I aliance 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. Okay. Public comment.
To receive all communications from members of the public, members of the public may address the select board for up to three minutes. The select board shall not engage in discussion on topics raised during public comment, but may choose to add the topic to a future agenda. This agenda segment will be
limited to 15 minutes unless extended at the discretion of the chairperson. Is anyone here for public comment? Okay, having none new business. Next, we'll have a class a tax classification hearing. In accordance
with chapter 369, the acts of 1982, section 1 and chapter 40, section 56 of the select board of the town of Newbury will hold a hearing on the determination of the percentage of tax levy to be borne by each class of real property for
fiscal year 2026. The hearing is to be held on Monday, November 10th, 2025 at 7 p.m. at Newbury Municipal Offices, second floor hearing room, 12 Kent way by field, Mass 01922.
So Jason is here to do that presentation to us. >> Um, do you need a motion to open the public hearing? >> I think we do. >> Yes. >> Um, I make a motion that we open the public hearing for the um, tax classification hearing. Second. Okay. >> All in favor?
>> Good evening everybody. >> Hi Jason. >> Jason I you have the uh report that I prepared. If you had a chance to uh >> within our packet >> y if you had a chance to review it I just want to go over a few pages. So the first one was just a cover page and two
is the table of contents in the top of table uh page three just tells you the purpose again the reason that we're here. The purpose of the classification is for you uh the select board to determine the allocation of local property taxes born by the four classes of real property and personal property.
And this is for fiscal 26. Deciding the allocation, the select board must adopt a residential factor. And the residential factor is determined is used to determine the percentage of the tax levy that is applied to each of the classes of the real and personal property. Uh the board of assessors
applies these percentages to individual property classes and those are the five classes below here in section one. Um general facts about fiscal 26. This was again one of our interim years. Uh what that means is the department of revenue
still approves our values every year but they don't go through our methodology. That's only on our certification years. We're coming into that next. So we are still assessing at market value but you know we haven't gone through um all the litmus tests that the department of revenue will put us through next year.
Um in that top of page four is uh talk about growth. So uh three-year average on our growth is you know uh in the low 200 238. We had a uh a slow year uh for
growth here in Newberry. Our growth this year is only 73,474. So, it's um it's down considerably, almost just about 30% of that that three-year average. >> That's fun, Tracy. >> So, and I I'll talk about as to what where where growth gets placed into the
the levy in just a minute when we get to the the top of the next page. Um as far as for values here in Newberry, slowed down a little bit this year too. We are up um we're looking at about a 3.8% increase in our total levy value. You can see that under section C. The total
values here for fiscal 26 about 2.879 billion up from the 2.77 uh 7773 uh billion in fiscal 25. So as I had just uh talked about growth you see on the top of page
top of page five um the tax levy. So this talks about the levy limit, how much we can uh generate in uh real and personal property tax under the uh mass general law. So we take last year's levy limit which was 20,360 the 22 1/2 under prop 2 and a half that
we can add the new growth of the 73,000. The override that was voted uh of the 400,000 brings us to a 20 fiscal 26 of about 21,342,000. You're also allowed to add debt exclusions back to that number bringing
us up to about 21,650,000. So I um just put in at that average if we went up to the levy, which we usually do, that would um helps us to calculate what we're able to uh to generate in property tax because what we we did the other two things I talked about was the
total value of the community. Now we know how much we need to generate in property tax being 21,650,000. Um what that would do is it would uh put us at a tax rate of approximately 752 for fiscal 26 and with the average value
you know raising from last year of uh 9 up to 958,908 we'd see approximately an increase of $318 on the average bill totaling 7,211. >> May I ask a quick question please? >> The 958908
is that a median price? No average. Uh yes, median is average. I always forget. Yeah. Okay. It is the average. >> Wow. >> Um and that is of single families, not of all residential class because we are predominantly a single family community.
So the the different items that we would uh be looking at would be the residential factor uh being the first thing. The residential factor is adopted by a community that governs the percentage of the tax liberty that is paid by the residential property owners and a would a factor of one you would
vote for a uniform rate meaning that the same rate for residential and commercial industrial and personal property. Any shift beyond that would help uh alleviate property taxes to the residential properties uh and shift it onto the commercial industrial and personal property. But as you can see on
the next page, since we are predominantly a residential community, the shift uh you know for for what would be very small um savings to the average residential or average single family property um is a significant increase to the commercial
industrial personal property. If you've had to review those, you can shift anywhere from one up to, you know, one and a half um 1.5. So, you know, I did those by increments of 0.5 to, you know, 0.1. Um, so that you could see, you know, to try and save something like
$48, which is like the fourth one down, um, would shift about $990 uh, dollars onto the average commercial property. Uh, historically, Newberry has always maintained a single rate and, um, is comprised, as I say down there, of 95
almost 96% of all residential property. So, uh, on top of being able to shift the rate, um, for the residential factor, we also have two other, uh, exemptions that you you're you're asked to vote on. One being the residential exemption um which the select board may
adopt an exemption of up to 35% to shift the residential class tax burden uh from lower assessed properties that are principal residents meaning doiciled by people uh of the taxpayer to higher assessed properties and properties that are not principal residences of
taxpayers. So there is a little calculator. This is pretty complex uh to figure out exactly who would be considered um a taxpayer who wouldn't. we don't uh a resident doiciled here and who wouldn't. So we use averages from the state to look at that. But as you
can see since it's born within the residential class the if a property was assessed as low as uh you know 560,000 they'd have some significant savings. But if you had a property that was assessed as high as you know 1.6 million which you know there plenty of those as
well they would have to pay an additional $1,800. That's even a person that is a resident of Newberry. Still shifted because it's was shifted within the class uh the the class of residential properties only. Um historically Newberry has never
adopted this and um since it's shifted within it's just shifting the tax to people that are already paying more tax. It's not recommended by the board of assessors to adopt. Um the other exemp >> that's up to 35%. >> Yep. You can do up to 35% give an
exemption on the average value. So it's it's granted to people that are doiciled within Newberry. And how you have to you have to you have to create a new tax rate basically because I would have to show you the formula on how it all works together. But that's
that that is what you can do up to 35% of the value that you basically receive as a reduction on your on your property tax. What is the determination of um like time frame as far as uh the
doicile? So you do you have to be living in the area living in the on the property for x amount of time and then let's say 6 months and one day or is it a full year? >> It would be you know where you're um
where you're registered to vote. They would look at a number of things when they say doicile where you registered to vote. Where is your um you know your family and friends circled around where where are your where's your life really there? Are you do you have an excise tax here? Are you paying are you registered
to vote here? Um do you you know you own property here? Obviously they're looking to see more than just any one qualifying factor that you're a resident as of one day like any particular day. So, and the reason why I ask is there's so many people that are considered snowbirds and of course they go to these different
states and they stay at a little bit of extra period of time because then they >> six months in a day in Florida >> and then they, you know, are exempt from federal taxes and things of that nature. And I didn't know if um that was also a qualification and what? >> Yeah. So, if they're receiving an
exemption in another state, you would not be able to receive it here. It wouldn't be considered the doicile. That's how they're doing it in states like Florida. considering that they're doicile by and they do that by the six six months in a day. >> So that the doicile here in the town of
Newbury would remain the same no matter >> right. They would not not qualify for the exemption and in essence would pay more property tax. >> Okay. Because we've typically not adopted residential exemption in Oak.
