Good evening and welcome to the October 21st meeting of the Milton Select Board. If you are able, please stand and join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Uh before we begin tonight's uh public comment, um I just want to
recognize uh Chief Madden who's here uh in honor of firefighter Daniel Thomas. >> Chief, good evening. >> Good evening. >> Welcome you to make some remarks and then we'll hold a moment of silence for the firefighter. >> Sure. um firefighter Daniel Thomas um
occupational cancer uh ser you know um passed at age 49 um 28 years of service to the department 27 and we're we're down in East Milton at Engine 2 um firefighter Thomas was just an exceptional person um just
he was always there and and he's the I don't know how do you personify a firefighter you know anybody that needed help he would always be the first person willing to help, you know. Um, and I'll steal a story real quick. Um, from one of the other deputies, they were hiring overtime, you know, engine one went to a
fire in Randolph or something. It was 3:00 in the morning and they called him and said, "Hey, do you want overtime to come in to cover the station?" And he goes, "Yeah, I'll be there in 1 second." We're like, "Where are you?" And he goes, "I'm on 128." He goes, "A friend of mine just called me and he's having problem with his plumbing." He goes,
"But I'll come in and cover the town and then I'll go do the plumbing afterwards." So 3:00 in the morning, he's going to a friend's house to to fix a plumbing problem. So that that just person it was just that that was firefighter Thomas Daniel was just a tremendous human being. So um we
appreciate it. >> Appreciate the time to to to talk about this. >> Thank you, Chief. And before we have our moment of silence, I don't know if you want to share anything about um observations for firefighter Thomas uh that'll be happening this weekend. >> Yes. Um so the the celebration of life
will be Saturday morning um at 9:00 at Milton High School. Um there will be a visitation from 8 to about 8:45 in the morning and then there will be a uniformed firefighter P police uh walkth through at uh 8:50 to before the service
starts. Uh and then he will be uh you know the interament will be at Milton Cemetery. Um it we're expecting a couple hundred people there. Um you know the the fire department and our mutual aid
depart uh friends um you know will will send firefighters from around the area to attend the uh the wake and the funeral or the celebration of life I should say. Um so and I will I have to you know thank the the superintendent
and the school committee. Um, firefighter Thomas was born in Jamaica and his mom was from Jamaica and had a lot of family in Jamaica. And when he passed, they had set a date for the funeral or to the celebration of life. And um, every church in town had
something going on this Saturday. Uh, so it just none of the logistics worked anywhere. And and I'll give a shout out, you know, uh, to Mr. Dolan uh, from Dolan Funeral. He contacted every church and even some churches outside of Milton. Um, but the family just they,
you know, Daniel went to Milton High School. He he's a Milton firefighter through and through and, uh, they wanted to keep everything local, you know, be buried at at at Milton Cemetery. So, uh, you know, I I thank the superintendent and the school committee for allowing us
to to take this rare opportunity to to use that space to allow us. Um so and I know that that's something that's very difficult for them to make that decision but um they supported us so we appreciate it. So >> thank you. >> That's wonderful.
>> So yeah the you'll see us a bunch of firefighter our different departments around town on Saturday. Um so I'd like to thank our you know um our neighboring departments. Quinsey will be covering the engine two in East Milton. Uh Randolph and Canton will be covering headquarters and Stoton will be covering
engine four up on Blue Hill Avenue. Um and then you know if people did want to come out and see or say or or kind of you know just um the procession leaving the high school um someplace between 10:30 and 11 uh the procession will come
back towards our headquarters driveby headquarters um and then we'll head towards East Milton via Reedsdale to Pleasant to Edge Hill pass in front of Engine 2's quarters where firefighter Thomas works so often so long and then we'll we'll We'll come back over the
highway, go Adam Street to pass the the new Edge 2 uh station and then back to Milton Cemetery. >> Thank you. That's really um I I encourage anyone who's in town that day, if you can step out of your home, uh make sure if you're driving, uh pull
over to the side and and uh take a moment to uh to honor firefighter Thomas. Um firefighting is a dangerous profession and not just from the flames that the firefighters face. There's a significant occupational risk in being a firefighter and we are so grateful to
you chief and to the entire department for your service to the town and we will hold firefighter Thomas and his family very close in our hearts uh tonight and moving forward. Thank you very much. Uh, you know, the I would have to say that the fire department, the members of the fire department have been tremendous and
and I if if anything, you know, we we followed in in in Daniel's footsteps that, you know, uh he never complained, never he fought so hard. Um and when you went to visit him, it was like he was coming to visit you. It just, you know,
uh, and I will always say that, you know, um, every time I I walked out of the hospital after visiting him, he would give you a fist bump and say, "I appreciate you." And that's that's how he was. So, um, thank you. Appreciate it. >> Uh, before we begin our moment of silence, I want to ask if there's anyone else on the select board that wanted to
say anything. >> Okay. Please join me then in a moment of silence. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Chief. Thank you. >> Um so we will now move to uh public comment. Um I didn't see was Has anybody
signed in? >> Okay. Um uh so as a reminder the town allocates 21 minutes for public comment total. Uh each speaker is asked to keep their remarks to three minutes or shorter so that there's equitable distribution of the time. Um and uh I if
you're online you can put your hand up uh if you'd like to speak. We do have two folks that have signed in um here which uh who I will invite up. Um I will keep track of the 3minut time. Uh Mr. Milano will keep track of the uh 21 minutes and I will do a a quick uh just
verbal warning when you are 30 minute or 30 seconds from time. Uh so with that I would invite uh Mr. Curran to come up to this and if you could just identify us and get identify yourself and give your address. Thank you.
Joseph Karing, Grafton. Um, so I'm here tonight to u propose a community-based public art initiative for East Milton Square that would invite local students and artists to design and paint on the newly installed planters.
The goal of the project is to celebrate Milton's character through creative expression while enhancing a visual appeal to one of our most active public spaces. The proposed initiative tenatively titled Art in the Square Milton and Bloom Community Art Planter
project at Manning Park. I know it's long, but I wanted to make sure I covered it all. Uh would partner with local schools and community institutions and other instit other interested organizations in addition to um participating uh to extend to Milton
residents and other local artists through an open art contest. Each selected artist or student group would design and paint the planter with themes that reflect the Milton natural beauty, local history, and community pride. The project could culminate in a public planter day, transforming East Milton
Square into a vibrant, enerogenic civic civic event. Um, it would benefit and beautify East Milton Square. Uh, encourage collaboration among students, educators, and local artists, strengthen community pride. Um to ensure the project's success, I' I'd like to
recommend forming a small steering committee that could include representatives from all of the town and could help established guidelines and paint specifications. Um and the program would be u built on some of the successes from from the Boston Paint Box project which brought
color and creative vibrancy um to the city. Um that's in my letter. I've passed out a a a deck for you to review and if you consider this to be something you'd like to do, I just thought I'd propose it to you tonight. Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. >> Uh next we have uh Mr. Jordan. >> Good evening. My name is Robert Jordan. Um, this is my first time coming to a select board meeting. >> And your address? >> 75 Craig Street. >> Thank you. >> Um, number 16 tonight is about the
Heroes Act. Um, I just want to please accept my uh this a thank you. Please accept my sincere thanks for your attention and to action on the Hero Act. your commitment to supporting our town veterans through these new exemptions is
deeply appreciated when we get there. I just want to say thank you now because it's been a long time since uh we've done anything and it's truly an honor to be here in front of you folks tonight and um just make the best decision we
can for the gold star family who were included in this Heroes Act that the governor passed last year. All right. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much for coming out. You're >> welcome. Thank you. Uh, anyone else in the room for citizen speak? Uh, and I don't see anyone online. Um,
so as a reminder, if this is your first time coming to a select board meeting, we will address um, citizen speak comments towards the end of the meeting. >> Can I just >> Yes, Mr. Daily. >> In case Mr. Curran is not here at the end, um, the PTO at Tucker has started a lot of public art. Uh they've have a
mural that was uh painted over the summer that's on the on the side of the Tucker Elementary and they're also working towards more public art in Milton. So that may be a group um that you should reach out to or could reach out to to help expand this. I know they have interest in doing that throughout the town in a variety of ways. So this
would be a great partnership and thank you for bringing this to us. >> Yes. Thank you. Um okay, are we at 7:05? Yes. Um so uh it is 7:05. Uh, so I'm going to uh declare we are have a public hearing for
the application of 10 Basset Street LLC doing business as Marbella for an all alcohol liquor license to be drunk on the premises located at 10 Basset Street Milton. I am declaring the public hearing open at 7:13 p.m. Um, so the public hearing process works like this.
Um, we h have a presentation from the applicant if one is is ready. uh after the applications uh pres after the applicant's presentation we on the select board may ask questions of the applicant uh after our questions member of the public will be invited to make
comments and uh per usual we ask that comments be limited to three minutes per speaker um I would expect to set aside a maximum of 15 minutes for this agenda and uh we'll continue hearing on the next regular meeting on November 18th
2025 if necessary um and uh I will just read into the record the public hearing notice that uh Can I do do that? Do I have to read the whole thing? >> Can I just say refer to the picture or I have to read the whole thing? >> Please refer to the um the the posting
in Milton times um town of Milton notice of public hearing select board local licensing authority for the town of Milton. Uh that was posted uh in the Milton times. So do we have uh applicants here for a presentation? >> Yes. Oh, sorry. >> Online.
>> Attorney Ned Corkran is online. Um, and we have representatives here in the audience as well. Um, attorney, all yours. >> Thank you. Uh, Mr. chair. Uh for the record, uh Ned Corkran, attorney here in
Milton, representing uh Vance Welch and 10 Basset LLC, who is the applicant for this liquor license for the property at on the second floor of the Fruit Center uh building uh at 10 Basset Street. Um I apologize for not being live uh for
this. I am in Rhode Island for a uh close friend family funeral uh that's going on today and tomorrow. So I am limited to Zoom is my ability to join, but I know that I'm joined by Vance Welch and Amanda Albi. Vance is the
would be the lency. Uh representative and Amanda will be the general manager of the new restaurant. Um Ste uh Nick, I have a PowerPoint that I put forward. Do you have that or can I share screen and and do it from my end?
>> Uh I you can you can do it. I think your computer is on. >> Oh, yep. Sorry. Thank you. Technical issues. Sorry. Uh, uh, Ned, you should be able to share it. Um, I have it ready to go if if you >> If you do, I'm all of a sudden realizing I'm not
>> Okay. Uh, give me one moment here. Awesome. >> You can go right to the next uh slide. Uh the team as I indicated it's Vance Welch, AJ Sadwani who are the applicants for the license and Amanda Albi who is
uh the general man will be the general manager of the new restaurant. Uh the fruit center is owned by the Minosa family, Michael and Marcus, trustees of the of the the Fruit Fruit Center. Um uh and uh they were the lead in the process
that we went before the zoning board of appeals earlier this year to secure permission to uh conduct to operate a restaurant within the second floor premises at the fruit center. Uh next slide, please. So this the plan that was approved uh in
September uh and is subject to uh a decision a favorable decision of the board of appeals uh is a plan B plan that's actually in my estimation a much better plan than than the original plan that was presented earlier in this year.
Uh the restaurant would be located on the second floor uh of the fruit center above the existing uh fruit center marketplace area and in the premises that were formally occupied by the plate restaurant which is the sort of the
large square uh section in the middle here. And then adding to that a portion of the building that was enclosed a couple of years ago pursuant to separate permission uh to create seating uh and other opportunity uh on the left side uh
closer to the parking lot in the building. Um as you can see there's a large bar that was proposed for that uh portion of the uh that portion of the premises um that was separated from the main restaurant. There's actually a hallway between the main portion of the
restaurant and this separate area. There were approximately 20 seats proposed and it really was a bar uh separated from the area where food uh would be served and handled. Um and the neighbors rightly were concerned about that. Um it
was going to be the request for permission was that the the premises would operate until 10 or 11:00 at night. uh they were no longer going to serve breakfast, which was a popular item from the plate. Um would stay open late and that uh they would increase the
the amount of odors that would emanate from the kitchen, which exasperates an existing problem associated with the fruit center's own um uh kitchen. Next slide, please. The new plan flips uh the location of
the rest of the bar within the restaurant and reduce the size of the bar. It's now 12 seats at the bar. Bar is now integral to the operation of the main portion of the restaurant and the op the area across the hall is now
strictly for for seating dining. Uh you can have cocktail uh seating across the way. That area is also able to be closed off for functions. Uh but all liquor service, all food service would be would emanate from the main portion of the
restaurant served by servers. Uh it would not be allowed to uh take a a drink from the bar and walk across the hall or walk across out out into the the other area. Everything would be contained and controlled by service uh
through from the bar. Um to answer the issue of the issue of odors and odors has been had been an issue for a while. Um the Minos installed state-of-the-art uh um airmade system which captures
odors from both the existing restaurant uh kitchen and from uh the new kitchen that would operate uh within the restaurant. Uh next slide please. And the airmade system uh this was a significant u component that was that
was approve really appreciated by neighbors has been installed. There are two installations per kitchen. The commercial kitchen within the fruit center people don't realize actually prepares approximately 21,200 items per day for both the Milton and Hangingham
market locations. The output is approximately four times the output required for the new kitchen. Um and the new system that's been installed is actually handling the outdoor output of the existing kitchen. Uh neighbors have reported significant improvement uh and
appreciate uh the effectiveness of the the new system and we anticipate that the units that will be in place for the new kitchen will be more will increase the effectiveness uh based on the total uh uh uh outlet. Um next slide please.
One of the issues that concerns uh restaurants and you know obviously a major concern here in Milton is parking. Um the the board made a determination uh that the parking was adequate for the
use and we did this calculation. There are a total of n 199 spaces within the parking area under the control of the fruit center. Zoning requirement for retail which most of the uh premises is
is four spaces per thousand square ft or 31,000 square ft of retail that equates to 122 spaces. If you subtract that from the 199, you have a remaining number of spaces to serve the restaurant at 77.
The zoning the zoning requirement for parking for a restaurant is simply a determination of adequacy that's made by the board. There's no uh spec specified number of seats of spaces per seat. Um but there is a recognized ratio uh
within the industry that one point that 2.1 space for every two and a half seats is appropriate which in this case would be 40 seats based on a total of 99 um uh spaces excuse me seats and 40 spaces. Um
the restaurant uh use has been um and so that 40 is significantly fewer than the 77 uh that remain. Um and given the fact that restaurant uses have been accommodated at this location most recently by the plate uh for the last 40
years we think that this uh the board agreed with us that there is certainly an adequate number of spaces to uh available. Next please. So we did two things that were really significant with respect to um educating
and working with the neighborhood. Um the first is that the Minos sent letters uh describing the proposal with the new new floor plan to uh 54 households immediately surrounding um the the
premises. Uh and then on July 30, we held a neighbor meeting in the new space. Uh Amanda Albi was present. She discussed with the board with the neighbors the new approach to the restaurant that it would be that it
would be um serving breakfast open 8 uh in the morning till 9 at night. So with breakfast, lunch and dinner, familyfriendly really focused on serving the neighborhood and and beyond rather than focusing on later night, later
evening and bar um etc. As a result, uh, the Minos received emails from a number of abutters and there were additional emails that were sent directly to the board um of appeals. I provided you with
a memorandum that uh distilled the first set of emails from uh various abutters and then added the the specific emails that were delivered to the board of appeals prior to the hearing in September. those uh properties that are colored in
in yellow are all uh those in the neighborhood who's provided comment to the board. Um there or either to the to they're identified there either provided comment to the minoses or to the board or both.
