Good evening everybody. We're going to start tonight's meeting. It's uh 6:02 and we're going to have a roll call. Tonight we have uh Mr. Kevin O'Neal, Miss Luchiano, Denise
Luchiano, Bob Kimell, and myself, Roger Marsan. And we'll start with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Thank you. And we're going to start uh with appointments, resignations, and retirement. So, appointment of a full-time human services and council on aging director, Mr. Town Manager.
Um, uh, thank you. I would invite, uh, Ruth from the Council on Aging to to maybe share a few words with us. We we have a >> a new appointment that we're very excited about.
Um, Sauy. Many people already know Sauy, but um, we'll just, if it's okay, we'll just share a few words. >> Good evening, town manager and our board of select board. >> Oh, sorry.
>> Right down a foot. My name is Ruth Snyder and I am chairperson of the Council of Aging and I am very happy to be here to um introduce our new assistant director human service person,
Saucy. Don't ask me to pronounce her last name cuz I never can do it correctly. She has been with us for six years. She goes over and above her call of duty. We work well with her and I'm very happy to
have her. I'd like to introduce Sauy. >> Come on. >> Come on up. >> I've been to one of these before in an old building. >> Hello. >> Say a few words. >> Yes, you can speak. >> I have to put it up. >> You can put it up.
>> I know. Thank you. Well, I'm very excited um to be continuing to work at the Norn um Senior Center uh in an expanded role. Um, this is a big step for the town, I think, in hiring somebody else to be uh full-time working
over at the center. Um, as you all know, we're in a new building. Um, we've been there for, um, little almost a year. Um, it's been very exciting, very wonderful, but also a challenge. Um, we have just exploded. We've had um close to a thousand new um registrations that have
come in in this past year and um we are excited to be able to offer um education programs, social programs, um well fitness, wellness, um just lots of activities. I think the center's been very well received, but we um we're
human services too and we do a lot of work. Um and that's where we've seen also an explosion of need. Um people that need help with heating assistance, food, food assistance. Um the number of people who have come in who have had
eviction notices lately has been rising. So there's a big need and so I'm thankful for the town to um have seen the need and and that that we need another position over there. So um and closing, I'm very excited. um this is um
this is going to be a good thing. Um then I welcome um the town manager you've been over but I welcome the select board as well to come over. Come see what we do. Come see what we do and what happens in a day over at the senior center. All right. Thanks. That's it. >> Thanks. >> Anything from the board?
>> Mr. Chairman. Um >> Kimble. >> So, could you give us a little bit background what your background is? >> Oh, sure. Um so, um wow. Well, I'm old, so there's a lot of background. >> I'm a Massachusetts resident. I live
presently in Mansfield. I did live in Norton um for five years back um about 20 years ago. Um so, but I'm from the from the area uh Massachusetts born. I have um went to do Sherburn High School.
I uh went to University of Rhode Island. I have an engineering degree. Um, I worked in the engineering field for 10 years. Um, and then stayed home to raise my family. Um, and then jumped back into human services. I worked over at, uh, an assisted living for a while, part-time,
mother's hours, and, um, kind of built my way back up into, um, a different field than engineering. But, um, a field that I kind of always had, um, a desire to be in, which was to help people and to, um, I'm just, I don't know. I think on the engineering part is good because
I like to be organized and um you know keep things on track. Um maybe a little more too much so but um yeah and so I'm just excited to be at the center. I just um feel like I'm making a difference in people's lives and that's really a good place to be. So >> thank you.
>> One more question. Mr. G, it's a new position we have now. So have we fabricated? Have do we have a job description for it? >> Uh yes. Yes we do. And and this was actually um held um there was a robust process involving the the interim town
manager um Ruth was involved in and there was um there was a third it escapes me now. Beth Beth who couldn't be here tonight. She's on vacation this week. Um, but there is a job description and we will be reviewing that
um within the the first few weeks and months to make sure it it fits the appropriate responsibilities over there. >> Great. Thank you. Thank you both. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? >> Just thank you very much.
Um, Sussy, I'd just like to say that um the the work that you and Beth and Ruth and all of the volunteers and the people who work over there um is so needed in our community and I can't tell you how much I appreciate everything that you folks do over there. The facility is an
amazing facility and um you folks being able to help the amount of people that you help is amazing and nobody knows the stuff that you do when nobody's looking. So I really appreciate everything that you do. So thank you very much. >> Appreciate the comment
>> and thank you >> Mr. Chairman. >> I hereby notify the SWAT board that in accordance with the provisions of article 4 section 2B of the Lord Shire acting in my capacity as appointing authority have appointed the following individual as assistant human services
and aging director. Sashi I apologize if I give it a try. Sashi Meadishian. >> Amazing. That appointment was made on September 23rd, 2025 in accordance with the provisions of the Norton charter and will be effective October 8th, 2025,
unless a select board votes to accept or reject the appointment prior to that date. Mr. Chairman, make a motion that we appoint Medidishian to the assistant human services and
aging director. >> Second motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none. All in favor? I >> I opposed. Welcome aboard, Saui. Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Congratulations.
>> Thank you. [Applause] >> Okay, Mr. Town Manager, we now have um a couple of resignations we have to deal with. Uh resignation of Ken Darling from the planning board. Do you have any uh insight about that?
Uh we received notice uh written notice about a week ago that he was voluntarily resigning. He he did not give a reason. I would publicly like to thank him for his service on the planning board. We appreciate all of our volunteers.
