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. Cindy, you going to say anything under public comment? >> I'm not
>> I'm not even going to read the paragraph. I don't think I have to, do I? No one's in attendance, so I'm going to pass by the comment. Um, remarks from the chair. Um I just want to say that that later on um there's an agenda item with the council
on aging space needs study and um Damon's going to talk about it tonight but in January I intend to have a session strictly to talk about the space needs study at the council on aging.
won't be the only topic and I've asked Damon to have his ad hoc committee be be there. I'd like the select board members to be there and I am couiually inviting concerned public citizens to be there to voice their opinion, their thoughts,
their objections, their positive comments in a public forum where we can all look at each other and talk and answer questions as opposed to voicing concerns in a non-public manner where I can't respond to it, the board can't
respond to it, uh, no one can respond to unless you're part of the I'm sorry, a private forum, private group. Unless you're part of the private group. So, that's the plan that this um we'll talk a little bit more about it when we get to when we get to Damon.
Grants, gifts, and donations. Acceptance of the Massachusetts Office of Disability, fiscally a 26 municipal ADA improvement grant program, $41,000. There was a letter in your package
from those people from Allan Mateni that talked about he's executive director talked about uh this grant that comes to Newbury provisionally approved by the mass executive office of administration and finance for a max grant of $41,000
with his congratulations and there's some work that Tracy will have to do I think to respond to the respond to the letter but it'll all be used for American the disability remedial actions or positive actions. >> We'll contract with a consultant to do
an AD self um evaluation and transition plan. So >> great. >> Thank you Joy for writing that grant. >> You wrote the grant, Joy. Yep. >> Thank you. Good job. >> Thank you, Joy. Uh move to accept. >> Second. >> A roll call. Uh discussion. Any
discussion? >> Hearing none. Jeff >> Jeffrey. Yes. >> Patrick Cuffing. Yes. Billy Jgo. Yes. >> Bill Deo. Yes. >> Mostly Matthews. Yes. >> Okay. Acceptance on behalf for the Newbury Police Department, $500 from Bradford
and Leyanna Gallagher. There is also Well, I'll need a motion first before we talk about it. >> I'll move to accept the grant from Brad and Lyanna Gallagher. >> Second. >> Discussion. There is a letter in your
package from the chief of police. On December 15, 2025, I received an unsolicited donation from Bradford and Lyanna Gallagher in the sum of $500. I've attached a copy of the letter attached with a donation neither Mr. or
Mrs. Gallagher have any outstanding criminal or civil activities for the Newbury Police Department. I respectfully request a check be noted donated into the Newbury Police Department gift funds account to be spent in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws and in accordance with the
policies and procedures of the town of Newbury. And there's a handwritten note that says uh police chief from Spy Glass Investments uh stationary. Thanks for the good work by your department. We appreciate the safety of the community.
signed the Gallaghers and there's a copy of their check. Any other discussion about this hearing? None. A roll call vote. Jeff, yes. >> Dr. Guffin, yes. >> Alicia Greco, yes. >> Bill Deo, yes.
>> Wesley Matthews, yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Acceptance of the local cultural council application fiscal year fiscal year 26-LC-LCC-2471 of $5,700 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
>> I move to accept the grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. >> Second. >> Uh discussion. I believe >> this is our annual grant, right? It's the annual grant that that the our cultural committee gets and there's a letter from the mass cultural council
which is announce which announced that that award and this is as as Alicia said this is an annual type award that they get and they parcel it out to different um different activities. Some of them in are in Newbury some of them are outside
of Newbury. Any other discussion? Hearing none. Roll call vote. Jeff, yes. >> Patrick Griffin, yes. >> Alicia Graco, yes. >> Gild Mayo, yes. >> Lesley Matthews, yes. >> Okay. New business. Review and approve a
new 2026 business license. I don't think Cheryl was is here obviously. General business. Cheryl Andonian doing business as Retro Warehouse LLC at Newport Turnpike.