>> Correct. It never has been. >> Never has been. >> Yep. and not recommended >> reason for non-recommendation. >> Uh did you shifting it within the residential class? >> So let's just not even >> that's where our primary test. >> Yes. But don't look at it. Even if you said people everyone lives here, you
know, everybody would qualify. What you're doing is you're shifting it to the people that are already paying more because if you're above the average value, you're going to pay more than the just by where you shift it within the class. So everybody receives the the percentage, but because you're paying
more, you're going to pay an increase more. That's why it shows the three values where the break even is. The lower values receive the benefit of and the higher value properties have to pay more because it's shifted within the class. >> Thanks. >> You're welcome. Small commercial
exemption. The last of the items that I wanted to discuss. That's a uh it allows you to shift burden within the commercial class to small businesses. There is uh since we're mostly residential, this doesn't really uh offer any benefit. Um and what what is
is there are different criteria here, meaning that you have to be assessed under a million, have less than 10 people a year, and then you can receive up to a 10% discount on the real estate portion. Um it's not something that would really work for Newberry. So that's never been recommended and uh
never been adopted in the past either. And that's also probably because there's so few businesses here in the community. >> Yep. Okay. >> And I think, you know, throughout the state, I I don't think that there are, but maybe just a couple of towns that have maybe, you know, four or five
throughout the 350 plus, you know, communities. >> Thank you, M. >> You're welcome. Any questions from anybody? >> Great. bottom just recaps, you know, that the uh the board of assessors unanimously uh recommends that the retain the the
uniform tax rate uh no residential factor uh to no open space discount and I'll discuss that in one second. No residential exemption and no small commercial exemption. The uh no open space discount is one of the items that you can vote on. Um it is a if you turn
to actually the last page in this gives you a little explanation on what technically is open space. The board of assessors is in charge of determining whether or not you know the criteria of and if they don't in determine the criteria or never classified any land as
open space we have none in essence. So any discount given would be to nobody. There is there is no open space in Newberry. So any discount given doesn't have any effect even though you do vote on it. So I think we need to make motions.
>> You do. Uh on the just the four items. Yep. >> Mr. Chairman, um I move that the town of New retain the uniform tax rate for fiscal year 2026 with the residential factor of one. >> Second.
>> Any discussion on this point? Hearing none. All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone in disfavor? Oh, >> I move that there will be no open space discount for fiscal year 2026. >> Second,
>> any discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposition? Passes. >> I move that there will be no residential exemption for fiscal year 2026. >> Second. >> Any discussion points?
>> All in favor? I >> anyone opposed? Passes. >> And I move that there will be no small commercial exemption for fiscal year 2026. >> Second. Any discussion?
Hearing none. All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Hearing none. It passes unanimously. >> Thank you, Jason. >> Very welcome. Yeah, >> thank you for making us so painless.
>> I think I need a motion to close the bid to close this hearing the public hearing. >> Um, I move that we close the public hearing. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Thanks again. >> Uh, so I I think I spaced out on
question two and actually didn't vote. So, it's a yay. >> It's a yay. >> Y, >> thank you for clarifying. We got to three and I was like, "Oh no." >> Okay.
Next. Draft, parades, performances, and assemblies regulation. Attached in your package, you should have found this draft document. Did I miss this or they all? 01. >> 01. Okay.
>> Yeah. >> There was one change that Joy made to the to the package uh on the second page under D permitting and fees 1B. It had the old web page address on our
copy that's been changed on the revised draft copy. Um before we get to discussion, I move that the town of Newbury accept the regulations
um parades, performances and assemblies regulations um as it appears in our packages. >> The motion second. Now for discussions. >> Discussion.
The um says a that a permanent application is needed uh to be submitted 30 days in advance for parades and that the fire and police department have to be notified. However,
history has um allowed a group to um have a very short span Memorial Day parade, never having to go through the process before. >> I think a lot of um a lot of things that
have happened in the town that that pertains to >> Are we changing it or is it going to be grandfathered in? >> No, this is this changes it. this will this will change it. >> So I can give you a little history on why I'm requesting this. So if you look
at um the CMRS 555 CMR section 6.08 mass demonstrations, crowd management and reporting. So since the post commission came came to be, there is a regulation that requires police departments shall establish a plan to
avoid and deescalate potential or actual conflict between any mass demonstration. petitioners. Um when a police department obtains advanced knowledge of any pla planning of any mass demonstration within the police department's juris jurisdiction, the police department
shall uh diligently attempt in good faith and it and it goes through. So basically anytime there's a public event in the town, I have a legal requirement that as soon as I know about this to coordinate with any any um people who are coordinating it. So this goes from
something as small as a parade to something like Plumfest to something like if there was a protest in town and everything in between with the road races and whatnot. So that it it the law requires a burden on me to coordinate these things with event
planners in town, but we don't have the subsequent bylaw requiring everyone who could potentially do all the things that are required for me to coordinate deescalation tactics and communicating when do I have the authority to shut something down or who do we coordinate
with if we're having problems or they're not following protocols or preset plans. Um, so any of these potential things without having a bylaw in place to support their requirement to get permission and to notify the town and then therefore have police and fire
notified makes my requirement with the law very difficult in the event of a situation like we had the year before last at Plumfest when it went out of control, you know, and we, knock on wood, fortunately didn't have any issues, but this very well could happen.
We don't have a history of a lot of demonstrations or protests in town, but that certainly doesn't mean that it couldn't come up or happen. Um, so this bylaw just puts a tool in place where I'm able as the police chief to stay in
compliance with the regulations that government what I do in an effort to deescalate and create communication with things that are going on in large masses as our in our jurisdiction. um the particular parade you're talking about, they do coordinate with me. You
know what I mean? So that >> Well, they coordinate with you. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Because you guys are are pretty heavy uh you and the fire department, the police and fire department are heavy with your participation as >> So this would just require that they just get permission to use the the the
town space and to have the the the event, which they do every year. So um it would just be a paperwork issue as far as that piece is concerned as far as I I see it um for that it wouldn't be an obstruction to that actually happening
for that particular event. This basically protects and offers a pre means of communication for any any type of event that could take place that has the potential of interfering in in public order or on property. Yeah,
>> Mr. Chair. >> Sure. >> Um, so here's my question. >> Yeah. >> Logistically, >> how is this going to work? >> Let's say we have somebody running to prevent Alzheimer's. >> Mhm. >> They're having a running road race. So,
they want to come in and they want to use our roads for that. They currently have to come in and get a public records I mean a public >> request, use a public property use request form from us and we vote on that. And they do they is there a fee assigned
with that right now? >> So the way that I read the regulation and discussing it with Chief Fischer is that the public property use request would be this >> the form that they fill out currently.