Um any comment? >> I I would just add to that it would be nice if we sent a letter of appreciation to him thanking him on behalf of the board. Um, I myself uh know Ken and um I know that uh his heart was in it. I'm not
exactly sure why he wasn't able to fulfill the uh responsibilities of that position, but I I really thank him for stepping forward and running for that position. So, thank you. The other one we have is a resignation of Sharon Rice from the Norton Cultural
Council. >> Do you have any information about that other than the letter we see? Not specifically. We just received the the letter not notifying us and also would like to thank her for her her time and service to the town. It's truly appreciated.
>> Yeah, I agree. Similarly, can you lend to her thanking her for her time volunteering on the committee as well? >> Yeah. And um I would also say that if uh anybody is interested in any of these positions, they could also contact the town and uh we'd be uh happy to uh
consider them for any of these positions that are open on the town boards or committees. >> I was say there's many more as well. Yeah. Other boards. Y >> Mr. Chair, the particularly the planning board, it's very critical that they have special permits required a supermajority
approval. five out of seven, but members have to vote in the affirmative for special permits to pass and move forward. And with only six members on the board now, um if somebody misses the uh public uh discussion and can't vote on um any particular special permit, all
it takes is one person um to reject it. So, it's very critical that that planning board have a full sever seven member uh board. So, I guess Mr. town manager if there's anything we can do to extra provide
more um advertising maybe for that particular position and I know that Paul probably agrees I I do know we have received one applicant so far at least one we'll get that to the board for approval I understand it's a joint approval of the selecting and planning
board >> yes >> and it's only until the next election so anyone who wants to give it a try for 8 months or whatnot. Um, they'll have to run again in April, but it's a good opportunity for people to test the waters to see if they they want to stay
on it permanently. >> Yeah. Great. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um, next we have the approval of minutes for August 14th. >> Chairman, I make a motion that we approve the minutes of August 14th, 2025
as written. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor? >> I >> I >> I. >> Next we have license and permits. Uh vote to approve the special permit for
the parade permit um for the Veterans Day parade from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 11th. Um Mr. Town Manager, anything other than what we see? >> Uh so the the same event uh we do every year, the same route, same day, same
time. VFW in conjunction with the veterans office and um Stell I thought I saw her earlier. >> Estelle was here. Yeah. >> She coordinates all the details. All these signoffs have been approved. So everything's ready for the select
board's approval. >> Thank you. >> Did you Did you say Tuesday the 11th? >> Um when does it say on here? >> November 11th. >> November 11th. >> We have to we have to recognize it on the actual day. >> Okay. >> November 11th. >> Yep. So, it'll be on Tuesday, November
11th. We celebrate the Veterans Day on the November 11th every year. >> All right. Thanks. Just wanted to check my calendar. >> I'm looking for a motion. >> Make a motion
to accept the special event parade permit application um for Veterans Day parade scheduled from 10:00 a.m. till noon on Tuesday, November 11th, 2025. >> Second. Motion and a second. Any discussion?
>> Seeing none, all those in favor? I >> uh next we have a uh one day beer and wine license to Dennis Dilva. Are you Dennis? Come on up, Dennis. >> Hello. >> Hi. So, you want to explain what your uh
>> Yeah. So, uh, Wheaten College is doing a fall fest. So, it is a, uh, beer tent that we're doing that's serving beer. >> Uh, it's 800 people. I believe it's from, uh, 12 to 4 or something like that. I'm not
sure. >> Says 12 to 3. >> Yep. 12 to 3. >> Mhm. >> On uh the 4th of uh, October. >> Is this a new event for you? >> No. Oh, for me it is. I'm new to the
college, but uh they have been doing it for a few years now. >> Has been doing quite a quite a while. >> And do you have uh anything else? >> I don't. >> Okay, >> Mr. Chairman, I'd like offer one correction. I know it's going to have nothing to do with the permit, but uh on
the Mr. Gold on the third page, the name of Alcohol Wholesaler. >> Mhm. The new comp, the new name of that company, Horizon's been sold. >> Okay. >> So, the new company is Southern Glazes and Wine and Spirits. I would just make
a correction on the form just just so it's on the third page in. It's under the name of alcohol wholesaler. >> Okay. >> It used to be Horizon Beverage. They were working out of the same place. It's
just a new name for them. >> Okay. All of Thank you. Mr. Chair, it it appears that um the deputy uh Chief Robbins asked for some information. Um as such, the fire
department and the police department have not uh signed off on it yet. >> It doesn't say completed. It says active. >> That's right. >> So I I can speak to that, Mr. Chair. >> Yep. Um, so the they did receive the
requisite signoffs for the dimple location on campus, but the rain location. Um, the fire department and the building department have not had time to inspect. They just received the completed application on Tuesday. So,
they had not yet approved the rain location, but the dimple location is a go. >> Okay. >> Subject to the board. What we've done in the past, I think, is approved it uh pending approval from those. >> Mrs. Dilva, do you have a is there a
rain location for this that you're looking for a permit for as well? >> There is. We submitted it um late, but we did. >> Okay. Mr. Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion that we vote to approve the application for a one-day beer and wine license to
Dennis Dilva on behalf of Wheaten College for a private event on in the Dimple at Wheaten College located at 26 East Main Street, North Massachusetts, 02766 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 4th, 2025 for a 12
fest celebration subject to approval final approval from police and fire department. Second >> motion and a second. And does that does that include the uh rain location as well which will be inside I'm assuming someplace right around that area.
>> Correct. >> So >> that would be included. >> Okay. Motion in a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? I >> I thank you very much. >> Thank you. Uh, announcements, Mr. Kimble.
