it being 6:30 and I would like to follow the meeting in Manchester by the city select board to order. Jeff here, Brian here. Kathy here and is here and John is here. Um, this meeting is being recorded.
Are there any public comments and items not on the agenda? There anybody online that would I see that on my Yeah. Does Greg us Greg usually log into the Zoom?
All right, let me pull that up. I can't do two things at once. That's fine. Yeah, I'm used to it. Good.
Um, apparently there is none. Um, the chairman's report is that trash has not been picked up on Harbor Street, Ridge Street.
Um, it's been um variable. Like on Pine Street, we had trash picked up and not recycling. Some streets had both picked up it looks like and some had one or Mine was picked up. Well, not mine personally but my neighbors. My bag was too heavy and they
they picked up by recycling but not like some stuff is getting done but it's so it's halfhazard. Yeah, it's kind of that but it's happened. Is that just today's collection? Yeah. Yeah. Most of Pine Street is still
there. All the recycling. Yeah. Yeah. Lower pine had trash picked up. The more or less western side of the town, okay, gets picked up on Monday and the rest of the town gets picked up on Tuesday. And
I heard that the union was not blocking trucks in Gloucester, but you would hear more. Yeah. So um well as we all know uh Republic Union went on strike on uh at
midnight of the 30th of June. Uh so on Tuesday uh our trash had been picked up on Monday and then on Tuesday uh our DPW uh did the collection. Um and this week we've been notified by
Republic that they would have their secondary crew. Uh and you know it should be collection should be happening as usual Monday and Tuesday both trash and recycling. Uh they are working with a backup crew
who isn't used to the route. Um they may not have as many people. Uh so if there is, you know, we want to know if there's any roads not being picked up so that maybe we can get have them pick them up tomorrow. If not, we have to come up
with some other um arrangement, but we we did expect there to be some some hurdles with this uh backup crew installed first, you know. Um this is Merlene Dolan. We
live up on Woodrest Road. Um hi Ann, hi everybody. And um I just wanted you to know the same thing with Kathy is up here, which is that um trash picked up, yes, recycling, no. And I know that we are on the same schedule as Craft's
Court, so I think we're all on uh what Ann said. So if we need to take it all in, that's perfectly fine. Um we're happy to do so. Thank you. I can see it spilling over to Wednesday. Maybe. Yeah. Um,
it's just the raccoons. Trash bags. They'll be accepting bags at the transfer station on Wednesday, the regular time. Yep. Okay.
Okay. Um, action items. Did we get a new version of the action items? I didn't see it. No, I didn't see it either. You didn't get seven. So, the action items in the packet are from May.
It was not an updated. I'm looking at it online right now. Yeah. Oh, I must have grabbed the wrong I must have printed one and I grabbed the wrong but the one online is fine. Yes. That is really weird. So, um, for today
we I think originally had a discussion on an update on Newport Parking. I think John it says owner John. Yes. The short-term bylaw review or proposed bylaw. Um so we're going to get that on the agenda at some point. Roles and
responsibilities for downtown improvement which we do have on the agenda. Um MBTA 3A task force dis dissolution. We have that on the agenda. And that was it for today. So the two things that were missing from the agenda are the Newport parking Newport parking
and short-term bylaw. Shortterm. Yeah. short-term rental bylaw. Um and and given that that Tony is coming up to speak, um it the Newport thing is a little complicated and we need a lot of
thought on the short-term rental, right? I think what would be helpful though is um a discussion on how we want to proceed so we can maybe give Tony some guidance on that. When we left off with Greg, we talked about some other towns
that had some interesting recent adaptations like Province Town was one. Um, Greg had mentioned another one and I just don't remember which is a much bigger town. Cohen, I don't know. I don't remember. Province Town was the one I had brought to his attention, but I don't remember what the other one was
because we we have a lot of short-term rentals on um Airbnbs or whatever, and we're not managing them at all right now. Yep. Supposed to be licensed um if they're six days or less. Um
the state uses 30 days as a short term and we think we should be closer to the 30 days. Um so and there's a slight remnant of family compounds
where um greatgrandfather built the place and now we're at all second cousins and kind of keeping it going. Right. And I I think we don't want to discourage that, but we don't want um all of our housing turned into
short-term rentals. Right. Right. Well, I had um the pleasure of uh going through this process in the hut. Okay. Um we had a it started with um a town meeting town meeting action to adopt the local uh
hotels tax and to create a short-term rental bylaw advisory committee. Uh that lasted a little bit over a year. And then they proposed a uh it was a zoning and a general bylaw at town
meeting. Mhm. Um and then once that was approved work through the process of the board uh the select board establishing a uh rules regulations um in accordance with the bylaws that
were passed uh you know the we went with 28 days because of February. Um uh but the the the building code is a big piece of it especially now new building code and depending on the number of bedrooms that
you have and certain type of safety requirements that are required uh that becomes a part of the subject. Um but safety was a was a big element of it for us. you know, you have um often times it's someone who's not
familiar with the property that they're renting and god forbid there was any sort of emergency, they're not they may not be familiar, right? Or even how to get out or um or even if they're not the main person renting the property, they might
not even know the address, you know. Yeah. uh so if they have to call for help. Um another thing is you know ensuring that the person who's you know really it comes down to good management of it and
making sure that the place is safe that the that the manager is being responsive to any issues that are coming up. Um you know neighborhood uh impact was a big element of that too. Um right. So,
um, could you distribute to all of us the bylaw, the zoning, and the regulations? Yep. So, we can just we can just take that and tailor to our needs. Yeah. Okay.
SLM Manchester, be a good starting point. You know, these other towns have already done it. We don't have to. Thank you. Yeah. Great. Great. Um, is that it for action items? Oh, the parking Newport Newport. I I can report on that now. Our leaison,
but why don't I just report on that right now. Um, the DPW is, as you know, moved around where these parking slots were for people who want to access Powder House Hill. They've been moved, I don't know, about 50 yards from where they initially had thought. Uh, they
have a plot plan as to how that would work. And right now that sits with the uh with the housing authority and the housing authorities's um director executive director recently
retired or left etc. They found a new person from Gloucester whom they like or at least I spoke one of the one of the trustees and he said yeah she seems like a pretty good person. I think she's only started like two or three weeks ago. So, this plan has been sitting with them for a month, and I'm not saying this is the
most high priority item for her, but she's got to get to it. But that's where it stands. I think that the DPW has been waiting for them to get back now for probably about three weeks. How many spots are there? Two. Two. Just two. Yeah.