One of which had question about the proposal, but all the others was extremely supportive. uh and um the chair of the board of appeals made a point of reading into the record all of the all of the emails so that the record
reflects the strong uh flavor of support that came directly from the neighborhood. They understood specifically that this proposal uh was for a new restaurant, that there would be a bar, that there would be a liquor license that would presumably be attached to that and the support was was
strong. Um, next please. This is just a simple uh graph of uh chart that identifies the specific relief that was requested and approved. One is that the restaurant hours rather than being open from 6:30 in the morning
until 9 Monday through Saturday and then 6:30 to 6 on Sunday, we shortened the day from 8 to 9 but went to 7 days. Um with respect to that uh the restaurant seating there was currently 70 seats within the area that was occupied by the
plate. There were 29 seats across the hall. Um they were inc now incorporated so that the total number of seats is 99 rather than 70 and the the the board as I said made a determination that the parking was sufficient. there with the
the prior um u uh approvals over the last 40 years uh of operation uh had no previous determination made with respect to the adequacy of parking. Um and then the last slide um would be the the
request for relief here which is that the that this board uh agreed to issue a liquor license uh to the restaurant for the restaurant at 10 Basset Street. We believe that the relief requested is consistent with the terms and conditions of the decision of the board of appeals,
a copy of which I provided uh with my memorandum. That decision was dated October 6 and becomes final assuming no appeal next Monday um on October 27th. And with that um I would pause for
questions from the board. Vance Welch is here to discuss his prior history if appropriate. He is the current lency of both Abby Park and Novara, two successful restaurants uh in East Milton uh that have operated for I think uh
more than 10 and more than 15 years um each without uh incident. They have been uh terrific additions to value of the East Milton Square experience. Um, and so, uh, you you you've got someone
sitting in front of you who knows it, who's done it, who's done it well, um, and, uh, will do it well here. And then with him is Amanda Albby, as I said, who will be the general manager who can describe sort of the the plan relative to the, uh, food service and the sort of
basic operation of the of the restaurant. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Corkran. Uh, I'll open it up to questions for the members. I don't have any questions at this time. >> Uh, none for me.
>> Mr. Wells, any Yes, you have your hand up. >> Thanks. Actually, you know what? I'll um I just want to begin uh Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to begin by extending uh extending our sympathies to Mr. Cochran.
As many in the metro Boston area may well have realized, there was a very tragic plane crash on Monday of this week that took place on I95 on a small privately owned plane coming out of New Bedford airport. And the victims in that
crash were Thomas and Agatha Perkins who are very close friends of of attorney Cronin. I know that this is the time for their I learned this early this week and I know that this is their service of this and I take I just want to extend our sympathies to to Ned, and say thank
you for taking the time to uh come before us and this is what has been a very prolonged matter over the past year. So that's really I wanted to say right now, Mr. Chair, and then I'll reserve my questions till after Mr. Welch um and Amanda speak. >> Thank you, Mr. Wells.
Yes, our condolences uh Mr. Corkran for your friends, the loss of your friends. Um I I just want to highlight because it it was alluded to a little bit but not specifically addressed I think in your presentation that one of the other uh factors that you're uh doing is by opening early obviously then you were
providing breakfast which was one of the requests uh that they had from the plate street and I reviewed the emails from uh the abutters um and uh and others they were very favorable um including some from folks who did not um initially
think that this was a good idea and really appreciated the effort that was put in uh to think this through and um so thank you for providing those and thank you for doing the work of listening to the community and and thinking carefully about how to uh proceed here.
>> Thank you. >> So I would take this moment then to open the floor if anyone from the public uh had a question that they wanted to ask uh either online or here in person.
And um it doesn't appear that that's the case. I don't know if if you'd like to make any additional comments or if we feel like we're we're we're ready to uh to proceed. >> I would I would only add that I I also provided the board with a draft set of
conditions. Um I provided one and then uh after talking with Vance realized that um one of the conditions that comes from one of the early restaurant uh proposals had a condition that the certain volume of uh that the revenue
from the sale of alcohol may only be up to 25%. That's really an old standard uh that we think is no longer applicable. It hearkens back to the early 2000s when the town and town meeting really
wrestled with the idea of restaurants with alcohol service with, you know, Milton historically was a dry town. Uh I represented an early applicant for a home rule petition um to allow a liquor license. And uh the the debate that took
place at town meeting was was really quite spirited with respect to a change in the whole nature of the of how the town would operate. Um but I think that's that now particularly given the fact that people like to buy wine
expensive uh bottles of wine that the uh that that can chew up or un unreasonably chew into this 25% number. And so it's a difficult number a to uh hang your hat on and b to then
manage both from uh the owner's perspective and the town's perspective if the reporting is that you know they went over by 2% or 3% on an annual basis how do you police that what's the the role and I think that uh the experience that uh Vance would say is that uh with
both Abby Park and Novar that it's really not necessary and that more recently steel and rye um this provision was not included in steel steel and rise license for those for those reasons with beyond that I I have nothing further and I would leave it to the board and its
discretion. Thank you. >> Thank thank you Mr. Corkin. Mr. Wells, you have your hand up. >> I do. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, I want to follow up to Mr. Kman's point. Um, I was police chief when those provisions
were created, when the town first started to experience and benefit, if I may say now, I don't know if they would have said this back then, from um the dining experiences that now exist in Milton, both in the Lower Mills Central
Lab District as well as obviously in East Milton. Um, it's not a provision that's found either. I don't believe in either chapter 138 or any of that. And I I thought, I'm 99% sure I know of former council Murphy. Yes. I believe Dave Duca, attorney Dave Duca worked on this.
I thought we had removed all of these. And the last one that we addressed was when we issued I believe the last restaurant to open that a select board issued a license to was the plate. I'm
I'm going to say it's a million years. It's got to be about eight years ago. So, um we may want to review that. I I as I saying, I believe a prior board addressed this to try and put all the licenses in in um in unison together so
that they're all the same. And just a couple followups on this. Um you, Mr. She often speak about our opportunities to uh increase our tax our taxability the
monies that we take in from taxes. Um, as a kid when we moved East Milton when I I was only like 8 years old, 7 years old and then as a young policeman working in East Milton Square. It's a much different place today and as I live back here now, which kind of amazing
itself, but it's a much different place than it was when the only dining experience in East Milton was Stella's lunchet and the Milton House of Pizza, which was called CJ's Sub back then. Um today with the addition of this restaurant, it's one
more not just another ability for us to increase tax revenue and as you know we have this superintendent coming before us coming following this and every tax is so important to us but it has absolutely changed the dining experiences in Milton and particularly
those put forth by Vance Welch and his group at both Navaro and Abby Park to include Mr. Ch the churro all all of them a plate and now hopefully with this new restaurant um they just improve the overall quality of life for this
community and I think that's a a commendable thing and to both the owner of the property Mike Mcnosa and the Vance and his crew they are heavily invested in this community in so many aspects and I you know this isn't and I'm not saying this in a in an in a c
we're not getting this isn't an top of these on all of God our ch this is a restaurant group that has become part of this community and I think that's a really important thing for all of us so um I'm ready to move forward whenever you are thank you for allowing me those
comments >> thank you Mr. Wells. Um, any final comments from the members? Um, so I think what we can do here is move to close the evidentiary portion of the public hearing. Um, >> I'll make a motion to close it. >> Second.
>> Motion made by Mr. Well, seconded by Mr. Dailyaly. Um, we are in a hybrid format, so we'll do this roll call. Mr. Wells, >> yes. >> Miss Hagerty, >> yes. >> Mr. Daly, >> yes. >> And myself, yes. >> Um, so I believe we are all set for now. Uh, Mr. Is there anything any further
action for us needed on this? At the moment, >> the it's up to the board if the board wants to act on the application before us. I I I will note um and attorney Corkin mentioned it that the the appeal period for the variance is through
October 27th before that becomes final. Um so the options for the board would be to take this back up either after that date um or the board could conceivably proceed with to issue the license today subject to you know final approval of
that um variance and unless the board had further conditions it wanted to think about or attach beyond those um submitted by um the applicant. >> How do the members feel? >> I'd be okay with having it be subject to
um the appeal period. I don't think we have any additional caveats or asks at this point. Seems it's been covered very well and managed well by Mr. Wells and attorney Corkran and the Magnosis as well. So >> great. Uh Mr. Wells, you have your hand up.
>> Yes, with the chair. So I I'm willing to make a motion especially in light of you know as you know we went through a lot. This went through a previous um not before us but before the ZBA over a year ago. Um, one of the things I took note
of in the comments is the positive comments come from almost every abutter around the property and and they're more than supportive. So, um, absent the appeal process, I'd be willing to make a motion of approve this left very closely
as um models what was at the plate and I um I'd be willing to make a motion to approve this application at this point at this time. Uh, will you accept a friendly amendment to make it conditional upon the appeals on the appeal? Absolutely. Yeah.
>> Motion's been made by Mr. Wells. >> Second. >> Seconded by Miss Hagerty. Uh, any further discussion? All right. This is a roll call vote. Mr. Wells. >> Yes. >> Miss Hagerty. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dailyaly? >> Yes. >> And myself? Yes. >> So, I believe we are all set here. Thank
you very much for your patience and I look forward to having some >> more tasty meals in East Milton. Okay, thank you very Thank you all very much. >> Thank you. >> Richard, thank you for your comments. >> Okay, moving along. Um we are going to
have a discussion and update uh with the Milton public schools. We have uh present our superintendent John Failen and also the chair of our school committee Amanda Sio. Amanda you can or John can grab a chair extra chair. Yeah, just make sure you pass the microphone
when you're talking because it's sensitive. And I'll preface this just by saying um Missio, you and I spoke a little bit about this already. Um we have been asking the different town departments to come in, talk a little bit about um the work that they're doing, issues that
they're seeing, um respond to questions from the members. um departments have taken this kind of some we've gotten some really detailed presentations. We've gotten some uh you know sort of broad uh broader uh presentations. So um please feel free to go ahead and we will
uh ask some questions here at uh at the end. >> Great. Welcome. Well, thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Thanks for thanks for inviting us. My name is Amanda Serio and I am the chair of the school committee and I'm here with uh John Failen who is the interim superintendent. Um John joined us in June of the end of last school year and
um we've been thrilled. He's brought a level of stability to the district that we've really needed um and we've all been very appreciative of it. Um I work on the school committee with um five other members. So there's uh Dr. Elizabeth Lizzie Carroll who's the vice
chair, Anna Vargis who is a member, Mark Luring who is also a member, Nathan Huau and Bao. Um, for this year, I'll just briefly talk about some of the goals that the school committee is focused on and then I can turn it over to John and he can talk about the focus for the school
district as a whole. Uh, we every year we vote on the goals of the school committee and this year we um we have four areas that we're focused on. We're focused on the budget obviously and ensuring that we're being responsible stewards in managing a balanced budget. That is that is a very top priority
especially given the past couple of years. We're focused on supporting the work uh that ensures the curriculum is rigorous and equitable. We're focused on creating a welcoming and equitable district where every student and staff member thrives. And we are focused on building trust and positive district cl
culture and climate. Um so each of those have different elements to it. Um, the one that we've most recently talked about is finding way to reach out to the community more and involving them and and having greater communication and opportunities for the community to reach out and and share their concerns and
comments with us. We always encourage people to come to the school committee meetings. We similarly have public comment. We also um welcome emails um any kind of correspondence. People are welcome to reach out to us and and share their their concerns or issues. Um I
wanted to introduce John so he can take you through um similarly the focus of the the his focus for this coming year. >> Good evening. U very happy to be here. John Failen interm superintendent of schools. Uh back in June when I started
uh I was asked by the chair and the vice chair to look deeply into the financial situation in the schools also into the culture and climate and and and some of the systems that were in place uh for not only uh finances but for teaching and learning to make sure that we were
uh taking advantage of this year uh to make sure that we could stabilize all those things in the Milton public schools. very happy to report after being in every single school uh twice in the month of June and meeting all staff um and meeting other board members and
and folks in town uh spending the summer looking at the finances and looking at what the leadership team wanted to uh to prioritize this year for teaching and learning and systems of teaching and learning in the district. Uh I believe we started the year off in a great situation where uh my focus will be the
classroom. My number one goal this year is to get into classrooms, look at teaching and learning, making sure that we're supporting teachers in teaching assistance in providing a rigorous classroom in uh every Milton public schools uh building. The next goal we
had was culture and climate of every single classroom, school, and the district. How are we welcoming people? How are we working with individuals? How are we working with families? and how we creating a nice and effective and engaging school climate not only for the students but for the staff and for the
families. And my third goal was budget stewardship. It's very important at this point in time after an override where the families and the community uh members reach into their pocket to support the town and specifically the schools that we are good stewards of the
financial uh dollars that we receive in order to run the schools. So that has been uh very much a priority over the summer months, identifying uh systems uh reestablishing systems that we're doing to ensure that we're budgeting uh very appropriately uh and also looking to not
fill some vacancies so we can actually uh put dollars into certain lines of our budget that can ensure fiscal stability throughout the year. Uh we have been uh very warmly received by Nick and his team. Uh we have met with Nick and his team several times in order for him to
give me the lay of the land as to how the financial pieces worked. Uh I've met with some select board members. Uh also some Warren committee members will be at the warrant committee next week. Um and I'm also taking part in the budget committee work that happens on Fridays for that long range planning group. Um
so the budget's very important, but also I want to make sure the families know that even though I may be an interimm, we are in your classrooms every week. We are watching your teachers teach. We are watching your students learn. We're supporting the teachers with professional development. We're asking
principles what they need. Uh this is a very productive year for teaching and learning in in the Milton public schools. We're really excited about the focus areas that we have this year that the leadership team came up with. And the way that we're framing our work this year for the leadership team is they
will be here. This is their district. It's the teachers district. It's the principal's district. It's the famil family's district. all on behalf of the classroom and the students. So we ask them, what do you want us to focus on? How would you like us to prioritize learning for you? So the leadership team
wants us to focus on and we have effective tier one instruction. And what that means is every student deserves to be in a classroom with a teacher who's working hard on that big group instruction for all students to access in a way that works for them.
And I have to say that uh after being in every single school and having learning walks done in every single school that is happening in every single building from uh every elementary to the middle and the high school. The second thing that our leadership team wants to work on is using data to inform instruction
in the classroom in the school building and as a district. How are we using data to uh change our teaching strategy in a classroom for a certain student or group of students? How are we looking at data across a building or across a content area to ensure that our curriculum is
working for kids that we serve? How is data working for the district in order for us to align our resources to different parts of the district that may need it in order to get those scores up for all students, especially for those not at grade level. The third thing that
they wanted to focus on was rigor. Everybody deserves rigor. And what we mean by rigor is challenging students every day, being warm demanders to those students who have a bit of a struggle that we hang with them and we increase our strength and support around being
patient and working diligently with all students in a classroom and especially for those who aren't meeting benchmarks. We also talked about wanting to create active strategies to support students who are not meeting with benchmark. Our MCAST show that we have students in our
district who do very well and our MCAST show scores that show that there are pockets of students who have not been achieving benchmark and we want to target those students. We want to find out what they need and we are doing that actively and we're going to present strategies for them and their teachers
to utilize in order to get those scores up between now and the next time they take that MCCAST test. Uh we also want to continue the work that our principles and staff and the school committee's been doing across the town to increase uh the culture and the climate of our
schools in a way where uh we're making sure that our families feel wanted, heard, needed, seen, um valued, and are able to take part in their child's education. Uh this involves everything for how we register our students and how we make sure parents have access to
register for school and how that works to reaching out to them to make sure that they're on board with all of our online platforms that we use for grades and progress reports and supporting that connection to home and school. Uh so those are really the five areas uh that we're focusing on. Uh how that relates
to our budget work is those are our five priority areas that we're looking to budget around for next year. We're investing in those five areas. We're going to put our resources around those five areas and we're providing a philosophy statement and a priority statement that we'll use for our
budgeting this year in order to make sure that we're in that guidelines of focusing on the classroom and students uh in the Milton public in the in the Milton public schools. Uh lastly, I would like to say that um the uh the one thing that we started off this year that
was uh challenging for our families was our transportation issues that were for our middle and high school students and families. Uh we did a lot of listening. We worked with our bus company. Uh we had families come to our uh citizen speak. Uh we paused, we took some data,
we got creative. Uh we started to count every single child on every single bus. uh we decided to increase the capacity for our buses uh with the number of students that could ride to alleviate the weight list. Uh we have phase two of that happening right now where we're re-evaluating that data and then we'll
probably be taking some more students off that weight list. Uh so that is a remedy and a creative remedy that we found that did not cost us more money. Uh it just took a little bit more investigation and more time and to be respectful to our families. Uh you can't have a great day at school if you can't get to school. So, we want to make sure
that we prioritize that and that will be a uh very clear priority in our FY27 budgeting as well. And lastly, I just sent out to the staff that I'll be meeting with our staff uh and having coffee hours with uh in all six schools over the next few weeks to touch base
with them again about how things are going so far. Uh we met with every staff in June. We're doing it again in October and early November. And I'm also publishing community hours for anybody from the community, whether they're a parent or a non-parent that wants to come and sit with me and have coffee in in my conference room uh at the high
school. Uh we're changing the times of day between morning, midday, and night. So folks can access one of those uh time periods to ask any question they want. Uh and we'll have a good conversation about what's all the good things that are going on in the Milton school. So I'm very thankful to be here. Uh I think
we have a great team of principles, great team of curriculum leaders, fantastic teachers, and more importantly, young people that come to learn every day from great families. So uh everything is moving in the right direction in the Milton schools, and we're very very thankful for the support of the select board, uh the Warren
Committee, and obviously uh the support and the leadership of the school committee as well. >> Thank you very much. You >> open this up for questions from the members. >> I'll get started. Um, thank you for coming out tonight. Um,
and I just want to say from my family, um, you know, really want to thank both of you and the school committee and the leadership team in Milton Public Schools. Um, my daughter Josie is in first grade at Tucker and my son Ben is
in eighth grade at Pierce. I think by the time it's all said and done, I I will have touched the Milton public schools for 19 years. So, um I'm spending a long time with you. Um and I
can definitely um you know, I'll just say, you know, both schools are fantastic schools. Um my son also went to Clever for elementary and um you know I think for a lot of families in this town.