>> Um, let's see. I got a couple of new ones. Um, there will be a joint meeting with the finance committee, planning board, zoning board of appeals, and the board of selectman on Tuesday,
September 30th. That's next Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at the Norton Town Hall Crane meeting room, which is this one. uh is to to discuss the fall annual town meeting warrant articles zoning by update including reorganization and making uh text changes. So that's next
Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Following your town meeting will be held on Monday, October 20th, 2025 at 7 p.m. at the Newton High School. Warren articles will be accepted until 3:30 p.m. on August 28th, which has already
gone by. So that's enough of that. from Melissa Nisawick from Park and Recreck. Uh she's reminding us that the Halloween parade will be held on Sunday, October 26 at 12:00 noon. Registration is now open. The deadline is October 10th. And um commemorative t-shirts for
there will be new commemorative t-shirts for the parade designed by Norton senior Jonah Ferrero. And they're available for pre-sale only. purchase online through the park and wreck website. There's a Halloween costume exchange drop off
program now going on until September 30th, which uh there's a collection box here at the front front entrance at the town hall if you'd like to drop some off. Um there there's going to be new to you
there's going to be a U from that collection. There'll be a new to you tonight which will be held on October 7th and 8th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. here in the crane room. So if you can drop off a costume until September 30th and in the bin out in the uh in the hallway
and then you can come back on the 7th and 8th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. to pick one up if you desire to do so. There's a CPR AED class being held on Thursday, October 16th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson Community Center. is a babysitting 101 class. I think the
chairman should take this one. Saturday, October 4th from 9:00 to 1:00 p.m. at the Nelson Community Center. And then the 25 to 30 basketball pickup league uh for women over 25 group is still making registrations. Games start will start have started already on September 9th,
but there's still a few slots that are open. The men's over 30 group is still waiting still at a waiting list level and their games will start or would have settled on September 11th. The junior golf program that started last spring and is currently in its
third session has 18 junior golf participating now with the Norton Country Club. And I think you can learn the skate program has four skaters running at the Taton Alexio uh rink starting this weekend.
And I think that's all I have. Anything? >> I have one other announcement. Um the uh annual DeFosus Peterson Memorial Food Drive will be on November 1st um from 12 to 300 p.m. at the uh senior
center at the uh food deposit. Um, we are also looking for neighborhood uh representatives, anybody interested in helping out that uh they can go in the neighborhood and pass out bags with flyers in them the week before the food
drive and then come back the day of the food drive and uh put the food out and they'll come pick it up and bring it over to the Nelson Center. Anybody interested in helping out with any of this, there'll be a meeting on October
1st at 5:30 at the VFW here in Norton. You can come by and you can uh learn more about it or collect bags for your neighborhood if you'd like. [Music] New business. Um, anybody have any new business that they'd like to discuss
tonight? Okay, let's get on to the fun part of the meeting. Uh, old business, the fall annual town meeting, list of warrants and uh a list of articles and warrant. >> Um, so how how >> Mr. town manager, if you'd like to um if
we could go down these and the ones that you think that we could uh take action on, I would like to take action on tonight so that we could uh uh winnow this list down some so that we don't have so many to deal with at the uh at
last meeting before town meeting. So if uh if you want to go down these and see something that you think we can take action on. >> Excellent. So, so there are a few that I'll ask us to to maybe hold off until the last meeting. We have one more board
meeting before the town meeting. So, um number one, I I think this is a straightforward one. Unpaid bills um in the amount of $22,627.31. Essentially, these are bills that were incurred last year, but we didn't
receive the bill until after the end of the fiscal year. So, we're asking to pay that from free cash. Happy to answer any questions on this one. >> Yeah. Through chair. >> Would the would the money not have still been budgeted and put aside from the
last budget cycle for those unpaid bills? >> Yes, the money was available at the time. It just wasn't paid. So after the 15 days into the new fiscal year, so after July 15th, we're not allowed to to
use that money. And on June 30th, the money is frozen until free cash is certified. >> Okay. >> So now that free cash is available, that's that's where >> Thank you. I appreciate the explanation. Jim, may I make a motion we we support
article number one unpaid bills for the amount of $22,627.31 cents. >> Second. >> Motion in a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? >> I >> I
>> uh Thank you. I would prefer, Mr. chair to to skip over. Uh two, three, um four and five are just placeholders. Hopefully, we won't need them. It's ju just in case there's,
you know, heaven forbid a a broken pipe we didn't budget for or something, but hopefully water and sewer will uh will be okay. Um same with capital improvements that ask us to hold off on six uh seven
eight. We'd actually like to withdraw the engineering study placeholder and I'm ready to speak on Barrow's Court please. So
we received an estimate from Highway. I actually conducted a site visit there. spoke at length with with Jared, our supervisor, and John in conservation. We came to the conclusion that
the most economical, the most way that makes sense is for Highway to go in and try to make a quick fix within this year's operating budget. So, asking for no money for the quick fix. Um, this has
been done before where he would dig the pipe out, flush the pipe through, place the pipe back in at minimal um, burning to the homeowner. And if that doesn't work, we'd like to have the funds ready to take care of the
Barrow's Court issue by replacing a 220 ft line. And for that, we have a uh Jared estimates uh we have a a breakdown. I can share that with you. It's it's $50,000. And that includes approximate 10%
contingency. And that's for materials and labor. If the if the quick the the 10 to 20 foot pipe fix doesn't work, then we would do the the 220 foot pipe fix. >> And uh hopefully you don't have too many
technical questions because >> they're not here with me. >> I was I was able to go to that also. And I just >> That's right. I I want to um want everyone know that and I I'm familiar with this, but it happened to me. There's about 20 to 30 feet of pipe and
they came in with a camera from both directions, but they couldn't get through it. So, they don't know if it's crushed or if it's the roots have gone grown into it or what's going on. So, the easy fix and the least costly fix is to take that section of pipe out and
replace it. And he's going to be able to do that in the right of way that the town already has. So we don't have to have any easements or any any of that stuff. That's the easy fix and that's what this $50,000 being set aside. If we decide that's not going to work and it needs to have an additional work done at
the 220 ft, it will have to be reinstalled, but it would be maybe have a different pitch to it and it would have to be totally engineered and everything would have to be done from the get-go. So would be a lot more of a costly uh project. So Jared's hoping
that this one project, the one fix might be enough to to fix it. I do have a question. Mr. Tower manager, have you heard anything about that place today? Anything going on down there with all this rain? >> No news is good news. Right. >> Right. I haven't heard a word. >> Um and I I will just add that we are
avoiding the engineers said they'd come in and take a look at it for 350,000. >> Yeah, >> Miss Lugiana, >> just wanted to clarif clarification. And the 50,000 is if we needed the 250 ft. The current
whatever 20 ft whatever it is is covered under our current existing budget. And is that already been dug out or not yet? >> Not not yet. Okay. >> But he would try to do that in the fall and then if that doesn't work the the longer fix would be in the in the spring before town meetings. So it makes sense
to to have that set aside just in case. >> One more question. And I think we had had some studies done before or someone came out to look at it before an outside organization. Are we confident that the 250 ft would solve the problem that has been identified the root cause?