Um I don't know if you've noted there's a spot on the form that says if any fees required and the that form goes to the police chief goes to the fire chief before it comes before you. And so that would be the trigger for Chief Fischer to say when she's reviewing it, does it
meet these requirements? If so, she would notate right on it the fee. >> Okay. >> Mhm. >> So, if it's somebody like doing story time at the library, that wouldn't pertain to you. That would just still go through the library. >> I'm just trying to
>> Yep. No. All the different avenues. No, I appreciate that. Um, somebody having an event at well, let's say the Bfield Community Art Center holds an event there. They're covered under their own lease, correct? >> Um,
road races, bicycle road group races with the bicycles would be similar to foot running, right? It would be the same thing. >> So, they're already going through a process, >> right? >> Yep. So the the last under the section A
definitions, the last sentence there of event kind of covers it. The parade, the block party, the rally, the bicycle race, the road race, and and those are the and those are the things that are going to trigger the chief to say, I need a detail.
>> I need more information about this event. could potentially >> and this only pertains to items taking place in the public realm >> or on the private realm that could potentially impact the public streets. So again, Plumfest would be an example
of that. So right now with Plumfest, they require no approval before this board. However, it's a massive public safety event. So each homeowner who has a concert at the house and is inviting people to their home and people in the
streets in front of their homes have no obligation to come before you for any discussion. They although they coordinated with me this year, they're under no legal obligation to give me any information if they don't want to. Again, of course, you know what I mean?
We worked really well this year, but this makes it so that anyone doing that type of stuff, if you're having a block party and it could potentially impede traffic on a public roadway, you know, that that would trigger this part of the bylaw instead of, oh, I'm not planning
on putting a road closed sign at the, you know, on my street. But if it if we show up on the Saturday that something is going on, if we can say you reasonably should have been able to assume based on this that this was going to cause a public impact,
um we then have the authority to shut it down because they didn't follow the process. Right now, we don't have a lot of teeth, clear teeth on what we can and can't do when that happens. So, if it's a private event, >> let's say it's a wedding.
>> Yeah. >> And you have a lot of people parking on the street. >> This is more about clo like significant public safety issues. So, that would trap parking depending on if it's lawful
parking or not. We have control over that. This is if your your event is going into the street and creating a public safety issue. This gives us more authority to be able to say, not only is this a public authority issue, this is a public safety issue, but we have a bylaw
that requires you to reasonably expect that inviting 7,000 people to the wedding at your house was going to overflow the maximum capacity of your yard. >> Never mind my one bathroom. Okay, >> never mind. Yeah, not the bathroom. That's not that's not in my wheelhouse. Again, this is if all of a sudden we
have a pro or against something protest pop up someplace that's causing issues for public safety, blocking roadways, impeding roadways, slowing down traffic in roadways >> like the let's just use for example the
no kings >> any anything on any side of it. You know what I mean? because people will >> if they just showed up somewhere on on a weekend night, a weekend day, we would be able to say, "I'm sorry. We have the authority to shut you down right now
because you didn't comply with our bylaw and it's causing this event in our public area, in our public space that you did not comply with. you didn't coordinate with the chief like you're required to to give us a contact name of who who the point of contact is here,
who we can coordinate and communicate with if this event does get out of control. Um, all of those things are incredibly important if a something just pops up in the middle of the day. the fact that we don't have this kind of protest
um event where we have immediate authority right now when there's no crimes being committed to kind of intervene. We're stuck not only manning the public safety issue once it happens when we're running one or two cars. You know what I mean? There's no planning
for us to be able to create a safe environment for a known activity that's taking place. That's all this requires is that there's pre-communication, pre- discussion about things that one can reasonably assume could interfere with the public.
>> Patty, let's say that, you know, using Plumfest >> Mhm. >> Does that mean that each person that has a band >> Yep. >> is going to have to take out a piece of paper and pay 50 bucks? >> Yes.
>> Not the organization. however they choose to do that on their end, but it would require, you know what I mean, that there be notification whether they do it as an entity all themselves for each event or each individual person do
it? I I don't really >> mean, you know, does that mean it's only $50 for the organization or $50 still for each person to pay the organization? That part I really don't I mean we can that's open for
discussion. I don't I I don't have a feeling one way or another as long as we're given the list of where all of the bands are going to be. >> I'm not putting you on the spot but I'm just saying you see in real time real life how it could get to be hard to >> well I mean
>> decide how we're going to do it. No, if it was performance, you know, I if each one if if it was a list in one, you know, and we can vote to make modifications on how that is. If we look at it as one event, I'm fine with that. But like even with this year, even
though everything went great, I didn't get the list of where the bands was going to be until right before the day. You know what I mean? >> But they probably didn't. >> Go to the website. I mean, the Facebook page, >> but it changes. You know what I mean? as they do add-ons, too.
>> So, this would require them to have a date. This is the date we need to know who's hosting what because I need to coordinate public safety resources around that. That's not unreasonable to me. >> This would only apply to into the street, but public sidewalks would not
be included or would >> No, they would public Yeah. any public way, which is the public streets and the sidewalks. Yes. >> Yeah. Because with Plumfest, that's our biggest issue is when people clog the sidewalks, they then walk in the street. >> The street. >> I understand Patty totally
>> for what she's trying to accomplish. >> Mhm. >> I think there's going to be some thinking about how we do it. >> Yeah. Well, especially something that's of the size of let's go with Plumfest, what >> or even something that's really small. >> Yeah. But I mean, I guess it would be
well, you're covering it under one umbrella. Why can't we go under where it's uh the event is being run by one organization and there's still some >> some things to be worked up
>> and there could be small spontaneous gatherings of people >> and that's where it becomes public right >> well if if there's small gather gatherings on private property that is not an issue >> flowing into the street then that's >> neither here nor there
>> be hard For instance, if I had a like, you know, if I started to sell my antiques at 173 High Road, I'd have a lot of cars. >> So, I'd have to come and pay 50 bucks. So, >> it's not there's parking allowed on the
street, >> but there isn't on High Road. >> Isn't it a rules state highway? >> Isn't it in town anyway that you're supposed to pull a permit for a yard sale? >> There is. >> Yeah.
Wow, that's a lot of perance. Every yard sale permits. >> You sure? Yep. >> Sure. >> I'm sorry. I don't know the answer, but I can find out. >> A small yard sale table. You got to get a permit. >> I'm trying to.
>> You used to run like >> yard sale's not on my list. So, you know what I mean? I'm going to stay on this side of the discussion. >> Got to go further north. What about um like there's so many things that happen in town
>> that New Bree is really known for that I don't know if it's clear whether or not it falls under this. Like let's say there's an event like there was circus over at the uh Central Street Fields.