But they were going to be right at the end at the entrance. And I you kind of know Newport Park's layout. Yeah. And they were going to be right at the entrance where you walk up the hill and is access for trucks and cars etc. needed and now it's going to be really
opposite the little circle of the rotary. There is space directly behind that. So it's close. It's 25 up against a path. It's not a Yeah, it's within 25 30 yards of the entrance. What's another depends who's depends whose dog you're
talking about. Exactly. I was just thinking that choice but not much exercise. Um so we go on to the regular agenda. Um the first item is the committee interview with James Hoffman. Um
yes me. That would be you. Um we've we've read your application. Um, I would like to hear you explain for a couple of minutes what you think you would you would bring to the conservation commission and uh you know
the usual question is do you have enough time to do this? Yeah, sure. Uh happy to do that. So uh I moved to my family moved my wife and I moved to Manchester by the Sea just uh about two years ago. Uh we lived in
Welssley for 20 years. Uh and then moved out to California, Monterey Peninsula for five years and then um moved back few years ago and lived on Sawmill Circle and then built a house on
Eaglehead for which just finished and um we're both from Wisconsin originally. uh and I worked at Wellington management in Boston my whole my whole career but I've uh retired from there and uh I have
aggra business still on the west coast but uh I definitely have the time and the interest in serving on the commission. Uh I was introduced to the idea by another resident who who who definitely felt I had free time and and
the capacity and the uh skills to to serve and uh uh I do have a passion for uh conservation property. Uh the farm that I have has about 25 acres of uh of mixed woodlands on the Wamtt River and
uh I farmed most of the farm organically and uh have have done some innovative things on on introducing pollinators to um commercial farming to increase um natural pollination for blueberries uh
which is one of the crops I grow and uh have joined the Xeri Society which is about pollinators and so it's it's been a passion of mine and uh um so when I thought about how I could help out the town um you know that was a big element
for me my my career has been in real estate so from the other side of the perspective I'm pretty familiar with commercial real estate all property types and uh I've worked with a lot of developers I'm on the investor side so
uh you know we view on the investor side, you view glasses half empty and the developer is always half full and you're kind of always trying to meet in the middle and adjust for risk and and see things uh happen in an economic
productive way but uh kind of protecting the capital and and the risk. So uh I I do have kind of a I think it's about process and and uh you know what the rules are and making sure they're equitably applied. But in this case, in
the conservation commission, there's the overriding principle of protecting water and protecting the resources, which I think everybody in Manchester by the Sea really respects. That's why that's why we're here. That's why we were drawn to the area and uh it's kind of the crown
jewel of the community, the water outside our window, the streams, and uh so um you know, I think I can I can contribute. Uh I met a few people on the committee and went on one of their field trips already and uh seemed like a good
group that uh that I could I could work with and uh so that's kind of my story. Guess any questions? No, it sounds like he's very qualified and uh thank you for stepping up.
Go ahead. And so you met with Steve? Yeah. Yep, I'm good. He's okay. I'm good. I don't know what he thought, but he's never heard from him, so I guess that's a good thing. He let you know.
No, I just uh I agree. I I like the two sides to the coin. You know, you can look at these applications that come before you, those um two different perspectives, the real estate side and the action side. So, I I like that quite a bit. So, thank you. Actually, can I just ask
Oh, sure. Yeah. Uh, mass pass lawn law. You'll be able to get up to speed on that. Uh, you know, I think it's going to be a learning curve. I mean, there's I think anyone who's been around to be an expert, but Yeah. I mean, I've had to deal with things like aspesus and everything else
and you you you do have to kind of look to the engineers and some of the consultants to tell you exactly what the law is and not your gut reaction to something. uh and then you know seek to read it three times but uh and it's ever
changing but those are the kinds of things you know in in the securities business too you know you you're heavily regulated you've got to take the pains to understand what the rules are and follow the rules yeah Jim your avocation and vocational
background I think are very good fits uh time is a factor here I know that the conservation commission gets thicker packets that they have to look at before every meeting more than any other committee. A lot of drawings and background and that sort of thing. So, there's a lot of reading that goes into
all of that. I paid for one of those. Yeah. At the house. after a whole meeting where they've went through five of them and it's uh that was daunting that that's why uh I've been here for a year and a half before you already
know what's going on with all I think I think I saw one of the things on your agenda item about the virtual versus in person and uh I I think you get more attendance by people being patch in and uh some of those meetings can go pretty long. Yeah. Yeah. there's a lot of info that
you want to be able just have a few times to look at it and blow it up, see what you've got. I think that helps done. Well, it's good that you've not only attended a meeting but also field trips which are fairly common for that particular committee. So, they
way to see the town plugged in in a hurry. Thanks for volunteering. I can almost second everyone's thank you for for volunteering. I think you would be great in leadership commission. Thank you. Ready for a motion? Yes.
I move the board appoint James Hoffman as a member of the Conservation Commission for a term to expire on June 30th, 2028. Second. Further discussion. John, yes. H says yes. Kathy, yes. Brian, yes.
And Jeff, yes. Thank you very much. Great. Appreciate it, Jim. I'm I'm I'm impressed that you came to the commission after having been on the other side of the desk. Thank you. Okay.
Um the next candidate is Brandon Lamp here and ah okay. um parks and wack um part of it. I've recently gotten into coaching and so we've been using the
facilities a lot. I coached the winter basketball travel team out alive done some other things. Um I grew up here so I was coach field playground. I was like my grandparents like great grandparents all sorts of things. my mom would, you
know, live with the same if my kids would have been if CO didn't cancel a year, my kids, me and my mom all would have gone to the same elementary school. So, it's so I have a long history in the town. Um, I'm very impressed with what
they've done like as as their program has evolved since I was a kid and I was here. Um, I'm not someone who looks to change anything. Um I teach um I facilitate EQ stuff for my company like I work for a large Fortune 500 company.
It's something I enjoy doing. I don't I'm measured in my decision but you know I try to to very much you know gather the facts before you make anything. And uh I and I'm I'm not looking to shake the world. I'm looking to support the people that are already in place. Um and
I because I think it's a good program and I'm just happy to do something. I have a 10 and 12 year old, so they're going to their girls, which um think about it, when I was a child, no girls program, nothing like that, right? And
coaching girls basketball has been kind of eye opening to how it like they can be what, you know what I mean? They they get to go through that same thing because I think it was only softball, you know what I mean? When I was a kid and now I'm very I'm happy to see it, especially because of my own interest. I have
girls, so I have to be in that situation. Um, happy to answer any questions. Yeah. Yeah. Look, your background, I mean, you certainly know what's going on here. Can we assume that you know all of the folks that are on the park and wreck uh committee and you're familiar with the
programs. You did say you're an emotional intelligence inert. Can you help me with my tennis game? He's going only if you can calm down and realize it and gather all the information before you hit the ball back which you know you know kind of instinct.
A lot of contingencies there. So is this your first committee? Uh yes, I have volunteered before and I think Hannah especially was like I thought I liked the process, it was okay and then she kind of at the meeting was one of the one of the only people like thank
you for even coming up and asking and it it might have not been in my wheelhouse and that might have been the thing she I don't know I mean you kids are what you say 10 and 12 that's an age age where I say I got a little bit of my time back maybe I can do something. Yeah and so that's that's great. So thanks
for volunteering. well qualified. Thank you for stepping up. No questions. Go ahead. I'm still baffled by an emotional intelligence instructor. I've had Brandon on the basketball court, you know, so I've known him for a
while. I'm not a yeller, right? No. No. Because you you seem to have uh contained your emotional uh basketball intelligence. Exactly. Thank you. Jeff, I mean, I've known Brandon forever, so
Oh, yeah. He's definitely a team player. Uh we've worked together on all kinds of stuff, so any any uh board would be lucky to have him. Thank you, Br. Okay. Thank you. Ready for a motion?