Um you know the Milton public schools is sort of the the heart of our community. Um so really appreciate all the effort that's put into um making them the great
places that they are. Um, superintendent, you mentioned um that there's been some work happening um so far this year on um I think you were mentioning financial systems
um you know reestablishing some systems, implementing some systems. Can you elaborate a little bit more on that and how that's going and >> um you know any impediments to your success there so far? Anything that you need to achieve that? >> Uh so thank you for the question. uh as
soon as I arrived and looked at the budget uh documents from FY22, 23, 24, 25 just to get a sense of what was going on that we could make sure that we learned from uh in the past. Uh Katie Blake and I spent most of June and July
looking at those documents, getting the history uh and me learning from her about what her one year of experience looked like in Milton last year. Uh essentially the systems that we are setting up and have already put in place are uh some of the kind of grindy ones
that people uh might not always want to talk about. We actually compare our budgeted documents to our payroll to our FTE sheets. So, who's coming in every day, who's getting paid every day, and who's been budgeted, and triangulating that data to make sure that we have a
really effective payroll and cost center that's so large, which is 80% of our uh uh budget under a very scrutinous eye. So, we did that before the year started. Uh we have all those documents aligned um from an HR perspective and from a
budgeting perspective and from a payroll perspective. Uh so, that was a big chunk of the summer. We also looked at some of our revolving accounts to make sure that we could make recommendations to the school committee and the finance committee about certain balances in our revolving accounts that I think we should look to achieve throughout the
next maybe three years uh in order to get uh balances in those revolving accounts so those accounts can do their job in our budget which is be shock absorbers. So when something happens in our budget, we can lean on the transportation revolving account, the
food service revolving account, we're permitted, uh, circuit breaker, um, athletics for example. So we actually evaluated our revolving accounts as well. And we also took a hard look at our grants. So we get federal grants and state grants and how we utilize utilize
those in a way that's uh, in the best interest of the students in the classroom. So definitely no impediments. We have a great team over there. Uh everything that I thought might need to be looked at, I've looked at. Uh the things that I was wondering about moving in to the work was confirmed by Katie
Blake, who I think does a fantastic job. She's our assistant superintendent of finance. And um and we're also shifting the culture about how we expend money. This isn't all about revenue, right? It's about expenses. So, not only are we looking at the revenue that we receive and what that looks like and is it
enough or how do we use it, but we also found areas in our budget that we need to be more thoughtful about and how we expend those dollars. So, we're looking at everything from substitute teachers to coverages and how we do stipens. Uh how we encumber funds every year so there's no surprises at the end of a
fiscal year. Uh small things when teachers write curriculum and they have it translated for our French program. Well, if we're going to do that work and we need to get the science curriculum done, then we should pay that person to do it. But we need to encumber the amount of money. So, approve the hours first, approve the work first, the work
gets done, the money's been encumbered, then the money's paid. And I think over time, some of those practices may have not been as strong and we are strengthening all those financial practices. So, we feel very confident uh and um supported by our finance committee. We meet almost every
Wednesday now. uh those meetings are uh recorded. So the um tape is uh linked to our website. We have a business um and financial website that stands alone that will proactively putting up all of our documents, all of our presentations. So
if anybody has questions, they can look at the tape of the finance committee or the school committee meeting. All the materials are there and we'll have an active FAQ up there as well to answer questions. So, we're hoping to be uh proactively transparent and communicating as best we can. >> That's great.
>> Could I add something? I think one of the things that's been great, too, is that there's been um sort of a sharing of budget responsibility in the sense of everybody realizing that that they are accountable for the budget, which I think also had kind of gotten pulled
away from. So, what so recognizing that that to Mr. surveillance point, you know, every if you if there's hiring, if there's translations, if there's paper, if there's if there are things being purchased, if there are things happening that that that everybody understands the
implications of that and that they're involved in the process so that they recognize that everybody is responsible for having a balanced budget. And I think that to his point that probably we that it was moved away from for a bit. And I think um just re reaffirming a lot
of those processes and procedures has been really important. >> It's great. >> Mr. Dailyaly, any questions? >> Yeah, I have I have a few. I I won't go on too long. First, thank you both for being here. Uh my daughter's a senior at the high school this year, so I'm at the
end of my journey in Milton Public. She's been here since kindergarten, and we're in the college application process, which has its own stresses. But uh I can I I always sing the praises of of Milton Public and the valued
education she's gotten here. You can see that in the school she's applying to. You can see it in her SAT scores. And right now at the high school, um I value even more the connection she's built with her teachers and her guidance counselors and the folks that are helping her through not only the
application process and picking her schools, but you know, the stress and mental health pressures that our kids feel in in high school. uh they are very high achieving high stress kids and sometimes it's about us just kind of walking them through and letting them know what's okay. So Milton public has
been great for my daughter and in that's in that sense all my questions are about um how do we make this even better and support our kids um going forward. Uh so we talked a bit about the override which is kind of the big thing that's happened in the last year and at the select board
we have been working on our own policies about not only our reserve accounts but also discussions about how do we um adjust and move money and decide what goes where and who are the signatories. So, I would ask um Superintendent and Chair Serio, are there any discussions
happening at the school board about financial policies around the schools in light of what's happened with the override? Are there any changes that are being written in, policies that are being discussed that we can share with the public that we can really embed institutionally?
So I I can refer to one uh member Mark Luring in the finance committee will be voting on policies for our revolving accounts that were uh at one point in time o overtime depleted and we want to uh like the town in the aggregate uh
making policies around those stabilization funds or revolving accounts that have minimum balances so they can be utilized well. Uh we're looking to do that. That will be our agenda a week from tomorrow. uh those policies will be set up to inform um uh and provide guidelines to how we
actually budget our uh finances for the following fiscal year. We know we need minimum uh balances and we're trying to grow those. So we're not only looking at next year. Uh I'm always a person that will look at the last fiscal year, the current fiscal year, and then two fiscal years ahead. We always should be
planning ahead. We should al always be thoughtful that what we're doing right now does impact what we're doing moving forward. And I think that those revolving account policies as an example uh select uh member daily will provide a better financial planning strength as we
get into FY27 and beyond. >> Uh also um there was there were some not cuts but positions that were not filled. um that email that went out, discussions that were had in the town and uh you
discussed the coffee hours and the conversations that are happening internally. Uh is there any assessment or thought about the impacts across the schools of those non-hires? Um are there school I would think that there are schools that are possibly
being more impacted than others. Are we doing an assessment for some roles that we couldn't fill uh and the possibility of filling them later? Has that come up at all? So we are putting all those positions on the table for our FY27 planning. So we're keeping them in our
budget FTE count and right now we're having individual meetings with every principal about what they need to serve their school well uh this year and next year and what they want in their own budget next year and it's inclusive of those positions that were not filled this year. Some of the impact that we've
seen early on uh so far have been uh kind of connected to the work where we had a position who was a unit B administrator for technology for front of the house work i.e. working with teachers in technology. He had a few folks work underneath him, one at the
middle uh one at the high school and one at the elementary school. We did deputize those folks in order to get some of that work done that was kind of left in a vacuum a little bit. Um there's other parts of the work of the director of fine and performing arts that we're working with some of the
teachers to step in and do some of that work as well. And wherever compensation is needed in order to have them to fulfill that through a contract, we do our work with contracted individuals, we would provide that kind of a stipen. So right now the impact hasn't been bad, but the framing has been what can we go
without for one year to ensure that we have a good fiscal year, but how do we make sure we keep these positions in mind when we're planning for the following year. So they were never meant to be cuts. They were meant to be not filled and reconsidered for the following fiscal year. And the reductions that we made uh that uh
assistant superintendent uh Katie Blake will outline in her quarter one report for FY26 will be tomorrow morning at our finance meeting. and then we'll present that document again to the long-term uh budget committee group that meets on Fridays. Um it's definitely a needed
exercise to not fill those vacancies in order to ensure that we're not coming before you in April for more dollars to finish the fiscal year. We will not be short this year. We will finish on budget. Students will be engaged. The school year will go well. Uh and all
these things in in combination will make sure that the year goes well financially and educationally. Um, I asked that because um, I my daughter went through Tucker. I'm part of the Tucker community and I think about the impacts of these cuts or
non-hires as being particularly detrimental to Tucker in that Tucker's not only faced the turmoil that the other schools have, but they lost a longtime principal. Um, they lost uh, then the two principles subsequent after that and now they have one that we hope
is going to be there for a long time. So, I would hope that that community and that being our our tier one school is a space where we're thinking about the impacts having a particularly detrimental um and outsized harm for that population of families and students
and then we're thinking about Tucker um not differently than the other schools but with uh more of a laser focused lens on what these these cuts and impacts mean for Tucker. Um my last question for now um think about the superintendent search. Um Mr. failing. I understand you
may not be with us forever. Uh are we taking steps right now to build in the rubric and the ideas around who we want for our next superintendent? Because I think everyone in town would want that next person to be someone who's going to
be here for truly the long haul and also someone that can pick up on the work that you have done and the school committee's done now and simply just move us forward with those with those steps in place. So, how are we thinking about that? What are the next steps? Are and how do we prepare for that really
big search here in Milton? >> Take that one. >> Um, we we haven't made um we've made it very clear that we um hope to have Mr. Failing continue for a year beyond his uh beyond this year. So, an
additional school year. And we are in the process of exploring options for that. Um, plan A for us is has always been to reach out and um ask the uh ask the state for additional waiver. Should
that not happen, we would explore other options with Mr. Failen um to see if we could come to an agreement for him to continue. Should that not happen, that's when we would look at um initiating a superintendent search sooner. So that
being said, I think right now what we are doing is it a lot of the a lot of this year has been learning. I think there there are people who've been on the school committee who were involved in the prior search and I think that there were um probably uh
characteristics or qualities that that we were looking for then that maybe have evolved that we've seen are have have risen um given the past two years. So I think now I think the first initiative is looking to um secure an agreement with
Mr. Failen if we can. This following that would then be initiating the work around the superintendent search knowing that um that if that were to if we were to uh do that that would not be for another year if it went the way they were going. So we have the time to build
an appropriate rubric, reach out to the community to get input from them around what's important. Um have more community engagement around that. So I would say um priority, you know, that's the order of the priorities. So should we need to
move forward with a with a wider search, we have the time to do that to to get to ensure that we get the right person in place. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Wells. Any comments or questions? >> You do. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome back, Superintendent. >> Good to see you, Chief Welsh. >> I know everyone still call they call me Chief of Beacon Hill. That's humbling. Well, um, couple of things. You may be thankful, but at least for me, I'm grateful that you're here. your
intimate knowledge of the town, the fact that you're a resident, your intimate knowledge of the district and understanding the pressures exist every day. Um I think is serving this community in more ways than most people can realize. Um the fact that you're looking two two years, you know, you've
been involved, you you've been involved in prior overrides before this >> historic one of $9.5 million. The fact that you're looking two years down the budgetary road is a great indication of your understanding that an operational overhead is not a path
that we can take anytime soon especially in light of the size of the one that we just passed. So um I understand that makes a you know from a department head point of view that makes it the challenge even greater but um I have all the confidence in the world
that you will have the ability to to to not just see this but steer the ship in the right direction and continue to care and provide leadership for the students of Mil public schools as you did from the time you were teacher principal So,
super assistant superintendent and now a superintendent and um whatever I can do is as you know I've kind of blown up the word retirement. I'm in a different role now but um in aspect of circuit breaker money's from the fair share act um the
legislative works very hard to try and bring as many additional dollars into each district um as we can each year. fair the fair share amendment. It's been a huge huge um gift for the for the citizens of this call. So, whatever I can do to help you both here and away.
I'm staying out of your hair. You've got too much work to do. I'm not coming for a coffee hour. You call me or I'll call you. But um um but um I am very grateful that uh you've come back into this role at a time in history where it couldn't have been more important. So, thanks very much for everything.