>> I I believe correct me if I'm wrong uh Mr. Kimble I think he was 80% confident. was that >> the the 20% factor that he's not talking about is there's a there's a very large pipe that that goes from a drain on
Barl's Court into a ravine that goes that flows toward the river. >> Now, they're going to dig that down a bit. They've got permission to do so. So, they can drop that down a bit to get the flow going. But then it hits a certain point where on private property beyond it, it hits two two other pipes
and at that point it stops or it bound it stops. It kind of kind of gets damned up at that point. So the $50,000 that we're asking for could be the next step. Like we go in there and we take those those pipes and we make a middle larger
so that we can get we'd have to get permission from the property owner to re redesign it and and continue the flow down to the river. But right now it's being hung up on the u on the on the private property side of it. So, the $50,000 will be to replace some of the pipe,
also some digging and perhaps even putting in another another section of pipe further back uh near the private property so the water continues to flow. From what I understand is the water comes down the street, it goes through the 220 ft of pipe and then it stops.
>> It's got no place to go and the pipe is full. The water's gushing out, but it's gushing out above the exit of the pipe. So, they're trying to figure out a way to get that water away from that end of it the best they can. That $50,000
is a it's kind of a placeholder, too, because if he does dig up the 20 to 30 ft and they run into bigger problems, he may end up having to replace the whole 220 ft. Once he gets in there, he may find other problems that we have no idea, >> you know, what he's going to run into.
So, $50,000 will be earmarked for that project. And if it's not used, then it goes back to the general fund. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Mr. Chair. If if I may, sorry not to belabor this. No, you're fine. >> The um the 220 ft has been engineered.
So, if it does come to the $50,000 fix, he would replace the pipe at the exact same slope that it was engineered for. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> That's all I had. Chairman, make a motion we support article 8, the uh
barrels court drainage system improvement for $50,000. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, all in favor? >> I >> I >> I have two easements heading out to the
Canoe River on either side of my property. >> Now I understand why they're easements. Right. >> Right. Because the town needs to have access to those if something like this were to happen. >> They may come digging someday. >> Yes. Exactly. Mr. D manager. >> Excellent. Thank you. Uh moving to the
next item is engineering for PAS treatment and other water quality process improvements. This is due to an administrative consent order. Essentially, there's new regulations at
the state level, at the federal level. Um they're telling us that there's new requirements we need to meet. So, this would pay for initial engineering to continue the the testing that we're
already doing to make plans to to clean that. And um water s sewer supervisor is here. If you have any >> Frank, you want to come up speak to this if you could please. Good evening everybody.
So we're asking for basically the first phase of this uh 445,000. The breakdown of it is primarily an investigation of three of our largest wells. Uh POS treatment that is not
currently required but will soon be which is the change in the level of detection. Currently the federal government has it at 20 parts. It's going to more than likely go down to four. Even if the federal government doesn't move it, Mass D has indicated that their goal is to move it to four
with an action level recommendation of zero. Um so that requires modifications to the current treatment facility that we currently have uh to meet those stringent requirements and also looking at our other two wells which are untreated currently. Um looking at
everything that needs to be done there. Starting off with our maganganesees removal prior to a POS removal system. Uh so there's uh about seven different options that we have that were listed in the acco mass D that we have to comply with. Basically we have to check off all
the boxes. Um anything that was listed as a recommendation as to why we don't feel it's a good option for the town. Um everything from uh purchasing water from another location which would inquire infrastructure improvements to bring the water from A to B. um purchasing water
from another application that requires a treatment facility which wouldn't make any sense if we have to do that on our own property as well um and intermunicipal connections with properties that we are already in agreements with um like the town of Mansfield and the town of Attboro. So, there's um quite a bit of moving parts
to all of this, even just to check off the boxes for items that we know we're not going to select as part of the ACL. >> Miss Kimble, >> uh Frank, the um first question I have is waste treatment plant, water treatment
plant we have now, will that handle this or do we have to modify the existing plant? >> It is currently handling and staying below the 20 um MCL right now. If it does lower to four or anywhere similar to that, we'll be right on the border of
having an impact. Um, when this treatment facility was built, regulations were different. The testing standards for PAS were different. We actually tested at all three wells feeding this facility as non-detect. When we went through COVID, the new facility went online. The requirements
changed. They're more stringent now. Um, thankfully, knock on wood, like I said, we haven't exceeded at that location. we've only exceeded at one well in town and we only exceeded there by one part per trillion but it still triggers the requirement to put in a removal process plant at that location. Um we are
looking at options for either abandoning those two smaller well sites altogether and purchasing water as a permanent solution. Um cost effectiveness is something that we're really looking at here and long-term effectiveness. uh knowing that this is probably the first
step in many steps of emerging contaminants that we're going to see regulated that may not currently be regulated now, we want to see if we can project and look a little bit further into the future than Norton typically does. Um so you're going to see some pretty big numbers coming down as this
acco starts getting closer to the enforcement levels. This is the first step and uh we have some meetings set up with some of the adjacent communities to see if they're interested or capable of selling us water either in the short term while this operation is going to take place because we'd have to take
ours offline or even longterm as an alternative to having to treat all five locations. So my my question would be if obviously we'd have to build more water treatment plants and the last one we built was around $10 million as I recall
>> pretty close to 11. >> Probably be a lot more today than it was then. >> Yes, it would. >> I would assume. So I know you're concerned about the capital cost, >> but the capital costs are born upon the the users of the water in it, you know, anyway. >> Correct. So, I would encourage you and
your board to look at the possibility of connecting to another water source beyond our borders that makes sense to us because my understanding is we have a couple of neighbors that have no problem with PAB and they have plenty of water.