>> Move to grant the license. Second. >> Any discussion? Hearing none. Roll call vote. Jeff >> Bill. Yes. >> Dr. Greffin. Yes. >> Alicia Greco. Yes. >> Bill Deo. Yes. >> Mostly Matthews. Yes.
>> Okay. Now we have the list of uh 20 another list of 2026 business license renewals other than the ones we've already approved obviously. So, I'd like to take a motion to group them, read them all through, and vote on them as a
group, but if there's one that has to be flagged or any that have to be flagged while they read through them, we can mark them and vote them independently. >> Leslie, you want to make that motion? >> Yes. I move to uh read them all through and flag if necessary.
>> Second. >> Is there any discussion about that? Hearing none. Jeff >> uh Jeff Walker, yes. >> Dr. Kinan, yes. >> Alicia Greco, yes. >> Gilo, yes. >> Wesley Matthews, yes. >> Okay,
first one. Auto/marine subject to the restrictions and conditions of the special permit issued on 22686 and the variance issued on 111794 by the new zoning board of appeals for the property at 24 middle road. Barry
Davis doing business as BD Automotive at 24 Middle Road. Autoarine Andrew Haley doing business as Pocket River Marine Services LLC at 7 Newbury Neck Road.
Common Vitler Danvers Butchery, Cheryl Molton, doing business as Newry Butchery at Two Morgan Avenue. Common Bitler Silver Linings LLC doing business. Mad Maths Island Cafe at 51 Northern Boulevard.
Family medicine doing business as Fig Tree Family Medicine. PLLC at 76 Newport Turnpike. Joy, what's PLLC mean?
Um, >> professional limited liability company. >> Thank you. >> I try to remember that. General general business. Um, Henry C. Becker doing business as Henry C. Becker Custom Building, LTD at
8 Riverview Drive. General business, Vivian Anastasia Hurtton, doing business as Anastasia's Flowers on Maine. Maine at 56 Main Street. General business, animal care, dog
boarding/dog daycare, pet sitting. Lisa Porter, doing business as CE Coast Horse and Pet Sitting at 48 Old Raleigh Road. General Business, Beauty Shop. Meline Sherwood doing business as Circle Salon
at 65 Newport Turnpike. General Business, personal training. John A. Desomio Jr. doing business as Fit by John at 89 Handover Street, Unit 3. General
Business, School Bus Transportation. Steven Gad, doing business as Saltera Transportation Incorporated, 196 Scotland Road. General Business Tree Service. Steven Keval, doing business as
SK Tree Service at 71 Main Street. Motor vehicle junk license class three James R. Modskin doing business as Newry Auto Sales Incorporated at 60 Newport Turnpike. Tattoo Shop. Elise Guer doing
business as Boston born in Inc. at 65 Newport turnpike. Used car dealers license class 2. Anthony Barbarus doing business as&m Motors Incorporated at 4-6 Newport Turnpike. Used car dealers
license class 2. Michael Tartagleion doing business as Autoworks of Hampton Falls Incorporated at 88 Newport Turnpike. >> I move to approve the business licenses as read.
>> Second. >> Any discussion of any of them? Hearing none, a roll call vote. Jeffrey, yes. >> Dr. Keley, yes. >> Alicia Greco, yes. Bill De Mayo. Yes.
>> Leslie Matthews. Yes. >> Okay. Next is designation of the 2026 annual town meeting. Uh meeting date. >> Uh I don't think there was a document in the package for that. Was there Joy? >> No, there wasn't. >> Okay. The discuss I mean let's let's
let's have a motion first. >> Uh I move that we set the 2026 annual town meeting date. >> I don't know what date yet till we have our discussion. >> That's right. Uh second. >> Okay, discussion time.