Yes. I move that the board appoint Brandon Lir as a member of the parks and recreation committee for a term to expire on June 30th, 2028. Second. John, yes. Says yes. Kathy, yes. Brian, yes. And Jeff,
yes. Thank you. Thank you. Good. Thank you. Appreciate it. Um I think Debbie you said that Miranda Y will be next
next meeting. Okay. The next question is the water and sewer bill abatement for Mr. Jewel at 5 Court. Um is he is he?
I don't know. Let me see if he's online. I can provide some. Sorry about that. Here you are. Here I am. So, um, having not approached the, uh, um, the select board before from this
path anyway, um, I'm not quite sure the best way to start. Do you have any background on this at all? At this point, um, we have, uh, something in our packets, um, from, I assume, Tony and
and Chuck. Um, and we have your original letter. Okay. And um I guess Go ahead, Tony. Why don't you explain what the
your the approach that you would take? Well, so um the there is a uh am I is it Juel, Mr. Juul? Yes. Um Dick is just fine. All right. So, uh, the residents did
experience a spike in usage in their last bill compared to the same bill cycle for a five-year uh average where typically they were seeing around 1,500
cubic feet and this past uh cycle it was around 2400 cubic feet. Um, so there certainly was a spike. It was an actual read, so it's not an estimated amount of consumption. Um, Mr. Juul reached out to
our DPW department to seek an abatement. Uh, typically, you know, for the town from the town's perspective, we want to see a resolution to whatever caused that spike in usage
before we provide an abatement so that it doesn't continue to occur. Um, you know, many times we have to explain to the resident that, you know, if you find a leak and fix it, that actually is a good thing for us. It shows us that the
problem is fixed and we're happy to do the abatement. Uh, I know Mr. Juel was provided tabs, blue tabs that'll help detect if there's a leak with a toilet. Um, but there could be a leak somewhere else. Uh so I don't believe unless uh
Mr. Juul has different information, I don't believe a plumber has gone out to see if there's any leak in his system. Uh I would like to see uh a plumber, you know, uh take a look at it at the home and make sure that the issue is
resolved. Um, and we also have uh we could also now that the new meters are uh in stock, which wasn't the case I think when this officially originally came to our attention, we could put a new meter in there to get a
better, you know, dayto-day read to understand um that as well. Okay. So um Dick uh so the uh I I will fill in a little bit
and that is you know unfortunately we we don't have anything to show why it might have happened you know other than sharing in good faith that we we've been um you know for the past 30 years consistently using about the same amount
of water. We tried we did the die tab test and nothing was there. Uh we looked at all of the connections in the house in terms both inside and outside though we do have two meters um one for the in one for the out um and saw no evidence
of any place that there would be quote a leak that would account for almost doubling from the low end u uh our usage during that period of time. Um, so I feel like I'm kind of stuck between a
rock and a hard place. I don't have a an ability to say, "Oh, that was the reason why." You know, we just don't have that. So, typically, you know, meters a meter's going to on an actual read, a meter is not going to run unless water
actually passes through it. It's possible that the meter needs to be calibrated. Mhm. Uh we would we're coming up I think to the next quarter of reads. So that may confirm an issue.
Um but as of right now, you know, there's no there's no um evidence of an issue that led to the high use that's been resolved. I assume that the bill differentiates between the indoor use and the outdoor
use. Yes, it's actually a separate bill for the in the out 2 meter thing. So the um and the the excess was on the indoor use. Correct. And the only other the other thought that came to mind, the first thought
that came to mind was what were the dirty water incidences in that period of time? I couldn't remember any. I asked EPW, I mean the water department, and they did not recall that because I know when there's
dirty water, we run to get the dirt out of the street pipe out. Sometimes we just run the outside, but sometimes it gets into the inside. We run the inside. But I don't remember that happening.
No. And I don't I asked I asked too. I don't think that there was any other uh households in this area that experienced a spike in use, which would have been likely indicated that we asked people to run the water, right?
So, so would a good first step be to get the new meters installed in Mr. Jules property? Yep. I think that's going on. That that would be a good way to see at the top if there's an issue. So, there was there was a suggestion on the
floor and I I don't recall where it came from in terms of a plumbing a plumber taking a look uh at our systems to find out uh if indeed there is a leak. Um that's an expense that we would incur.
and um we're both retired and anyway um I'm not quite sure what that's going to tell us that we didn't already determine ourselves but I'm not a plumber so I guess I'll leave it at that
we're not opposed to the abatement we just want to find out we're not going to be giving quarterly abates right right I I understand yeah you've obviously discussed this with the DPW. When they have folks that have problems like this that come to them
from time to time, we don't see most of them to be honest. They're kind of resolved there. So, how how did how did how was it left with Chuck and Nate and Sue? Well, I I spoke directly with Sue from the beginning right when we first got
the bill and raised the issue with her and she looked and said, "You're right. That is quite different from all the ones from before." And um then she brought that uh and I said, "Well, you know, how do we go about uh an abatement?" And she said, "I'll need to
talk to Chuck about that." And she got back to me and said um that we would need to present this to you folks u for resolution that they they she didn't say why they couldn't do anything. They they just
said that our next step was to approach the select board. So, here we are. That occurred before I was Yep. In the future, I would uh hopefully come up with a resolution before it comes to your attention, but I
do think, you know, we can certainly read his existing meter, add put in a new meter, but you know, and I I I think it's we all understand that the the abatement process usually is, you know, tied to a resolution. So, let's see if
we can investigate a little bit better. These old older meters, it's really hard to know without that daily consumption data. Yeah. What occurred and and the new meters will give you basically hour by hour. So, you can look for something still
running at two in the morning. Right. Right. Uh so that would be my suggestion is uh you let let's investigate it further by either reading the current meter again or installing a new meter and then I'll
work with Chuck on you know processing. I get a plumber in there somehow. Find out what's going on. Well, something could have been left something could have been left on and now it's off. Yeah, the new uh going
forward this won't happen going forward. We have no problem here with the pavement, but let's get the new meter in place to make sure that we're not going to be doing this again, right? And then we can address uh you know that last quarter.
That's the way I feel. Okay. So not offer an abatement immediately. But if there haven't offered yet, change change the meter as quickly as possible. Monitor the usage. Um and if there is continuous use,
then I think they need to get they need to get a plumber. So and then additionally what I would recommend to Mr. Juel is to if he hasn't yet to pay the bill and then the abatement will basically be a credit
towards a future bill because the longer that bill is outstanding it grows interest. So it's better to pay it and then go through the process of the abatement and if it's approved it would be provided in the in the form of a credit.
Okay, I understand. At the time uh when I was speaking with Sue Taylor uh I I raised the issue of the bill being due shortly and she said well don't worry about that we will go through the process and then we'll address that but based on what you've said I mean we paid
for the outside service bill which was pennies well not pennies but compared to this bill the winter quarter nothing going on right you get it well I think we paid for a meter and $7 a quarter. I don't know
the tale of the winter quarter. No. All right. So, I'll follow up with Mr. Jewel and and Chuck. Okay. Okay. And and um I didn't see I heard the voice, but I didn't see who was talking and who who's doing it.