>> Thank you very much. uh very as as a taxpayer and as a resident and as a former parent of Milton public schools children and a former 16-year uh member of the Milton public schools, I feel grateful to be here at a moment where I can be supporting of the work uh
solidify the district in order for the the town to find that long-term leader that I think the community would like to see in place. whether that's a one-year uh uh role or a two-year role, there's plenty of work to do to get this district solidified and ready to hand over to someone who can be here for a
long time. So, it's very exciting work and I'm thankful to work with the colleagues that I work with every day. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Thank you again. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thanks. >> You're welcome, Mr. Wells. Um, so thank you for coming in. As many people here,
I I've uh currently uh well, I just had a graduate last year. I've got two seniors and a sophomore. So, we've had uh kids at uh I think almost every school uh in in town. So, it's been it's been great. Uh and like like my uh
colleagues here, I full fully supportive of and um and and endorse the schools uh that we have in this town. I think they're a huge asset. Um I think that my colleagues have asked some great questions already. Um I I
think the biggest question on my mind um and it's possibly and not one that you can really give us a great answer to, but with the uncertainty that's going on in the federal funding space right now. Um how are you thinking about um potential um firewalls or anything else
that might you might be able to set up, we might be able to have if we start to lose significant um funding from either the state through federal cuts or directly through federal cuts. Uh so we're very thankful in Massachusetts to have uh first of all a state legislator
uh like uh uh Representative Wells and Desi and a governor and uh other folks at the state level that are really working hard to mitigate whatever federal impact will have on the state and and cities and towns. Right now the feedback that we're getting from the Massachusetts Association of School
Superintendents is the money is okay for this year. They feel like federal money will will come in for this fiscal year. the federal fiscal year has a different timeline than our fiscal year and the calendar year. So, it's I think it's a fall uh end of year. So, we'll keep an
eye on that. We we rely on uh federal grants through the idea grant which is very important to us. Uh it supports our students on IEPs and English language learners and 504s. Uh we we rely on that money to provide really, you know, truly
needed services. So we would definitely have to think about how we can create firewalls for that. Um and one of the examples of that kind of a firewall is uh back to our original discussion about what strategies are we taking this year for budgeting creating funds in our
stabilization accounts that support those service deliveries that otherwise are also supported by federal grants. So, if we are financially uh conservative and we uh create a three-year plan to fill those stabilization accounts and revolving
accounts over time with sufficient money, you can't make it all up in one year. That will be an active step that we will take and is an active step that we will be taking just in case some of those special education dollars from the IDEIDA grant are directed somewhere else. Um so, that that's one example. Uh
we also have great access points with uh our current legislator and and and also Senator Driscoll to find out what's going on at the state level. I attend state meetings with Desi and MASS. Amanda attends meetings and and has knowledge of the school superintendent association and we're again very as a
member of uh the superintendent association um not very many states have such active agents that support uh the schools uh like Massachusetts does. So, so we'll make modifications when we get the heads up. Uh, and we feel like we've
been getting good advice and guidance so far. >> Good. Mr. Walls, I see your hand up. You're recognized. >> Thanks, Mr. Chair. Thank you. Just just a follow up to to the superintendent. Um, I also, as my colleagues know, I chair the capital subcommittee and over
the last two years, we we puted some quickly put significant money towards that um expansion of a few classrooms at Cunningham. Is is that is that project completed now? And uh I know it's not a huge relief, but I hope it found some
benefit for you um if it is done. I knew it was close. So it it uh it was a two summer um two-tier uh construction project. The first tier was done in summer of 25. >> Uh we've added five classrooms, five offices. Uh tremendous amount of square
footage in the would have been the old library at Cunningham. Uh the work was done effectively effectively managed and supported by uh the town administrator. Nick and his team did a great job with uh Tom McCathy uh who you know basically ged it with the the company that did the
work. It looks spectacular. It looks like it's always been there. So, we added significant square feet. The attic um uh board member Wells will be done next summer in the summer of 26. That's the second phase that will now become the library. So, this year our students
are getting uh library on a cart for the for the year. We've worked out a schedule so there's no service delivery missed by the students. Uh the teacher or the librarian is a little inconvenience, but he's a good a good egg and he's making it work. And then this summer, the attic will be turned into the library and will be a
full-fledged school. So, uh, it was a it was a relatively small project, but it had a big impact on the schools and we very much appreciate the space. It's well needed and it's well utilized. So, thank you very much. And I want to thank Nick because when I got here, I didn't really realize what was uh the scope of
the work and immediately was able to get good advice and guidance from Nick and his team to make that project work. >> Well, very much. I want to thank uh former chair Carol who brought this before us I think two and a half years ago and it started as I think it started
as I think a quick 2 million and it was a quick analysis and then it turn significantly more but I'm glad that uh we were able to get that done that was completed and that and that the final aspect will be completed this summer. So congrats on that. Well done. Thanks. I
just welcome that update. Thank you very much. I'm all set Mr. Chair. >> Thank you Mr. Welz. Um, yes, we're very lucky in this town to have the public servants that we do and the and the employees that we do. So, thank you, Mr. Milano. Um, any further questions for our superintendent
or the school chair? >> Uh, I think I have one just a clarifying question. Um, for the coffee hours in the community meetings, I understand. Um, how are you planning on getting that word out to parents? I think >> so. We're going to let the Milton Times know. For the parents, it will be in the
in the monthly and weekly updates and all the principles um uh weekly updates. And for the community, Stephanie O'Keeffe is going to reach out to the Milton Times and we'll start to push it out uh to as many uh many outlets as we can to make sure that uh non-parents can
come by and see. I really want to meet with community members as well. In my first meeting in the school committee, uh I thank the the families and the voters who voted for the override. And I also promised the folks who didn't vote for the override that we would be good stewards of their dollar and I need to hear from everybody in the town to make
sure that we're doing that. So we'll get the word out and if they're successful, we'll continue them. Uh if they're not, we'll take a break and we'll go at it again in the spring. So there'll be more to come for sure. >> Are these to happen on site at each school or at the office? >> The staff meetings will be done at school, but the community meetings will
be done at the high school in in the conference room in the superintendent's office. >> They'll be done. I can actually I can publicize them right now. Um, we have uh community office hours will be 9 to 10:00 a.m. on November 14th, 12 to 100
p.m. on November 21st, 4 to 5:00 p.m. on November 20th, and 5 to 6:00 p.m. on December 4th. >> I I would encourage, if possible, for there to be some version of uh these meetings on site. Uh it may be you may
get more engagement from different communities if you're at Glover if you're at Pierce. Um maybe it's coordinated with um school let out or after school but I think we've had over time even at the board and different boards that um parents may not read everything that goes out they may not
want to go to central office but if it happens at the school they'll feel more engaged. So, we've also been in contact with the PTO's, which is a separate type of uh meeting where I will go to the PTO meetings through the fall uh when invited uh to be able to access families on site at their school. So, that will
be another part as well. >> Thank you. >> Great. Well, chair, can I >> Yes, Mr. >> Sorry, it might be helpful for the board. It's it's later on our agenda, but um Route 28 Randolph AB, any impacts that the board should be aware of related to the to the ongoing change in traffic that we're seeing there,
>> aside from a few employees saying that they're a little late and uh can you get coverage for the first period, the first couple days? Uh no. Uh I just wrote down that myself last Sunday. Uh it feels like a much safer uh drive to me. Uh so I appreciate it. But professionally,
I've seen no impact at this point in time. >> And the school buses haven't been impacted. Not to my knowledge. >> Thank you, Mr. Milan. It's a good good question. Um, well, with that, we will let you go with many thanks for your time and your service and your efforts. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Have a great day.
>> Thank you. >> Uh, Mr. M, I know we can't go to item seven yet. Um, and I know that Mr. Gas is with us uh for item number nine. So, I think it may and we have to do seven to do eight. So I think we should move
to our uh discussion update of the report of the master plan implementation committee works. All right, Mr. Guys, if you would join us. >> Good evening all. >> Good evening. So I am Cheryl Tugias, the chair of the
master plan implementation committee, the chair for the last 10 years. Uh I am here uh on behalf of the committee of six. Uh one of our members includes Megan. Uh we've had a select board member um that has rotated and we have
valued uh each of the select board members who've been on the committee. Uh I'm going to give a little introduction about the plan itself. So when I uh volunteered to serve on the master plan committee some 13 or 14
years ago, it was with the belief that >> I think they just turned it down but not off. >> Okay. I turned it down. >> No, they turned it down. >> Okay. Um it is with the belief that it's important to plan to plan for our future. Even if we believe the most
important thing is protecting what we have, we still need to plan. So Milton's master plan is ultimately about protecting, preserving, and enhancing all that makes Milton a special place while simultaneously
addressing concerns, changes in attitudes and needs and conditions to make Milton an even better place for all of us to live, to work, and to learn, and to play when we have time. The current plan was approved by the
planning board in June of 2015 after $125,000 taxpayer investment and a two-year public process with over 500 participants led by a planning consultant team, a master plan committee and the planning department and planning
board. So the plan has three volumes. One is an implementation plan and that's the focus of the implementation committee. There are three overall themes in the plan that are further divided into seven objectives and goals. And I think it's
worth my reading those seven out. Preserve Milton's physical character. Promote health and wellness. Improve housing and neighborhoods. Promote economic development.
improve transportation and circulation, provide highquality public facilities, services and infrastructure, and strengthen our capacity to plan. So there are 120 specific strategies
related to achieving those seven goals and then there are a list of the top 20 recommendations. So the committee worked for over 10 years monitoring, documenting, and assisting with the implementation of
those top 20 recommendations and the 120 detailed strategies. We spent over a year discussing our recommendations and preparing the final report which was delivered to you today. The committee believes that while
progress had been made on implementation, many issues and strategies remain relevant and further action is needed. We are concerned that implementation will slow or end entirely if there is no active monitoring.
We recommend targeted updates to be made to the plan rather than a wholesale rewrite, which would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Issues not contemplated in the plan or addressed in minor ways such as climate
change, the lasting impacts of the co COVID pandemic and diversity, equity, inclusion need particular attention. Considering the recent override, I would like to highlight a couple of items. as a success.
The passing of the CPA a few years ago has raised over $4 million to date and facilitated investments in affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space and recreation projects.
Yet, financial challenges remain. How do we deliver high level public services within the limits of Prop 2 and a half with a reliance on a residential property tax for 97% of our tax property tax revenue?
We have only 1% of our land area zoned for commercial use. The committee recommends the development of an economic development plan that aligns revenue needs with land use regulations,
transportation options, climate initiatives, and traffic congestion solutions. There are many more examples of successes, challenges, and recommendations in the detailed report.
A master plan's effectiveness is primarily determined by how well a community integrates the plan's vision into enforcable zoning bylaws, capital improvement plans, and other related plans. Implementing a master plan
requires a sustained effort from elected officials, appointed boards, and town employees. And without adequate staffing and political commitment, progress can be slow. A key consideration in future success will be achieve cons achieving
consistency and integration with other existing plans and ongoing planning activities of the town such as the open space plan, the housing production plan, the climate action plan, new school building committee, capital planning,
public works, and so on. In the town meeting article, the committee recommends that a successor committee be established to continue to monitor implementation and to make recommendations to the planning board, select board, and town meeting for
targeting updates. Happy to answer questions. >> Thank you very much. Questions from the members? Well, I I'll jump in and just um I want to thank Cheryl and
all the members of the Empic uh past and present for all the work that's gone into um monitoring and making sure that um the recommendations that have been adopted
have been implemented. Um it's it's a a pretty big important an important function in government to um to provide oversight to ensure that
projects are happening um and to and to provide sort of that ombbudsman function of sorts to be able to say this this happened or this didn't happen. Um, you know, it's a I think it's a
really special thing that the town has this um committee um because too often uh in government we spend a lot of money on consultants
um who write a fancy report that then goes on the shelf and we don't reap the full value of the investment. in the plan. Um so it really is um
some serious work that and and value that the volunteers have provided um to the town to to make sure that we're seeing we're seeing the investment through. And
um I know the report came back today, but if you take a look um a lot has been accomplished and understandably um there there are some items that that
still need to be followed through and and you know there there are some there are some areas that continue to need love. Um, and the the one that I'm most concerned about is economic development. Um,
so I um, you know, that's kind of all I have to say on that. Um, and I'm also happy to answer any questions with Charl. >> Thank you, Miss Herty. Um, Mr. Dailyy, do you have any questions?
>> Uh, no questions. Having just received this today, I need a little bit more time to go through it. Um, I can't think of an opposition to having a committee that continues with this work in terms of looking at checkpoints and also making sure that we are trying to
achieve some of the points that are set out here. But I would just ask for a little more time to review the entire document. >> Of course, uh, Mr. Wells, you have your hand up. You're recognized. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, so thank you, Cheryl. Uh, I a couple of
points. I am a little disappointed in this from a couple points and I I'll explain. They're very I find they're very important as you know. Um we've been colleagues and friends now for almost 10 years and you handed off to me
um what has become probably the largest thing I've ever worked on in my nine years which was the creation of the addressing and the creation of um Milanding in the Deon River Basin. At the time, I had no clue when this
first started. I thought it would begin with a yacht club that didn't have a lease and a park we was going to we were going to store boats. The reality of that 9 years later is that a number one, we didn't even own the W.
It was owned by 88 W. B number two, we were completely unsure of its of its contaminants, history, or anything underneath it. Three, in addition to the climate coastal challenges that exist and are growing today,
we were able to uncover that the poneta river is from high park to the mouth of Boston Harbor is currently the most polluted river in the United States of America. So, in the thank yous, I think it's really important I work through that
that you include people like Allison Quinn, who the former assistant town planner, who just did so much work, especially in the early years of uncovering the fact that a we didn't even own it. We didn't even own the WA. who was owned by 80, helping
us negotiate through the transfer and and the swap of that land and taking ownership, who in her short time helped us walk through creating three zones that could are all occupied by tenants today. Um, as you may not even remember,
one of the first things you said to me the first time we spoke about this was that you wanted to increase access for residents, particularly for passive water recreation. Well, now today we have a $100,000 canoe
kayak dock that exists there at no cost to residents of this community, which has been a benefit to so many. So, I just think that um there's a few other thank yous. you know, you never want to lease someone out and this will become a historical document. People like Allison
Neper, um, Seapport Council who pursuant to the MAPC report that was a authored for your committee back in I think 2017 now or 28, might even been 2019, I can't remember, gave us a $50,000 grant to explore what we thought
was going to be as you had recommended that initial MAPC report. I know I'm being longwinded here, which was going to be a little bit of judging, which now will wind up being about a $30 million project given the contaminants that exist there. Um I just would hope that we could include those people and Bill
Richie who the former um consolidate facilities director who just did so much work for us particularly with the lock up at 25 Wall Street which is the oldest building owned by the town which had been neglected by us and I readily admit
it for so long who did so much to help um not just bring some of the address some of the issues that we will have to fix there to help us to money and to to um start to make this a
viable historic building as it exists. And then the last one that I think we need to give a shout out to or you need to give a shout out to Scott Mccay and everyone on his committee that from your recommendations as well took the concept of the parcel
land which is we know is I don't even know what the name of the park is. It's where the where the um farmers market is held who's done so much work another >> creation of of of the MP Emp work that
began as you knew with the creation of the new PUD in the Milton Village area. Um, Scott deserves a lot of credit and Bill Madden and whoever I can't there are so many people that I just think of and I I as I read this today I'm like in my nine years this has been the hardest
I mean we are we have operational challenges and all those are things that come but I don't think anyone including me when you and I first met on this nine years ago could have ever envisioned that all those years and neglected just how much and finally and Mr. Milanos and
Mr. has always been here with me now for a few years have heard me say repeatedly what a jewel that area of this community is and um I just hope that you can add those in there because that really work um really helped us uncover
something that I don't know if we' have waited that much longer if we'd have been able to to bring this to light and to take the actions of needed not just to preserve it to protect it for the generations to Richard um thank you uh for your
comments. Um you know the warf study was the first project amongst the first work that the implementation committee embarked on. >> I know >> we were so and we were very happy that you took that work and you um and you
advanced it. Um and you you do raise points about where where to draw or where to include the acknowledgements. There are so many people who have had a role in the implementation and we don't even um really have names for all of
them. We tried to cover with a a blanket in the very beginning about thanking every um one you know the boards, committees, volunteers, um former staff members etc. And then throughout I think um mentioned that it was grassroots
efforts led this and that and there w we in were benefiting from uh the many people staff volunteers and other organizations who uh are responsible or took initiative and u so I I do um I the
one page where we did include the acknowledgements I just will say that was where we invited uh people particularly in to the committee to provide updates on those particular topics and so that's why
those were listed um separately but um you know I'm happy to try and find another way to cover the full realm of uh people to thank um and certainly um thank you for your efforts uh on the warf I don't
>> thank me I'm just a mouthpiece >> um And it is one thing I I do want to make clear is that there's so much good work that has come from residents of this community who all want to to help make it a better place for all of us.
And uh none of this work would get done without that and without the effort of our staff. And we know that um we've had um short shortfalls in our staffing particularly in the planning department of late but that's um now getting better
staffed but even so we've able as a town to accomplish quite a bit in the 10 years since this plan was put forward. So that's a real achievement and I want to make sure um that's clear to all who are watching.
>> Thank you Mr. Guys. I um I don't have any specific questions for you um yet. As Mr. Daly noted, we've just received this, but I've obviously been following the work of of EMPEC for a while. Um and I just want to underscore what you said. I think the
it's unless you've really been involved in some of this work. It's hard to understand how many hours how much time people have really sunk into this uh giving their uh their expertise and their knowledge their their wisdom and their their volunteerism uh to the town.