>> Um so in the packet you did have the bylaw that says that the town meeting um date according to the bylaw is a specific date in May, but that the board can choose to have the town meeting on a
date in April or May after what happened last year um and having some communication with Triton. Um again, so last year we ended up having town meeting in the gymnasium because of the the issues with um the
>> it was over booked. >> It was over booked. Um and because of that, it ended up costing the town more money because we had to rent chairs and then additional um uh visual audio visual services. So working with Triton,
they were able to confirm that if we were to have town meeting on the first Tuesday in May, so May 5th, 2026, they can guarantee that we will have the auditorium without issue. And again, that will save the town. Um it's
estimated at least a few hundred, if not one or $2,000. >> That's not election day, though, is it? No, >> it's the next Tuesday. So it would be town meeting one Tuesday and then the following Tuesday would be election. >> So the election would be the May 13th.
>> We usually have town meeting before >> beforehand the election. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> So it would be the 5th and then the 12th. >> Any any more discussion about this? Perhaps we should amend the motion somehow to have include the date of May
5th, 2026. >> Yeah. Um, I think that I think that the the uh venue at Triton works very good for the town. It's a lot better than NES. >> Yeah.
>> Um, so I'm all I'm all for this. So I would like to amend my motion to set the annual 2026 annual town meeting at um May 5th, 2026 at the Tri Regional High School Auditorium. >> Second. >> Any discussion about that date or that
motion? Hearing none. Roll call vote. Jeffrey Walker. Billy. >> Yes. >> Patrick Greffin. Yes. >> Alicia Greco. Yes. >> Bill Deo. Yes. >> Lesley Matthews. Yes. >> Okay. Next. Presentation by Damon
Jesperson related to the findings of the council on aging ad hoc committee for site selection meeting. Before before Damon gets to speak, you can get to the podium. I don't want you to be too comfortable in the chair. Um, I, you know, I I
really asked Damon to do an executive overview of what happened with the study, how why it happened, how it happened, who was involved, and and some of the methodology. You got a copy of the study. It's 35 pages in your report. And to do it justice,
I didn't think to try to delve into the weeds tonight was was appropriate. That's why I'm trying to schedule. I'm not trying. I'm scheduling a separate meeting in January strictly to cover that topic because I think it's important to Damon, it's important to Cindy, it should be important to the
town to hear the methodology that they used and look at the different options so on and so forth. So, having said all that, it's your turn, Damon. All right. Well, the first thing I'll say is that you guys voted on your amendment, but not on the first motion. So, you should
vote to set the town meeting. Uh secondly, I'll go into this. Uh so as everyone knows, we rent the space here at 12 Kent Way. Uh the space for the COA was provided by a grant uh or
the funding for the space is provided by a grant which is running out and the lease is also going to expire. So that made the council on aging members of the board a little nervous and we wanted to look for what could potentially be a
permanent home for the council on aging. Uh as we all know we have an aging community here in Newbury. We have a lot of services that are provided and there are a lot of services that we can't provide because of the space limitations that we have. So what we did was form an
ad hoc committee to look at what are the needs of the council on aging for space. And we did this first by looking internally and then going to other communities and seeing what they had, asking what they needed that they didn't
have, what they had that they didn't need. And we looked at similar communities in size and also our near neighbors who are a little bigger. Hannesbury, Newbury Port who have considerably larger populations and a lot more money. Uh we took this formed
it into what we call the space needs assessment which is you know we need bathrooms, we need this, we need that space, we need this space, put rough uh square footages to it and then we brought that to some of our uh resident
experts. We use Bob Connor and Eric Swan because they had uh well because I worked with them in the past and they're suckers for punishment. So they reviewed what we had put together. Uh made some cuts to some of the space
needs, some expansion, recommended a 14% increase overall for utilities, hallways, stairwells, if we have them, so that we can make sure that whatever building we build, should we get that far, will be a sufficient size to house
the COA long into the future. Then once we had firmed that number up, we worked with the assessor, the town planner, and we looked at the spaces in town that might
be able to host a building of this size. We also asked people for recommendations. So went out in the newsletter that we were looking for a space where this building could go for a permanent home for the counts on aging. We then created a matrix and scored all
of the sites that we had reviewed and then uh talked about it, made sure we were all on the same page and then I wrote up the summary report which you guys all have before you now.