>> So they pull a permit for the public use of property. So we're aware of that before before it comes. Yeah, like the car show. >> The car show is another one, >> but they pull a permit. You know what I mean? So, a lot of the things that I've thought of that already happen in town,
they're already coming before us with a public use of property request. >> How about how about the sunflower? >> How are they going to start have to pay 50 bucks? >> That's a good question, too. >> But sunflowers, they come they they already require request details, but
yeah, they might they might be ones that would fall under this category. for sure if their traffic is still impeding into the street. >> And how about let's say the cars? >> What do you mean the cars? >> The antique car show >> that already they already do a public
use of property, >> but they don't pay 50 bucks. >> Not as not to date, >> but they don't they don't trickle into the street. They stay at Mantress Field now. >> What about the music on the beach on Plum Island in the summer? That doesn't
come out on the public way. That's priv on the private beach. >> What about uh well, I guess that the road thing, it's all dependent on if it's >> trying to think >> public parking or not. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Which if it's just a parking
issue, we can deal with that anyways because if you have cars parking where they're not supposed to park and the cars are the only issue, we can address parking issues without needing anything else. This is really about if there's a demonstration that gets put forward, if there's something where we need contact
people on how to do this before it escalates out of control and that there's public there's people in the public way or impeding public traffic because of what they're doing. That's this that's the CMR that states I need to be able to communicate and have
pre-isussions with people about what our contingency plans are if things go ary. um on how to keep this event safe and keep it deescalated. So, this essentially prevents the requirement on police chiefs now to have these
pre-conts with people prevent it from us having to use extreme force because you're going into a situation once it's already out of control and everyone's like, I'm here. I'm here because I was invited here. I'm allowed to be in the street. I'm allowed to be in the sidewalk. that contention. We're meeting
ahead of time to go over what the rules and regulations and what the what what the expectations are of both sides and who do we talk to when your guests, your protesters, the people who are at the event that you are coordinating, you meaning a person or you meeting a group,
who do I contact when I start seeing this get out of control >> so that you can control your invited guests and the people who showed up at your event before we have to. That's the part of deescalation that they're really trying to encourage us do is how do we
pre-plan so that you can coordinate your event and we can tell you when we see it going out of control and what you need to do to get it back into control >> instead of just willy-nilly all over the >> instead of just waiting until it crosses a line and then the police have full control over it. And then that's where
you see in the news and our states and others where things kind of go south, right? And then police are, you know, told they're using excessive force. They didn't try deescalation tactics enough. I'm just asking for a bylaw compliant with the CMR that states that all types
of events that could happen in Newbury have to go through some sort of process. And again, whether we charge a fee, we don't. That stuff is neither here nor there for me. The only thing that I care about is these types of events are doing some sort of pre-notification >> that they're required to do. And if they
don't do that notification, I have a means to say you didn't comply with this paperwork bylaw and I can control it before it gets out of control based on the fact that they didn't comply with our bylaws. Right now, if something goes south, I have to wait until it goes far
enough south that I have police authority to do something about it. I'm looking for the administrative authority to do something about it before something goes south. So, if there's modifications to it, that's why I'm here and we're here for discussion. That's fine. That end goal is what I'm what I'm
looking for is anyone who's going to be coordinating large events in town that has the potential to go out into the street and cause any sort of public safety concern that they're required to come before you. It get permission, make notification, and then coordinate um
with me on who our our day of event points of contacts are and lay out what the rules and expectations are. Two quick questions and I think I think you answered the first one. Um because just thinking of different events that happen that that spill over into the
street. Uh little league at the upper green. Have you ever had a problem with because I know it's a parking thing more than anything else? No. Okay. All right. >> Never bodies in the street and even the parking you know what I mean is never really caused it's caused a nuisance for neighbors at times but never really a
public safety issue. >> Okay. And then in terms of the process for is there additional is there anything additional that you're going to have to do because of this for the folks that have already already going through the the you know the cars and the circus >> the road races and the runners who
already are used to this >> and that process doesn't change at all really. It's just it's more a it's a more forward-looking thing for when some >> prevent something from going wrong. >> And it requires protesters regardless of what space they're on. If it's going to if they're going to be
inviting demonstrations are going to be inviting large masses of people to a place where someone can reasonably expect it's not going to fit on the private property or they're going to have it on the public property, you know, but again, the public property I can say you didn't get permission to be here. So that's why this is if you're
going to host something on private property that is reasonably expected is going to spill out into public property. You know what I mean? We we have the authority under the public use in this to say not only did you not get permission to use the public property,
but you didn't coordinate with me to who are my points of contact here. What is our plan A, B, and C plan before your event takes place? Okay. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Yeah. What about the um the baseball?
Not at the upper green, but at the at the library like they have baseball there, too. Does that ever have been shooting? >> No, that's all on their property and the It's fine. And again, if it's ever anything, it's >> parking stuff that doesn't >> spell it onto the library, which is still public space.
>> Yeah, >> I totally agree with Patty. And I think there'll be a little bit of a learning curve. I still can't quite unravel when you charge the 50 and when
you don't. >> We don't have to go with 50, right? We could go with 25 if we wanted to. >> The fee to me is >> if you wanted to. >> Again, the piece that I care about is the pre-planning and the contact information. So,
>> it see it seems to me that an event that uses town property in the situation you described that process because they're going to request us to be permission to use town property >> is like a signal that you need to look
at from your safety perspective. Mhm. >> A private if someone wants to have a demonstration that spills into a public way, how do we communicate this bylaw to them? >> Town meeting when it gets, you know, >> you know what I'm saying?
>> Is this going to be a bylaw or is this just going to be this isn't a bylaw, but it's it's just it's a bylaw. Yeah, it's a by or I think it's under um >> I think it's titled as a regulation. Yeah, because a bylaw has to be expected. I mean we you know in that
piece too again can be a learning curve and again can be when we show up at an event we do an assessment whether we're doing education right then and there because it fell through the cracks with our prevention education you know I'm not looking to be a hard guy on
>> so I mean we know what you have you need to do this >> we can tweak the regulations >> you can for sure we we the board can tweak that we can make $50 >> e go away we And >> so does this >> we go through a learning process as you described?
>> Sure. I can give you guys the CMR if you want to look at that to see, you know what I mean? What I'm kind of required to do and what that we're supposed to get as much notice as we can for these things. Um
so right currently right now there's no nothing that would town has a regulation a form a fee anything that would accumulate all of these so-called supposed events that may or may not
happen in one place. this regulation. It looks like a regulation is um like we have our business licenses. That's a regulation. Isn't that a regulation? That I'm trying to wrap my head around. Does this have to
go to town meeting? >> I don't I'm deferring to these two. >> Not if it's not a bylaw. >> So, it's a policy. Here's the word.