Tony. Oh, Tony. I have not met you, only seen you and heard about you. So, great. Uh, yep. We'll we'll I'm have your contact with uh I'll get your contact information from the DBW. We'll connect.
Okay. It is all of that is in the copy of my original letter to Greg. Yes. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Thank you. You're very welcome. Thank you. Thank I will I I will just wait for the next uh communication to me
and then we'll move we'll take our steps. Okay. Thanks. Thank you. Thanks for your time. Appreciate it. Um the next item is a very small one. Um,
Chuck has sent a letter to the state um recommending a potential by potential law that will I think break up the drought measurement from all of Essex County to individual
water um management groups. And I think that's a good thing. And we should that that the select board should also send a letter. That's neat. Um I move that the select
board sign a letter supporting House Bill 108. Second. Discussion. John. Yes. Yeah. Says yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Do you happen to have a copy of that letter?
Good. Okay. Roles and responsibilities for the downtown improvement planning committee on downtown revitalization. Yes. I ask that this agenda item be put on. It's actually currently the downtown improvement projects committee, but after we have our discussion on roles
and responsibility, we have a proposed rebranding of the committee itself. Um, so basically, you know, with all of the discussion on the um downtown revitalization, um we just wanted to make sure everybody
understands what the planning board responsibility is, what the select board responsibility is, and what the downtown improvement projects committee um is responsible for. They were originally chartered as more of a beautifification committee for the downtown,
but in recent months, probably six months to a year or so, they've really pivoted and tried to work with businesses to um help our downtown be healthy for the business community. So I would like if with your permission, Madam Chair, would like Steve Carheart
to kind of familiarize the board with what they've been doing and what they would like to continue to do. Sure. Which might be slightly different than their current charter. Yeah. Yes. Thanks very much. Um yeah, this uh we started of course with the project and we have continued to move forward
the project. Uh we've been working with DPW to provide a very detailed plan which we briefed to the board about a year and a half ago. If I recall correctly, um we have at the request of
successive chairs uh become involved with a number of other things. Uh uh for instance, we were very much involved with the complete streets projects trying to do public outreach feedback, minor detail refinements. Uh we have
been involved in uh working on uh increasing parking uh enforcement uh to help businesses have turnover in front of their their facilities. Uh we've worked on getting uh public restrooms.
Uh we worked on improving signage and wayfinding. uh we try to fi to to find a sweet spot between uh being totally collegial and also being insistent enough that that uh the uh elected leaders and the municipal employees
understand that these kinds of things are important. Uh more recently we have been invited to have members on the resilience task force and on the and on the um MBTA zoning task force uh where we had someone who was reflective of our
concerns on each of those and also uh in in the reporting process uh we were able to give feedback and and have some consistent input. Uh we have also uh always had the uh town planner and the
DPW staff attending our meetings and particularly most recently Kathy has been let's go back about a year and a half to the um the establishment new liaison process with the select board which has been wonderful. I afraid I
drove Becky Jake crazy on some of the parking stuff a long time ago. Be much better. Uh most recently uh we noted all of the of the u uh town issues around the vitality of of downtown and uh again
staying in touch with this board through Kathy primarily uh and also in touch with the planning board through our uh joint colleague here uh Gordon Brewster and I also met briefly with Sarah Kraton. Uh we identified that a role
that we could adopt would be to uh market downtown Manchester as a as a place for small business. Uh and this would be I have two steps. This we're doing uh in cooperation with the chamber and our good friend Jim Brown who is a
former member of the committee and as CH president of the chamber this year. Uh what we are doing is we are having a marketing program for commercial realtors which makes the case that Manchester is an attractive business opportunity for small businesses. Um and
so that put that out to realtors that deal in commercial space here in town. And also in parallel to that we're going to have a curated uh incubation program to identify small businesses that we might attract or entice the town. And
those would would fall under you we have some brainstorming as to what those might be. And we think it's very important that they be four season businesses. So whatever the uh visitors are in the summer, that's just the cherry on the top. Got to be four season
businesses. They've got to be able to make it with local clientele only. Uh we've got to have no direct competition for whatever they're doing in town. and they need to be cognizant of the fact that um there is a that the folks in town are most are almost entirely
families and empty nesters. They're almost no singles between 20 and 40. So they so there they've got to see that that's where their their sweet spot is. And we have identified six or eight possible um u businesses like that. Uh
perhaps an Asian takeout. Uh perhaps youth a children's consignment shop. perhaps a a computer repair and basic supply shop, variety of things like that. And we're working to move forward with that. Uh this has been as as I
mentioned earlier, we've been in touch with Kathy to be sure we're not getting in the way of of of anything that we shouldn't be doing. And uh through talking to Gordon and Sarah um and and also Katherine McCay who was come uh for
to as a consultant on their project. We're very clear that the lane we're in is that there's empty space out there in town. We're working on filling it and but we are not involved uh in the longer term uh planning process for what the
broader strategic um uh the town might be. Yeah. So that's so so our our immediate concern is to just be sure that space is filled if we can do anything to help that. And uh there's there's a concept called the business
improvement district which is a legal thing in the state uh which involves putting taxes on local um businesses to support marketing and things like that. What we are doing is a volunteer
business improvement district. Uh all conceptually that's what we're doing, but we're not talking about any taxes or anything like that. that we're doing it on a volunteer basis and see what we can do and and and what we can learn from doing it. Um so that's uh that's uh my
short report. I'm joined here by a large chunk of our merry band. You can join Gordon Brewster Gar Gar Morse Marlene Dolan is on the screen. I think that's it. Um so uh we got a lot of enthusiasm
and we we're very pleased for uh uh for the opportunities to work on these issues and uh we welcome your guidance and feedback and conversation on this. Hey Steve,
before um before we move on, is it um is it important for us to um make clear that by from the original design of our committee? It was the fact that we are a
not a decision-making body. We are an advisory body and a pair of hands for the board. Yeah. Yeah. I think so. If I if I um based on my attendance at the meetings over the past year and a half, what I I feel that they were
focused very much, like I said, on the beautifification of the downtown, making it a welcoming environment. They were able to implement some projects, you know, on Summer Street. Um but a lot of the beautifification effort has been put on hold because of the Culbert project. Okay. So it's not I I think there's
still an important committee to to help with to continue to help with the beautifification of the downtown. Yes. But that is post Culver project. Correct. A lot of that has been postponed. So they they still have some parts of their downtown improvement
committee um strategy that we had all viewed and and said we agreed with and the budget submissions for that might appear in the next goround for the fiscal budget. Right. For the fiscal the next fiscal year. Yeah. There there different if I may there are different pieces of it.