So it was a it took a little more effort and a little longer than anticipated but I believe it is a very good foundation for moving the discussion forward. Uh it is by no means comprehensive or exhaustive. You know we didn't have any engineering funds. We didn't come to the
town for any money to do this. It was all volunteer time uh of some of the members of the COA and uh some of the members of the COA board. So that's what I got for you.
>> Very good. Any any questions? Any discussion points? >> I have just one quick question. Um in reading this and this is really amazing that you guys pulled all this together and it's yeah comprehensive um even without any funding to do any of it's
pretty impressive. The one question I have is the thing that jumped out at me at the very end um >> in your conclusion when you talk about 84 Central Street in the fieldhouse um and it it meets all the needs but it would be a lonely home for the council. Can you just explain what you mean by a lonely home?
>> So one of the things that the COA found when they moved into this building was that there was a huge amount of traffic that just came in because people were coming for other reasons to this building. you know, there we have all our town offices here. And so people
coming in to pay their tax bill or coming up to ask a question of the town administrator or see the planning board about something, they had to pass by and that people just stopped in and said, "Hi," and said, "Oh, you know, I might be able to do this or you know, I didn't know you ran
that program." And so there was this synergy that happened that they found extremely valuable. And so we want to preserve that if at all possible moving forward. So the space down at the playing fields is it's massive. It's a
huge space. So it could certainly accommodate the building, but if nothing else is there, it's very isolated. >> Okay. Okay. Yeah, that makes sense. I mean, I was trying to understand that because it is it's not lonely when there's sporting activities going on
when there's soccer games, you know, but but I understand you're saying it's not doesn't have the same kind of persistent consistent foot traffic that you would get from >> a location like by the library or by the Yeah. >> Yes. And it's also not uh it's not always residents. It's not people who be
using the COA necessarily. You know, I I'd wanted the COA and the school being together to be a great thing because I love when older people and younger generations get together, but the school was not the right setting for that sort of thing to happen. So, it is uh how to
foster that synergy and those overlaps is it's not just by sticking, you know, smooshing it together. >> Right. Got it. And so you're looking for roughly 10,000 to 14,000 square feet of
space prior to say hallways, stairways, and and things of that nature. Um, usable space versus necessity space like the hallway that sits outside the doorway here.
>> Um, we are, yeah, somewhere in that range. And once we have uh can really get into it with a a professional that will certainly change in some direction or another. But that is what we are
with our limited resources that's what we came to. >> I'm going to throw this out there. Um, historically when the manta field, the playing field or however it's being addressed these days, um, it it really
is a large piece of property was one of the original ideas for that piece of property that in the event that the school Triton could be expanded that
that would be a property that they would use. >> Uh, I'm unaware of that, but that doesn't mean it's not the case. >> I've never heard of it, but >> I have >> Yeah. And then and it goes back, you
know, a number of years, but um >> a town meeting boat or >> uh during sale during uh the the transference of property that that would be uh an idea
that would be taken under consideration. Um I have a >> it makes it kind of makes sense you know the proximity of where uh Triton sits and >> I don't recall ever seeing any deed restrictions but we can research that for sure.