>> It's more of a policy. It's our It's It's our policy. >> It's awfully close to that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Cuz I think do I um now that we're talking this out loud, I think I need it to be a bylar in order to have the teeth that I'm looking for.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, go to tell me. Yeah. So, first the first step would be the select board voting to put this policy into place
and then the second thing is we vote to put on the warrant and then bring it to town meeting >> or we or do we want some more time to look and digest everything and figure out if it's worded the way >> and we can get the legal language from
me to mana so you can have that in front of you before you vote. And we decide on the fee. Yeah. >> Well, or we can or I guess this is something council will probably bring up a good fee, but if
it's could you and it have a waiver of some sort if it was a fundraising organization that went to like you know Plumfest does the boys and girls >> but everyone is a fundraiser.
I mean, the $50 fee is not going to cover the cost >> of the public safety presence that we have on a plumfest. No, >> I mean, true. >> True. >> You know, but it'll cover the administrative cost of the paperwork. >> Yeah. Because if they need details, they're still going to have to request
details. This just requires them to have that discussion with me. The any sort of fee associated with it, Yeah. is going to cover the the work that has to take place on this end. Just playing a little devil's advocate. >> No, for sure. >> Because you know that that's going to Well, you never had to do it before and
so it's like >> it's progress. >> Things are getting tight. >> Yeah. >> Or Patty never really >> even like close again. >> You never had a CMI like this come out saying, >> you know, police having like could be picked off for brutality and crowd
control. >> Yeah. >> That's never happened. You guys are required to wear cameras if you go into a situation anyway. So you >> I mean because we have body cameras, we have policies and procedures, but that doesn't that doesn't prevent
deescalation, right? We can show up at something and it can already be escalated to the point where deescalation is next to impossible. This requires when there's going to be loud ma mass masses like when police are outnumbered when my two officers working a shift show up at a demonstration that
happened to pop up somewhere you know that's trickled out into the street you know this gives us the authority to say hey there's a number of reasons why this isn't good you didn't coordinate with us it also covers me liabilitywise so let's say we do have to take police action I
can fall back on we've got this bylaw regulation whatever we put it that covers the fact that I didn't comply with my requirements under the CR CMR to pre pre-plan with you beforehand, >> you know, because you failed to notify me and we have rules that say you need
to notify me. >> They don't have a permit. You can shut them down. >> Yes. >> Which is another good question. I'm sure town council will take this into consideration as well. But the poor
filmfest is really, you know, taking it hard tonight. But um because it is a spread out event, >> would each and any any event could be that if it was like a demonstration taking place like on three different
locations here in town? um would each one of them have to have somebody uh with the permit on hand if they were asked um or just the coordinator of the event and I'm sure >> again I would know about the permits
ahead of time. So, however, I would have the list of where all the bands are going to be, you know what I mean? Like I did this year because we played well in the sandbox together. Like, >> you have contact. >> I would have a contact like I did this year where I said, "Hey, the people at such and such Northern Boulevard are
standing in the sidewalks in the street. Do you want to send your volunteers to go handle that before I send the police?" you you know so that's that's the type of we did exactly this year at Plumfest with with what my requirements ask of us
and it was beautiful on both ends you know and that's we don't always have that we did not have that the year before you know and thank God for the wonderful people who showed up we had no public safety issue but we we really had >> dodged a bullet
>> we dodged a serious bullet that I don't want to ever come across again for a department who's operating with 11 police officers right now. We can't handle We don't have the staffing in this town to handle surprise popup events. That's just fact. So, we need
the pre-planning that went into Plumfest this year to make any type of event successful that has the potential of being large. And again, we might be going through this for things that never happen, but I I need to be able to train
my officers on if a demonstration does pop up on a on private property that spills out into the street. Here, here are all the different things we can do. Here are all the different things that were required of that organizer before the event. Here's what we can do if they didn't do it. Here's how you asked them
for it. and here's how we proceed with all of these rules under deescalation and management before we use any type of force. So that that's what I'm looking to achieve. >> And this regulation facilitates your capability of doing your job
>> of of safely doing our job for everybody involved. Again, I think we need to look in the the regulation verse bylaw to make sure that it achieves that piece, you know, that I'm looking for. um but subjective to any language and whatever. I'm completely language fees, things
like that. I'm completely open, you know what I mean, to to reworking a draft, you know, that meets anything that would that you think would be more amendable. Um >> so, so what's what becomes our our action for the select board tonight? I don't think we vote on this bylaw. No, I
think the regulation is written. We just >> take it under adisement. >> Take it under advisement. Ask for legal review. prep it as if it's going to be a bylaw, an annual town meeting. >> We have that target date for annual town meeting. Hopefully, there won't be demonstrations before then.
>> Yeah. And I don't anticipate there are again this there's a lot of this that's worst case scenario kind of planning on my end. >> But I think that the need is real. >> The need is definitely real. >> Well, the need is there. And I think I think it's incumbent upon everybody
that's deals with the public whether it's at the town hall or at the police station that that this is going to be an educational component to this once it's rolled out >> so that people when somebody calls and says you know like like for me when I many years ago when I haunted the PTA I
did not I mean the PTA haunted the the middle school I did not hurricane Sandy was barreling up the coast I did not expect to see a line of people remember Joanna out the driveway into this into Elm Street. I was like, "Oh my god."
>> Everyone in town showed up for that. >> So that's something like I would have never known. >> Mhm. >> So >> yeah. >> Um >> do you want me to table this? Do you think we we have a motion? >> I think we should. Yeah. >> To be continued. >> Um
>> All right. So may I move to table the town of Newbury select performances and assemblies. Right. regulations >> and ask Tracy to pass it all along to >> town council. >> Yeah. And so we can take it under
advisement and seek more information. >> Second. >> Any discussion on what Alicia just proposed for a motion? All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? >> Hearing none.
>> All right, Patty. Thank you very much for brainstorming. >> Thanks for your patience and explaining. The ball's still rolling. >> The ball's moving. >> Okay. >> Ball's on the table. So, I'm moving >> now. It's moving. >> Came here. Now, we're going to move it
along. >> Move it along. >> Okay. >> Joanna has been patient under under old business. Um, Joanna Tru, in case you don't know her, is here to give us an update on the Whittier School Committee meeting that
was held on November 5th. last Thursday and the meeting was about appointments to the regional agreement amendments committee the RAAC before Joanna gets up and talks about it and you can ask her questions about it
that's the committee that I think at our last meeting Tracy and I were appointed >> as reps to that meeting as the voting member and and Tracy is is the uh is the backup So, the podium is yours.
>> I will give a little bit of background um just to help clarify what the RAC is. >> So, I'm Joanna True. I'm your representative on the Whittier School Committee. And um >> you need to give your address. You need to give your address.
