Good evening everyone. Calling the meeting to order. Uh this Thursday, February 26, 2026. Uh I'd like to start the meeting uh with the pledge of allegiance. Please
>> not here. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. So tonight we have a full complement of
the board. Uh Kevin O'Neal, Denise Luciano, Bob Kimell, Roger Mosan, and myself along with town manager Mark Gold and Christy Anigran, a new select board liaison. Okay,
so with that, uh we have appointments right out of the gate. Special police officer resignation Bobby Gorum. Any input, Mr. Town Manager? >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. We received a resignation letter. Um, and we'd like to
thank uh Special Officer Goreham for his service. >> Okay. We don't have we don't have to think about. So, well, I'd like to thank Bobby. I know him personally. Uh, he's been great uh in his capacity for the town. So, good luck in his future
endeavors and thanks again, Bobby. Uh so next we have uh traffic safety committee resignation Mr. George Hast. >> Uh thank you Mr. Chair. Again we received a letter from uh Mr. George Hast who has resigned from the traffic
safety committee. >> Okay. Thank you sir. >> Yes sir. >> Yep. >> Um I'd like to thank George for all of his input on the traffic safety committee and wish him well as well in the future endeavors. >> Okay. chairman. >> Yes, sir.
>> I would add to that that the uh he was one of the first he was an alternate member became a permanent member, but uh he was um kind of the when you did the black and white routine, he was, you know, it was it was helpful to bounce things off him and make things uh make things make a
little bit more sense. We also will be expecting to hear a resignation from Ralph Ste Ralph Stefani also. I believe he's going to step down. So, okay, noted. Thank you, sir. Okay, we have council on is this an
appointment of council on aging alternate member Anna O'Brien. Thank you, Mr. Chair. There are two letters um here, actually three. Uh one's from the chair of the Council on Aging, um Ruth Schneider, who has
expressed full support for both of these uh nominations, Anna O'Brien and Fran Ward. So, we're we're happy to recommend them to the board for appointment. >> Okay.
Any questions, comments? >> No. >> Mr. Chairman, >> motions. >> I make a motion that we appoint Anna O'Brien to the Council on Aging as an alternate member. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. >> I. Chairman, I make a motion we u
appoint um Fran Ward to the Council on Aging as an alternate member. >> Second. >> Motion in a second. All in favor? >> I >> I Okay. Congratulations everyone. Thank you. Um minutes
February 12th, February 22nd, and December 23rd exec. We have any uh questions, comments? Okay, Mr. Chairman, I make a motion that we approve the minutes of February 12th,
2026 as written. >> Second >> motion and a second. All in favor? >> I abstain. Sorry, chair. >> Okay, you weren't here. >> I wasn't here. Yeah. >> One abstension, Denise uh Luciano. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Chairman.
>> I make a motion we approve uh the minutes of February 22nd. >> 2026 as written. Motion and a second. All in favor? I >> I Mr. Chairman, I make a motion that we approve the minutes, executive session
minutes of December 23rd, 2025. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. All in favor? >> I >> I thank you, >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes, sir. >> Um, can I ask that the office submit a formal response to Mr. Gary Kulage? um
we can include the aspect of the discussion that that's in the minutes. He was the one that wrote the letter uh asking about three or four different items around reservoir and um uh what was the other street that he >> on Smith Street I believe right
>> it may be in the response um point out the video link from that meeting and maybe put the time stamp in there as well just as a courtesy to give him the response that that we all provided. >> Okay. And then one other thing if I may,
the executive session minutes um when we post those on the website, if we can clearly state, you know, executive session minutes from December 23rd, so that people can quickly go to those executive minutes instead of trying to fish through general minutes. You know
what I'm saying? Yeah. Great. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, sir. Christie, we good with that? >> Absolutely. >> Perfect. Thank you very much. Uh we have next licenses and permits
Baron Brewing on premises. Mr. Town Manager. Thank you. Uh this is an applicant. He's a current holder of a malt only license and this application is for a all alcohol. Uh we do have an all alcohol license available. Um so
it's a standard approval requested of the board. All the departments have signed off and we don't have any issue with this license. >> Okay. And this will be uh we have am I
correct? We have two licenses available right now. >> That's our understanding. Yes. Yes. Two. Okay. >> That's correct. >> All right. Um and all the department heads are signed off. Checks all the boxes. Yes. All of that. >> Perfect. Thank you. Anybody have any
questions or concerns or comments? >> Just just so I'm clear, Mr. Chenny, um they have a farmer brew license now. They they're applying for a standard all alcohol license. That's correct. Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. So, I'd just like to speak to I
mean I think all of us know Brian. He's runs a great great business. Uh everybody loves it. That's that's to my understanding. So, um, if anybody, uh, would be interested in making a motion,
>> please, >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes, sir. >> I make a motion that we grant the on premises all alcohol license to Bargain Brewing. >> Second. >> Motion in a second. All in favor? >> I >> I >> I. >> Mr. Chairman, roll call, please.
>> Roll call. >> Roll call liquor license. Yep. Okay. Um, Mr. O'Neal. >> Yes. Miss Mrs. Luciano, >> yes. >> Mr. Kimble, >> yes. >> Mr. Maran, >> yes. >> And I am a yes as well.
>> Thank you, sir. >> Okay. Next, we have announcements. Stro, Mr. Click, get my voice in order here. So, we have
a slip and stroll summer, a kickoff to summer. I'm sure we all can't wait for this. Town Norton will be hosting an upcoming sip and stroll kickoff to summer event at the Norton Town Hall front parking lot on Saturday, May 16th, 2026 from 3 to 6 pm. This event, founded
and organized by Lorna Brenell, has been successfully held in several Massachusetts communities. Sip and stroll events have grown into well attended seasonal marketplaces featuring local artisans, small businesses, food trucks, beer and wine vendors. Um, these
events are designed to support small businesses, encourage community engagement, and promote local economic activity in a welcoming, friendly, family-friendly setting. As we prepare to host this event in Norton, Norton staff will be working with the organizer
to coordinate logistics and ensure the event is safe, well managed, and successful. Key coordination areas include public safety, public details, police details, traffic management, and pedestrian safety planning. Now, police presence
will be provided at the organizers's expense as required. Transportation and parking evaluation of parking options and potential transportation coordination where feasible and permitting and administration uh the coordination of required permits,
insurance, documentation and vendor compliance. Miss Brunell has begun promoting the event and is reaching out to local businesses. Vendors interested in participating may call her directly at one word schoolaol.com.
The event represents a positive opportunity to showcase Norton and support our local business community. We look forward to working collaboratively to make sure it's a successful kickoff to the summer season.
Next, we want to remind everyone that the United States of America is celebrating its 250th anniversary, kicking off this year on Memorial Day. Uh there will be uh we're asking people to be uh part of uh Morton's community parade. Uh there BFW is seeking
community groups, local businesses, high school bands, pipe bands, civic groups, anyone who wants to celebrate America. Uh to participate or for more information, contact Gary Cameron, the BFW member, at 508-265442. Join us as we honor the past, celebrate
the present, and march into America's future together. There will be a ninja open house held on Sunday, February 22nd. Registration is now available. Uh it's a new program done in conjunction with the parks and rec sponsors.
The CBR class will be held in March. Uh there's a date to be determined. Um they had to change the original date to a to a space conflict. Spring Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, March 28th at Wheaten College
Chapel Lawn, starting at 2 p.m. with a sensory hunt, a smaller event for for kids who need extra time, space, or help. And the hunt schedule was 2 and three year olds at 2:30, 4 and 5, and 6 year olds at 2:45, and 7 and 8 year olds
at 3 p.m. The over 2530 basketball pickup league spring session. The women's over 25 and men's over 30 games start the week of March 30th. Our registrations will be open to March 2nd. I should note that
all these announcements are coming from the uh park and recreation department. Uh, sports gear swap will be held on Saturday, April 4th from 10:00 a.m. to 3 pm at the crane room of town hall and part of the
part of the be good do good program in March. People can turn in their used sports equipment and then on April 4th, people can come in and get what the new equipment that they need. Uh the town cleanup day, if you want to mark your calendars, will be this this year will be on Saturday,
April 11th from 9 to 2. Um you have to check in here at the town hall for cleanup around town. townwide yard sale will be held on Saturday, May 9th, uh at your location, and the hours
for that will be uh 8 to 3:00 p.m. I believe this is probably the second year we've done that one. Yep. >> There will be golf lessons expanding your offerings for ladies and seniors as well as the junior players. This year, there'll be three sessions available through May, June, July, and August. Uh
registration will be open March 20th for these classes. in the Everwood Lever Park/pool. Park rental applications are being accepted for past from past renters starting February 2nd. New renters applications will begin to be accepted
on March on February 23rd. Our rental rate is the same as last year at $165 per hour with a three-hour minimum rental. And the pool will be open uh to the general public come mid June. I think that's all I have.