>> I Jeff maybe you can remember this because I think you were on the board then but I remember um there was some discussion of a possible pathway. there is a pathway >> between that the two parcels of land so that
>> you could get to one to the other but I don't believe there was any ever any idea of of Triton which is a separate municipality from the town of Newbury um ever those two things ever crossing. Do you recall that Jeff?
um access I I it wouldn't be it would be a too far a distance for lateral access to be useful I think you >> I do I don't have any re I don't ever heard
of that um Mr. Chair, can I make a comment about this? >> Of course, >> Damon, this is a fabulous document that your group has put together. It's magnificent. It's comprehensive. It's detailed. Um,
your recommendation is the site adjacent to the library on Kent Way. Um, I recall and I'm going to ask Joy or Tracy to go back. um the previous library director has done a
survey or they put together a strategic plan of some sort. They remember there was a survey because I participated in it. I sat in it um the discussion about it and they were they said that the council on aging the the people that um
use our council of aging are the number one users of the library as well. So, if we could dig that up and get that survey to your group, I think it might be useful at your meeting that
you want to schedule. >> That's a good idea. Great idea. >> Um, >> January. >> Um, >> and we did meet with the Sorry, I >> No, no, that's it. Um we have met with the current library director and they
are very supportive of trying to combine efforts which is something we can do even while we're not next door to each other. So we've been working to establish a good working relationship with that group wherever we end up because as you said there's overlap
between the two needs and the two services. >> Yeah. actually collaborate with the library in a lot of events right now. This produces an opportunity for even more in the future. Jeff, did you have any
questions or discussion points? I think what worries me is once again this illuminates the fact that we rent a lot of key buildings and services
within our town because of the fact that we weren't able to pass, you know, the ability to build the needed buildings. And it it's really a shame because we would be more than half through a debt service. It's
extraordinary in my mind. I I can't wrap my mind around. But that's all I have to say. >> Okay. Isn't your recommendation as far as the library is concerned to uh recon uh
build a second floor for you utilizing the second floor for library use and the the first floor for >> No, that was uh so we in this report took in every recommendation that was made by a citizen and included in the
report uh because I wanted everyone to feel like they were hurt. So that was a citizen's recommendation and it is not what we recommend going forward um >> because you re really would have to just
rearrange the entire um lot down there. >> It is >> start to finish and we just invested a huge amount of money into a new roof. >> Yeah. >> Hback system. >> Yeah. What we wanted to do is make sure that
the people who wrote in the suggestions saw that they were taken seriously and so I did not believe that that was going to be a viable solution. I've not looked at the structural engineering or what would go into it, but I wanted to
take it and give it its just look over and I feel like we gave it its due diligence and I don't think it's a good idea to try and change the library into a different function by adding a second floor. And then the other recommendation was to
take ownership of that for the COA and to remove the library and put it down to >> the green. And that also I said was probably not a very good idea. >> Not a very good idea. >> Um or not the not the idea that I would
recommend. I won't say it's a bad idea. Yeah. So >> when you sought the people out, excuse me just for a second, Bill, but uh this is when you sought people out for their um ideas and recommendations and um how did you reach out to these people and
and how did they um get back to you with what their thoughts were? So, we had put included it in the newsletter that the COA sends out and we put out appeals uh like this in our meeting so that if people were watching the meeting, they
would know that we're looking for property and if they had ideas or suggestions, you know, what I really hoped is someone would say, "Oh, you have that need. I have this big piece of property and here's $50 million. Go build what you want." But that didn't happen and it probably won't even though
we're talking at a bigger meeting now. And would you also say that the would be a not a good recommendation to put an establishment on the property
next to NES where it has already been determined that there's far too much wetland in there to support any kind of a building. >> Yes. I think once you get into the report, you'll see that even though we own that property, it is it seems like it would be a very very challenging
place to build. >> If I can just interject, Leslie, I like your questions. There are a lot of pieces to this puzzle and I think your questions would be even more appropriate to a larger audience so everyone can hear them at the same time.