Right. And uh we identified the Elm Street to School Street uh segment as the highest value and least uh upfront cost to start with. And this has been working with DPW and Kathy's been in all
these discussions and and DPW has advised us that that if they can make it adjacent to a project they're already doing, then they can get bids and planning and things like that done for less than the cost of doing the project all a cart, right? So, so for example, the Culver
project is going to rip off the downtown, right? When we put it back together, let's follow the plan that we all agreed to, right? that that's kind of the the modus operandi here. So, in the meantime, while their beautifification projects are a little bit on hold, they um have been attend
you know, Steve has been attending the chamber meetings and listening to the business community and he brought back to this committee, you know, thoughts and everybody say, well, what can we do to help them and what can we do to help the downtown? So, I see their committee as kind of being twofold right now. It's it's still very much important that they
be involved in the beautifification, but that's kind of on hold a little bit. So they've expanded their purview into helping the business community. Um that question here is are we all okay with that what they're doing or do we want to put any boundaries around that? Um, and
I think the um, the only other thing I mentioned, Steve, is that you and I attended the Oh, what was that event in Gloucester, the um, economic um, that was a lot of the there was an economic uh, meeting in Gloucester with some of the state
representatives there and they made us aware of programs that we could tap to get funding for things that we were not aware of and and to help the business community. So, I think it makes sense for some entity in town to be focused on that, perhaps getting some of the
funding that's available. Cities, I guess, have a district manager to manage their downtowns. Um, what we've heard, but we don't have anything like that. So, in the absence of that, I I don't have an issue with their expanded scope, but I thought it was important we bring it here and discuss it.
Is there a charter written charter for that? Should be on the website. I think I think it it predates my involvement. I think go back to like 2007. One of the things Yeah.
is is is that you find that charter and offer us an expanded version that covers so that we have so that we're tracking what's going on. There seems to be an awful lot of disjointed things going on, right?
You know, uh, a year and a half ago, we saw little interview great renderings of the the, you know, the perception of the downtown was going to work, right? And I understand that we're waiting out the Culbert, but does that
impact work on Summer Street and down Beach Street where the improved crosswalks were going and the fencing and I mean it's a chicken egg kind of thing. Do you want to uh you want to entice businesses, okay, by
beautifification and Okay. Uh so I I just think that there's too many I think there are a lot of moving parts. a lot of moving parts and I like to think I can wrap my head a lot a lot of moving parts but there's just I'm hearing a lot of moving parts but I'm not seeing any action going.
So that's the that's the issue and that I think Tony you want you'll want to get engaged here to understand the scope because one of the one of their projects that did reach down into Beach Street. Okay. Well DPW said hey we're going to be digging up that street for water and
sewer pipes. happen or yeah so the the approach that the committee has taken is to follow the DPW rather than try to drive the I know that we talked about was it lighthouse what electric lighthouse
something the fencing beautifification if I may also a funding issue and I have been following along with Senator Tar's office to try to get uh there was a thing called mass leads that came through try to get a grant for that. And
the the first trunch of of the uh project itself is in the 27 capital budget as a grant. Uh as I'm sure the board is aware, the status of state budget is kind of up in the air. Um, uh,
Greg Fedishers mentioned to me that that he had been in touch with Senator Tar's office and there was a small, uh, earmark in the last budget for that. Whether where that stands, I don't know, and I guess Tony would have to follow up on that. But, uh, that is not I've had
trouble getting that together. There's also the issue, it seems obvious to me, that the CPA would cover the the um uh uh restoration of of historically correct street lights as part of this. I talked with CPA, they were reluctant
because that was not actually restoring a historic street light. It was putting in a replica. I don't know whether that's the final word on that. Uh but I've been going around with that. I also, it seems to me that some of the of the of the town's ongoing budget uh
should go to the most visible, most highly trafficked, most commercially sensitive part of our infrastructure. No disparagement to other streets or or or sidewalks or neighborhoods, but it seems to me that that that needs
to stand forward and it's kind of our lane to stand forward and say, "Look, this is what we think we ought to we ought to be doing." Um, so with that said, I know Gordon Rooster had a couple Gordon sounds a planning board. You may know I can't I can't speak for the planning
board, but I can speak about relationship to what we just talked about, our planning board meeting, but we actually planned our next we have a little breathing room right now. So, we've actually planned our next year of what we're going to be talking about also talking about working with the downtown.
I I'd like to say that uh we have been working or Steve has been working in the whole downtown improvement is working very cooperatively with the planning board. Matter of fact, Sarah and I and Steve had a little uh informal meeting down by the ocean front and just just
chatted about this stuff about what we may do, what they may do, and everything. And personally, I find it I find it quite gratifying that there's another another entity in town is thinking about a component of what we're doing. So that's that's a big deal. But I would like to say just briefly that
the agenda for the planning board this coming year encompasses all the things that Steve just mentioned the aesthetics of what the the infrastructure the idea of the discussion that we've been talking about in downtown improvement is parking and signage is as Marlene has
done such a great job on. So it's it's all part and parcel to the larger hole and we certainly understand it and we are because I'm on both committees. I sit on both committees here. I understand what's going on Steve on the relationship to the planning board. So
finally I think we have a very good synergy going on as to what could be done for the best of the town. So I I like Ann's suggestion. The next step might be just to have you propose a charter, perhaps discuss it with, you know, Gordon and the planning
board first, right? Make sure you guys are clear on on what that should be and include in that the rebranding of your committee, how you should rebrand the committee and then bring that to us. And and I I would I would probably expand that a little bit. I was just looking at all the membership. Everybody's term
here expires in 2027. Or was that a default because nobody gave them any times or That's a defa That's a default because I I I think that we were told everything was going to as I recall it. Uh everything was going to be a one-year term and we would then reup it if we
chose to. That seems strange to me. It does say three-year term on top of on in our that you changed it at a meeting. Changed what? One year to three year. Yeah. But everybody's got the same term. We can stagger it the following year
that when 27 comes up and then we can stagger it. You guys probably put that down there. I think we ought to probably get that arranged. We can get arranged. And more to the point perhaps there's a lot of interaction here with the planning board. I you've already got a member of the planning board on your
board on your committee. I would make that kind of a you've got to have somebody from the planning board on your group because it seems to me Yeah, that's a strong interface. If you got another committee or board that you think you should probably have a member to because what you're doing you always got to have answers to um that would be
a good idea and obviously the DPW which you said you're following around but they're following you around one or the other um they're exeicio but which they need to be part to that point what I'd like to see is some bullet points exactly are and some kind of then
once you see the bullet points a phasing a plan of phasing Okay, what section of town are we going to uh looking at first as it follows it? And then that's something you'll you'll get to us with DPW, but you know
quadrants and this is uh you know A, B, C, and D. Ultimately, it's going to, you know, the ultimate goal is to get here, but I'd like to see I'd like to have benchmarks and goals as to where we want to get to where we want to get. Well, the committee should have that. Absolutely. So, I think to Ann's point,
the first step might be codifying the new charter, um, the enhanced charter, and then just like the planning board did, they've outlined, you know, their sequence of events, what they're going to be working on and and and you have a clear scope though. You know, what's what constitutes the downtown. So, that was
what from Tapen Street to Pine or or is it Elm Street? I forget. Yeah, we've what we're doing is kind of thrown like top because we've try done our best to try to uh meet the needs as they evolve and stay in touch with everybody else that's concerned so we're
not out in left field someplace doing something that is not connected and and I can't say enough about uh having Kathy as as official liaison so when we meet Kathy is there and uh Chuck Grenade is
there Mark uh Resnik is there. Gordon is there along with members and of other members of the committee and uh various members of the public including folks from the chamber uh usually the uh the uh uh historical museum and and
interested members of the public. So that's, you know, we're trying to be as as connected as we possibly can be from a uh also I mean as you stand with his downtown uh the landlord
Mr. is is quite bullish on the fact that he thinks a year from now he'll have all his retail pull. Okay, which then I think will help drive a lot of business up too. And that's something that I mean right now you can shoot a cannon off down Central Street, not hit anything.