That's it. >> That's it. >> Best I could do. >> Um I think I just confirmed with the town manager these are all listed on the uh town website on the park and wreck page and I believe they're scrolling on the message board out front of town hall
as well. So thank you. and on to uh new business FY25 audit. >> Come on down. >> This where I go. >> A little different.
>> Yeah, a lot different. Uh for those who don't know me, I'm Tom Scanland Jr. I'm the managing partner at Scanland Associates. I see a couple new faces up there. Um, so we're talking about the fiscal year 25 audit. Uh, kind of want to go through what we do, what the audit
is. Um, it's a risk based audit. Our objective is to appine on your financial statements. So, we're defining risk in your financial statements and we're designing our procedures from there. It's not a forensic audit. I know it's a popular term um out there right now. Um,
but it's we're our main objective is to appate financial statements. Um, the audit went very well. Um, we gave no adjustments to the general ledger. Uh, we no disagreements with management. Um, there's no areas of concern. Um, which is always good to hear. Um, we gave, um,
a clean opinion on the financial statements, which if you're going to be in the bond world, issuing bonds and the grant world, first thing they're going to look at, and they're going to give you a little pat on the back, uh, as far as that goes. So, I was going to walk through your financial statements with you. kind of a high overview, not
getting into the weeds on the on the items. Um, >> that'd be great. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, if if you turn to page uh 17 and 18, >> I like it already. >> Yeah. Yeah. There you go. Skip all that. >> So, we didn't actually print out all 80 pages. Uh,
>> that's good. >> We We can bring it up on the board if if that's 15. So, that's perfect. >> That's good. Okay, let me >> I I wasn't going to get past all those other pages. Yeah, there you go. >> Let me pull it up just a second.
>> So, Mr. Chairman, the um I've known Tom Scandlin for many, many years, and I think we should recognize the fact that every time Tom came to one of our meetings, it always snowed out >> and always yesterday. >> So, we can thank you for the snow we have out front. I correct. There a couple times I had to cancel. Uh
>> feel free to take it home with you. >> That first time we didn't get We only got like six inches of snow on Monday. You guys got like 30 >> What? Where were you? >> Uh Deerfield, Mass, the western part. Yeah, usually it was actually kind of nice uh shoveling.
>> Thanks. Don't mention it. Um so on page 18 um as we look governments are very unique. They actually have two sets of financial statements um which is when you compare it to like a business into the private world they only have one. Um and you can
see on page 18 this is your statement of net position. Um and what it is it's it's on the full acral basis of accounting. You'll see fixed assets on there which includes depreciation which is not part of your budget. This gives you a more entitywide
look. Very uh your all your liabilities are sitting here. So when you look at the governmental activities, you'll see unrestricted net position. You'll see a negative $85 million. Usually you don't want to see your unrestricted with a negative brackets around it. Um the two big drivers of
that in your liabilities when you look under non-current are your OPED liability and your pension liability. Again, your pension liability, it's worked into your budget. you're on you're paying it as you go and I think it's 2034 I believe that will be uh fully funded.
Um then you're the liability is OPB um which I know we always talked about in the past and that that liability as it sits on your books is at $76 million. Um I don't expect you to fund that overnight. Um but OPED should be in your
um conversations as you set future budgets. Um and what that is is it's you promise to your employees that when they retire you're going to pay X amount of their health insurance. Um and that's being recognized now. You you did adopt an OPE trust
which you have 1.5 million at June 30th. I would encourage to keep funding that but I wouldn't kill budgets in funding it. Um, again, that's just my own personal opinion. Um, I wouldn't and I wouldn't take free cash and throw it in into because you're taking if you free
cash is kind of an unrestricted reserve. Um, when you put it into OPE, it's more restricted. So, you can only use it for retirees health insurance. Um, I think you I think you're contributing like 350 a year. Does that sound correct?
>> 300 330 last year. Yeah. up from a little less. >> Yeah. So again, I think it's a OPE is a longterm uh approach as you look. Um somewhere in there lies the truth. I don't know if your liability is exactly
76 million, but it's not zero either. Um so that's what I would say about these financial statements. Uh when you look at it, um those are the two big drivers why you're in the negative on your entity wide statements. Um, as we look on page 20, these are
your more uh realistic uh financial statements. When you look, it's um it's the current approach. As we look, you can relate to it more. Um, and you see under general fund unassigned, you'll see 10.7 million.
What that is is that those are your reserves. Those are your free cash and stabilization. Um, has it sits on benchmarks. When you look at your budget, your budget's uh approximately $78 million. You're you're running about 12% of your reserves um onto that, which a proper
benchmark is 10 to 15 is good. Um so as we look at as we look at these financial statements, how we design our risk. Um you can see there's various columns. This is the general fund. Um then you got your special revenue and capital projects funds. So as we look at your
two biggest assets are your cash and your receivables. We're spending a lot of time in the collector's office and in the um treasury's office. We're looking at your bank statement level. Um again, being your number one asset, your largest asset, everything kind of flows
through cash. So, we want to make sure there's controls in there and you're reconciling them. That's one of the tests we do really focusing at the bank statement level. Um and then are the revenues going to the right fund? That's the other risk in your financial statements. For instance,
if the state gives you a grant for highways, we don't want to see that grant sitting in the general fund becoming part of your free cash. We want to see it sitting in a special revenue fund and also the expenses go in there too. Um, so again, that's where we're designing our test. What we do is we get
a as we test revenue, we do a lot of analytics. Um, when we look like for instance like school grants, uh, say like title one, if the revenue is coming in, we're tying out the revenue to the state that it came in and went to the proper. So the states tell they gave you 1.1 million for title one and we trace
all the revenue in and the grants clearing out because it's more in a reimburseable basis. That's what we're doing for analytical on that. So we're looking for grants have large surpluses or deficits. Deficits are bad in the um auditing world. That means something's being charged there and the revenue is
not coming in. You don't have a lot of that in the financial statements and you have controls in place where you're constantly monitoring that. Um so you just as a general note your financial reporting is very sound. Um and one aspects that that's kind of stands out is you're getting your free
cash certified in a timely manner you know by September 30th. Um that's how you know your your functioning is working on um accounting wise and you don't have a lot of deficits. You know you're not sitting here where you have like 2.2 million worth of deficits they're reducing your free cash by. Um,
so I I always encourage like uh select board members when they're looking at their free cash is look to see what your reductions are um on there. What what's the state taken away from you because that can be a big driver of something is going on. Um and you don't have that here. Um but I would always encourage
the select board to look at that. Um other things just want to kind of point out on page 24. This is your budget versus actual. I always think it's important um for management to know where where where
the free cash is coming from. As as we look at it um comparing to your budget, you generated within your budget this year about 4.3 million of free cash. Um and of that about 700,000 came from unspent appropriations and 3.6 came from
your revenues. So you're very conservative in your revenue budgeting. um which is good. You know, from my perspective, it's good. Um your your your largest your two largest um what you get free cash is excise taxes, which is again, you're very conservative
because it's based on market value and that's where you want to be. Um so, as you look at your free cash as you're generating 4.3 in the budget, and I tell all my towns this is be very cognizant as how you use free cash going forward.