>> Right. Well, we don't have one. >> Well, that's why I'm scheduling something in January, Leslie. But I'm just I'm gonna I'm going to address Damon about this because he was, you know, he he put this together. They
worked very hard on this and so just to give you a little bit more to think about some of the questions that people may come up with during that discussion in January. >> Thank you. you know, if they have the ability to to
um be privileged enough to read through this information that you you know, we have it would be >> let's let's talk let's talk about privilege for if I could just stop you for a minute. Let's talk about privilege of reading this. It's posted on the town website. >> A draft copy of this went into the
public domain >> a couple weeks ago. >> Yes. I forget which >> this document now is in the public domain having been surfaced here at our select board meeting. So the report is available to any interested person who wants to pick it up or look at it online. It's on the Council on Aging
website, Joy, as well as the town website, two different places. >> Um, Mr. Chair, may I um is it do you have copies of these maybe paper copies down in the council on aging too? >> No, but I can make them. >> That would be great. That would be really helpful because there are so many
people that where >> the discussion is the age group of people that that would be more of the form of how they would gain their information versus going onto a website. >> That's a good thought to put paper copies in the council on aging or even
up or even up here the library. >> Yeah, >> that's a good that's a good suggestions. I mean, I think the whole purpose of tonight is to try to understand what Damon's out to our committee has done and for us to move it forward by having this communication session next week.
>> And I mean in January rather January, >> next year. >> And I mean, >> do you need a um vote of the board to accept the recommendation of the ad hoc committee, >> Tracy? I think we need that. No,
>> I think you're going to aren't Isn't your plan to wait until after you have your forum? >> Yeah, wait to get input from the from the public. Wait to get your input, your questions answered in January. And that may change something perhaps in the in
the report. I'm not sure. But I mean, let let it get vetted. Let it let it get vetted by the public. I mean, this is a great opportunity for concerned citizens to show up at a meeting. >> Excuse me. >> To try to raise their concerns. >> Yeah. Can >> I ask a question about that?
>> Sure. >> As far as that meeting in January, most of the people that um we're concerned with, Damon and I, would probably be better, especially with the how it gets dark so early, to have this meeting during the daytime, which I know
eliminates people that work. Um, I'm just wondering what your thought process is on is this going to be an evening meeting or a daytime. >> I hadn't thought about timing. It's an excellent point. We also talked about >> we also talked about having it in the council on aging because I think it says >> better accommodations for hopefully
larger crowd. >> How about Saturday meetings? Does that work for everyone? When you were doing the town hall project, we had a couple of Saturday meetings. Saturday mornings do a Saturday morning around 10. that works for us because then I don't have
to worry about other programs that are going on. >> That's true. >> I think that's a very good suggestion and the suggestion to print up some copies. So, we can print up a few and put them here downstairs and at the library and then as they get taken, uh
just let us know and we'll print some more. >> Because people will sit down and they'll as they read through it, they'll make their own personal notes. >> Yes. and they'll have their their own personal references to feel more prepared to attend the discussion uh
meeting that you know bill is recommending >> that would help p that would help public awareness which is my primary goal. >> One more thing Mr. Chair if I if I may. >> You may. >> Um Miss Selectman Walker had a very good
point. Um, this has been risen to the forefront of the Council on Aging's mind because they are in rented facilities and the rent is going to continue to go up. Um,
the seats we're sitting in right here and now are rented facilities. The rent is going to continue to climb. Uh we have a firehouse, one firehouse in town that sits in a rented facility. Uh rented most municipalities do not rent
their facilities for a very good reason. Um the state may rent their offices and the federal government may rent their offices, but they operate under a different uh mission and a different per p per p per p per p per p per p per p per p per p per p perview. They don't serve the public the same way a town or
a city does. So, um I'm thankful that your committee brought this to our attention because um we need to do something about about that for the people that live in the town of the town of Newbury. Thank you.