>> 15 Main Street by Field. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Um so, the Whittier District is um comprised of 11 cities and towns. Um it includes the Triton Regional Towns. um of Newbury Salsbury Grand Valley. Um currently each town has one
representative um on the Windyard School Committee, but the cities have two representatives. Um and that's due to the original regional agreement. Um so our um original agreement was drawn up in 1967. It's a long time ago. Um and in
1973, the old Haveril Tech site became our woodier tech that we know today. Um we have 21 career tech areas and this year we have 24 students attending from the town of Newbury. That's quite a
number. Um the needs of our cities and towns in the district have changed and therefore our regional agreement needs to be amended. I think that everyone seems to be agreeing on that. Um so at the November 5th school committee meeting we voted to form a subcommittee.
Our tech school committee voted to form a Whittier Tech subcommittee comprised of um one delegate and one alternate from each member community. So that would be Bill and Tracy would be the alternate. Um and this subcommittee is
going to be known as the regional agreement amendment committee RAC and they will make recommendations to the Whittier School Committee um to help us amend the current regional agreement. Once the Whittier Tech School Committee
votes on those amendments, the amendments will then go back to the cities and towns um to be voted on either at a town meeting or a city council meeting. Um so just to clarify on the RAC, each city and town will have
one single vote. In addition, we as the school committee um voted to have four or less nonvoting members of the Whittier Tech School Committee serve on the RAAC just to represent the needs of our students.
So that's the latest on that. I didn't want to I there's many things I can tell you about Whittier, but I think I want to help you just stick to your agenda tonight and I'm happy to come back and talk more about what >> I think the most controversial thing
that happened on November 5th was um I mean I I was there the school committee heard from Rowley and Salsbury and Newbury and and um I think the Rowley had a couple of issues but the primary issue was the voting
members whether the whether the school committee people who were on that RAC committee should be voting members or not voting members >> and the municipalities had heartburn with that >> because we considered ourselves to be the stewards of the financial
interests of the municipalities that we represented say that again who had trouble with it >> primarily >> but did everyone have trouble >> no no no but we're just speaking all I didn't speak for is Raleigh, Salsbury, and Newbury. Raleigh had heartburn with
that. >> Okay. >> Salsbury did not. But we all wanted them to be non- voting members. We wanted the school committee people on that committee to be non- voting. >> So that was just Raleigh, Salsbury, and us continue.
>> We were the only ones that spoke up about it. >> Triton Regional. >> I mean, >> it was it was Triton Regional people. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And um honestly um Raleigh was concerned because they
didn't think some things were explained correctly to us to our planning committee. I think they were not understanding some things and and they didn't really attend the last meeting that we had where some of the stuff was talked about and ironed out. Um,
and I have to say that my point when I spoke to the school committee was I read the agreement. Everything the school committee did conformed to the regional agreement as written. This committee, this RAC, their task is to change that
regional agreement. Until then, you have to live with the old regional agreement. Period. Like it or not, you have to live to it. So, as Joanna said, the committee of the 11 municipalities will will come up with ideas of how to change the regional agreement, gets
floated up to the school committee. The school committee looks at it, agrees with it, changes it, sends it back down to the committee. Eventually, it goes to Desi. They will look at it, review it, accept it, maybe not accept it, back to the school committee, back to the board,
back to the RAAC, >> but ultimately it'll go to a town meeting, an annual town meeting. So, the municipalities will have an occasion to vote for it. And um it has to be changed for Whittier to and
and Northern Essex Community College to proceed on the pathway of this endeavor to have Whittier's facility built on NECC property. Okay. That was a condition by by MSBC
MSBA MSBA >> that the regional agreement had to be changed. And I think that Everyone agrees that the regional agreement as written that determines what our piece of the pie is in terms of what we have to pay for a building or operating costs for Whittier. So that's
why it's important and right now it's not ideal not robust. It needs to be changed. >> Our communities have changed. >> I do all right. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you very much for coming. >> Communities have changed. Right. >> Thank you very very much, Joanna. >> Okay. >> And I hope you learned something with
other things this evening. I did. >> So without getting into it, what was the outcome of the school committee? Are they voting or not voting? >> Oh, Jeff, that's that's a great question. They were they had discussion
before they voted and I'd say everybody on the school committee essentially said it's not important to me whether whether the representatives from the school committee vote or don't vote and they ultimately voted that they should be non- voting people. So
>> good. >> So Mr. Chairman >> they vote upon it when it goes to them anyway. >> Exactly. Ex. So it's a little bit of an overowering vote of the >> So those people are like they like a liazison person to report into that uh
to the school committee >> what they learned at the meeting. So what the way I I see this is that this the commonwealth of Massachusetts through the governor has established
this process of a joint it's an innovative solution to a a technical high school that we need our students need it we don't have any place for our kids to go any of the 10 districts need
it and The first step and it's an important step is to get the regional agreement right because if the regional agreement isn't right and it can't get that can't get out of the gate the whole project is not going to get out of the gate. So I think the school committee
sees that and they see that they have to tee this up for success because the Commonwealth will look to another school district out in the western part of the state or something else. it's easy to go elsewhere >> and and the combination >> the combination of of of Whittier and
NECC being close proximity and what they'll have to offer is a unique situation in Massachusetts. It's replicated someplace in Colorado. Um, and I think it has the attention of the Massachusetts
leadership. They're interested in it. It's good for them. It's good for Massachusetts. It's good for the students. and and um um it there's a strong possibility that that uh could be funded a lot differently than the first Woody
proposal that we had that was defeated at the elections. There could be federal funds, it could be Massachusetts funds, it could be grants and and uh you know that's that certainly is my hope from a taxpayer perspective. So this is a very important first step and I think the
school committee Whittier school committee realizes that and they want to see this succeed. So and I think the whole point and corre correct me if I'm wrong of having Whittier reps on it is so that when the municipalities
meet if they have a question about something to do with Whittier the Mun Newry is not going to know what's going on over at Whittier. I don't expect Whittier to understand the in intricacies of the town of Newbury. >> Yeah, that's a good point.