If you're generating 4 million, you don't want to use above that. So, you know, if you don't want you don't want to use 6 million to set your budgets and do things because eventually if you have that $2 million delta, you know, the course of four years, your free cash is
going to be gone. Um, but I will say I think upcoming I think these next uh couple years are going to be tough budget seasons. Um, so just keep that back of your minds um on use of pre-cache. And then that's kind of all I have. I don't know if any
questions for me like on what we do. Um, do you have any specific questions? Uh, >> so you're saying James does pretty good. >> He does all right. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> No, I don't. Thank you very much for uh your presentation. any anybody on the
board ever. >> Okay. Through your chair, uh the unspent funds that attributed to some of the uh free cash that we have, where did that generate from primarily? >> Um my wife stepped on my glasses this weekend. It's kind of um it it was a
mixture across all all the categories like general government um turned back 200,000. Employee benefits and insurance turned back 184,000. So it's kind of broad across all the categories. >> There was no big pocket. It was >> No.
>> Okay. >> So the the um free cash. Yep. >> Um was it roughly 80% is due to conservative estimates on revenue? Is that what the ratio kind of was? And >> roughly I was just trying to do math in my head. And then the balance was
unspent on the previous year. >> Yeah. cuz your free cash was certified um 4.6 million was it was certified at um and rough 3.6 came off your revenues. >> Okay. So roughly 80%. Yeah. >> Any guess on how are um kind of
lowballing for lack of better term being conservative on the revenues. Is it across the board or is it state aid or local receipts or >> uh excise taxes? Okay. Motor vehicle excise. >> Okay. Very good. Thank you. >> Yep. And that's been is that consistent from what you see year after year? >> That's been consistent the last uh
couple years. Um you usually have larger turnbacks on the appropriation side. That's usually been like 1.4 1.2. Correct. Um so this this has been the lowest it's been in in quite a few years. >> Excise taxes. Interesting. Thank you. >> Yeah, Mr. Chairman.
>> Yes, sir. Tom, we're not getting political. Uh you mentioned that next couple years could be soft. could be could be something we need to keep an eye on. >> Just curious about >> what your thoughts are on that because I we know you're probably more entwined with what's happening in all different
communities around Massachusetts. Y >> I'm just curious about your words of caution why you feel that's that's something we need to keep in mind. >> I think costs are on the rise for one. Um two um I don't think
the revenue um sustainability is going to be there. Um again like always if your revenue is off of market value like motor vehicle excise that's off of purchase of new cars. I don't know if that's necessarily going to be there over the next coming years.
um an state aid um from what I've been hearing. I don't know if it's going to you know be the increases uh kind of expecting um and it's your you know your number one asset is your ability to
tax. I mean that that's what it is for a government. Um and you're taxing up to your levy. Um I just I think with the rising costs and the you know the the revenue seems driving up the drying up I think it's
going to be very tough on budgets and there was coming out of co there was a lot of grant money that was out there um you know that that has to be backfilled somehow >> understatement of the year
>> and you're right about excise taxes I'm sure people are looking at you know the cost of vehicles today. >> Mhm. >> You know, and doesn't it continue to go up, you know, that's something that we it's one of those that's out there, but we never know exactly what the numbers
are going to be until >> until we find out what we have out there for new vehicles. So, it's uh always been a major factor in which way the wind blows as far as the economy is doing well and people are buying new cars, then we're going to do we're going to do better. Yeah. >> And if it goes the other way, then
obviously people going to hang on to what they have. >> Yeah. That's why we say be more be conservative. um on those type of revenues like your hotel motel tax uh those type of things which you are which um I would always encourage. >> Thank you. >> Okay,
>> this this might be a question for James. Is there a way to um more accurately estimate the excise tax revenue? For example, do we have any access to any databases on new uh new car purchases in the town or companies that are buying
new vehicles? And I know from experience that when you have a 10-y old car and you buy a new car, your excess taxes are like 10 times what they were before. So it's the new vehicles that are really driving that incremental revenue. Do do we have any visibility to that?
>> I'm not aware of a software that's out. There may be one but I can tell you that we can use past collections in order to predict you know within a certain percent what the future will generate
but that is the one area we use to generate free cash. So if we increase or budget estimates free cash will go down by that same amount. So say we decide that we want to uh increase our local receipts by a million and a half next
year. Free cash is going to be a million and a half less at the end of the year. The problem is that we use free cash not the problem but we use free cash to fund our reserves op or capital program and
also to supplement the budgets and if free cash is not there then we're going to have to make cuts. So, we are generating the free cash, but we are using it up, too. It's not like we're generating free cash and it's sitting there. Otherwise, we would have like a hundred million dollars over the
last 20 years, you know. >> Yes, I understood. I I understand that. That makes sense. Um, >> but I but I can try to find out an answer on whether or not we can get a a hold of information on um new vehicle purchases and to see if there is >> that would be helpful. I know a couple
years back we I think we ended the year with like 6 million in um free cash and we had an override that year. is kind of a contentious discussion item and I was just curious to prevent that from happening again. Like new home sales is public information, right? You can you
can open up paper every week and see how many homes were sold, what the prices like new car sales, I don't know if there was a public database that would provide that to you that where you could utilize it and estimate the excise tax for that year based on just that data, you Yeah, the the the $6 million free
cash uh was higher than usual, but that was the one year that we had the u the auction for the um tax title properties for closures and uh there was litigation going on whether or not those funds could be considered free cash or if they
had to be set aside. Uh so that was about a million dollars of that. Otherwise, free cash would have been closer to 5 million, which is within the range we've been getting the last four or five years. >> Thank you, James.
>> Mr. Chairman, one thing we found out a few years ago and when you're talking about excise taxes is the fact that >> um lease lease property, lease vehicles. When you see the Amazon truck and the FedEx and all
these trucks driving around town and they've got New Jersey plates on them and, you know, New York plates or whatever plates, um I think people have to understand we're not getting anything from those. So, that was something I brought up to our state reps a few years ago, like if lease vehicles are being
housed in a community or city, town, whatever. That host community should be trying to get something from that. Well, we're not. >> Yeah. >> So, these major corporations are going out and they're renting all these brand new vehicles, tying up our streets, and we're not getting anything for it. So,
it's probably something I'll bring up again when I state reps, but I think it's uh should be recognized that even though there's a lot of new cars in town, it doesn't necessarily mean we're getting the excise taxes for those for those vehicles. >> Correct. >> Okay.
Well, Tom, any any other questions from anybody? No. Okay, Tom. >> Yeah. And if you have any other questions throughout the year, don't hesitate to reach out. Um, yeah. And then >> wonderful. >> Hopefully the sip and stroll will be here soon because what's that? May. >> Yeah.
>> You're going to come from Deerfield. >> No, not that though. I might. >> Well, it Well, I hope so. Otherwise, you got to take fill your pockets with some snow on the way out. >> Take it back out there. >> Have a good one. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you much. >> All right. Uh, new business. Uh, next
item. resend local state of emergency declared on February 22nd, 2026 due to winter storm conditions. Mr. Town Manager, it's my understanding that uh we're going to hold off on that. >> Uh yes, Mr. Chair, the DPW director has
advised us that cleanup operations are ongoing, so that'd be wise. >> Okay, noted. Thank you, sir. We will hold off till whenever Justin, the DPW director, deems appropriate. Thank you, sir.
>> And yes, sir. >> It should be noted that the select board did uh on Sunday evening uh we did declare a state of emergency for the town. That provides us with the opportunity to maybe get some additional funding from federal law or state
agencies to help with the cleanup. So, it's very important that we did that. But at the same time, we need to make sure that we uh we hold off as long as we have to in order to get the a total dollar reimbursement as much as we possibly can get. I can't imagine what our snow
account is right now. Um it's got to be in the around uh $300,000 or more. Um but I do have a question and just just a thought and something I saw today, Mr. Town Manager. um all the equipment we have in towns is
being utilized during these snow events based on the manpower we have available. It doesn't mean every piece of equipment is being used because we don't have you know last year I believe we cut out two positions in the DPW as an example. So
you know we don't have as many we may have more equipment than we do manpower. One question I had and I just thought of it on the way over tonight. Thinking back to some of the people that I've worked with over the years here in Norton, is there a way that we can hire
people to come in and run this equipment? Find out from the insurance company if there's a way we can do that legally because I can think of a whole bunch of retired guys like myself that have all the certifications and all the experience handling all this machinery.