Okay. Yeah. So I think that uh so I think that president Street's pretty nasty. So I don't know if I agree with that. I would so I think that as we look you know a lot of the work might be done for us. Okay. Oh, I'm I'm a big believer in what
the private sector can do. And I was explaining to Kathy earlier that or my perspective at least, I know there's some alarmism about the decline of of downtown. I think the alarmism is overdone because I see things moving in like a new bank down at Harper's Point
and the new wine shop and uh the uh Cafe Nero and the two new um uh storefronts uh across the street. And I know that the landlord uh would much prefer have and which is great by the way much prefer have retail as opposed to office
space. Yes. Lo insurance moved down because ultimately the goal is to put retail there. Yes. Okay. Uh I know that I'm fairly certain that when the rent when the lease is over at uh William Ravis, retail will be going
in there. Yeah. Great. Yeah. So, um, we're trying to, uh, uh, be we're we're we're not alarmist, but I don't want to take anything for granted. I think there enough signs of the general economic situation maybe getting more difficult.
That's a different I mean, it's it's evolving. Retail is evolving and whether or not where it's going, if you if we could have that, you can make a lot of money. Okay. Uh I mean the death of retail happened downtown retail started in the
60s with shopping malls. Yeah. Okay. And mass exodus from downtown. So that's what we're battling now. And now they're battling Amazon and the internet. I think I think the blessing that there are investors that are willing to put money into town. That would be more
worrisome if that were not the case. But we uh from from my perspective, we can't take anything for granted. We need to be proactive in nourishing businesses that can make it here. It it it seems to me you've outlined two
quite different programs that you're doing. Um one of them being the contacting the um commercial real estate people and and generally
marketing downtown. And the other is your your effort at at beautifification, frankly. Um, and that the beautifification part is where we want to know we're going to do this piece, we're going to do that piece. And I think it's an infrastructure. That's
to me I think if you build it, they will come. I I threw out there. You keep on saying beautifification. I think it's really beautifification and infrastructure as you're saying. Yeah. So it's our our original plan concept
was to make streets better for people walking and you know hopefully it pe more people are walking that more people would want to have businesses here because people are walking around town. So but it's also beautiful but it's kind of making the streets more manageable
for pedestrians and bicyclists and all those type of things as well. Yeah. Make it more vibrant if I would. Yeah. And when we're talking about going to high quality consistent concrete sidewalks downtown, u we're getting rid of the lumpy
patuminous uneven stuff that is out there and and the maintenance of the high quality concrete sidewalks such as down near the the beach and and summer street intersection and that the original thing. Those were
done in like 2008. Look, they're they're still there. Nothing trimmed. they're they're in perfect shape. And with the high visibility, high traffic part of downtown, it's investing in a quality uh and sustainable and less maintenance
requiring um uh basis. Uh whereas in in the more distant neighborhoods where that are used where the traffic is less and they're not they're not so central to the the visibility of the community, you know, less expensive methods are are
appropriate. We're gonna reduce maintenance by doing this as well. So, it's it's beautifification, but it's more than beautifification, I guess, is what I would say. Um, Steve and and team, I I um Marlene here, Dolan, 19 Woodrest Road, I also
wanted to um mention and again, we're happy to be boxed into a smaller box if need be or rolled into another committee if we're getting in the way. But the thing we learned from working with our
downtown businesses on the signage project was people really don't know where the beach is. They don't know where to get a restroom. They don't know they don't know where to go. And that thus the signage project came up. And it was uh thanks to Kathy and our ideation
that we got uh some relief for downtown businesses in the plaza uh on their water bill to allow people to use their restrooms. And so that whole idea is about how do we make it more friendly and more
welcoming to our tourists um who come in and spend money here. move half the population home. Yeah. Half the population may move out. So I think I think there's a lot of of you know like we when we had the
planning board effort uh around the ideation around downtown B there are a lot of moving parts and um you know some of it's in the perview of the planning board some of the select board and this committee could be the lynch pin that kind of ties things together because actually you forgot to mention the
chamber of commerce also attends your meetings now. Yes. They found it value added. So they self invited themselves and and we said fine because you you want to hear not just from the residents but the businesses there's got to be a balance in a sense you're a local chamber of commerce.
Well we are and I would I would I would like to say my experience has been that the folks in town by and large are very very very busy keeping the day-to-day business of the town going and the folks that that run our businesses and merchants uh are very very busy just
keeping their business going. And I'd like to imagine that we're kind of the grease and the glue that keeps Town Hall and Main Street together and moving roughly in the same direction. Um, so we've I mean our business try to
to best we can seems like a good fit. I'd like to see it described in a little more detail. Certainly. And I think to Brian's point
um after the conceptual a list of of um projects both in the marketing side and in the and in the infrastructure side. Sure. Um, can we work with uh somebody on the planning board uh to develop that so
that if I may, Marlene, just to say everything we just talked about here, what you've just talked about is exactly the same stuff we discussed in the planning board. And uh to Brian's point about scheduling, so I spent I had a
30-year career in architectural engineering business, building buildings. So planning and design, construction, sequencing, and da da da is all vitally important to me. And that's something that I will take on with my personal fury too. You I've also
just found out the other day that I'm on the disabilities committee with the DPW. We're all planning new building stuff coming out. So, so you got to do right. No, again from so you know how
important it is to get it's the only thing that's important in the beginning is to plan it out and not that it falls according to plan but be I want to know if we you know if it doesn't fall according to plan I want to know if we missed something right okay and that's that's important okay
I'm good fine I just think uh oh we don't have to make any kind of motion to come back to No that's that's fine But I would say you got to have a planning board person on your committee. Well, he's he's here right now. And I think
as part of your coincidental he's here, but I think it really needs part of the charter when you do that. Like like I had mentioned, who should be part of your committee? Okay. I mean, you're all at large right now. Yeah. Got it. And we are down one committee, one
member. So if anybody knows of somebody that's good that's willing to spend some time really put some effort in that's great. Thank you. Um and Kathy will report back to us. Yep. I will. Great.
I I think I hear general acclamation for what you're doing. Y and uh for the approach that you're taking to it. So thank you. Our pleasure. Great. Thank you. Good.