>> So, they need to collaborate on it. It has to be I mean, I understand the voting piece. I think that was a touchy point that the school committee addressed, but I think that um I think that that they will be a very important the school
committee members that sit on this rack will be very important um to the committee and help guide them as they put this agreement together. So I think that the RAC committee the way it's structured and appointed
approved on Monday uh on last Thursday rather was um it's a good step good step in the right direction. We haven't had our first meeting yet. Um when we do we'll have to elect uh it'll it'll be done under open meeting law. It'll be recorded. There'll be minutes. Uh
there'll be a chairman and co-chair or chairman and vice chair and vice chair set up as an open meeting law would require minutes and and it'll it'll be a good thing. We both have a meeting on Wednesday I think at 10 o'clock for the
original planning group and that should be an interesting meeting. I'll report on that at our next meeting. I'm curious, is anybody from the school was anybody from the school committee appointed to that to the rack yet or >> we only had to my knowledge at that time last Wednesday one member that from
Salsbury that was willing to serve. Was he appointed or >> they asked for both the >> chair? I believe um he so we we voted to approve that document but we didn't vote to approve members or you know so we're but I I'm not I'm not even sure that
that's going to come up because the chair can appoint >> that's how you because it's a subcommittee of Whittier Tech. So the chair typically um how it works for us is the chair appoints to subcommittees. So there doesn't usually need to be a
vote about, you know, it's just someone indicates their interest and so far we have one person is interested. >> Okay. >> So we may not have four members on the board. I'm hoping for at least two. >> Thank you. And I should say that the heartburn if those four people were
voting members if if let's just say for example if if if um someone if if Joanna wanted to be on that committee and she was a voting member then new would have two votes at that subcommittee at the RAC and there
was a lot of discussion with the towns that that was not palatable. We didn't want any >> if it was a city like Newport, they could have three votes. >> They could have three votes if if Nubri and Hil >> if if if they had two volunteers from
Haveril or two new Newport volunteers. >> So earlier we voted that um if if they were going to be voting members which they now are not but had they been that they could not come from the same towns. >> Oh really would have been one.
>> Okay. Yeah. You can you can feel the waters. >> You could read the tea leaves. >> Good job. >> Thank you. >> Thanks again. Okay. Town administrator report. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, so our new
website launched successfully last week. Um, and Joy is going to provide us with a quick demo of how to log in and sign up for alerts for anyone that's watching.
>> Hopefully, I did. >> So, on the new website, um, there is in the upper right corner of the screen this option to sign in. Um, if you did not sign in first and you just tried to
enroll um, in Eve subscriber alerts, it would then ask you to sign in. So, you can go there either from notify me or how do I and then subscribe and we're going to click here to go to
the notify me page on the notify me page. So, you'll see it wants you to sign in. So, if you um it it we're under the impression that if you had an account with the previous website that you will be recognized. So, you'll want to if it doesn't recognize your current
password, just do forgot password. But on the notify me, you have the option once you sign in to say what you want to be notified about. You can do the envelope to be notified by email or if you want to put in a cell phone
number, you can be notified by text message. Under the agenda center, you have all of the different boards and committees that you can sign up for. Under the alerts, so if the um assessors
had a meeting they wanted to do an alert about, that's where you would see that. bids and then calendars is obviously where meetings would be posted. So if I were to sign in,
obviously everyone knows my email. >> I'll forget it by the time we leave, so it's fine. >> So it's saying this is me and do I want to receive any text messages? you would check that off. And then to say what information you'd like, you just again
click on if if you're looking for an email, click on the icon. So you see I have town clerk elections already checked off. If you want to change something that you already have um designated, you just log in, go to the
notify me, and then check it again to say I don't want that. Very straightforward. >> Or uncheck it. >> Yep. Sorry. To to uncheck it. Y. >> So that's that. >> Awesome. >> That seems simple. >> It's great.
>> So, we're working on uh in the finance department, we're working on finalizing the tax recapitulation sheet. The work you did this evening and the vote you took on the tax classification hearing. Now that that's complete, um, we'll work on setting the the final tax rate. The
Newberry Police Department has partnered with the first, uh, parish food pantry to serve as a 247 donation site for non-p perishable items, paper goods, and hygiene products. Uh, Chief Fischer is is coordinating the delivery of the
donated items supposedly each Thursday, but they've I understand they were so overwhelmed with donations that they've already had to >> Yes. do a drop. So, the article was Friday, I believe, Thursday or Friday. The article was in the paper. When I got
to work today, I checked the lobby to be like, "Oh, did anyone drop off a few things?" And our lobby was full. the little area when right when you walk in underneath the public post board was full. So I had to call over to the pantry and say um
>> we can't wait till Thursday to come over. Yeah, we uh we ended up donating 477.8 pounds of goods >> and $100 worth of um grocery store gift cards. So >> yay to the public. We were just we're just the delivery people for it. So
>> but it's great having a 247 drop off location. Yeah, I think that that helps as well. And the food pantry services, Newbury, Newbury Port, West Newbury, Salsbury, Raleigh, Ipsswitch, and Georgetown. >> Yes. >> Serving over 800 people. >> Awesome.
>> A week. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. On a weekly basis. So, um, the PD and the town are honored to enter into this, uh, no cost, loweffort, hopefully high yield partnership with our local food pantry.
And anyone who is in need of food support can reach out to them directly at www. newberryfoodpantry.org. >> And I can I add one more thing? I don't believe they have a qualification for that. If you're hungry and you show up and you need food, they will feed you.
>> Yeah. you I think uh registration for food starts uh Wednesday and the link is open through Thursday morning and they do the deliveries on Friday. >> Um you may can I just say
>> sure >> it's a long way from where we went down across from Salter's bus station >> to where they started right >> long way from there. If you haven't visited their pantry, now that they have the addition, it is a welloiled
machinery. It is beautiful. Like >> their refrigerator sections, their freezer sections, their aisles where the non-p perishable items go. Those volunteers slay. They do a great great job running that. >> I remember when they were in the parish
pews at the church. >> Yeah. >> Come a long way. >> Yeah. >> Well done, Jame. M >> um you may be familiar with the Municipal Empower Act. I know some of you are very much engaged with um the
MMA, but there were over 20 local leaders um along with the lieutenant governor who testified in support of it um this past October, this past month. And it's it's really going to be it it's an opportunity to provide local
governments with tools and some flexibility and really give us a little bit more um authority to kind of modernize the way we do business. So um it'll help streamline our op our
operations, hopefully reduce some of our fiscal pressures that we're facing with. I I don't know if you've seen that it's um going to raise the procurement thresholds, which is something we've been trying to work towards for many many years. They're they're looking at
bumping it up to around $100,000, which is long overdue. Um so definitely excited to see how that moves through the legislature and keep your eye open for that. I don't know when you go if you go >> I think that has some pretty pretty
heavy feet on it to push that through. >> Yep. What about the double poles? Is that an thing for Newbury? I don't think so. >> I'm not aware of it for us. >> No. >> Um the fire department, I know you're aware, have been requesting funding for
cardiac monitor and we just haven't been able to uh pull that over the finish line, but uh Senator Tara and Rep. Casner were able to. So many thanks to them. they were able to um put in, you know, an outside section of the the
governor's budget and we were successful in in getting those funds. So, I would need a vote of the board to accept that $40,000. >> Motion to accept. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> All in favor? >> Anyone opposed?
>> Thank you. Um we're seek currently seeking to fill the assistant town clerk position. The posting is on the website. It's a part-time position for 19 hours a week. Um, the library is holding their second annual holiday boutique on
November 15th from 10 to 3. A variety of one-of-a-kind handmade items and raffles of over 30 different gift baskets. And DPW is still looking for snowfls. Anyone? >> The days are over.