We know that we can't live in a town that is static and never changes. And the the ultimate question for us is always how do we want to change and and where where can we change and and how can we perhaps change in ways that will preserve what we have had in the past
and yet make more opportunities available for those who come after us. And so I think the work that the EMP has done um and hopefully will continue to do uh to to help chart that course with the input of so many different uh folks
from across town is is critical. So, we're really grateful for your time and your effort. Um, Mr. Wells, I see your hand up. So, is there something else you'd like to say? >> So, I have one more question before we let Mr. Nas go. So, you know, we've sh
we've talked about so many possibilities particularly in the village. Um, and and you did make mention to Mr. Wilds and and um so can you give us any kind of update at all? Uh and the other thing too is I really want to thank not just
you but um two of your longest serving members Taber Quley and Dick Burke who I think have been with you the entire 10 years. Am I correct? >> We serve together on the master plan committee itself. So even >> I mean I think 10 years the whole Yeah. The whole time the whole 10 years. So
>> but a quick question on the because I know the vision of what was intended for or what is hopefully and still intended for um is it one Elliot? you know, one Elliott Street. Um, do you have a do you any idea what
the if there's still a goal or a vision for what's was proposed to go in there as far as a mixed juice with the um dining and I think there was some would require chapter 91 change was going to have a deck over the water. Do you do you have any idea about that at
all or No, >> my understanding uh for Mr. Wild is he's focused on the project across the street and get that up and running first and then um he's been working his way through uh the chapter 91 process which
is um I think taking longer than he anticipated but it is still his intention to move forward. >> Okay. Thanks. I just remember, you know, you know, things change and I think we
both thought that that was going to be the first um project to to come to reality in that district and here it isn't. So, >> I do think it's a great concept. I think it's, you know, it's Superintendent Fon is visionary. I love
visionary things. So, um I hope it does come to reality one day. I I will use the opportunity um Richard to mention that it's been five years since we passed that overlay district and the planning board has not received one application under that overlay district. And so that's one of the
things when we think about what how we evaluate how well we're doing, we need to look at why we haven't had any applications and we're still not reaping any u tax increase that we would hope to come from that overlay. And so this is um one of the things that this economic
development plan that I mentioned earlier I think could dig into a little bit with the help of those property owners and business owners understand uh what is the impediment. One of the things that um my experience um being on
the planning board is our commercial um zoning uh has requirements in it that uh make it difficult to redevelopment to redevelop properties under the commercial zoning. We tried to make that easier under the mixeduse. Did we
succeed if we have had not had an application in five years? So these are u the kinds of things I think where we need to continue to evaluate. We we call it a success, but is it a partial success? And one last thing about the um
the report itself in the appendix, you'll see the tracking sheet that the committee used where we took each of the strategies and we identified whether we felt that there was any progress made, whether there was a 50 50% and whether
it was complete. And you'll see that most of them have had some progress, but very few of them have reached 100%. And so it's a it also is a circular. Is it a success one year and then five years later no longer a success? Um it's why
we need to continue to monitor it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Cheryl. >> Thank you, Mr. Wells. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Great to see you. So, I'll uh revert back uh to our um
public hearing on the uh agenda. This is the public hearing for RCN Cable Telecom Services of Massachusetts, aka Astound Broadband Cable Television License Renewal. Uh, I'm declaring the public hearing open at
8:41 p.m. Uh, we have, I believe, uh, Bill August, who's going to be attending remotely on Zoom. Um, do we want to move to RCN for comment first? Or, >> Mr. Chair, if you could um read the opening remarks. I don't see RCN here,
so um, based on that, we can skip their opportunity for remarks unless they do show up in the next few minutes. But um, I will read these >> if you could read the opening. >> You're uh good evening. Welcome to the town of Milton's public hearing on the RCN's cable license renewal. Federal and state law require the holding of a
public hearing for the select board to consider approval and execution of the town's proposed RCN renewal license. This hearing is for the public to have an opportunity to comment on the proposed non-exclusive RCN renewal license and provides an opportunity for the select board to deliberate and vote
on the proposed renewal license. Copies of the legal advertisements and the proposed license are entered as public hearing exhibits. By way of background, Milton's RCN cable license is due to expire on October 21st, 2025. This hearing follows a prior public hearing
and and ascertainment activity to identify town and public renewal needs. A copy of the proposed renewal license has been available for the public review in the clerk's office public cable file and in the select board. It was also posted on the town website as
part of the select board's meeting materials. We are grateful to Milton TV staff and to RCN for their diligent assistance throughout the license renewal process. In this proceeding, we are open to accepting comments about cable matters relating to the proposed license renewal. Members of the select
board may also have questions or comments. Before proceeding to public comments, I would like to briefly recognize RCN's representative David Von Morates for his cooperative working with the town on the licensing process. Mr. Mr. Von Morates, if you are in attendance, which I don't believe you
are, uh please identify yourself. Um so now that uh we are ready to accept comments if any from the public and interested persons. So welcome to all. Please state stand, state your name and address before testifying. Uh and as always, keep your comments limited to
three minutes. Thank you. >> Uh Mr. Chair, so as I'm noted, I don't see a representative from RCN here. Um just for further background for the board um this was a 10-year um the prior cable license was a 10-year agreement um
that went from 2015 till 2025. Uh the renewal is essentially the same agreement carried forward for a further 10 years. Um and in this environment with the cable companies seeing declining um
customers um to maintain the status quo we've had um is productive for the town. Um there are kind of two key payments that come to the town. The first is um 5% of their revenue will flow to the town based on their re their Milton subscribers. Um in addition to that
there's a smaller capital payment on an annual basis that is made to the town. um over the life of the the renewal license. So um RCN at my last check I think it had about 380 slightly fewer subscribers in Milton. Um
Comcast obviously has a lion share in terms of cable TV >> 380 total >> 380 total customers in Milton. So this is this is smaller compared to the Comcast. Um but I just wanted to note that it is the same agreement. We're grateful to RCN for agreeing to keep the
same parameters in place. Um, we've made a couple of tweaks on the operational side, but that doesn't affect the license any significant way. Um, and the key components remain the same. Um, despite a little bit of back and forth, but um, as we approach the renewal of Comcast, it'll be good to have, um, this
cable wrapped up, this cable license wrapped up expressing the same, um, financial agreement between the town and RCN. >> Thank you, Mr. Moleno. Uh, any questions from the members? Um I will take a uh Mr. Wells
>> just a quick question Mr. Chair 380. So I do know I'm 99% sure of this. I believe RCN is the only option for the residents of F. They don't offer Comcast there. So of the 380 would would
full be one license or or do we know if each individual unit if full is a license? I don't know the specific response on that. I will have to get back to you on that question >> because if if it's not if it's not I'm
just thinking I don't know how many units total at Fer between Blue 11 and Bal Road it's got to be 200 um at least. Um I'm just wondering is the if if they're all individuals is the vast bulk
of AEN located in one location without just my one because I've I've heard it many times from residents they can't get cable and they watch anything on built cable and
they watch through their you know either their iPads or their phones or their their tablets whatever they have they watch it wirelessly through Wi-Fi It's on TV. It's not often on the cable package though. So that was just I just wondered because when 380 is a unique
number and I thought of how big Polar is and I was wondering is Polar each one a license or is Polar just two licenses but I don't even know the answer. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Chair. >> Thank you Mr. Wells. Um we do have a
public uh comment. Um, uh, Miss Christine Hodlin has her hand up. If we could promote her. >> Miss Hodlin, you're recognized. >> Thank you. Hi, it's Christine Hodlin, 112 Maple Street, and I was listening in to hear about one of the later agenda,
but listening to this and I just want to say I am one of the 380. I don't know what that means or not, but um we've been using RCN for 20 years and I think we switched briefly to Comcast and had issues and we've been very happy with
it. So, I don't know if we use it differently than other people. I guess I'm just going to add that as um an opinion for your consideration. So, >> thank you very much, Miss Odlin. >> Um All right. Not seeing any other hands
raised. Um I'll take a motion to close the public hearing. >> Second. >> Motion to close the public hearing >> made by Mr. Daly and seconded by Merty. That's fine. >> Um so now we are going to move to our discussion potential approval renewal of the cable license to close.
>> Oh yes. I'm sorry. We got a vote to close. We did have a motion. Thank you. >> Uh this is a this will be a roll call vote. Uh Mr. Wells. >> Yes. >> Miss Hagerty. >> Yes. >> Mr. Daly. Yes. >> And myself. Yes. Thank you very much for for uh the correction. So, moving on to
>> M. Do you want to do you want a motion to approve, Mr. Chair? Do you want to approve? >> Uh I have some text I hear that I believe that I need to read in full, Mr. Well, so I'll go ahead and do that. Um acting in its capacity is the statutory cable license issuing authority pursuant to mass general laws chapter 166A and
finding that the cable license renewal proposal of RCN reasonably meets the license and cable related renewal needs and interests of the public and town and finding that RCN's financial and technical qualifications and RCN's proposed support for the local programming channels studio facilities
and services are reasonable to meet town cable licensed needs and based on the recommendation of our renewal team and municipal cable council for approval of continuing RCN as a lency serving the town. I move that Milton Select Board hereby approve the proposed
non-exclusive RCN renewal license effective November 1, 2025 following the expiration of the current license. >> Second. >> All right. I made the motion and seconded by Mr. Wells. Uh any further discussion? >> This will be a roll call vote. Mr. Wells.
>> Yes. >> Miss Hagerty? >> Yes. >> Mr. Daly? >> Yes. >> And myself? Yes. All right. Uh and we've already had um our presentation from Empic. Um and I believe we had 10 as a a placeholder if we had uh masked out here, but we don't. So,
>> and if there was any discussion amongst the board, >> I think that it's probably still too early for us to have any firm opinions about this. >> I do have I do have a question just as an update um for myself. Uh, have we had any
any conversations or any issues raised by police or fire about getting up and down 28 at all? >> Sure. We um so we met internally um with Mass DOT on Thursday of last week. >> Mr. M just pause for a second. I want to give you the refus.
>> I'm like I can't tell if we're going >> I'm recusing myself. >> Sorry. Uh so we um Chief Madden, Chief King, DPW Director Marina Fernandez and I met with MASDOT staff on Thursday just as a
check-in um get a sense of where they were in their process and evaluation um talk about um their response to to comments and questions that have been coming in to share some comments, questions, concerns um that we've noticed. Um so um you know I I think
nothing immediate in terms of public safety front. I think there are times when it can be a little bit slower and we're working to to keep um masked out apprised of that um and and share that information. Um we talked specifically about um some of the responses to
comments they're starting to get um and tweaks that they're making already. Um Mr. Wells uh had uh requested that they look at review the signal timing at Randolph and Reedsdale, particularly heading from Milton Academy southbound.
Um that that light was very short and not getting much traffic going through at all. So I believe they were going to be out there this week to try to uh rettime that and adjust it a little bit. There are some concerns about the left turn signal at Reed. Um, so they're
evaluating additional signs um and a way to to adjust that signal so that it is the town of Milton as M. Wells pointed out or last meeting the select board voted to have that be ex no travel um between 7 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. from Randolph onto Reed. Um and Masto had
removed those signs. Um so they were looking at ways to address that. they had reinstalled the signs in the meantime, but looking at further ways because if you know that intersection now, there's a green arrow that comes on with the signal. So, it's a green arrow telling you you can do it while there's
signers that saying you can't do it. >> Um, and then just broadly that they're continuing to put information up on their website. They're um they said they would begin to share the emails that they're getting um and their responses. They've been tracking all the responses and trying to respond to to folks um who
raise concerns. They talked about their game plan for post, not post, but um monitoring additional traffic. Um they did took counts at um basically every side street off of Randolph um the week prior to implementation. Um so they're
waiting for everything to settle a little bit further and then they'll be able to do some post counts and then use other data that they can pull from. Um so it's an ongoing conversation. Um both Chief King and Chief Man have the opportunity to share direct um feedback. Um and we'll continue to do so that that
line of communication has remained open. Um and um you know I think we're appreciative of that they have the project email up that is working in terms of getting comments into them. Um so and folks are using that like we're not necessarily getting requests for us to share information mass dot. People
are going directly to mass dot and and getting that information in front of them. So >> and where can people find that email? Is it up on our >> It's up on the projects page. I don't know off the top of my head. If you if you just Google mass.gov Milton um Randph A the project page will come up and it's I think it's I don't want to
say it wrong but it's um it's right there for folks to >> it's a mass address at least. Yeah. >> Do we think we would be able to get Mass to come in for our November 18th meeting? Mr. Milano just >> I can certainly extend that invitation. They've been more than amendable
obviously throughout this process to engage and I think that would you know at that point we'd have six to seven weeks of full implementation. >> Yeah. feedback. >> That would be that would be helpful, I think. Um um so maybe we can do that. Um anything
Mr. Wells, you have your hands up. I do. Thanks, Mr. Chair. So, um follow to Mr. M's point. So from a I I would concur with both Chief King and and Chief Madden like policing
and public safety point of view. Um it's a much easier, safer flow of traffic from a speed violation perspective than it was um prior to the
road pilot diet. Um and the difficulty with that and and I know that um for Mr. Mal Marina um Marina's going to have to start to look at the streets off of Reed
still as well. I know that Clifton is already organized Clifton Buckingham Modern Road especially because whenever you cut I've said this repeatedly a lot whenever you decrease the ability of the volume flow so it cannot be you it's not
maximized what it was it's safer but people start to look at alternative um routes which is why we started a time house we house we started a time for lights so the first who jumped out right away was the southbound flow at St.
Elizabeth. It's only 11 seconds between 4 and 6. That's crazy. Three cars max are getting through and if it's a truck or anything significant, only the truck gets through and then people just start making U-turns going back to his normals. Um 2 days ago did the lights at
Hillside because Hillside and the BM commute is backing up from 28 almost all the way back to Forest Street at points and that light coming on the 28 28 seconds. So we did convey to Dan Fielding that they're going to have to look at the timing sequence and all
this. And then finally to your point um well this is a mass project Mr. here. Senator just going and I talk today at length just brief not length briefly about bringing mass auto very quickly very soon to town to kind of just let
these most affected who may either sponsor the Cunningham Hall or St. Elizabeth Hall if they'll if the pastor allows to kind of let people kind of vent the good and the bad about this cuz it's not perfect. We've all talked about this here. It's it's um it didn't become
as I've said repeatedly now, it didn't become the most dangerous stretch of roadway in the Commonwealth overnight. So um it has growing pains and but there is a lot of positive feedback um that has come with it. So and we'll we'll
we'll keep Mr. Moral prize for all of you so that um we'll do this quickly versus um waiting too long. That's it. Thank you, Mr. Wells. >> Um, so I I think as mentioned, I think
having them come in on on the 18th would be good. The other related matter is um, you know, I think the I the general idea overall is to try to encourage people to use non-car transportation. And we have
have we received a letter back from our request uh to MBTA around uh improvements to the uh Madapan highspeed line. >> Uh they confirmed receipt and that was the extent of the response at that so
far. So we can push on that further. >> I think that we should I I would expect a little bit more of a robust um response. I know that there are some changes taking place at the NBTA, but that shouldn't preclude them from being at least responsive to a town. Um,
particularly a town that's now compliant. >> Um, let's maybe put that also on our next >> uh agenda and we can >> Yeah, maybe even next week if we want to think about having a draft letter that we could look at. >> Sure, >> that'd be great. >> Um, all right, we can move on if he
wants to unrecuse herself. Um, we have unrecuse. I'm making it a word. >> Mr. Chair, I I don't know. I know our guest is waiting for item 16. >> I was going to suggest we do this. We could do that. Um so why don't we go ahead and skip forward a little bit to
the hero property to exemptions. >> M. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um and I've received the questions from a couple of board members. Um and I know that our chief appraiser Charlie O'Shea and Curtis Ross in his office um were
aware of of this issue as well. So um the state has adopted additional property tax exemptions um specifically for veterans um part of a broader legislative package called the Hero Act. Um, as you're aware, last year we
brought to town meeting in February a home rule petition for a citizen or senior citizen uh, means tested property tax exemption. And then in June, we brought to town meeting um, some more exemptions to tie some of our existing
property tax exemptions, including some of those for veterans to inflation because otherwise they were saying stagnant at previously set levels. So, we've made progress in terms of evaluating the exemptions that are out there determining what the town should have adopted and not. Um, and I think
it's it's prudent to to open up discussion around the Hero Act. So, this would increase and add additional exemptions um and increase the value of those exemptions for veterans uh based on uh various um for various reasons. Um so, the the process to adopt them, it is
a town meeting vote. Um, so it's it's on our radar for the Maytown meeting. Um, and the so at this point the earliest they would be in place would be for would be fiscal 27, which would be about a year from now. So we there's ample time um to prepare a warrant article um
to have that ready for uh Springtown meeting. I I did speak to um the Alex Ortiz, our new director of veteran services for the Randph Milton Veterans District. um he wanted to an opportunity to speak with the board about it as well. Um and
and to give his his perspective and and also just just to remind the board that as he's meeting and and engaging with veterans, it's something that he's able to bring up and put on their radar, not only what is out there possibly in the future, but what currently is on offer um to expand that. Um there is a cost.