I can't, but they can. And I'm wondering if we could as a ace up our sleeve if we could check with our insurance company and find out if there's a way we could bring these guys back as temps, these people back as temporary employees to
help in an emergency like this. You know, maybe they're doing nothing more than plowing the sidewalks. I don't know. But I just thought of that on the way over tonight is something we probably should look into. If I had to guess, the unions might have something to say about that.
>> They very well might. Um, they might make an exception for a particular select board member, though. If >> Yeah. Come on. >> I'm not volunteering. What I'm thinking of is the guys that I've worked with over the years that including some people that ran the DPW, you know, that
have the experience and whether or not we could tap into that resource only in the case of an emergency where we could utilize them and use every piece of equipment we have that's able to be utilized. That's all. >> We can definitely check with them. I'm fairly certain we're using pretty much
every piece. There might be a couple um really old pieces that we're not using, but sure, all hands on deck in emergencies. >> Well, and that's I mean I think it's a great idea. Um I think my previous statement I think that might um you know
would need to be figured out. The insurance think would be the least >> I think >> the least of it. >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes, sir. Uh maybe during a declared state of emergency might be something that uh could be looked into.
>> It's worth an ask. >> I mean, we there were commercial companies that offered um to help out, but we we were doing the best we could and the the guys stayed guys and girls stayed over 24 hours until they hit the point
of exhaustion. Took a little break and kept going again. And I can't say enough good things about the the people that we have. Um so we didn't complicate it by bringing in um more people to manage and more trucks to
I mean all the the plow trucks were getting stuck. So even having more plow trucks on the road wouldn't have necessarily helped in that moment. But the direction was great, the crews were great. Um they're still working on the cleanup, but all good things.
>> Yes, sir. And don't get me wrong, I'm not challenging what the condition of the roads are or what happened out there. I think under an emergency, decoration emergency, >> um, we should utilize everything. Now, one example of that would be the
sidewalks. That's probably what concerned me most today because I I was over at the historical society cleaning that up and the Wheaten College kids walking down Main Street in the street because we just didn't have
our guys were straight out doing everything they could. If we could have got someone in there just to run the the snow plow the plows for the sidewalks, it would put less people in danger. That's all. So, I think during an an extreme emergency like we're having, it
would be nice if we utilized everything at once. >> Understood. Those those sidewalk machines take a lot of training to do it right. >> If I can think of a couple retired guys, >> the priority was were the streets in the heat of it.
>> Yeah. I I think if I may, the appropriate workaround with the how Massachusetts operates is um how a neighboring community to us uh handles these types of events. They have an
emergency contract, standing contract with a larger contractor to be able to pull that lever when that instance happens because they just don't have the the horsepower, the equipment, or the
manpower. And uh having that emergency contract with that large contractor um definitely handles those situations like that. Um and it's all pre-arranged, pre-negotiated per piece of equipment,
manpower, uh you know, manh hours. >> And it's not cheap. It's not cheap, but in a state of emergency where we're able to apply for federal funds for reimbursement, um I think that neighboring community
does that if and I know you're familiar with it. So, um that might be something worthwhile to have a discussion with a new DPW director about that as well. Um, if you guys deem that necessary, I think
that would be uh the best workaround with the laws and unions and everything else how the state is now. Just a recommendation, >> right? Because there might be more of that white stuff on the horizon.
>> Yeah, that's not a matter of if, it's it's when the next one is. That's that's it. So, um, thank you, Mr. Town Manager. Uh, old business. Oh boy, another fun town meeting warrant articles.
So, thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, currently working with the department heads to refine these. There's 27 currently, and once we whittle it down, there might be a few that are removed before town meeting or withdrawn. Um, there's the
standard articles. I mean, I can go one by one or answer any special questions you have. Um, essentially it's the budget articles. Um, the main event is the school roof that's teed up for number one and that's contingent on it
passing the April 11th ballot. Um, then you have the chapter 90 um bylaw amendments. There's a bunch of uh public works uh projects that we're looking to refine
and potentially put on there. The West Main Street sewer expansion, a big priority of ours if we can get sewer um ran down that stretch. That'll be a huge benefit to the community. Um, we're
looking at strengthening the Mansfield interconnection so we can uh potentially trade water during emergencies. We can access Mansfield's water more cleanly. Um, there's the veterans abatement. We
already voted that one to town meeting. Um, there's an abatement for continued environmental cleanup. That's number 20. that would allow us to negotiate with owners of Brownfield's properties, polluted properties, um for
past due taxes. I know there is a big polluted property and we're hopeful that the owner can clean up the pollution and put it to good use, put it back on the tax rolls. Uh there's uh the removal I'm excited about this
one, too. Number 23, the removal of the mandatory sewer tie-in. So, there's a bylaw that says if we put a sewer line in front of your house, um, you have to tie in within a specified number of years. And I've I've heard nothing but good feedback on that one that that we
could encourage more growth and de development if we're not requiring people to do that. Um, there's the the center of town, the reconstruction of intersection 140 and 123. I understand we'll be asking the select board shortly
to schedule a public hearing on that to sort of test the people think about that and potentially put one of those forward for consideration at town meeting. Uh is there anything specific? Any other
ones you don't know what it means yet? >> I mean none of these are ready to be voted on tonight it sounds like. Correct. >> Right. Okay. >> So, when's the uh do we ever drop that deadline date that these need to be voted on before you know FinCom want us
to vote on these before they take them up? >> It's it's really your preference. Um I'd say >> I'd like to as many as possible. I I mean if you wanted we can tee up say
number 20 straightforward. Uh the rest of them well we need to refine these and give you more language. I think >> that's fine. I mean, if there's anything you're interested in hearing about, if you want
to bring to next meeting, >> we can. >> No, that's I know you're waiting on information. >> I mean, like, for example, the the last one, number 27, our DPW director suggested a bylaw for sidewalk maintenance. So, he's going to get a
draft bylaw, and if that's something we're interested in, we could put that forward to town meeting. So maybe if we can uh have that on the agenda for next meeting, he can present it. All of his. >> He's got a lot of them. So as long as
the he can >> ballpark it, but sure. >> Um because he's got the 16, 17, 18, 27, 25, 24. Yes. So I guess you know any
information even if it's not a full packet you know any information that uh can come to the board to digest you know on our own and then uh the subsequent presentation by the DPW director you know as needed through the process over
the next near term and anybody else that's putting these forth um the the more information the sooner the better. Uh, I'd like to see it if I mean I think the board would be amendable to that. >> Yeah, I was going to say through you through your chair. I mean the financial
ones obviously I think it makes sense to wait till Fincom um reviews them first, but there's several of them in here that maybe are are less financially tied. Then maybe those could come to us sooner rather than later to review. >> We can I mean we can take take them up
as needed. >> Whatever ones are ready. Whatever ones are ready with information ones are ready at that time. Sure. Yeah, I'd say within the next two meetings. I understand we have a meeting scheduled in two weeks from today and then after that in three weeks. So,
and then then we're in April. So, >> yeah, it it's going to come fast. That's why I' I'd like to, you know, as quickly as you can. We're right at the starting date. So, >> Vinecom meetings are starting Monday. >> Good. Okay.
>> Yeah, Mr. Chair along those lines if there were a couple articles maybe one of them was the zoning bylaw changes where we decided to just meet with the fincom in the it might have also been the planning board we had a joint meeting if you remember I don't know if it was the October or maybe I watched
from the audience of the mcom meeting but the the fin it was kind of like chicken of the egg the fincom wanted to know what our p our position was on a couple yeah >> and they and they wanted to wait and see how we voted and and we also them So, you know, maybe a practice in the future
would be >> like like Denise said, have them go through the simple ones, the finance ones as standard typical articles like the enterprise budgets and the transfers and that kind of thing and then have them identify any articles where they would rather hear our position and our
feedback and maybe have a joint meeting on just those articles. So, out of 27, you know, maybe 20 of them they are easy, right? They standard, they're normal. that's just a matter of transferring funds and but maybe the other ones would like to hear what our position is and have a joint meeting
around just them. I don't want to have hours and hours of joint meetings with us and the financ. That's why I'm saying have them go through the simple ones first and then maybe have a a joint meeting on the ones that are more complex and they that they really want to hear our viewpoint before they vote.