>> So, if we can negotiate a deal, I understand the rate is going to go up, >> but the rate is going to go up anyway because you're going to have to pay for the capital in addition to the flow. >> Absolutely. So, if we were to be fortunate enough to have a neighbor who's willing to work with us, uh before
we start spending tens of millions of dollars on treatment plants, we probably should be trying to exercise that possibility first. And if that doesn't work, then yeah, we have to go back and bite the bullet. >> Absolutely. >> But when you build a second plant, takes more manpower, more maintenance, you
know, more filters. It takes takes a lot of >> stuff to run it, you know, and so yeah, I would encourage you to do so. >> Now, this $445,000 you're talking about, this is just going into a a pot to start the process. >> This is a starting phase, uh, pilot
phase, if you would. I'm looking at um all of the options as required by the ACL. We have to provide mass D with answers to the to the suggestions that they had, uh, submitted as part of that and this will get us to the next step. Um, part of this, as I had mentioned, is looking and having discussions with
surrounding communities. Um, Norton uses a significant amount of water. On an average day like today with the rainfall, we're still at 1.1 to 1.2 million gallons per day. Um, during the summer when we had the the five uh heat waves, it was easy, 1.7 1.8. Um, if we're going to continue to grow and
expand, we definitely need to have the capacity available to do so um before having to look at other options. So having maybe even more than one connection with surrounding communities might be an option to look at even though it's not something we're directly looking at right now because it adds another layer of the requirements for
sampling to have uh combined systems. So we're definitely addressing everything looking uh speaking with Mr. Gold and uh and looking at options for connections. >> Okay. And my final comment is u before people up there their heads start spinning this is a enterprise account. >> Correct. This does not come off. This
has nothing to do with our taxes, our internal taxes, >> local taxes. >> And this enterprise account has money in it that can handle this type of uh type of expenditure. So, it's not like we have to borrow anything. The money is already there. Uh and it's uh the
$445,000 is actually paid by the users, the people that use the water. >> Absolutely. >> So, I think that's important to put out there so people are saying where this money going to come from. So, thank you, Frank. >> Mr. school. Do you have something you want to add? I >> I'll just echo that we are looking at all options to keep the costs to the to
the rateayers, not the taxpayers, the rateayers as as low as possible while complying with all regulations. And and I I will note that this request is not from free cash. It's from retained earnings. Um, so the the more article
would be to transfer 445,000 from retained earnings uh to this purpose >> from the water consumer account. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Mr. Chair, I I just wanted to um to mention maybe Frank has some more background on this. There was an article that came out in the Sun Chronicle just
a few days ago about this very topic. Um, state legislation could help offset costs for municipalities auto infrastructure needs, including PAS mitig mitigation. I think some of this it speaks to a federal $1 billion grant. I don't know if how much trickles down
to us. Then there's also um a bill that's uh at the state level to provide municipalities with the option to have some kind of a I don't know what they call it, a search charge or something on the water rates. I'm not quite sure, Frank. But and then it mentions all of
the other towns in the area that have problems with PAS. And by the way, this level of 20 down to four, it affects everybody. It Norton is not alone at all with this issue. It's it's throughout the whole state. When I first got
elected, we had a meeting of new members of the select board and it was a topic then among 200 other folks around the uh you know the Commonwealth. So, just want people to realize that this isn't, you know, we always have complaints about waters, the discoloration in in Norton, but this is kind of somewhat unrelated.