>> Thank you guys for for hearing me out and I look forward to the the greater discussion as it goes on and on. >> Great. Damon, thanks so much for coming tonight >> and happy holidays everyone. >> Happy holidays. Thank you. Town Administrator report.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, you may have seen the email. Our tax uh recap sheet was submitted and our new rate has been certified at $751 per thousand. In comparison with 2025,
it was $745 and 2024 was $7.68. So, we're pretty stable overall. >> Excuse me. I just I just got a message that um there's no sound at the Selectwood meeting. It went silent about
5 minutes ago. >> Um >> and that was 20 minutes ago. >> Look at my Don't look at the >> um that was that included the $400,000 override we did, right? Correct. Thank you. Yeah. Uh, we're still seeking to
fill the assistant town clerk position. Job posting is on the website, part-time, 19 hours per week. Anyone interested can certainly contact the town clerk for more information. Um, we just filled our DPW laborer position. We're going to be uh welcoming
Josh Surret to the team as a laborer. >> Sounds so the name sounds so familiar. So um he joins us with some great genetics as a relative to our current DPW director. We have consulted with
town council on this hire obviously um and all of the appropriate ethics disclosures and paperwork will be filed. We reached a tentative agreement on the DPW contract. We are finalizing a couple of terms and I expect to bring it before
the board in Jan sometime in January. Newbury Port, I don't know if you've seen it, has announced the official opening of the Salvation Army emergency overnight shelter that is going to be starting um as of January 5th. It's going to serve all of Greater Newbury
Port, Newbury Port, Amesberry, Salsbury, Newbury, West Newbury, and Raleigh. Um it's located at 40 Water Street and it's going to be staffed by 15 certified trained staff members. It will activate when temperatures are below 20 or by
request of the mayor um mayor Shawn Reen if there's you know storms or other severe weather events. Guest hours will be 7:00 p.m. to 7 a.m. and anyone that's seeking shelter should contact Captain Jessica Burkhart of the Salvation Army.
All the information is on Newbury Port's uh website. We did recently receive some information from Colonial Power Group relative to the municipal aggregation program. So, National Grid's proposed rate fee for 20
February 2026 um which has not officially been approved but is $15 uh 15.372. Uh Newber's rates through October are
12.81 81 cents. Uh 12.91 cents and 13.87 cents. The basic green and green number two. I guess it's the official name. So, we're still tracking pretty well over overall. Um and DPW is still looking for
those plow drivers. Anyone interested, contact the DBW office. Um we're a few drivers short this year. So, with the weather coming in quickly tonight, um we're hoping to find a few additional drivers.
That's it. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And they just have to they can go on to the website, find all that information, and put their application in >> for DPW. >> For plow drivers? >> For plow drivers. Yep. They can contact the DPW office or they can send an email
right in through the website if they prefer. Okay. Meeting updates. Who has meeting updates? >> Leslie, anything? >> I don't. Alicia. >> No.
>> At two. Um, so we had two school building committee meetings in the last uh in this month actually. Um, Whittier on December 15th. Um, so the most important thing is the feasibility study that was done the last
time. They're going to be able to reuse parts of that so it's not going to cost as much. That's good to know. >> Yeah. >> Um the other thing is the enrollment >> that Whittier's administration put forward to the what is it again? M I always get MSBA. Yeah. Um at 1500 is
that's what they're going to they're going to sit down and talk about in January. January 28th they have a meeting and MS MBS MBA will either accept that number or give another number. And so the school building committee ended up having a
vote for some reason about whether or not we all agreed with that number which doesn't really matter. So cuz it's already gone to >> MSBA. Anyway, um that was the January 28th meeting. And then there was a or sorry that January 28th is when that meeting is coming up. And then the
second one was at uh 18th of December. It was a Triton School building committee meeting uh just over Zoom. Just to update that the MSBA is reviewing the OPM selection for uh for the Triton build. Um and there will be a communications subcommittee that's going
to start in January. Uh Michael Cobburn will co-chair it along with me uh to focus on starting the communication plan for this now like so. >> Yeah. So that that will kick off for