>> That's actually a great suggestion. some of the conversations that I've heard in prior fin meetings I think would would lend helpful for us to be part of and hear. >> I think some of them would be applicable that we could have a maybe a joint meeting. >> Yeah. >> Um you know the ones that we're
confident in that are you know black and white. Um I just don't see you know you know in in a few years past we we get to the 11th hour and where you know we have to make a decision with a gun to our head and I don't want to get to that point. I like making decisions a lot, you know, being ahead of the game
instead of behind the eightball. I am not a big fan of waiting for anybody for anything. Um, I'd rather take action on the stuff that we know uh as much information that we can be briefed. Even if it's a little bit at a time, it's much easier to stay on top of it than
all at once in the 11th hour or 10th hour. That that's all I'm saying. you know, asking the town manager if we get get as much information to us as possible. Even if it trickles in >> uh as you get it, um stay on the people that put these forward so we have the
information um as quickly as possible to be able to um make our own decision as as our board. So, yes, sir. >> Mr. Chairman, I I agree and I think you know people look to us sometimes for leadership too and they want to know where where we stand on certain issues
and I think the more we can discuss the better. It's my understanding we're going to have a joint meeting with the planning board in a couple weeks and some of these may even involve conversation with them. So it might be a good time to have a conversation just a general conversation about some of these
the impact of some of these um uh articles that will have an impact on what they do too. So, it might be a good time to hash it out between the two boards, even if it gets there before the finance committee sees it. >> I actually think that's a great idea. If
we could on that joint meeting add, you know, the the the verbiage for warrant articles, >> right, I see number 21. Um, are there any other ones that jump out as would be beneficial before planning board also? >> Well, I'm looking at it. I'm I'm pretty
much everything after 15. I mean 16 everything that we're looking at as far as expansion uh not not anything to do with cleanup top of house sewer ties in the malt license no uh reconstruction 140 123 I mean DPW directors sidewalk
maintenance I think all that kind of falls into their category too just out of just as just to kick things around and talk about it I think it's probably more than appropriate >> we could at least bring it up to them and if anybody has any questions or comments while while we're in uh a joint
meeting with them. >> Sure. >> Right. We could put the whole scorecard on the on the agenda and you can take up whichever ones you like. >> And Mr. Chair, where I'm coming from is the you know, we typically only meet once every two weeks, right? And during
budget season planning for the town meeting, the fin can meet two times two times a week um at times. So out of consideration for the town manager as well and uh preparing these articles with with dollar amounts for many of these. I'm just trying to be
considerate of him. He may not have the the information for us on our by monthly calls, but he'll have it all ready when the fin sets up their meetings twice a week for three weeks. I'm just thinking scheduling really is real where I'm
coming from with that. I preferably I would prefer to have all of them voted on by us like as soon as possible. I'm with you on that. I'm just thinking practically is that something that the town manager can support right? >> I mean I can I can I won't have firm
numbers in two weeks but I can have the best numbers that I can. >> Yeah, Mr. Mr. Chairman, I I don't think we're looking for firm numbers because in my past experience with town meetings is a lot of times a week or two before the town meeting was still talking about
dollar amounts. So, I don't think that's going to be part of the factor. I think it's just looking at the general idea of what it's going to cost, knowing fair fairly well that it could go up or down. most of the time up. Uh but uh you know just to kind of give some direction on
what how we think about it because when you start looking at things like capital improvements, you know, maybe we we have a different opinion than what the capital improvement committee has, the finance committee has, maybe we may be more conservative or we may want to add
something to it. So it's just just general conversation. We're not going to make the final decision. Whatever the planning, what the past is, whatever the finding finance committee brings to town meeting is pretty much where we're going to go for the most part. It's where it has been in the past. We're just giving
general thoughts and overview maybe even before the finance committee addresses the issue. That's all. >> Yeah, I I definitely agree. anything that we can take a take a uh you know get a recommendation um that's you know
that we don't need more backup or it's not necessarily more in Fincom's um you know purview um you know I just rather do it sooner than later uh we've had to have we've had to call meetings you know
last minute to vote on some of these in the past years because we've you know waited and waited and waited and I just don't want I don't want to do that. >> Yeah. I mean, some of these I'd want to see firm numbers on before I voted on them, right? Because they could impact >> Oh, there'll be some >> significantly, right? Yeah.
>> No, I don't disagree. Yeah. >> And and by the way, in addition to that, we are this is our town meeting. >> You know, we may look at one of these and say, "No, I don't want to put that on on the warrant." You know, we can do that ahead of time. So, this isn't
etched in stone either. Yeah, like the town manager said, >> maybe some things will will pull or whatever, you know. >> Okay, >> one last question. Do do we need a a budget article? I read that the school
committee and school unions are hopefully going to settle on their contract which expired in July. Is there an article required to to budget the past um difference between the new contract and to date and through this
fiscal year? There's got to be some money transferred to >> if that's confirmed by both the union and the school committee. Then that would that retro would be paid out of this year's budget. school is significantly under budget for this year
due to >> contract >> and you don't need an article to do that. It just comes right out of the budget. >> Uh no, it's already budgeted for this fiscal year. >> Gotcha. >> And then next year's it would be part of the budget. That'd be number eight, the operating budget. >> Sure. Great.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Oh, beautiful. Thank you. Okay, we will we'll get to it and come back with more information. >> Perfect. Thank you, sir.
Um, okay, you're up again. Town manager report, appointment of Christy Energran as select board leazison, licensing coordinator, and executive assistant. >> Uh, thank you. So, I'm very pleased to uh announce Christy Anigrin as the new
executive assistant, select board liaison, licensing coordinator, and um fill in the blank and everything else. Christy has been quite an asset to the the town manager's office in her short um temporary time here and has proved
her worth in spades and and we're happy to um continue doing great things. She's already revamped the the process, the procedure for the the permitting and keeping meticulous records and we
couldn't be more pleased. >> Terrific. Welcome, Christie. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. I'm really happy to be here. You've >> been doing a great job so far. >> Perfect. >> Um, I'm moving on to
an update on Neilia Morrison. So, we looked into this the requirements and there's actually u one of the codes our bylaw 66-4 requires two nominees from the AIA
and we've reached out to chair Peg Douly and we're coordinating uh two nominees and then we'll be able to move forward with a recommendation for the select board on that. >> Great. Okay. Uh, moving on. Can I just ask a
question on that? I I hope we can figure out a way to get Nelia confirmed. Um, but I'm just reading her email here and she belongs to the Rhode Island local AIA chapter. Hopefully, that's not a
problem. I hope really hope it's not. Um, but it if it doesn't matter, then we probably want to have two nominations from the Rhode Island AIA chapter so we're not crossing over between states just to be >> it it does have to be the local AIA
chapter covering Norton, >> which is which is Rhode Island according to her letter. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So So you know what I'm saying, Mark? Is does that mean we should have two nominees from the Rhode Island chapter to make sure that we can she can be one that we pick? You know what I'm saying? As long as that's the chapter
that covers us. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. >> Yeah. I think I think we get two nominations and we pick one out of the two. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. >> That's right. >> Yeah. >> Uh Peg Douly um historic district commission and Nancy is my co-chair. We're co-chairs. Um
we made it a point of printing out an email that Neilia had sent us in the past couple of days as well as an article that was I think in a >> um an industry booklet indicating her qualifications
etc. She uh in fact does belong to AIA in Massachusetts and she belongs to what is it a social group um um whatever off of it in Rhode Island because she switched jobs and is not
working in Rhode Island. But the fact is she does belong to a Massachusetts AIA. um you know what we want to do and we're hoping we'll be successful. Nelia has worked with us as a consultant since sometime in the fall regarding in particular the bank property 10 West
Main Street that's being um developed. Nancy made it a point of going to the uh architectural firm that designed this building as well as the um senior center to see if there would be someone who's
one of their architects obviously who would deal with us proono so to speak because we certainly have no money and consult with us having to do with the particular the bank as well as a few other things. She spent a considerable amount of time with us in
person as well as on the phone and she was at our meetings and Bob and you were there too as well, Kevin. >> Yeah. >> Um and she gave us a great deal of pointers and forward in interest. Um
we would like to ask for an exception for two people. It's personally I personally find that it's very embarrassing to have been working with Nelia for so long. Um and by the way we thought she was appointed last fall and apparently that
didn't happen. It fell through the fell through the um holes. Um, we have always operated very informally as you may know and we have not gotten involved with submitting two persons names for the prior preservationist and restorationist
that we worked with. But that being said, it's very strange and very awkward to have two people's names be submitted and only one of them being chosen by your board. I mean, where are we going to get that second person from? some a
stranger who might live in Norton or a stranger from I mean it's a game we would be playing if we asked Nelia to submit a name of somebody and have you people entertain it but that second person makes no has no influence has no
knowledge of what's going on here and that's why we'd like an exception to be made because it's kind of strange to have that second person come in here and the same actually would be the case with a realtor Yeah, Mr. Chair, if I can um >> slapping somebody in the face to not
have that second person be accommodated, >> Mr. Chair, through you. >> I I agree um Peg completely and >> Kevin, I can't hear you. >> Yeah, I I I agree completely. We don't want to lose her. She's established a good working relationship and she's knowledgeable. I just want to make sure
that we abide by the code and I don't know if we can deviate from the way it's written. I don't even know where this code came from. I don't know if >> would it be necessary for us to to um reach out to town council because two people at the town council were dealing with us also having to do with 10 West
Main Street in person and on phone and on Zoom meetings >> through you chair. >> Yep. >> I mean since this is a a bylaw requirement I don't see why we can't comply with it. I mean you can bring two candidates forward. can still suggest
Melia as your preferred candidate, but I'm not sure why there's so much hesitation to just bring two candidates forward. I'd pref prefer to have choices to make rather than just be fed one and said this is what we want. Right. My preference is always to have a choice to choose from.