They're lowering the standards for us, but I would encourage everybody to go into this on Chron, try to find that article. It was originally published on the 20th. It was revised on the 24th online. So, are you familiar with it? >> I am very familiar with it. We applied for two grants. Um, one of them we were denied for the the initial POS grant
that we applied for. We are working on a second grant now. Um it will be basically for water quality and emerging contaminants. So there's definitely some documents we have to submit to make sure that we are eligible, but we did submit a needs request and we are on the list
of possibly to be approved. Um although that number sounds huge when you think of it's not just Massachusetts, it's nationwide. >> So it it's going to go pretty fast any monies that are available. So we hope to see funding continue on the federal level. I saw an article today about 3M
being uh taken a task over also. So that some additional funds coming down the pike later on. So I would just like to say that um I appreciate all the effort that you're putting into this and this is a this is a huge um step for everybody to take to
try to uh come in compliance with this. Um, and I know you already are, but I would s my suggestion would be that instead of us continuing to chase the ball, if we try to get in front of it, you try to figure out what is the next step going to be so that we can be there
already and so that we don't have to continue to spend money after money after money to try to catch up to where we should be. Absolutely. >> So, I appreciate all the efforts that you put into this. Thank you. >> Entertain a motion to >> Mr. Chairman make a motion to
support the engineering planning piloting design and permitting for treatment facility upgrades and PAS treatment contaminant remed remediation and other water quality process improvements at all water sources treatment facilities and appendages
appendences um for 445,000 which will be coming out of the enterprise account. Second >> motion in a second. Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor? >> I >> I >> I >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Frank. >> Thank you. >> Um, Mr. chair. Next we have uh maybe we'll skip over the the building project at the school until next time if that's and then we'll
address Gazsby number 13 mandated actuary actuarial reporting. So this recommendation is 11,000 from free cash to pay for the the state requires a an
annual actuary to perform an analysis on the OPED funds to uh make sure that we're taking care of our retirees and adequately planning for um for their health care costs. Um so so this is to
annually evaluate this as is required. >> Any questions? >> Nope. Seems pretty straightforward. >> Seems pretty straightforward. >> Make a motion that we support article 13 to Gazsby mandated AC actuarial
reporting of the uh postemployment benefits. >> Second for $11,000. >> Motion and a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> I I >> I Mr. Chair. >> Yes.
>> Did we skip over number 10? >> I I know we have >> Oh, we did. Miss Frank, may you still be here for that reason? >> I think that there were people here waiting for that. I didn't know if you were uh >> Apologies. That was unintentional. We can Oh, no problem. Okay. >> Just that now if the chair
>> wait a bit longer. >> Sorry, Frank. Um, so number 10 is the Elm Street property. Oh boy. >> Um, so this is a grant that we're looking to
receive 3.5 million from from the state and we would use it for water. I know it was previously contemplated to be used for sewer. That didn't work out and now we're looking to use it for water. I think um Frank can speak speak to the
necessity of of that grant. And uh I thought our planner was here, but I don't see him anymore. >> He just stepped out. He'll be right back. I'm sure by the time Frank's done, he'll be back. I'm sure. >> I don't know about that. >> All right. So, uh as everybody's probably well aware, we've had the Elm
Street article before town meeting a few different times before multiple boards. to lose the $3.5 million is a huge hit to the town as it is to our departments. Um there is still a very slim chance and I think Paul will speak to this um
shortly that there's something could still be built at the Reed and Barton property cleaning up the site still creating housing and jobs which is the reason why we applied for and received the grant in the first place. Um, we've had multiple meetings with EPA and they are willing to bend the scope of the
original grant and it would cover water mane improvements in the area because it was originally listed as part of the improvements required for that property. Um, it would no the plan that's going to be presented at some point from the applicant no longer includes the need
for a sewer name down this road. So, they would be able to design what they're going to build and it would go to a septic system. Um, it doesn't improve the water. So that's what we're addressing here with this article. This can be looked at two different ways. Um the water man needs to be improved here
based on EPA regulations for unknown service lines. So everybody's probably well aware of Flint, Michigan. Water quality issues are stemmed everything stems from that issue that happened in Flint. EPA required all water suppliers
to make a list of all their water service line materials. If you don't have documentation, whether it be from maps, previous plans, or even um field surveys, if you went out and replaced and repaired a leak and took a picture of it, that would suffice.
Unfortunately, in many of our older streets like Elm Street, it's probably one of one of the older areas in town. I believe one of the houses dates back to 1830. Uh we have no plans on it. You know, we've been down there multiple times. We've repaired multiple breaks, multiple leaks on on homeowner services,
even though it's on the town side. And we know for a fact that there are iron pipe services going to the homes here, which indicates it meets the criteria, and it was put in around the same time that what's called a lead gooseeneck would have been installed. So, there's a cast iron man and an AC main down this
street. Multiple different sizes, different sections. The lead services goose neck is about a foot and a half piece of of flexible tubing which is used to transition the two rigid surfaces. So you have the iron pipe service and you have the cast iron main. Neither one move. You need the
flexibility somewhere or else you're going to have a break. >> This was very common and in some communities they actually used complete lead services from the main to the house because they were so worried about movement in the earth. Norton, thankfully, knock on wood, we've never found any of those, but those small
sections still remain. Um I I myself in my 25 years have had to have replaced 40 or 50 of those. Other previous operators before me, same thing, but there's no record of it. That's not good enough to just say, "Hey, I did this one. I was here in in 2010. >> EPA won't listen to it." So they give
you an option to verify the service line material by excavating that each service line in three different locations at the main and on either side of the curb stop, taking pictures, submitting it to them. They'll approve or deny it and then it goes on to the list. That
doesn't solve any problems. It's best to implicate the road based on age and based on knowledge from historical data being me. Um it needs to be replaced. So that's why we're going forward with this. It is attached to the grant because we want to have that in there as
a potential funding source as a lastditch effort that if something does work its way through, we can use this 3.5 to pay for that improvement and not burden the rateayers. There's nothing funny being done here. It says a pertinance is in there. That doesn't mean anything related to sewer. It's all
water related improvements that are being done uh projected as part of this article. >> Mr. Chairman, >> Mr. Kimble, >> we have, you know, for years we've been talking about this and we've got a lot of streets that we have no idea what's on the room. >> Yes. >> And um the record keeping was pretty sloppy in the past. There's no doubt
about it. >> What's unique about this is well, first of all, people are going to say, "Wow, you told me we'd lose that $ three half million dollars if we didn't do both projects." This sounds like they may bend the rules a bit and I hope they do because if we can get a stretch of uh
pipe replaced, old stretch of pipe replaced and and updated, there's definitely something we need to do. And if we have somebody else pay for it, that's even better. Um the other factor is the Elm Street uh property. Something's going to happen there eventually.
