh met with Senator Tar and
Secretary Augustus of uh Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to talk about um the Powder House uh property and how to what our next steps are in order to get those properties included in the SHI.
Um, we also talked a lot about the need for assistance financially or technical assistance with our housing authority. Um, and there the uh secretary spoke to us at length about a lot of the new programs and funding opportunities that
that the state has put forward. So, uh, we will the affordable housing trust will try to work with the housing authority to educate them on, you know, what those options are. uh and a lot of them are specific to improving existing
facilities and finding partners to help uh with that process. Um on the 27th and John uh Chief uh Fitzgerald and I went over to um Carolyn
Anderson's house to present her the Boston Post can uh at 99 99 years old. Uh she's the second woman to receive the cane. She was extremely excited to have us there.
Uh she was um you know smiling, laughing, exchanging stories. It was a really cool event and I think she really appreciated that. Um and then uh we talked about Kada but uh so I'll
skip that and municipal aggregation. Uh Tiffany and I met with Colonial Power. Uh our municipal aggregation plan has been approved by the state. So now we're talking about what the next steps are as far as ex you know seeking or soliciting
uh pricing, executing a contract and then rolling that out to the residents. I we'll put that on the agenda for the next meeting. Uh hopefully Colonial Power can be here. Um a couple of things for us to think about. uh one is
they're soliciting indicative pricing. Now when we go to uh executable pricing when they get that pricing it's a very quick turnaround because it changes so quickly. So we'll need the board to
authorize myself to be able to execute that contract in a quick fashion when we get that pricing. Um when you go when you roll out municipal aggregation, typically towns will present to their residents a default plan, a
uh and then two other optional plans and an opt out option. Uh some towns the default plan would be uh either the least expensive uh supply of energy. Some towns will
have the default plan be a mix of some clean energy and some not. And then some will use the default plan to be the most clean uh supply option. It also happens to be the most expensive. And then you your residents have the choice of either
do nothing and get the default plan or switch to one of the other options or opt out completely and just stay with National Grid. Uh in my opinion if if or unsolicited recommendation I think that the default should be the cheapest
option. >> Yeah. >> And you give residents the option to pay more for cleaner energy. >> I agree. >> Yeah. So >> aging population. >> Yeah. >> I think it's I think it's you know it's important to promote the op the
opportunity to uh pay for cleaner energy but I think it shouldn't be the default. >> Right. So Um, so that's that's my my report. I was going to do a two week look ahead, but given the time I'll I'll wrap it up
there. >> I can always do a recap of the night. >> By the way, >> second. >> All in favor? >> I >> Great. >> Good.