Um, so I just I don't want to gloss over that piece is that uh I think last year there was 40 to $50,000 worth of exemptions granted. Um, so this could possibly double that. Um, so it's it's not a zero cost item. Um, but it is
something that um is worth bringing forward to the town meeting for exemptions so we can flesh that out in more detail um and work with the board of assessors as well as the director of veteran services um to to keep moving that forward. Thank you, M. Milano. Any questions or
comments from the members? >> No, I think I'd like to hear from Mr. Wells if he has any thoughts. >> Mr. Wells, you recognized. >> Thank you. So, I am disappointed, Mr. Milano, that this is the first we're hearing about this. Um,
I really, this came to my I've heard Governor Healey now publicly speak of this on numerous occasions. This was passed in the prior se in the prior legislative session. It became fact the law on January 1st of last year
and many communities I've already matter of fact my neighbor ran off my yes asked the VSO there um they pass it 15 days in January after was passed look I'm going to be very blunt we were at war for 16 years and I'm not saying it I may happen
to be the father of a combat veteran but I'm lucky that she didn't need the hero act but there are many out there that do and I have not been anywhere in the past 3 months with the governor particularly when she talks about affordable housing and housing issues in the Scottwalk does
not make specific after you know specific comments on the Hero Act. It's almost November 1st and this is the first I've ever even heard it mentioned here. And had we not brought this to you, I don't even know if it would have been. But
those veterans, we can't just go and honor them on November and and Memorial Day each year. We owe this to them. This was passed into law for a reason. And while there is is a cost, there is also a cost to those brave men and women who
not just for the past since 2011, since 2001, but even today stand watch across this call. Um, we owe to them and I to I thank the president. I don't know the gentleman who came forward tonight. I thank him for coming and the others who emailed me to tell me about this and to
the governor and to the legislature who passed this because we owe it to them because we would not be able to be here and have the freedoms that we cherish without their commitment. So that's really I'm going to say on Mr. daily. I just hope I would have if I had have known about this joy or it's just a member of this board, I would have tried
to force but we did this at the same time that we did the prior senior tax write up. It's just as important. >> Is that all, Mr. Wells? >> That's it. That was I sorry, Mr. Chair, but I'm really disappointed in this one.
This is really critical. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Wells. I don't know if you wanted need or feel a need to respond to that. >> No, I I I don't disagree. I think we certainly would have um wanted to be more on it, but you know, we've had turnover in that department in
particular. Um and I would just I I think the other element is when we learned about this, we were trying to unwind what it actually meant. Um and it was at the same time where we were in the midst of pulling articles off town meeting, articles on town meeting. Um I believe we talked about at one of the
meetings when I was explaining the tax exemptions that were moving forward in terms of why we felt it was important to at least grab those um then. So but it is to Mr. Wells point I don't disagree it's it is a they could have been in place for this year and they're not and um if the town votes to accept them in
the spring they'll be in place for fiscal 27 the tax year next year. >> Okay. Any further u comments or questions? No, I think we move forward to having this on Mtown meeting and getting the voted in.
>> Would you like to make a motion to that? >> Megan, you go ahead. >> Hang on. Hang on. >> Second. >> Um, I would like to make a motion to I would like to move to recommend bringing the Hero Act property tax exceptions to May
2026 annual town meeting. Uh, I'll second as Mr. Daly fixes his microphone. Um, I might uh add I don't think we're anticipating a special another special before May.
>> Rex. Yes. >> Right. >> No, I wouldn't expect it. Okay. >> At this point, >> if maybe >> or sooner >> or or sooner >> if it a sooner opportunity arises. >> Yeah, I would say or or sooner opportunity. So, obviously, we can't put it on this uh the current warrant, but um if we have an opportunity to do it
before May 2026, we should do that. Um do you accept that as a friendly amendment? I guess that is your motion. Yeah. Okay. >> Um All right. Well, this will be a roll call vote. I'll begin with Mr. Wells. >> Think you know the answer to that. Absolutely.
>> All right. Mr. Wells is an absolutely. Miss Heerty? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dailyaly? >> Yes. >> And myself? Yes. Thank you very much. And so, this will be on our town meeting discussion. It's a town meeting vote. Um, so that means in May, uh, the town will choose to to, uh, put this into place. Thank you for coming out and
advocating for this. >> Thanks. >> Um, all right. So, we're going to move then to Well, speaking of town meeting, let's move back to the warrant. >> I'm sorry. >> Like a bug or something.
>> What? What? >> Oh, yeah. I do. Hold on. Is it a tick? >> Something, man. >> Oh, man. >> Yeah, I was snuggling with my dog. I don't know. >> I did take the dog for a walk today. >> I see them all the time and I knew what it was. Like,
>> so live on YouTube, we've reached a new level of our relationship >> as I tell Jen. Tell Jen I saved you from getting Lyme disease. I will tell her. She will be She'll be very appreciative. >> The threat is real.
>> Now, I'm going to spend the rest of the meeting like panicking that I've got ticks everywhere. So, let's >> It was making me anxious watching it climbed up over your collar. >> All right. >> I apologize to the viewers at home. >> Teamwork. Teamwork makes the dream work.
>> Give your dog a good brushing when you get home tonight. >> Jen, if you're watching the select board meeting, check the dog. Uh, okay. >> We just did that. >> Oh my god. I thought it was a mole till I saw a mold. >> No. No. Yeah.
I'm like, >> I'm like so panic right now. Watch this. >> Okay. Oh my god. There's like a little piece of string on my shirt. Okay. All right. I'm all right. I'm all right. >> Uh, okay. Uh, item 11, the uh the special town meeting warrant articles. Mr. Milano, I know we had a prep call
today. Um, so I know there's an update for one. Um but do you uh have anything else for us besides that? >> Yes. Uh for article 5, the planning board um is has I should say the planning board chair uh will be bringing
to the planning board um adding um uh the phrase to the planning board to item three under the charge of the master plan committee. So it would say to make recommendations to the planning board regarding the scope and key focus areas of future master plans. Um the
master plan um statutory is under the jurisdiction of the planning board and I I believe the intention is just to clarify that the recommendations the master plan committee would make would go to the planning board regarding um the future master plans. Um so that is one potential
amendment that uh may emerge. Um planning board is meeting Thursday night. warrant committee has a meeting scheduled already anyway for noon on Friday to be to potentially respond to and any um any other amendments. But in terms of new news on the articles,
that's that's the newest. Um >> and also, if I may, Mr. Milano, just add um I clarified with town council about the uh the question on that language. Um so it would be article three this third item to make recommendations and then inserting the words to the planning
board that um the insertion of those words wouldn't mean that the it wouldn't be restrictive in that the master plan committee doesn't make recommendations to the other um other parts of town and indeed the first and second items refer to them reporting out to planning board
select board and town meeting um so uh I I don't myself see any particular problem with the the amendment if it ends ends up going through. >> Can I can I ask you to repeat it again? Sorry, I'm hearing this for the first time. >> So, it's article five. Yeah. It's this
it's there's the bit that says the charge of the master plan committee shall be >> and then there's three items. >> Yeah. >> One, two, and three. So, the third item they would add the words so after to make recommendations they would add to the planning board >> regarding the scope and key focus areas
of future master plans. >> Okay. But you're saying that even Even with even with that language inserted, the EMP can make recommendations. >> Correct. I would imagine that we would
want the or whoever's on the select board at at in future times they would like to have it wouldn't be prohibitive so that they could ask the >> committee to come in and make recommendations as well. >> Okay. >> It just it would require them to make them specifically to the planning board. >> Okay.
So, I don't see any particular problems with that. Um, and then I'm I'm assuming that we probably just want to wait for our meeting on Monday to go through the items and vote up or down. Or we could do that now, I guess, if people had um thoughts about that.
If the select board wants to vote to um >> for articles seven and eight, it may make sense to wait because there may be amendments that emerge the board might want to take into consideration or not particularly Monday. >> Okay. So, let's just wait till Monday to to address those. I don't think it'll be
a huge surprise or a long time suck. >> Um moving along then. Do we have nothing else on the warrant? Uh, no, not at this time. I think everything else is has been kind of status quo for a while.
>> Great. Um, then we'll have uh item number 12, the select board goals. >> Mr. Yes. And I provided them in the packet and they're also printed here, but I can share my screen so uh folks can follow along as well. Um
so after in the coming out of the um retreat in the discussions around goals um for the board to work on um I took a stab at drafting uh what I interpreted to be what the interest was and in at tagging as goals.
Um so just treat this as my draft in in terms of what I thought I heard. Um so obviously open to um edits, changes, additions um in terms of uh where to take this. So
I I I also try to kind of group them into categories based on if some were if there was a longer discussion about certain items. Um so you see that on financial stability and economic development um because there was kind of a few different components um that felt
all related and relative. Um, so, um, like I said with financial policies, um, communicating around the town's long-term financial plan, fiscal year budgets, um, ensuring that we're chasing grant opportunities, reference to the pilot program under economic
development, um, as Miss Tagas was just speaking to, assessing the viability of current economic development opportunities, uh, Milton Village mixeduse overlay district being, uh, one that, uh, might be worth doing. Um and then um establishing a new committee
on economic development um or requesting the master plan committee focus on its particular um there's one on town farm. I'll just go through this quickly. There's one on town farm. Um I we included one on the fire station projects. That was something we talked about in terms of ensuring that we move
that forward. And then related to that is determining future use of the existing East Milton Fire Station property. Um with some uh potential deadlines there. Um a reference to the school project and supporting school committee and school building committee on overcrowding.
Uh we talked about department employee engagement. Um so you know continuing to do the department head uh meetings with select board. Um building in some more structure to those going forward. um efforts to you know retain and recruit a
talented workforce. Uh we talked about board and committee training particularly the orientation process onboarding process for new select board members and then um potentially something broader for board and committee members um for to keep them kind of updated and and teach them really how to how to interact through
town government. um something we've talked about already in terms of policies for a code of conduct um a communication policy continuing to do the retreats and making those um a regular occurrence. Um we talked about improving town
communications particularly related to housing and and projects that are ongoing. Um and then just more broadly in terms of the town's efforts on capital projects and and planning. Um and then um the federal government's everything that's going on there monitoring those that was a goal that we
talked about and then just more recently emerging from some of the discussions that we've been having. I noticed there wasn't a climate related goal. So that was just something I inserted. And then um coming out of the conversation last week with or at our prior meeting with Mr. Hart in terms of um equity and
justice for all committees. So that was my first stab. Open like I said to comments, suggestions, edits, removal, additions um from there. >> So I think we have a really good start here. Um
nothing is coming to mind in terms of anything that could be missing. I think we so I think we're off to like a strong start with like financial stability, economic development as goals, but um and I think we have a lot of the
objectives or like the the strategies sort of built in there like the how. So I think you know this is just like my nitpicky strategic planning part of me. Um, I think we can kind of collapse Town
Farm fire station projects and East Milton fire station property into one. Like I don't know if it it's some it's a goal that has to do with um town property and facilities.
Um, I think the school, this is just off the top of my head. I think school is um you know a standalone goal to address overcrowding.
I think perhaps the employee engagement, board and committee training, board policies, town communications, or maybe not town communications, but certainly those other three are under a similar
um goal of uh something to do with um you know town like work environment or board environment. Um
I think that the monitoring share information on the government federal government I think that falls under the financial stability and I think um equity and justice for all is standalone and climate action is standalone.
That's just my off the top of my head. Take it or leave it >> or town farm fire station. >> Yeah. I don't know. I don't know if that all goes together, but it kind of feels like >> all under like a a land use >> a land use thing. Yeah. >> Yeah.
>> It's like sort of having them standalone. So, they could be standalone under that subheading where we can >> add additional land use and go. >> Yeah, maybe. >> So, I think they they'll be finished or completed or individually, but having that land use section because those are
key points that we we deal with. >> Yeah. So I I would like to make a a process suggestion, but I'm open to um to to folks. So we have obviously um this is our select board meeting. Uh we'll we'll
have short ones in uh before town meeting. Um but then our next meeting will be in mid November at which point we'll be joined by a new member. Mhm. >> Um so I I think it might make sense for
one of us to volunteer and I will do this as chair um unless somebody else really is keen to do it. Um to to take this document to with whomever will be joining us and review it with them. Um it has to be one person so that it
doesn't break the uh um open meeting laws, but to kind of walk them through this. And I think it would make sense for it to be one of the three of us who attended the retreat um to do that to be able to talk through these and um allow whoever uh that person is um and maybe
Mr. Milano, we can we can um you know, we'll send the digital version of this and try to get that meeting to happen pretty quickly after the election >> um in case they have thoughts or suggestions and then we can come back uh at that November meeting and they'll and frankly that is a >> for the final vote
>> for the final vote on it and then that way it would be a fivep person vote on it and that they would have an opportunity to at least input a little bit. >> Yep. >> Um that's my suggestion. >> Okay. and you signed up to onboard the person. >> And so I I kind of see this as like a
bit of an onboard like welcome aboard. Here's some of the things that we've uh done. And >> um and uh and then and I would also encourage >> our our other members to reach out to whomever wins and and um have a cup of coffee and get to know them if they have
if you have the opportunity. >> But Mr. Milan, does that sound like a a good plan? And then in the meantime if folks have I think Miss Hagerty your recommendations to sort of consolidate some of these make sense so that you have fewer big bigger items. And then um
I think too for uh to that point your point about the department employee employee engagement board and committee training select board policies town communications that's probably all sort of a singular uh town atmosphere and board policy.
Yeah, I think it gets us to seven goals. >> Seven targets >> in the end as opposed to I think there's like I don't know. I can't count anymore. >> Yeah, that'd make it seven. You're right. Equity and justice and climate action
will probably still be on their own as committees that were formed. Yeah. >> But under there be seven seven headings. >> Yeah. >> All right. Does that sound good? >> Great. Um then moving ahead uh we have
let's see kind of jumped around. Uh item 13 I believe proposal for a feasibility study request for proposals preparation with Ryan LLC related to potential library parking expansion. >> We don't have anything on that this week. Right. >> I I don't have anything. I know um Miss
Hodlin and and Will Adams look from the library here if there were any further follow-up questions um but we have not um so right now the proposal is as it stood um and there was one of the one of the discussion items was what if
anything would the select board want to contribute to the cost of that? Um >> I think we still need a couple weeks to discuss it. >> Okay. Um I know I was dealing with EMPIC and the final report and other things. >> Do you want to talk about it now or do
you want to talk about it at uh in November? Well, so for me, I really wanted to understand the breakdown of the cost um for the proposal and sort of understand that a little bit better um
before making a recommendation um of how much and whether um to fund. So, I don't know if if anyone else on the
select board has any thoughts at this time. Um, >> well, my under what was the uh cost that they >> I think it was about $10,000. >> Correct. >> And I know the trustees were willing to put in.