>> I'm just not Ours is like a handheld. I'm not good with it. I was okay with it. I used to plow the driveway and do that. But >> yeah, not ready to step up. >> This is like one hand and I'm like just like not coordinated enough. It was
fine. I became too meticulous with that line straight. So I put right on the dash just so you just hit it. >> Oh, it's my hand. >> How many snow flowers? How many snowplow drivers are they looking for? as they
get. >> Yeah, >> they're saying there's going to be a lot of snow. >> Yes, they are. >> No uh no pine cones this year. >> So, that's an indication of a change in the weather
like what? >> And we had a new fireman reporting for duty on today the 10th. It was great. Anything else, Tracy? >> No, that's it. Thank you. >> Thanks very much. How about meeting updates, Jeff? Anything?
>> Did you weren't able to attend the DCC last? >> Yep. I went to the DCC. She couldn't. Something happened. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I had grandchild. >> It was They're not ready for that stuff. >> Yeah. No. Um, it was actually in the
library, and I'll confess, I've not been to the Salsbury Library before. It is beautiful. >> Gorgeous. Beautiful. really really nice. Um it was basically budget fundamentals. It was sort of a review for anyone who's not paid attention or not had a reason to pay attention of how the whole
budgeting process works. Starting with the um the state's foundational budget assumes that it should cost around $34 million to educate Triton students and it actually costs around $43 million. So,
the foundational budget is off and it's not just Triton, it's statewide. Um, for a whole whole lot of reasons that go into that. Um, but there is apparently some momentum now to get changes made in the assumptions that go into that
foundational budget. So, that's just momentum. That's not anything actually changing yet, but hopefully as that disparity continues to grow between what the state says it should cost and what it actually towns are actually saying it does really cost. So hopefully that'll
uh get some positive change. um chapter 70, a whole whole long discussion on chapter 70 and all the all the little intricacies of that, including um what uh Brian Forge lovingly referred to as the Alicia slide. Um that has the you
know how that the >> show that to everybody. >> Yeah. Um can I have that slide? >> I need a tap. >> Brian, can you update the slide? Brian, I need that slide. >> Yeah. and and it's it is really powerful to see that long term the state's contribution the percentage of the contribution by the state just continues
to decline um across the board. So it's yeah um but at the end of the at all of it I mean having sat through these discussions multiple times until now I guess I'm sort of repeating what I've heard before but it sort it was a good reminder that we have very little
ability to alter all the inputs that go into the foundational uh budget. We have the formula, the assessment, except through legislation, right? >> Except through advocacy. That's the only thing we have that's going to change any of that. And when you look at where has
it been successful, one thing that came up was the buses and regional transportation, which um I've heard a thousand times the Commonwealth said it would fund at 100% when the regional agreement through never has, but it's up as high as in the mid 80% now. And
traditionally, it had been a lot lower. So that is a result of advocacy and and working on the the the legislatures to make legislatorly tours to make that happen. So >> it's a enormous budget for the transportation. >> The transportation is Yeah. And they
still and they they still are Triton this year is still got bus issues where they don't have quite all the >> They're down by two buses, right? >> Down by two bus routes. But um but it's working. the challenge is when you know another bus goes out or another bus
route gets canceled. But I I mean the thing I took away from it was the if there's momentum around the found changing the foundational budget and the way that that's set up then you know you can't you got to hope that eventually that the f the same kind of momentum that propelled them to actually spend
more and fund a higher percentage of the transportation costs again not the promise of 100% but at least it's better than when it was down in the high and low or mid60s. Now we're up in the mid 80s. So that pressure works. It's just going to take time.
And the chapter 70 thing, God bless anyone that really understands that actually works. >> Nerissa ran that part. >> Nissa ran that part. Yes. So she understands. So God bless Narissa. But um for all the rest of us. Wow. >> Well, they're on a listening tour right now. They're they're doing a study
committee. Um I did gave I got to the board before that. I gave testimony down at Mass Masconomic, but they wanted it's that wealth component. The a municipality is limited. The town, what the what the chapter 70 does, the formula looks at a town and says, "Oh,
you have lots of wealthy people who live there and look at your property values. They went through the roof. Oh, and you're a beach community. You're even richer. So, you can tax your people as much as you want and pay for all your education." But we all know we can't do that,
>> right? So, we're limited to proposition two. Two and a half. But when did Prop 2 and a half come out? 80 70 I don't know. Ed Proposition 2 and a half came out first and then Ed reform
ed reform came out in the 1993 >> and it's been going like this ever since the disparity. So, >> and we are we are by we are a rural >> uh sort of school district which doesn't
feel like it at times like doesn't feel like we're rural but we really are when especially when you consider >> the transportation like especially the folks living in you know parts of Salsbury to get all the way down you know it's Yeah. It's crazy. >> Plum Island. >> Plum Island. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Could take as long to get to Plum
Island as it could to get to Salsbury. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> That's it for me. >> The battle's continued >> and it's a battle. >> No, I forgot to mention Alicia was kind enough to come with me to the school committee meeting at Woody.
>> I don't have any meeting with >> and we haven't last time we met with the fire department for negotiations for the Bipill Fire Station was two weeks ago. >> Two weeks ago. >> And we're waiting for them to get back to us. So according to the song, are you so
tired tired of waiting? >> No. No, not tired of waiting. It's important uh >> to get it right. >> It's important. It's well, it's that fire station is very important to public safety.
>> Um I'm just going to add on to that a little bit. just had a few people inquire to why there were no there was no equipment in the uh at the Bfield Fire Station for a couple
of days, couple days. >> One sec. One sec. One sec. This is meeting updates. Equipment at the fire station is not on the agenda. Okay. So >> we really shouldn't be talking about it. >> Yeah, we'll talk about that after.
>> Okay. >> After. Okay. >> Fine with me. >> No, not done. >> Yeah. >> Forum. >> How about if we review and approve the meeting minutes? Draft meeting minutes of 1028 2025. >> I motion to accept the draft minutes of
1028. >> Any discussion? Any corrections? All in favor? I. Anyone opposed? >> I'll just abstain because that wasn't happening. So, >> okay. Okay. And I need a warrant and a
motion to approve. >> We did have correspondence. Did you want to That's on the agenda. >> Oh, thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation saling at the commun rail. There's I think uh a letter in your package. I believe there are three
crossings where the trains cross the roads. and they don't salt there because it uh affects the brakes of the train. So that's uh letting people know that at Hay Street, Boston Road, and Handover
Street, they will not be applying salt during the winter season in that section of the road for that reason. Okay, that's the correspondence. >> Be careful when driving over those. >> They're not salted. >> Thank you for picking that up, Patrick.
Yeah. >> And did we approve the minutes? Did we vote to approve the minutes? >> Motion to approve warrants. >> Warrant. >> Did we have warrants? Did we move? >> We have warrants. >> Sign. Did we have that motion? Yes. I move that we sign warrants >> as listed.
>> Second from somebody. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I all in favor?