>> But what are your measurements for that choice? >> Qualifications. >> Know the other person. I should definitely that person would have qualifications, >> right? I think it's kind of ignorant on my part to do that and I think that's what's
wrong with this >> black and white. >> Mr. Chairman. >> Yes, sir. >> Yeah. I' I've been exposing Terry and as far as her expertise and her her cooperation, unpaid cooperation she's given so far has been tremendous to your your board
and committee. My problem with having to wait for a second appointment on this is the fact that we don't get anybody else to step up. We've got so many vacancies in town. People who who can serve that don't
serve. If someone does come forward, we don't normally have two candidates. We usually have one person that steps forward and says, "Hey, I want to serve on whatever." And we gladly, you know, appoint that person. uh because they've
we just don't have all the people we need to to run all these committees and boards we have. So this one here is unique and I've never I can't say I've ever dealt with this. I believe your last appointee was there for quite a few
years and I don't know that you know how this how this process works but we have a valid candidate that wants to do the job for us for nothing that has a lot of experience. She's a graduate of Yale University. You know, she's got a lot of
background that seems very appropriate to me and the last thing I want to do is turn her off and that's what I'm worried about because if you were doing this to me and say, "Well, I we need a second candidate." I say, "Well, tell you what, I'm not interested
anymore." I think we're making it way too difficult to make an appointment here. And I don't understand why. I understand there's a bylaw and first time I've ever seen it, but I I don't know that I agree with it in this case.
>> Through your chair, >> I think we're making a lot of assumptions that she's so hot to be a volunteer on this committee that she'd be turned off if we entertained a second candidate. And we haven't even tried to look for another candidate. So before we start thinking like it's impossible to
get another candidate, we should at least attempt and make it to try to try to get another candidate. I'm sure there's a listing an A1A that we could find other people that we could we could select from. >> How would you approach that person? >> We need we need someone to be a
historical district commission volunteer for the town of Norton. Would you be interested in participating in our meetings? It's not that difficult. I'm happy to do that if you'd like. and that person would give some thought to
this and then be turned down. Okay, that happens. >> It's a waste of time and energy and emotion. >> That could happen with any position that gets appointed. >> I don't follow you. If you have more than one candidate for
any position that is appointed, that could happen to any at any time. You're choosing the best candidate out of the options. And our bylaw seems pretty clear to me that we should be choosing from two appointee, two two potential appointees. So, I'm not sure why we're so resistant to this. It shouldn't be
that difficult of a lift. >> Do you think um that second candidate >> it doesn't mean that Neilie won't be the one that's selected? She very well may be, but why not entertain a second appoint possible appointee? But in fact, do you think that second candidate, if
we came up with somebody, which I'm sure we could, which I think is absurd, that person wouldn't get the appointment. >> Okay. It's >> why bother? >> It's a volunteer gig. I don't think anyone is sitting on the edge of their seat upset about not getting appointed
to a free volunteer gig. It's just approaching two different possible people that might want to volunteer for this appointment to see if they're interested. Mr. Chair, if I may, the big question is this is in our bylaws. It's a code we
have to comply with, right? So, can we even grant an exception? Is it is that in our power? And if it isn't, then then we just need to go down the path that we need to have we need to follow it basically, right? So, when when we looked at this, we were looking for
documentation. We we couldn't find anything. I I I believe when you when you say you submitted something, >> I I don't have any record of what was submitted in the fall. >> So, I did look into this and I I can't speak to what laws were followed before
I came here, but we're revamping boards and committees. There's minutes, years of minutes. There's 20 something, 30 some 40ome minutes, uh meetings where minutes were never taken, recorded. We're professionalizing, modernizing.
We're bringing the committees and boards into um the way that the laws written. And and there's not wiggle room. It says one member from two nominees submitted by the chapter of the AIA
covering Norton shall be appointed by the board of selectmen. It's I don't believe there's wiggle room. >> If I may just add on to that. So Peg, I just wanted to clarify her Neilia's letter pointed out that she's registered in Massachusetts, but the chapter that
she belongs to is Rhode Island chapter because it's Rhode Island chapter that covers uh Norton. So let's just jump ahead and assume that we legally have to abide by our bylaw. We have to follow this code. Then my point that I was trying to make earlier is we need to
make sure we have two nominees from the Rhode Island chapter. You follow me? because we we can't have two from Massachusetts because we're going to exclude Neilia right off the bat. If we have two if we have one from Rhode Island, one from Massachusetts,
that doesn't comply with the the bylaw. So, that's why I wanted to point out that we need to have two from the Rhode Island chapter. Hopefully, Neil will be one. We'll go through it and, you know, go from there. But I don't think we can grant an
exception, Peg. Even though, you know, might be desirable. I I don't We're not lawyers. It's our bylaws. So, I don't think we can. >> But Kevin, the first she is registered in Ma Massachusetts, not Rhode Island. >> Correct.