And I would assume that whatever happens on Elm Street is going to take some additional water and those pipes will be probably adequate enough to handle any additional building capacity we might have on that property, which is something, you know, right now you might
have pipes in the ground, but you might have 60% of it actually being used because there's bottlenecks and there's iron buildup and everything else inside these these pipes. So, you never know what the heck you're going to have inside them. So, the water definitely is going to clear up. There's no doubt
about it. And it'll be beneficial for especially people down in the Grove area where that'll that'll help clean up their their water a bit. Um the other fact is that if something does happen on 47 Elm, the um
whoever builds there is going to have to have not only water for for portable services uses but also for sprinkler systems. So that requires even more water in that area. So, um, I want to thank you and congratulate you and your your, uh, board for standing up and
continuing to look into this because this is going to be a win for all of us if we can get this thing through and if we can get the EPA and the state to agree to it and let us do it, that's even better. Uh, my final question is Miller way. Are we going to be able to do Miller as part of this project?
>> It was not part of the original scope. Um all along the determination was that a stub would be left and we would actually do this work with in-house uh machines and and um uh employees. We have a line item that we carry each year
for in-house water main improvements. Um unfortunately a lot of that goes to repairing pipes that don't want to be in the ground any longer. If we have the additional funds, we could definitely use it here and upgrade that location. Um there is some discussion about even possibly bringing um a line and a
connection back to the highway department so that there can actually be fire suppression um connections behind the the building which has a limited access right now. >> I would encourage you to do that anytime you can make a loop in the water lines. Obviously, it makes a big it's a big deal, but um the people in Miller have
been echoing that, you know, some of their concerns about the quality of their water and I'm sure their pipes are not that much newer newer than the than the ones that are in the ground. But if there's a way you can do that as part of the project, even during the project, we'll be torn up anyway. >> We might as well get it all done at the
same time. That would be >> Yeah, discussions have been had if it could be if it could be rolled in as a change order. Um basically, it's the same scope and it's not that long of of an extra distance. Um the the water main replacement here is going to be 4,500 linear feet. Uh the biggest improvement is going to be as you mentioned fire
flow and placement of fire hydrants. Right now there are three hydrants on that street. Um new code requires hydrants every 500 ft and gay valves every thousand. So it's going to be a major improvement for for fire suppression should it be needed unfortunately. >> All right. Thank you.
>> Through you chair Miss Lucha. Um you mentioned that you changed the scope of the grant. Um what was that change? And then what are the conditions to receive the grant? In other words, is there any potential that we're going to dig the roads up, replace the water manes, and
they're going to say that we can't get the grant money because we didn't meet some requirement. >> There is the potential that I want this article to go go forward as if there was no supplemental funding being in place and that it was going to be covered by borrowing of the water and water department, not sewer. Um, should the
grant fall through, as with any other article that's presented, if it has mult multiple funding sources, town meeting has to approve the full amount as if it was to be borne by the department it's being presented by. Um, so there is definitely the chance that the grant could fall through because of requirements that cannot be met by the
applicant of the property. So the grant is only eligible to Norton because it created jobs and housing. If a smaller build is proposed there and EPA doesn't feel it meets the bare minimum, they do not have to give us this grant. So,
there's definitely some some moving parts that still have to fall in line. It would be foolish of us not to have this listed as a potential funding source. So, that's why it's here >> and that has to be determined by when >> there is a very small window of time. We're coming up uh June 2026 is the
deadline. If we have a letter of of excuse me intent letter of intent from the applicant, we're going to put that forward to mass uh mass EPA and mass D letting them know that we do have somebody moving forward with that property and all intentions have been
that they will extend the deadlines. >> Okay. Sorry, one last question. >> Yes. >> If we're unable to get the tenant to commit without having sewage um and it goes on the taxpayers. What would be the
impact to the taxpayers for that? >> It would only be on the water rate payers, not the >> tax the water rate payers. Yes. >> Um we have not done a rate study review in in some time. This this property actually was holding up the process. Uh water and sewer are both overdue for a
rate study. Uh we obviously have retained earnings in there, so we're actually looking pretty good. Uh but until a professional takes a look at it, I can't I can't speculate as for what the impact would be. uh 3.5 million compared to some of the other loans that we've taken out in the past. I don't see a substantial increase coming, but this
isn't the only thing that we're looking um to move forward and borrow. The water quality analysis when that moves forward into its next phases is going to be quite large. Um anything that we have to build, whether it be a new facility, that's also going to be a quite quite a large amount to borrow. So, this one
article is probably not going to have a major impact. everything combined there. There's definitely going to be rate changes that will be coming at some point in the future. >> All right. Thanks for clarification. >> Sure. >> So, Mr. Chair, our state representatives, is there should we
engage them to for support on this um so they can lobby, you know, to our cause, you know, Feny and those folks. I think that might be a good idea. This is where we they come in handy. We can outreach to them, right? if there's
>> I don't >> Yeah. >> Um without a doubt and this is one of my main priorities is assessing and not only Elm Street but large stretches of 123 um 140 evaluating the critical areas
that both water and sewer need to be and hounding hounding andounding are exactly our state representatives. I've already put a bug in their ear and I'll continue to do so. Right on. Thank you, Mr. Town Manager. Appreciate that, >> Mr. Gimble.