real in January. >> Okay. >> Okay. Jeff, you haven't had any meeting updates that you have to give us, have you? No. Um, I went to the Eastern Essex District meeting um last week and and um we had
we had good conversation. They they over the years they've accumulated quite a sum of money from the different the six towns, the municipalities that participate, the six towns that participate. We're actually New is actually going to get a refund of $11,295
uh out of our share of that of money and they're retaining some money there for an event to unplanned events I guess is the best way to call it. Um I also went to the first meeting of the uh regional
agreement amendment committee. >> How'd that go? >> That was last Wednesday. And let's say that committee is 26 people, 11 municipalities, three towns, 19,
no, eight, eight municipalities. 11 uh 22 of us, 11 voting members and 11 backup members and four members of the of the uh Whittier School Committee. >> They got four to >> nine voting members. >> Yeah, they got they found four cuz
>> four people showed up. four people there >> have a list of of what their names and contact contact numbers are. Um Angus Jennings was uh elected as the chair of that committee and the subchair
is the mayor of Haveril. I never remember her name. That's okay. Sorry to put you on the spot too. Okay. Um and nobody volunteered to be secretary and that turned out to be 20 minutes worth of
discussion. >> Meinda Barrett. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um so we have like probably a year to try to amend the regional agreement because that's about the timing when they will have to go
into into the U schematic build phase >> and and the agreement according to MSBA has to be done regional agreement has to be changed modified amended before we can get into that schematic build phase. So that's um pretty
daunting, you know. I'm not sure if we can do it in meeting once a month, but whatever it takes, we we have to do. So next meeting is uh de August, right? August January 7th. Not August. January 7th. And
>> sounds good. >> Yeah. Well, yeah. We'd never get it done by then. >> So it's going to be interesting. I mean this committee will make amendments, vote on them, come up with what we send send up to the Wittia school committee.
They will have to vote on it, amend it, return it back to us. If they accept what we proposed to them, they pass it on to ESD >> and then they review it. >> Desi >> Desi, thank you.
>> D too many too many acronyms. >> Then it comes back to the school committee. So there's a lot of back and forth on it and um you know it's it's easy to say you'd like to get consensus at the committee level which means everybody agrees to it
before you pass it on but that will be a challenge in for a couple of reasons for a couple of municipalities is the best way to say it and that is it for my meeting updates. >> Do they have um funding put aside for
this? Well, two things. The Triton has funding put aside for the feasibility, right? >> Yeah. >> And does Whittier have any money put aside for anything that they need to do? >> The for the feasibility, it was um was estimated at about $2.5 million, I
think. And and um I'm not sure. Northeast Community College put up half a million dollars and I think Woody is putting up half a million dollars and there's about $25,000 which would be assigned to Nubri in maybe fiscal year 27 28 something like that. Is that right?
>> Yep. Only $25,000 to us. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, thank you. >> And what Patrick said about not having to go through feasibility again for the existing >> right >> project that got voted down. You know, we said we spent all that money already.
be a waste of time and money because we don't really want to do that. We want to go to the NCC. >> It's things like soil samples and soil samples are not going to change over years. So like it makes sense to be able to use it. So >> thank thank you God. >> Yeah.
Okay. Review and approve the meeting minutes. >> I move that we approve the meeting minutes of December 9th, 2025 as in our packet as presented. Second.
>> Any discussion about the minutes? Hearing none. Roll call vote. Jeff >> W. Yes. >> Patrick. Yes. >> Alicia Grego. Yes. >> Deo. Yes. >> Wesley Matthews. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh, we need a motion to
approve sign warrants. >> Move to sign warrants. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Roll call vote. Jeff. >> Jeff. Yes. >> Patrick Griffin. Yes. >> Felicia. Yes. >> Mayo. Yes. >> Jose Matthews. Yes.
>> We are not having executive session due to a scheduling issue that came up. >> Yay. >> And I'd like to have a move to adjourn. >> A move to adjurnn. >> A motion to adjurnn. >> I move to adjourn. Is there a second?
>> Second. >> Does anyone have a discussion about a journey? >> Roll call vote. Jeff. Yes. >> Griffin. Yes. >> Felicia Greco. Yes. >> Bill. Yes. >> Matthews. Yes. >> Great. Happy holidays to everybody.