>> It's a it's a social networking that she's involved with a a Rhode Island chapter. She would also be probably in a main chapter as a social networking and belonging in Massachusetts to AIA. Well,
you can only usually how it works with professional organizations. You belong you're a member with the chapter that covers your geography. So, you can't belong to multiple. She can be registered in multiple states. That's a different thing. But as far as belonging
to the AIA, you have to belong to one chapter from what I understand like any other organization. Um, >> and she clearly says that in her her email that she belongs to the Rhode Island chapter of uh AIA. >> I I still think we need a letter from
>> P. Can I ask you a question? When was the last time you had a representative serving in this capacity as a member of the AIA? up until um >> Peter Parabolis up until perhaps three years ago. >> Three years ago. Okay. >> And he
chose not to continue when he submitted a resignation. >> Peter had moved from town, right? He he was serving >> it was way back when. >> Yeah. >> And then was in Canada and in Europe, etc. >> Okay. And there might be a reason that we
don't none of us know about on why the American Institute of Architects wants to submit the nominees. We we don't know why that's in the bylaw. I'm sure we didn't just make it up in the town of Norton. It's probably they want to keep track of their members and know what
they're doing and >> want to vote for it. >> The volunteer hours may be, you know, accredited. Who who knows? There's got to be a reason behind why that's in our bylaws. And it's probably the same for every city and town in Massachusetts. >> Maybe the fact that the person is
reputable and they have >> right. That's right. >> Some of the historic district requirements come up are born out of like state and federal holdings as well. So it could be something that's >> sure >> you know >> that they want to oversee, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Nancy legal. >> It's unfortunate we're in this position
because I I I've listened to her in your meetings. I've been to them with Bob. She's a very good asset to your to your board. >> Certainly is. And you're right, she probably has um enough um integrity to certainly not be turned off by
indicating what it suggested that we do. Is it I already mentioned is it possible that town council could help us and be more in our favor in terms of not going over well not going over your heads but you would like to go by the letter of
the law which I don't blame you because you're revamping etc but life is so short. With that being said, I think in in just talking with the town manager on the side, I think uh there's a solution to meet those legal requirements just in
case there is no um uh you know uh uh recourse from an applicant that may may be denied if this person doesn't uh meet those AIA requirements as I guess Mr. town manager says that they need to meet
to be able to be on a board um and an a development is turned down then the town could be potentially liable uh to come after is that you can elaborate more >> right um so there's there's a way to
make this work and that's to get the letter from the AIA recommending the candidates and I mean in the absence of that if there's extenduating circumstances we've done all we can then then there might be ancept ception, but we can't just vote contrary to the town
meeting that made this law. And someone might bring suit against the historic de district commission saying, "We don't agree with your decision because one of your members wasn't lawfully appointed. I know you say you do things on informal, but there's a lot of people
that like to litigate things in 2026." So they might use this as a reason to go against your decision and the judge might unfortunately come down against the town. >> I so it just protects us. I I think an
amendable solution may be if uh two two things if we do advertise it get it out there advertise that we're looking for another member dur in in uh take applications in 30 you know 30-day time period or you know I'm just throwing
that number out there get 30 days in in the meantime request the information from a AIA uh whether they can serve or not uh this applicant in here. Um, and get that in the meantime. If they say
yes, she can, then perfect. 30 days from now, no one else puts in a request for appointment, then we will consider it at the next selectment meeting. And then the town's covered legally from that standpoint.
And uh it also checks the box of somebody, you know, having it out there advertised in case there's someone else that does have interest that wants to uh be on that seat. If no one comes to the table, then they had their 30 days to
ask, you know, to be appointed and in the meantime get the letter from a A1A the AIA. >> Nancy Federici from 42 Mansfield. staff. I read the bylaw a little differently and it was my understanding that the AIA
would would send in based on what our requirements would be some can viable candidates because this is such a specific uh position if you will because we need a historic New England restoration person, you know, someone that can not
only help with buildings and make make them more for reuse but also someone that understands the old old old buildings and and what we need to do in order to salvage them, if you will. Or if we're building new buildings like
we've have with 10 West Maine, how can that person help to develop the building with the the uh the aspect of what the historic district commission is or historic district is all about. So I was
reading it differently is that if say we contacted AIA and said this is the situation we would like uh recommendations uh of two of your members and we're in Norton and I read it as I didn't really
know if the architect had to work in Norton cuz they don't they haven't before Peter Paravalis was in Tor Toronto um and he was approved to be um you know
uh working not locally and we were able to make Zooms uh Zooms work um conference calls things like that but he also had been a res a resident here so he he really knew what was what was going on with everything so I guess I'm
curious about what the real um process is uh with getting something from AIA and maybe that's maybe we could inquire and get those uh questions answered. If they looked at our bylaw and they said, "Well, no, this is what you need to do
and this is what we do in every every town or oh, we've never seen this before." I mean, I don't know. >> It's just that she's like the best of the best that we could have ever imagined for her. And >> Mr. Chair, I I tend to agree with with
Nancy because I we can't just go out and post it and that that's kind of circumventing the um the bylaw. we have to follow the process >> and I want to back up a minute because we're not sure that
so she belongs to the Rhode Island chapter of AIA because she used to work in Rhode Island for DBVW and she just kept her membership there even though she lives in Norwood, Massachusetts. Now, we're not I'm we're not certain. We're making the assumption, and it probably
isn't true, that Norton belongs to the Rhode Island chapter. I said that, but I don't think that's right. First of all, we need to find out what chapter Norton belongs to. And then we need to reach out to that chapter and then, you know, as Nancy mentioned, tell them what we're
trying to do, fill a position on our um historic district commission, and we need an America, we need an architect who's got skills in historic uh preservation, and for them to provide two nominees. We just need to follow the bylaw. Yeah, >> if I may, I think with picking a dead
horse, the suggestion is that we submit the names, the historic district commission submit the names of two people. It doesn't indicate at all to go to AIA. In fact, I did call AIA and I talked to the executive director of Massachusetts.
He didn't know what I was talking about. Um, and it's us that's supposed to it's simple. We are supposed to submit two names. Well, the law says nominees submitted by the chapter of the AIA. That That's That's what it says.
>> I'm sorry. Would you say that again? >> It says two nominees submitted by the chapter of the American Institute of Architects covering Norton. So, it doesn't say the person has to live in Norton, be from Norton. It just says the AIA has to be over Norton, which I
believe is AIA Massachusetts. >> It has to. And then we can call them. We could advertise. We can say if anyone's interested, contact AIA for a recommendation. They give us two names. And if for some reason they don't, we've done the best we could to comply with it.
>> Can't we just go Well, I wasn't aware of that. That wasn't what I had read, but you had just read. >> That's That's what it says. >> Oh, I I believe you. Um I don't think we have to go through this 30-day business. I apparently simply we have to apparently simply get two names
from AIA who cover Massachusetts. Correct. Norton. >> Norton. Mhm. >> Period. >> The the AIA covering. >> I just threw the days out for a >> That was a terrible thing to do. >> We're just trying to help. >> I'm trying to facilitate this.
>> Thanks. >> Well, we'll do I'll do the best we can and and I'll I'll call them tomorrow as well. >> I'm sorry. I I'll I'll reach out to the AIA tomorrow as well if that's helpful. I don't want to step on your toes if if you'd like to reach out. That's that's completely your jurisdiction.
>> And again, he was going he he's new on the job, this particular fellow, the executive director. And that's why in particular, he didn't know what he was what I was talking about. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Mr. Chairman. We went over whatever time is ever allocated. It >> well. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. just uh if if anyone wants to volunteer in this town, I get the impression that we've got a whole new established a whole whole new set of guidelines. If that's going to be the case, then we need to be consistent. Now, I can tell you that I serve on one committee in this town as a
volunteer, that I'm probably not qualified for based on our bylaws. So, if we're going to do start nitpicking like this, then we need to go back and look at our other other committees and boards and make sure we have the proper representation on those boards because I
believe I was appointed to a position that I am not qualified to do. Even though I participate in every meeting, I'm not qualified. >> So, we need to go back and take another look at it because if we're going to start splitting hairs like this, then let's be consistent.
>> You're right. You're right. We should take another look at them. >> I I will say as far as the permanent building committee though it does our bylaw does end whenever possible. One architect, one engineer whenever possible. If you don't have the volunteers step forward that live in the town of Norton, it's not possible.
Right? That's why I mentioned a few years a few meetings back that if anybody step forward who is an attorney who wanted to be on the permanent building committee, I would step away and let them do it because they're better qualified than I and they fill a slot. Right? So, this is a little different though and unique cuz you're
going to this involves an outside agency outside the town of Norton. It's clear on the bylaw. It doesn't say whenever possible. So, okay. >> There you go. If it is if, as Kevin suggests, she actually is in Rhode
Island and Rhode Island office doesn't cover Norton, does that mean >> that means she >> she would be refused? >> It it says must be submitted by the chapter of the AIA covering Norton. So
that chapter could recommend someone that doesn't live in Norton. They they could they >> work in in an AIA office that covers Norton. >> The way I read this, she could be covered as long as she's recommended >> by AIA.
>> AIA. >> She could be >> Massachusetts or Rhode Island. It >> It doesn't say where the person lives or works. It doesn't matter. it as long as they're recommended by the AIA covering Norton, >> which would be we assume >> which is >> Massachusetts.
>> I'm pretty sure it's AIA Massachusetts, >> right? >> Thank you. >> Again, >> um next update. >> Uh yes, Gatra Blue Bus. I spoke directly with uh director of um Gatra and
expressed concerns about blue bus and was informed that the blue bus is operating has been continued to be operating. There was a little question about funding. She told me that she receives this question very often that there's a cash flow timing issue with a
federal grant and that the money is on the way. I understand not everybody uh has all the information and there are some rumors out there and that's the information I received directly from Gatra. Um due to continuing concern,
I'll continue to reach out to our rep our elected uh state representatives and make sure that this blue bus will continue to be operating. >> Okay. Thank you, sir. And yeah, still your report.