Thanks for coming by. I'll say general maintenance too. Can you uh wash my car? Okay. The next item on the agenda is the housing authority vacancy
and I don't know much about that. It was basically just kind of if I could speak it was just basically to say there's an opening because we haven't received anything and the last time it was spoken at the meeting it was barely
addressed. Mhm. So, I just wanted to make it aware that there is an opening and I because it was on the agenda, somebody actually hopefully be applying. So, somebody resigned and that's an elected office. Yes. So, because there's a vacancy, we have
to appoint somebody to that slot until the next election and then somebody has to get elected. So, this person whatever is only there until next April. Yeah, that would be April. if
okay I I have spoken to someone who's on the authority and a couple of weeks ago and they've been looking around. They asked me said hey you know anybody I said not off hand but I they are looking and yeah so what is the specific I think it would be helpful if um because this is
an you know an elected position um it might help to advertise this one differently or separately. Yeah, because we we normally have the the announcements, hey, there's a bunch of openings. Come volunteer for the town. This sounds like we need to advertise it
separately with um some specificity as to what type of skill set I'm looking for. Um I'll talk to um the authority. Yeah. Housing authority. Yeah. But I think there's one person that's going to be sending me an email
tomorrow because of being on here. Well, very efficient. What Greg used to say behind your back? Well, that was it. Okay. Um, leazison updates. Go. Uh, let's see. I think we covered the
DPW stuff at least that's hot because we talked about trash. We talked about new board on the trash item. Uh we there's a reverse 911 uh going out today that if your trash wasn't picked up today to put
have it on the curb by 7 a.m. tomorrow to be collected and when and then Tuesday is going to be collected as well. So, and that they'll go around all of those other routes that are Monday roots since whatever was leave your trash. Yeah,
that's trash or recycling also. It says trash and recycling. Okay. So, that's the uh information. Leave it out there overnight. All right. So, yeah, that's that's the story of that. So, DPW, I think those are the key issues and I know that
they're starting on well tomorrow I think for Pleasant Pleasant Street. uh historic district commission. The uh 22 Union Street was approved by the uh historic district commission at its meeting last Wednesday.
And so there'll be two town houses that will be going in in the cargo spot. Um I know they I asked them about a timeline. They're still wrestling with all kinds of issues there, but they have that uh that approval from the only commission from which they needed an approval. So
that's that's moving moving ahead. Uh Council on Aging. Couple of things going on there. I think we all got a copy of the resignation of Nancy Hammond effective July
25th. The 25th. Okay. That's on your plate. Retirement. Yes. Notice Yeah. Right. Retirement. Resigning retirement. So that will be a hole that needs to be filled and I can tell you that the friends of the Council on Aging
are interested in having some input or knowing what's going to happen with that. So that's involved. That's uh Have you got a timing on that at all or because I I we just received a notice
over the uh you know late last week. I'd like to meet with the friends met with I haven't met them yet. Uh so I'd like to to meet with them and and really but we can do it next week or so I can check in with you on that. Yeah. The only the key sensitivity here I
suppose is that there is a money raising initiative associated with the senior center that will be launched in the fall u somewhere in the early to midepptember and of course that's a key person in that initiative. So that has to be
thought about in the context of the timing for that position. And uh Capean Transit, we joined them as you know a few months or so ago and they will start service with us on or about 1 of August and uh the days that they will provide
service here in uh Manchester will be Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Their services run 9 to3. Um the seniors just have to call and that's it and say so long as we want to go anywhere for any reason within the service area which
reaches to Danvers and Lynfield and south to Rally to the north and to the ocean everywhere else. So uh that'll that'll start on about then those three days and we'll see how it complements our current uh band
service here and that has to get publicized but KADA has had to do that with all of the other communities. uh in the Capean area. We in fact are the last one to join there. So they have some ideas about how to make that happen. And they say it takes about a year to a year and a half for things to get up to
speed. People know what's going on. Those are the key things with the council on aging. That's it. Sorry from downtown improvement. And I have nothing on it.
I think I don't parks and recck a new member. Uh I think the fourth one went off very well. There was one issue that came up. Uh and the fact that no one heard about it means it was uh well handled. with the water
break uh Thursday night during the fet uh and I think that Cheryl and I actually I was with her checked it out with Cheryl I thought the the spirit the cooperation between three different departments. Okay. Uh Cheryl got a hold
of shot with Sean and if you this that little speed bump on the end of Peach Street was a result of a break in the water and the water was just gushing out of the catch basin into the parking lot and initial thought was that we the bath
house and canteen would be without water until Monday. Yes. Oh the hottest weekend. Yeah. It was firework and having water. Uh and that was uh they got together and kuda on I mean uh water department parks
and rec uh and DPW they pretty much had it fixed but the phone calls between Chuck Todd for Cherald and Cheryl didn't stop until it was all resolved that night and then to uh to his credit I was I went and checked out the uh the fix on
Friday morning before the parade and not only was it be uh the speed button, the temporary water was fixed up, but I saw a bath emptying the uh the dumpster. Oh, okay. Because that was going to be a problem with all, you know,
and so you know, you always hear when DeW doesn't do anything, but when they do do something, you don't hear about it. So I think that uh not and u the fact that uh at 8:00 at night Todd was chief of sheriff was saying that he the
initial thought was they'd be fixing it first thing on uh 4th of July and that there would be he'd have a detail there while they were doing the work. They were able to fix it uh Thursday night and but uh No, it was it was impressive the way all three departments came together
and then everything else. I'm afraid we're not we're all bicyclist running up our butts. Yes. Better than going in front of us. I guess next going in front of us. Did we have enough candy? That wasn't the candy was uh the candy worked out
very well. It was just about right. It was distributed appropriately by a four-year-old who knew how to pound. Very well, very well supervised. Yes, that's correct. And the flags really were on the money. The biggest problem, of course, is that the the golf
cart was way ahead of us, right? And so we wound up with I would say what 150 extra flags. But but that's because we couldn't distribute anything after about the library. Yeah. because we didn't have any flags and the cart was already up the hill somewhere.
So, we couldn't go back to reload and but if we had been able to would have just 100 or so would have you took you oh you did went down back down the hill and head. So anyway to finish up the pocket wreck I think uh
uh everything and then all the the summer programs up and running and uh life is good. That's all I got. Good. Uh, I don't have anything. The planning board had two executive sessions back to back and um the hybrid advisory won't
meet again until September. They take off the summer. Yeah. Yeah. They're boat people. That's both people. All right. I understand the rationale. I guess you're right.
They're nowhere to be found. Yeah. Um let's see. I the school um had a meeting of what has been called the number crunching
um which uh consisted of the um superintendent. I think the um director of finance and facilities was online.
She had an automobile accident and was considerably under the weather for um the two town administrators um the two chairman of the uh select boards board like them um and the two
chairs of the finance committees. Um no one was injured. Um there was a clear difference of opinion um between the two t all all of the representatives of the
representatives of each town as to how involved the uh finance committee should be in defining the program of the schools. Um
um we nothing was resolved. Um except that the next meeting will be a workshop with the same well replacement layer. Um it will be a workshop to understand um the way
the school does programming particularly in the high school and um I think I think when everybody starts with the same assumptions
uh about how how the schools make their decisions, we will we will be in a in better shape. Um there is clearly a big difference of opinion about whether um excellence is
important. Uh I also met with the um went to the board of health meeting uh and but we will be talking to them on the test and then
Um they they they are very defensive of their varieties. I don't have anything on the 10th on my calendar. So just I I I can make it but I I keep
hearing we're going to meet with the board of health and I should be let me send something out. Yeah. I was set like two hours ago. Yeah, three weeks ago. Oh, two hours ago. Yeah, they said it. That was f. No,
there's another one on board of health. Said board of health. Yeah, you've got a board. I don't feel much right. No, I saw this today, but what I'm saying is I had not heard of this meeting prior to this note. So, thank you.