I mean, honestly, I don't know that I have any that there's anything else that I need to know about what the potential is here. It's more of a question of do we feel like do we want to chip in half of this or and move forward with it or do
we not want to do that? Um, and to that extent, I would rather make a decision sooner rather than later. But if if there were questions that you had, I think for the libraries, I I see Will's on here and Chris still, too.
>> But otherwise, I'd suggest that we might want to think about a motion to um >> I don't think we would want to fund it in full, but I think if the trustees are willing to do, you know, split it in half with us, that might might be a a compromise. Mr. Milano, do you want to say anything about the impact of 5K on
our budget? No, other than beyond my comments from last week where um we've had vacancies and where we have savings where we wouldn't normally um that isn't as heavy a lift as it may be in a in a normal
year um just with the turnover that we've had because as I mentioned the the town amended to select board budget includes the planning director the assistant planning director um which is both in vacant the assistant town administrator which is vacant and they'll um and will be for a bit. So, um there is more available funding than
might be in a in a typical year um at this time. Um we will certainly eat that up in snow and ice in other places. Uh hopefully not this winter, but that's just I I do I don't want to portray like I can't find $5,000 directed to by the
select board in particular in a year like this where we've had that turnover um starting. But I do think in And I think this was the homework that I didn't complete in terms of Miss Hagerty had raised some questions around you know what is the
financial analyst analysis that will be a product of this and that isn't really spelled out in the proposal right um and that was something that um >> and we needed to talk more about that too I really you know we do have a need for parking for the
library I am conscious ious are concerned about um building another capital, another asset that has to be maintained by the town
without a revenue opportunity or at least an evaluation of a potential revenue opportunity, you know, in an RFP like this. So, um I would I would like to take a beat
and see how how we could incorporate that. Um you know, and and in in so far as that's added to the scope and there's an additional cost for me, I would be I
would be willing to support um additional funding for for that portion. Um, but we haven't we haven't done the work for that yet. >> I see Miss Hodlin has her hand up. Maybe
we can promote or Mr. Milano. Miss Hodlin, you with us? Could you take yourself off of mute? Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Thank you. Um I hear what you're saying and I think
Megan last time when you mentioned that we thought there was going to be some work towards that but I think we were willing to look in making sure that there was something in the RFP about revenue generating um as part of it. Um,
if you'd like us to try to go back to the develop, you know, the developer that was going to do this, um, the consultant work, we could do that. Um, we're happy to do that to try to get this to move forward. Um, and if you're
all willing to go forward, but the issue is paying for it. Um, I did mention that the trustees will pay for it if that's the only way that we could get it to move forward at this point to find out if there's anything feasible, you know, or viable for our parking. Um, so I ju I
just wanted to add that we're willing to help with that to push it forward if we can. >> Thank you, Miss Hudlin. >> Mr. daily. >> I'm of the mind that if the trustees are willing to pay for it that um they move forward because I think if the
recommendation comes back and it's something that the select board wants to move forward with that's where the town is going to be putting our funds um in play. Uh I was thinking that if we did, you know, go half or a quarter of this on this RFP that we we would expand
scope um around looking at a larger swath of that area for parking solutions and not just be um saying we're going in with one idea. Uh and that would be more to the town's interest. Um incorporating the library along with that, but maybe
having a broader focus as well. >> Yeah. But, you know, it's not I don't like $5,000 doesn't uh does not make or break us. But I think if we do chip in, perhaps we should ask for a larger scope
around bigger swath of that area with um >> so can I can I ask a a clarifying question? Um so when the trustees uh presented previously um they've this is a subject that
they've worked on for multiple years and they have looked at other um sites for library specific parking and have sort of made the determination that because wetlands and land ownership and other things that this was the one space that made sense. So when you're asking about
broadening the scope out, are you asking about broadening the scope out for other potential town uses besides the library or are you saying to redo the look at u the look like what does it mean if it's is it only the twotory parking uh
structure or are there other design possibilities for the area? You know, incorporating a new fire station, town hall, the church that's there. Um, are there other solutions around? >> Let's look at traffic and parking and now it's the entire
>> civic area including the library plus revenue potential for that site with the parking. >> Okay. I see Mr. Wells with your with his hand up. Mr. Wells, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, you're correct
in your analysis that to Mr. Bailey's point about um a larger swath. This is going to be a very very small piece between wetlands, conservation land. Um you know, this is a topic that has been discussed going
all the way back when I was police chief because the land of the rail station, the parking lot, the rail parking lot of the police station. Um I think I've said this previously, I know I believe when you were here, Mr. is always that the police station was
first designed. That's was like I think prior to the COA it was the fir in the lot that was the first brand new building that was built in I don't know how many years that was built in the late '7s. Um the main entrance was to come in beside the library off of
Reedsdale Road traversing along this parcel land and discussing into what is now the back park of the police station and the conservation of wetland restrictions was so great that they abandoned that and the main entrance to the police station became what you see
now which is off street. So to Mr. D the ability to expand is going to be difficult. Second to Sag's point as far as economic if you you you're going to be again limited on what you do there and whether
it's just parking and I I thought they proposed a single story parking if it was just parking without any type of potential commercial use. they're both going to be competing for. And that's one of the things that
both us and the library trustees, if this were to come to reality, really going to have to take a look at because um I think our main goal here has to be to find pocket for the lobby person and if
you can offset it with something else commercial, then that becomes very almost like a caveat that you didn't expect. So that's just uh you know I've gone through the whole center planning the master plan committee looked at this
whole area years ago. It's a very small fossil land I'm going to be able to um take benefit of if I guess the right term. That's just my thought is that there's not a lot there's not a lot that
we can expand on on this. >> Thank you Mr. Wells. U Miss Hodlin I saw you took yourself off a mute. I don't know if you want to respond. I guess my only response is that um we have looked at all those other areas. We have looked at the church. We have
looked with the town's help with EMP's help um at parking in the town center and at all of our abuing areas, the hospital, um all the churches over there, um to see
if there was any other options. Um the town when we did this, I think it was a year and a half ago now probably um they were almost at capacity, but there was a possibility of maybe adding some more
parking along the one of the side um exits from the town hall. Um but I think since then, you know, we've asked that that probably needs to be relooked at because I think the employees at the town hall have increased somewhat. So that's probably needs to be revisited.
Um we're happy to work with the town if there's other needs that we can add to this, but you know, our physibility study is to do um I think Richard we're looking at possibly more a twotory. Um one is underground where you would come in and go underground and then this
then if it's just parking only, it would be two levels, one underground and one on the level. um the feasibilities that we proposed wasn't just parking. It was either parking or trying to do parking with some other opportunity that would
help us pay for this so that we wouldn't be imposing um additional costs to the town. You know, certainly the library like any of the other departments and you mentioned this last time, you know, the police need things um the fire
department needs things. We need things too when we are one of the departments and we are one of the smaller ones. But um we would look to try to see how we could offset the cost through an additional development um and a revenue generating a development if that's
possible. If that's not possible, then I guess we'll see where we're at at the end of it. But at this point, all we're looking to do is to get to that point where we have all of that information, which we don't have um at this point. Okay. Thank you, Miss Hodlin. Um, and I
know Will will you're on here. Just put your hand up if you feel like you want to say something and we can promote you, but um we I don't want to call you out on the screen if if uh you don't Oh, he's ready. Okay. Will, you should be able to hear us now.
You can take yourself off of mute. >> Uh, thank you. Yeah, I don't have anything to add. I think Chris said everything very well. Um, we've done a lot of work, the trustees, the master planning committee, and others leading up to this point and and we're just waiting to move ahead with this
feasibility. Uh, and like Chris said to there's flexibility that we can um add to the scope if needed. Uh, the trustees have voted um to fund over the amount that that they've proposed. So, they're
willing to um put their money where their mouth is to get this process uh to continue on. So, um I'm just here to answer any questions. Thanks. >> Okay. Um well, how how do folks want to proceed?
>> So, are we we potentially voting about the funding or they be okay to just move ahead and we'll review the results or what what are the pieces we're >> So, it seems like if we if we So, are we voting? Well, so there's there's two
questions, right? So, there's funding and then there's the final language. So, if we approve, do we have to have any final edits into that document before we vote to approve?
>> If to to your point, there's a question around looking at other spaces. If that's still something you're interested in, it's it's not in the scope today. And if there's something that you're looking for in terms of >> the revenue piece, the financial analysis like that is not explicitly in
>> Christine. what I'm talking about is what Christine's talking about, right? Like having that having that analysis and the evaluation of of potential. Um, you know, like I I think the town should
understand what the potential is through the RFP process before um selecting a developer. Right? So this is like so this is requiring
a developer to to put forth um not the developer the um consultant >> the consultant to put forth the analysis right before we go out to bed. >> I don't believe there's anything explicitly in there
>> to that effect. If you want something >> explicit clear in there so it's not a >> oh if you want that it's going to be more money >> conversation then we should clarify our expectations and that should be reflected proposal. So we do. So I think
first and foremost we need to adjust the language, >> but we're only adjusting that if we're helping to chip in, right? >> That's I would assume that that would be the case. >> If if if the trustees say, "Well, we don't want to have that in our scope, which is their charge."
>> Are we just giving them the okay to say, "Well, move forward with what you have, and we'll review it." >> Well, they can move forward with or without our blessing. Yeah. So I it's the really the question of if we want to contribute then >> you know do we want to put something else in there or just ask them you know
can you give preference for this Mr. Wells I see your hand up. >> So I'm going to be a little fiscally conservative here. Um, so given that they've said they can't afford to do this, then I think we
should let them do it within the feasibility of where they're at because Mr. Milano said you start adding things, the price goes up and then then the impetus for us to add money or contribute becomes even greater. I just want to remind my colleagues that
um we are in a negotiation year. Um, as you've started to hear from some of the department heads that come in just in some of their operational needs in light of the override, there are some significant things there. And while we
may have some money in the coffers of the Select Woods office now, um, it's very likely, if not probably 100% probable, that we will need every dollar of that at some point. So, um, if the lobby
trustes are willing to fund this as where they're at right now, I'm okay with letting it move forward with what they have. And then, um, that's just my thought on that. I I just Sorry, Chris, you you said the magic word, we have enough money to move
forward. And I'm like, okay, we have the money. So, >> sorry. That's that's what I have, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you, Mr. Wells. Miss Hodlin, you do have your hand up. Um I just have a couple comments. So one is yes, we have the money in our um
extra funds which many of the departments have extra funds that were raised for specific purposes to add to what the town would contribute. Um but that being said, we did say we would pay for this if the select board isn't willing to put forward anything. Um, we
also are, as I said, planning to identify what the potential resources of each of the um, options that might come out of this feasibility study to be. Um, I'm not sure if they would be at the detail, Megan, that you're looking for.
If there's any specifics that you could share with us, we could see if we could add those at the, you know, cost that we have um, currently. And I guess thirdly, we want your support. We would like you to vote that you're happy to move
forward with this, which isn't expending any money if you don't want to at this point from the town, but it is finding out if there's any parking viability for the public library, which is supported by the whole entire community in town
and is needed by the town. Um, it's town-owned land, so we can't do anything without your support or your decision. So, we really would like you to vote in support of it even if you're not willing to pay for this um this study.
>> Thank you, Miss Hodlin. Um perhaps a compromise might be if the select board was willing to contribute something like $2,000 to provide some initial startup money knowing that the trustees are going to be providing the lion share of it and then asking for the
specifics that you know to the extent that they can I'm not sure how much they'll be able to do in terms of like the whole scope because that might radically change the costs but we could say we would support this with a with a you know contribution and a hope for
uh you know a a process that puts an emphasis on finding revenue streams that would result uh you know to benefit the town and the library from the project. Or we can um just vote to say we support
the library trustees moving forward with uh this RFP process and await the outcome of it to determine what our next steps are. I I would be >> Oh, yeah. Sorry. Go ahead. One second. >> I would be more partial to the latter, saying with our blessing, please move
forward and then, you know, if they have the money to pay for it, let it let's go with that. >> Okay. Uh Will, I see your hands up and then Mr. Wells next. >> Yes. Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. I I just also wanted to uh remind people that we
were looking to see uh as part of the support of the select board if a member of the select board would be uh involved in the conversations in the um public meetings and kind of this part of the steering committee so that you could at least have a liaison to these conversations while they're happening
live and we can update uh the board in that way. So, um, there'd be some involvement in communication during the process. >> Thank you. Well, I appreciate that, Mr. Wells. So, I'm going to make a motion, Mr. Chair, um, to
now I've forgotten. Will maybe forget um, from what Mr. Daly said, he said, I think it was your former your secondary comment. Um, Mr. Chair, I agree with Mr. D. I'm going to make a motion to uh
approve for the um library trustees to move it on their own on their move on their own. And um >> I think it's as it is it as it's written. I'm >> I think what we could say is we could um
to move to approve the feasibility study request for proposals proposed by Ryan LLC to be funded by the library trustees. >> Second. So, I'll that's what Mr. >> That was my motion and Okay, that was my motion. >> That was Mr. Wells's motion, Mr. Dy's a
second. Um, will I see your hand is up. I don't know if that means you still have something to say or if you just left it up. >> Sorry. >> Nope. No. Just wanted to make sure. Okay. Uh, if no further discussion, then this is a a roll call vote. Mr. Wells, >> yes. >> Miss Hagerty,
>> yes. >> Mr. Dailyaly, >> yes. >> And myself, yes. Um, so we wish you good luck. uh Will and Chris and um look forward to hearing what you learn through the study. >> Do we can we later have a discussion about if any of us would like to be a
part of this maybe not now but >> I thought we decided at the last meeting that I was going to participate in it but >> sounds like it sounds like a volunteer. >> So um maybe Miss Hagerty you can reach out to um to to Will and Chris. Okay.
>> Um Mr. Milano I'm feeling tick crawling all over me. Okay. Yes. Go wash my hands. >> I haven't seen anything. >> Yeah, I know. I know. My uh Jen has sent the clip around to my parents apparently, so it looked pretty funny on television.
>> I'm sorry. >> I couldn't I couldn't let it happen. >> No, I appreciate it. I do not want Lyme disease, but like this whole rest of the meeting has been like an exercise in self-control to just not be like picking at my scalp. Um, I mean, fortunately
there's not a whole lot for the ticks to hide in >> changed by this whole >> It's a new one. It's a new one, right? The town administrators have a group chat, you get like, "Hey, we had a new one at this meeting." >> No comments. >> No comments. >> Um, do we have anything from uh the fire
station projects? >> Just a quick update. I I just wanted to share that the fire station build committee had a site visit to the Athetherton station on Monday. Um, context architecture was there, the architects on the project, the onus project manager, committee members, uh,
representatives from the historical commission, um, Steve O'Donnell and Meredith Hall, um, to talk about the project as the building committee is really focused on Athetherton now and will be for the next several months to to map out a plan um, going forward for the town in terms of the Atherton
project. that is looking like there will be an appropriation request at the Maytown meeting to fund um continuing that project prior to a larger request um to follow to fund the actual construction. Um there's design work
that needs to be done depending on the pathway that the um project needs to go. So I wanted to share that. And then in terms of East Milton um if you're driven by the site um it's gone from foundations in the ground to steel going up. So it it looks drastically different
um in just a few days. So if you haven't been over there, it's it's worth driving by. Still work is ongoing. Um and then the East Milton Fire Station um community meeting on November 10th at the Milton Art Center. We're starting communication and advertising around that um so we can engage in that
visioning session as we talk about the RFP and and what that plan will be uh moving forward on East Milton. So, um lastly, I just want to close with under the Harley amendment um proposal, um the fire station projects
were expected to be funded through declining debt service on previously approved school and library projects based on um interest rates cost that will not be the case for Athetherton. So, it's just a message we want to continue to share that this will be an ask of taxpayers um on the Atherton
station um that we'll be bringing forward um likely in calendar year 26. >> Is it going to be a debt exclusion or >> a debt exclusion vote? Correct. >> Okay, Mr. >> Um Mr. Wells, you have your hand up. Thank you. >> Just a correction, I think I think Mr.