>> And and last but not least, uh the the budget. We're still in preliminary review. Um frankly, it doesn't look good. There's we're not the only town in this condition. The swirling winds of health insurance, which we're looking at very closely, are coming close to home.
Uh there's budget drivers, fixed cost, uh recent collective bargaining negotiations. Uh there's just a lot of budget pressure um including some
reliance on one-time funds for recurring expenses which is it's not sustainable. Um, so we need to to buckle down and make sure our expenses are matching revenues that we have a sustainable budget for the future. And that's what
I'm spending a lot of my time to these days. happy to answer any questions or I plan on presenting a a formal report to the finance committee on Monday and
the charter says the budget needs to come out by April 6th and so it has to be balanced by then. Um we're a million or two off but we have a month or two. >> Well, you haven't pulled your hair out yet so that's a good sign.
All right, Mr. Town Manager. Well, thank you very much for that. >> Um, just Mr. Town Manager, I noticed you skipped over number one here about the blizzard response. >> Thank you. Thank you. How >> that's in the rearview mirror. We need to move forward.
>> I just want to make sure that the people who have been working so hard get the credit they deserve. So so so proud of um Justin Czecha, our DPW director, all the hardworking men and women of public works, public safety, police, fire, emergency
management, they all came out. They stayed for the whole storm. They were they they didn't stop. They just kept going. And there weren't places open for food. There was trees in the way. They had to stop plowing, get the chainsaw
out, um get black plowing. and they couldn't see visibility. It was unprecedented. So, just sincere kudos to all those people. >> So, with that, to piggyback on that, I I'd like to mention um you know, as a
point of note, uh cuz I've heard that, you know, some people there are some people that weren't happy with the storm response. um my my own crews for my own company uh all over southeastern Mass before, during, and after these storms.
And um we were amazed at the um level of treatment in other surrounding communities. Like I said, I'm I'm all the way down south coast all the way uh you know, Planeville South out to
Plymouth and you know, everywhere in between, those communities, including the state highways, were in the worst shape that I've ever seen. Granted, with that kind of storm, uh 40 plus years that I've been doing it myself, uh that
was the worst one that I've ever encountered. and um and I saw it with my own two eyes. Uh the the 495 looked like a war zone. Uh it was it was closed. But yeah, I mean I've been doing it a long
time. So, you know, me and my crew were able to negotiate where we needed to. But my point being is Norton stood out. Unbelievable how it was handled by um the guys in DPW, guys and gals, you know who,
everybody. Um it was unbelievable the difference here uh compared to every single one of those other communities. And there's still communities with roads not plowed right now. It's it's just unbelievable the level of service that
uh this DPW gives to the residents and and I just want to make them aware of that because I'm not able to stay in during storms and uh but seeing it with my own two eyes the difference it was I mean is second to
none not not even not even close uh any of those communities. So, uh, and as well, I'd like to, um, give consideration and and, um, you know, praise to Christy. She wasn't here Monday and Tuesday, I believe. Correct.
>> That's correct. >> And you did as as good of a job, uh, as we could have asked for getting uh, all the documents together for tonight's meeting by being remote. Um, and I want
to thank you for that. um because it might not have happened but if someone else was doing it. So >> um thank you very much for everybody in town that pulled their weight during the storm. So I couldn't be more proud of the town of Norton. So >> yeah, great job
>> chairman. Also, we should recognize that the um management staff did a very good job of keeping us informed. town manager, uh, his department heads, we were getting constant updates, letting us know what's going on. So, if
others asked us the question, at least we knew we could have a conversation and know exactly what was going on. So, I really appreciate the time and effort that was put into that. The, um, everything will go back to normal eventually. Just going to take some
time. Um, and when I I finally got off Facebook after a couple of days, they couldn't take it any longer. Uh, because, you know, I don't run this equipment. I don't know how it works. But I do know that stuff breaks down. We
have issues with it. We don't have a modern fleet of trucks out there on the street. Uh most of our trucks have been have band-aids and wired together and everything else, but with what they had uh the DPW um in my opinion and that
includes water department trucks that were out there, they had water, they had school, they had everybody was out there doing this. It wasn't just Department of Public Works. It was everybody working together. I think they did a hell of a job. So, thank you for that. >> They knocked it out of the park.
>> Not even close. So, all right. Warrants. >> Sharon, make a motion we approve invoice warrant 26-33 dated February 12th, 2026.
>> Second. >> Uh, all in favor? >> I. >> Chairman, I'll make a motion we approve invoice 26-34 dated February 19th, 2026. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Chairman, I'll make a motion we uh
accept uh payroll warrant approved payroll warrant 26-17 for the week ending January 14th, 2026. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> Okay. Select board report in mail. Don't
have any that I am aware of. Uh >> for your chair, sorry. >> Yes. >> Um I just had a serpent meeting last night and so I just wanted to report out um one of the items that was discussed last night in the serpent meeting. I don't know if you remember but a few months ago I brought forward that we
there was some conversation about a new uh solar uh photovolta s solar photovolic and battery energy store storage system bylaws that were being proposed by the state. And this would allow um
essentially the crux of it was some of the larger um solar panel companies could go straight to the state to get licensed to do it without coming through the town. Um there was an opportunity for us to um at that at that point to
give feedback to Serpent because they had drafted the letter. The letter was very well drafted. I didn't see any need to necessarily create anything new, but I had brought it forward at that point to see if you guys wanted to. That that new um bylaw is set to I think post in
the next month or so. And I think that everyone's supposed to be compliant by December of this year. So definitely the uh sentiment from all of Serpentid members was that that is not enough time for us to put bylaws in place to protect
ourselves in any way that we can. by that time period. So they were asking at the at the meeting was a representative uh what was his name? Mark Silva Sylvia who's a Kushnet area representative um who was there and so
there was a conversation with him to find out if there's any way to extend that timeline from December of this year into some later date. he was going to go back and find out if there if there was but um he wasn't aware of any extensions
to that timeline. Um and I so I just wanted to make sure that um town manager that you were aware of that bylaw or perhaps Paul hopefully Paul is as well. Um and then one of the other solutions, there were two towns at least that had
taken the position that they had um chosen to go the route of um creating a bylaw was temporary moratorum on solar to try to um I guess combat this particular law bylaw. Um that is
something we can consider. I'm not sure. we have to talk talk to town council about how to draft that and if that was uh effective or not. But um that's just something I wanted to report out to you guys that that new bylaw is is coming. Uh and we're going to have to be compliant with it. And I think there are
some things that we can put into our our bylaws that can give us a little bit additional protection, but there are some um ability for the these larger um solar solar companies to go directly to the state for licensing.
Does it sound familiar? I don't know if you had heard about it or not yet. >> Uh yes. Yes. I I know that we recently had a solar bylaw proposal, but that didn't uh pass. >> Yeah. >> But >> but if it's a state law, then we need to follow it. So, are you saying this one is
>> almost passed? >> I can send you the the It's supposed to They're saying they're suggesting that's going to be passed next month. >> Okay. >> I'll send you my notes. I didn't have a chance to since last night, but I'll send you my notes after this meeting, so you have the the details that I jotted down.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you, Denise. >> No problem. >> All right, we don't have executive. How about uh next meeting dates? Just real quick, we have the 12th and the 26th of April so far. >> Um, is that correct? >> I I had the 12th and then 3 weeks later
would be April 2nd if that >> works. We're just looking to schedule the poll hearing for what was that? April. >> Oh, wait a minute. Not April. March. >> So, March 12th would be a joint meeting with the planning board. >> That's right. >> Then April 2nd would be a scheduled poll hearings.
>> Okay. >> Okay. >> Coming fast. >> Yeah. Real fast. Okay. Perfect. All right. No executive. Uh I'll take the next motion. Yes, sir. >> Make a motion to adjurnn. Second.
>> All in favor? >> I >> Thank you everyone.