Right. So, this is going to be an they normally meet Thursday mornings, but this will be an evening meeting. This will be an evening meeting. Got it. 3:30 this afternoon. 3:30. 3:37 is my 6:30. Yeah, it's an
at 3:30. So, we need to do 3:37. Then the pincom just came up as far as we haven't said the dates on the pincom. No, I just signed stuff now. I don't I am I don't have that. I think that's it for rea
spending lots of extra time on stuff. Um there's an up to the consent agenda um which Is there anything anyone would like to remove from the consent agenda so we can
I do have some questions on the canvasing license. Okay. So with without for the consent agenda, do we have a vote um to approve items A, B, and C?
I move this like approve items A, B, and C of the consent agenda items. Second. Discussion. Brian. Yes. Jeff, yes. Kathy, yes. Answers, yes. I'm John. John, yes. Okay.
My question on the um canvasing license, there was some chitter chatter on um Facebook about some canvasing going on about some company and the canvaser was making people uncomfortable. I don't recall the name of the company.
It was some mosquito spray. So, that was mosquito spray. This is not that company. No, this is uh what are do we know what they are doing? Sunun is a solar panel. Solar panels. Is there is there any
regulation or bylaw related to canvasing? Should they be Well, they're they're applying for a license, right? I mean, there must be something. There must be something. Otherwise, would they they put the I put this application together because there was nothing
because they what they call Yeah. So, they assumed that there's some sort of regulation. Oh, it's came up before. I think it came up when Greg was here. So that's why I ran this application by him and um just so we had something in writing than
somebody just sending an email or it's not uh abnormal for municipalities to have that. Um gives the town an opportunity to prevet the company. Gives us contact information. gives um you know a
document to the actual solicitors to show uh residents that they've you know they're they've been checked up by the town. They're not Yeah, exactly. And it gives us an opportunity to send them home if they haven't if they're not behaving correctly. You're correct.
I'm I'm approved. Yeah, me me too. I'm just wondering what are we approving if we don't have I mean we're just making up a license concept on the fly. What was he just went into a book of forms and say this looks good? I just I basically did it right from Rockports. Do we need any more meat to it? I guess
Tony, do we is the question. I mean, Sunron is a very reputable solar company. Uh and the fact that they came to us on their own, right, is good. Yeah. Uh so, you know, with this approval, I think it allows just the fact we're
talking about it, people are aware that, you know, they'll be in the area. They do offer a good service that residents can evaluate for themselves, but at least it's been, you know, if there's any issues, we have a contact to to talk to. I think it does make sense for us to
formalize some sort of process for the future, though. Agreed. So maybe we need to add that to the actions list. uh what research our research our you have no I believe it does not exist and I think
we ought to um ask the administrator's assistant to pull up some examples and and this has to be start with fraud report ultimately would
have to be formal I think it it was to be a bylaw Yeah. Yeah. So that's So then we could it's something we could do to target for fall time meeting. Yeah. I'll have to look. I I don't know if it's necessarily required
to be a general bylaw. It could be just a rule of policy. So maybe I don't know which way it is, but I'm I'm a fan of recourse to you unreputable
comes through. We we did a um with solar particular actually the town we actually solicited companies uh and prevetted them and then uh you know
there was three or four companies that got the approval from the town. So this way residents knew they were reputable and trustworthy uh versus just someone knocking on your door. Great. I'm doing the driveway next door. And we were, you know, our green energy
committee was trying to promote solar. So that was a way to do it. Um, but it would be good that there are going to be things like the mosquito company that you talked about that, you know, might be not might not be something that we're uh soliciting
ourselves, but uh, you know, to we don't have any contact for them. We don't know who they are, right? So, we're seeing it on social media, but we don't have any info on our own. So, it might be good to have some sort of policy where they're required to
get a uh a permit from the from the town hall. My inclination is to make it a part of the bylaw um because that's regularly available. I don't know how anybody would f the policies of the board of selectmen are kind of a secret.
They're not easy to find on the website. Sure. Yeah. And like you say, we can have this in time for uh fall special time meeting. Yeah. And and that that way everybody that comes to town meeting knows that this is happening and and um
yeah, we'll do some research on it and see what what it takes and come come back to the board with something. Good. Okay. Can we approve the license? Approve that license. There's nothing
for approved because we don't have Oh, we'll make a we'll give it a make the 10 approval. We have one in here. Okay. The very last. Okay. I move the select board approve item D on the consent. Second.
Jeff. Yes. Yes. Brian. Kathy. Yes. Ann says yes. And John says yes. Okay, the next item is the town administrative report.
Uh so, uh it's day three. Um and uh you know so I want to thank uh the town for welcoming me, the staff in the in the town and of course all of you and everyone that I've met so far
has been extremely welcoming and helpful and and um has offered to help in any way. Um, so it's it's been a busy uh three days. Uh, especially starting off with the strike on on
day one. Um, and then, you know, it being a short week uh with the holiday and and all that. So, we're we're we're uh catching up. Uh we've been pretty busy, I think, for the last few days.
Um, but I've been working closely with Chuck on the Republic trash collection issue and Tiffany's uh involved heavily to make sure that we're getting communication out as fast as we possibly can. Um,
I've met with our new town moderator uh today. I met with the town administrator Brendan in Essex. Um, so I'm, you know, trying to get out and meet as many folks as I can, uh, as soon as
possible. Uh, attended my first concert in the park last week and my first, uh, Fourth of July parade, bumped into Senator Tar there, talked about getting together with him as well. Um,
getting caught up on some personnel stuff and day-to-day activities. We have a we also have a vacancy on the board of registers registars uh which chapter 51 requires certified mail to the Democrat and Republican
uh committees, local committees to provide us a list of uh potential candidates. So I put that draft letter together uh and working with town clerk on that as well. Um,
I will be at the uh concert in the park tomorrow night as well. For anyone that's there, happy to introduce myself. And actually, we're I'll be doing uh office hours on the first Tuesday of every month from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Uh,
so that's tomorrow as well. We also signed on to a uh back to the Republic issue. We uh were signing on to a letter with the other communities that have Republic as their contractor
uh to urge them to negotiate a contract and settle uh this issue as fast as they can. Uh through that I asked uh the other towns if they'd be interested in having a group call with
Republic uh because it just seemed that each of us were talking to them individually and we all have different needs and uh so that uh is scheduled for tomorrow as well. Um yeah, so I'm still just getting caught
up. So there's that's a short and sweet report for now. Welcome. Um, is there a motion? I move to second. All in favor?
Work that smile Offer something.