Well, I don't not it it will still be hurly amendment because the hurly amendment if I'm 90 I'm 99% I did talk to chair Walsh today about this the early amendment approved I believe up to $50 million um as long
as you space it out. I believe what you would you could tell me I think what you intended to say is that we would need to go back to town meeting for another debt exclusion override pursuant to the early amendment because the town meeting vote that took place in
2020 I think only approved either 32 or 34 million which at that time was thought would have covered all three projects but as we now know it didn't but I I think in other words we will still be able to draw down from the early amendment money to do this it
won't be um a debt exclusion override as like the school's role library was. >> You're partially correct. Partially incorrect. So correct in the sense that we only approved $32 million plus some prior design funding. So we need to go to town meeting to increase that overall
appropriation. That's for the project costs themselves. What on the flip side is our debt service costs. So the Hurley amendment proposed using capacity for debt service and trying to stay within that for these projects. Due to the cost of the headquarters in
East Milton, um the $2.3 million in capacity that we have under the Hurley amendment will be mostly eaten up by those two projects. So the next Athetherton project will exceed the allotment under the Hurley amendment, which will mean it would be on taxpayers
to pick up the portion of that. Um, so it's about of the $2.3 million under the Hurly amendment, about 2 point two million to 2.1 of it will have been um used for East Milton and headquarters. So it leaves some left for Athetherton,
but it will be an incremental increase um to taxpayers to fully fund the third station. Um, and I think it'll be helpful. I'll I'll prepare some additional materials just to spell that out um because we want to make sure that messaging is clear. Um overall I
wouldn't expect a significant increase. Um but it it will be it will not be fully funded under the hur amendment just because of the increase in cost and public construction since that was put into place. I still don't understand how you get
that because in the planning for this the Hurly amendment allows I I haven't looked at it in a few years allows over the time span to draw down because if you recall the Hurly amendment could cover both the DBW yard and through fire stations at the
time when it was conceived and that's 13 years ago now it's 11 years ago um I I you're telling me that that I'm wrong that it doesn't allow you to draw up to $50 million from retiring school
debt without increasing the tax level >> because there there's two separate limits. The total amount of money that can be spent on projects is 50 million. we will be under that. >> And then there is how much can we afford annually for the debt service that's capped at about 2.3 million and
headquarters in East Milton will come in around 22 2.1 and only leave about $200,000 above that for debt service. Um the real reason is the the expectation was all three projects were caught and cost around $30 million 32 million.
That's why the town went out for the 32 and a half. ultimately at the end of the day will be closer to surpassing 40 million for all three projects. So it's it's because the cost went up, >> it no longer is fully supported. And I can um share where the model shows that
in much more detail um >> because we're talking kind of in vague terms without the numbers in front of us and it'll be helpful and maybe I I can bring that to our meeting next week just to to give that background and you can see it >> and I can explain it and respond to questions more
>> effectively hopefully. When you say what was it the first half was for the project for project costs itself and the second was for debt service. >> Yeah. There's two caps. So the hurly amendment says Milton you may use
>> the Hurly amendment. >> Yeah. >> For up to $50 million worth of projects and capital pro projects. So >> and then >> and what's the definition of that capital projects? because one would assume that that that would relate to
debt, but just what you can borrow. You can borrow up to $50 million total for projects for the fire stations andor the DPW yard. >> Okay. >> So, all in they can only cost $50 million or less. >> Okay. >> Then on an annual basis, >> yeah,
>> the debt service is capped at the debt service on the books in fiscal year 2018 for the school and library projects. So that's locked in at 2.2,329,000 as the max debt service that can. >> So one is for the total the the total of
the projects itself. The second is >> a restriction on the annual debt service. Okay. >> So you if we went out and borrowed 50 million >> you can't go more aggressive than Yeah. Okay. >> So that's and the genesis on the fire
headquart the fire projects was they should be below 35 million. >> Yeah. that would have worked, but we're above that. So, it no longer that that service no longer fits. And I and I'll bring some back up for our next >> annual cap. >> Yeah, guess the annual cap that gets us.
Okay. So, I think um well, we don't have any action on this for now, but we are duly informed. You will show up at our uh next meeting uh next week with some more materials and explanations. And it's helpful particularly because it also informs the decision-making around
East Milton if additional funding is needed in terms of what to do with that piece of property. So, I'll um I'll bring that back up. >> Thank you. Um item 15, committee reports, uh finance committee and budget coordination committee. I will um turn it over to Miss Eerty.
>> So, really quickly, um you know, we've had a productive month. Um so the finance committee has been really focused on our um our financial policies and our reserve accounts. Um in relating to that
with the budget coordination committee um we've had some good meetings regarding the five-year plan. We had a great um presentation from the town administrator and the staff really breaking down all the assumptions that
go into our five-year forecast. Um and you know we're going to have some additional breakouts with member daily and vice chair um Walker on um you know
how to how to take that five-year plan and um find ways to make it um more communicable to the public so that you know our residents
understand um what goes into this, what it means. Um and also too something that was very revoly um is that a major finding or risk upcoming is the cost of health
insurance. um that the financial model what we what was reasonable when it was built at the time um you know was a 7% uh increase but um just the way that you know health health care plans are
working lately and other costs um for the town we've we've seen some substantial increases and we may continue to see that. So um that is definitely putting pressure on our financial situation. But
you know just to go back to those reserve accounts you know we are we hope to um have something for the select board so that we can we can pass those policies. Um and also superintendent um Failen was mentioning this you know
the circuit breaker um or the revolving accounts for the schools. You know, we are really in a place with the override, especially where having building reserves and building a cushion is
really financially prudent to get through um the next few years and to really not have to um go back for another override um because we were level service. So, we're we're having good conversations.
um we're bringing people together across all parts of the town government um so that everybody understands the role that they play and I think it's a very productive dialogue um and we should have some good uh product
um to share with the town. I don't know if I don't know if I'm missing anything or >> No, I think that that was all I think uh we are adding uh similar to what uh Chair Serio said earlier in the school presentation. Um they are working on
their financial policies in light of the override. We have uh town administrator Milano has created some new policies for us as well regarding our reserve accounts which we have shared with the coordination committee to get their feedback. select board feedback has been
entered. Um they will get their feedback and then we will look at that again. Um so we may come out of this cycle with two new groups with new policies townwide um schoolwide with the management of our funds, the understanding of the percentages and what should go where. Then we'll have
another review after those are uh signed in. We'll have another review of our reserves policies and how we manage free cash which has been brought up by the chair of the warrant committee. So, we're all very focused not only on um generating new revenue, but how we
manage the revenue that we get and the revenue we will receive. >> Thank you both very much. Um Mr. Milano, do you want to add anything to that? >> No, I pretty comprehensive. >> It was and health insurance will be something we spend a lot of time talking
about um because it's it's been >> it will be a significant cost cost pressure and again in 27 just as it was for this current fiscal year. >> Thank you. and thank you both for your service on it sounds like this there really some really great work happening so thank you for that
>> I think I'm just I'll add quickly to the point that Nick and Megan have said about the health insurance I think in the coordination committee that bringing up the subjects that Nick sees as town administrator has been really helpful for all the other committees as well understanding the fiscal pressures and why we want to be able to forecast them
you know two three five years down the line so I think um previously folks were very much just in sort of tunnel vision and this comprehensive view I think has been really helpful. I know I know it has been for me and I think it's been helpful for others as well >> terms >> and people are having like great ideas
you know I think um Jay Funding the chair of the Warren Committee he's got some great thoughts on you know to Winston's point alignment across financial policies you know how we're thinking about free cash the reserve accounts and such so I think there's a
really there's really good dialogue and I think there's you know under you know, town administrator Milano's leadership. We're really getting to a hopefully we're we're getting to a nice uh financial management strategy.
>> Great. >> That involves the whole of town government. >> Well, thank you both again. Um so, let's see. We've got um board and committee appointment advisory committee. Mr. Milano, do we
have one seat or two seats that are open here? uh a single seat. Uh the town has a single appointment to the Massport Community Advisory Committee. Um Mr. Joe Henning had applied uh several months ago. Um and Paul Hogan recently applied
um in the last few weeks uh for consideration. This has been a seat that has been vacant since Chris Hart stepped down um a while ago, which means that the town does not have a representative on the community advisory committee for Massport um and anybody to stay um up to
date on a on a more regular basis in terms of the activities at local airport directly. >> So, are we supposed to choose >> are we supposed to choose between the two? >> It's the board's appointment. Um, >> yeah, >> I
>> I'll take a motion if anybody's thought about this one or if we want to discuss. >> Mr. Wells. >> Okay, I'm lost here for a second. So, I was I had I was honest.
Okay, so I want to make the mo Okay. So, I'm going to make a motion to approve Paul Hogan. appoint Paul Hogan as our CAC rep. >> Okay, motion's been made. I will second it.
>> Do we need to have any discussion as to why or the choices? >> Yeah. So, what are the relative qualifications of either applicant? >> So, one of Oh, if I may my Sorry, Mr. Chow. Wait. Oh, >> go ahead, Mr. Wills. So, one of the
things I do like about um attorney Hogan is not just his experience um in town government, but he's a very experienced litigator. And as Mr. Milano will recall when we had Tom Dory in
there, same thing. His expertise as a litigator certainly served to our benefit. Um so in that aspect alone I think um having another attorney become our CAC rep this is a very very difficult job. Um
this is a issue that has existed since way before I got here. Um, anyone has to have a conversation with our former colleague, my former colleague Katie Colin, who's the anti rep for the NX chair for 10 minutes and you figure out
very quickly just and this is an issue that goes up and goes down, but um I'm very comfortable with attorney being in that role. >> I I have similar sentiments myself. Any further discussion?
Okay, then we'll have a roll call vote. Uh, Mr. Wells, >> yes. >> Miss Hagerty, >> I'm going to abstain. I don't have enough information. >> Mr. Dailyaly, >> uh, I'm going to say yes because I know of uh, Attorney Hogan's work previously
in his residence >> and myself. Yes. All right. Um, we have uh, number 18, one day liquor license. Anybody feel like making a motion? >> I'll do that for you, Mr. Jud. Let me
get my page correct there. Um, one day This is This is 18, correct? >> 18. Yes. >> I'll make a I'll make a motion to approve a one day liquor license for the Forbes House Museum for Friday, November 13th, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for
Adventures and Whiskey. That's a serious one. Sorry. the global taste and experience. >> And do we have a second for the global tasting experience? >> Second. >> Seconded by Mr. Dailyaly. Uh this is a roll call vote. Mr. Wells.
>> Yes. >> Missy? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dailyy? >> Yes. >> And myself? Yes. >> Uh number 19's town administrators report. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. Not much today. Just uh note uh we've talked a bit about the town meeting. It's Monday 7:30. um select board will post for prior to that
probably 6:30 uh but we can map that out and then the town election uh special time election on November 4th. Um please remember to vote if you wanted to if you were planning to vote by mail you can do so uh just get your ballot in by 8:00 the day of. Um then that really wraps it
for for me this evening. >> Uh thank you Mr. Milano. uh from the chair. Um I don't really have anything to add um other than I do want to point out that uh the uh partnership for healthy Milton Connect Milton and the select boards equity and social justice
for all committee is holding an event uh building community through building community through effective communication on November 13th uh with a optional light dinner at 5:30 and starting at 6 pm. um any of those uh
organizations websites, you'd be able to RSVP uh or you can just show up at the library at 6:00. I think they want to know RSVPs more probably for the food. Um but I encourage you to put that in your calendars if it's a topic that um
that you're interested in. Uh for our public comment response, um I I love this Milton and Bloom concept by the way. >> I agree. I think um I think we should
support this to the extent that we can. >> Is this something that Matt would get involved with or >> I've I had already reached out to Joan so she was already thinking about it. So I I was planning to follow up with Joe after the fact. >> Okay, perfect. So do you want to just follow up with him and then update us at our next one? Okay, great. Uh Mr. Wells.
>> Thanks, Mr. Chair. So I just want to make a comment on that. So um as many of you have seen and as Mr. I don't know is because we've had a lot of security discussions about this for the past year. Um
the new security um which is what they really are the new um they are planters but they al they serve a security function have been put in place uh in the square. Um as Mr. Milano knows I've
talked to police department about this is something that has weighed on me since the deck was first completed and when I realized that the balls that had been put in place by McKay um construction who was the contractor
we're fastened I'm sure you saw Mr. old just >> wing nuts. And if members of East Milton will remember >> three years ago when we put the first large Christmas tree on the deck about four nights into it, a motor vehicle
being driven by someone under the influence, crashed right through those, drove right out onto the onto the deck and hit hit the Christmas tree that we had just erected there. And sadly after me from my background I know all too well that um
the types of events we've had there as beautiful as that deck is turning out to be had to be one where we had to really protect the citizens and the users of it as well as people go there on a daily basis. It's like every day I see someone
out there now. And um this had to be the type of barrier that could stop a vehicle who whether accidentally or intentionally tried to ram onto that field. And I am comfortable with this. And I want to
give a big shout out to Eastman resident Michael McCaffy who really advocated um he goes on Hollis who really advocated strongly. he's in the securities business about this to me and um I'm glad that we were able to do it on I
know I was along with him this Joe Curran who I never knew until he started coming to East Milton issues and this goes all the way back to when the deck was going to be parking he never misses anything to do with East Milton Square I just hope that whatever we do that we
put him on this committee to try and make this happen I didn't know he was going to do this until two days ago I hadn't thought of it but I think it's is a great idea and um I just want to include him in this brainstorming for this and I I believe including Joe and Kevin to assist as well is a great idea. I think it's it's um it's a great
community concept for this going forward instead of just the plain cement work tool and and then just sadly as I just stated we live in a world today where you have to have this type protective security barriers put so I'm glad that we're able
to do it. >> Thank you Mr. Wells. Um, anything else from public comment response? Uh, future meeting dates. >> Mr. Chair, before you go, I don't have all the details about this, but this is domestic violence month, and I do
believe there's a forum on Thursday night. I don't know which community group is hosting. It's at the Parkway Methodist. Um, I'll get the details, get it to you. I have the details in I'll get it to you, Mr.
tomorrow to post. Okay. It is being I believe it's being sponsored not just by the popular Methodist but by several um several groups in town. >> Okay, we can do that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Wells. Uh future meeting
dates I have us for the 27th, 28th, and 29th of this month if we choose to have a three-day town meeting. Uh and then our next uh select board meeting will be November 18th and then we have one on December 2nd and one on December 16th.
Um future agenda items, I think we've talked about a couple already. Um do we have anything for exact session? >> Uh briefly, yes, please on the bargaining. >> Okay. Um all right. Well, in that case,
um I will um relocate my uh Thank you, sir. Uh I'm going to move that we adjourn from open session and enter into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining.
Milton Clerical Units of South Eastern Public Employees Association, Milton Public, sorry, Milton Professional Management Association, Milton Public Employee Association, Milton Firefighters Local 116, Milton Police Off Association, Milton Superior Officers, Milton Library Association.
Based on my belief that discussion of this matter in open session may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the select board, the select board will not return to open session. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Uh, this is a roll call vote, Mr. Wells, >> I'll abstain.
>> Uh, Miss Hagerty, >> yes. >> Mr. Dailyaly, >> yes. >> And myself, yes. Um, and I think with that, I can have a motion. Do we need a motion to adjurnn or we adjourn? We do need a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn >> by Mr. Dailyaly. Seconded by myself. Uh, Mr. Wells,
>> yes. >> Miss Hagerty, >> yes. >> Mr. Dailyaly, >> yes. >> And myself, yes. Thank you everyone for joining us. >> Were you going to go into a town farm? >> Um, you want to do that? I didn't have an update. I didn't know. >> No. Okay. Yeah. >> All right. That'll be it for us tonight.
Thanks, everyone.