>> I think one of the one of the qualities of this project is the fact that we have an old mill that someone's going to have to take down at some point. It's going to have to come down. Whether we do it on our own or we're ordered to do it, we're going to have to do something. So if if someone shows any interest in the
property, we should make every effort we can to uh work with that developer uh in a way that hopefully they can work out the details of taking down the building. We've already spent half a million dollars as a town of free cash taking
down portions of that building that we had to do. >> Uh we shouldn't have to spend any more. So if and when a developer comes along on 47 Elm, I would hope that the water sewer commissioners would look favorably upon that and say, you know what, we
just did a $3.5 million grant. Uh maybe we can wave some of the connection fees and all that to make it more viable because the more money they save on that end, they can use that money for the other end of it, taking down and and you know, repurposing that property. The property is going to be a mess until we
we get something done there. So hopefully that'll happen. So just to be clear on the on the we're going to borrow $3.5 million, but if we get the grant, obviously that's that offsets it. If the grant goes through doesn't go through, then we
the the >> users have to have to pay down the pay down the debt. >> Absolutely. >> Either way, it's an old pipe. It has to be replaced, right? >> So it's probably something we should be doing anyway, one way or the other. >> Yeah. The concerns are that the uh obviously with the supply chain
shortages that we've seen and now we're seeing tariffs that are added. Uh we investigated this back in 2018 and 2019 as part of a master um plan that we did for the water department. This would this replacement same exact linear foot was uh just over 1.9 million. So now
we're up we're looking, you know, 3.2 to 3.5, you know, that number of years later. It's only going to continue, you know, to trend unfortunately up as as uh as products are not getting cheaper. >> Mr. Chairman, so which way does the
water flow would will this benefit either end of street like reservoir or which way is the water? >> This will improve water flow between 123 and reservoir. Both of those mains have been renewed in previous years. Uh this main here is a bottleneck based on different sizes that are there and
different materials. Um it would also improve the water flow on Cross which is another connection major connection that goes out to um North Washington Street. >> Okay. I think that's worth mentioning at the town meeting, you know, that that there are other folks on either end
beyond um Elm Street that may benefit. Yeah. Great. Thank you. Um, this question might be more for the town planner than for you, but are are
there any contingencies to this $3.5 million besides that we can just use it to put in the water man? Is there anything else that we're required to do to get it? We actually are sitting on that grant now and Paul can confirm that
um it would have to be returned uh if this does not move forward and does not meet meet the criteria. And there is also there has been discussion although it's only it's only been brought up once or twice that the design grant money that we had received for this project
which totaled 520,000. It was broken up between two sources. Um a portion of that could have to be returned if this does not move forward. Um nothing has been said about that after our first discussions but definitely just to be completely open and honest it is there and uh it is definitely something they
could ask for. >> Yeah just to clarify that was a question that I was asking too. So if there's not an apartment building with so many units that built then the grant is not paid to us and some of the other prior grants will be repaid. That that was the
question I was asking. Yeah. So, I guess that's the same question I have for Paul is what are the requirements for us to use this 3.5 to put in this water man? >> Well, as Frank said, we've we've talked with the Mass Works team and they're okay with us now going just with water.
The main thing they want is a developer and seeing that site developed. That's the biggest contingency is having having a developer sign up and commit to it. >> And do we have any commitment from any developer? Not at this time. We're we're
still working with the same developer, Devco. Um we're trying to meet with with her early next week and um see how we can get to a to a commitment from her. And u a question for Frank. If we didn't
have this 3 $3.5 million grant that we may not get anyway, would where would this project be in your order of uh importance? >> Based on the age of the main and the problems that we've had there, this this
is the next in line. If if you happen to see a copy of my master plan that I had done in 2019, this was the first main to be replaced in step two. Uh we had five mains indicated in step one. Uh four of those have been replaced so far. We actually were able to fasttrack South
Worester Street and East Hodgeges um with applications and monies from ARPA. So those are being replaced and they met the same criteria as Elm Street does based on age on South Worester Street with iron pipe services and cast iron mains. So that's the that was the reason why that that project jumped ahead of
the others in the list. But this is definitely one of the next inline. >> Jim, >> Mr. Kimble, >> final comment. The uh I want be we want to be clear that water users on Elm Street are going to be reconnected to the new system. >> Absolutely.
>> There are no betterments. >> No betterments. >> This is not a betterment program. You're already unless you're >> unless you're reconnecting on the new construction, >> there's not going to be any cost to any of the U residents on on Elm. >> Correct. So, I think we need to get that out there fast and furious before the
clergy show up, you know. Thank you. Um, and uh, for the Paul. Um, so we don't have a developer is what you're saying that has given us any sign
that they're going to build anything there. >> Well, I there's hope. I think there's still hope that that's going to happen. And there's some things in play that that might work that that might make this attractive to this developer or some others, another developer, but no
one committed at this point. >> So, and the last two times we brought this to town meeting, have we had any commitment from any developer? >> No. No, we we haven't. >> So, this is the only we've only had one
development team that's taken a serious look at this site. So, my suggestion to the board would be that uh we hold off on taking any action on this until we meet with the planning board on Tuesday and we could have a
discussion with them. Um cuz I'm a little concerned that we're that people aren't clear about this $3.5 million is not necessarily coming to us unless a developer builds something there. and we have no commitment from
any developer to do anything there. So, I'd like to talk to the planning board more before we make uh this commitment that we're recommending this and I'm meeting on Tuesday. We could do that and then we could recommend it then. Mr. Chair, this article is not
sponsored by the planning board. It's sponsored by um M for the water and sewer commission. Um, so I has the planning board had this have you discussed this article this project? >> No, you're correct that it did not come from the planning board. >> I don't think it's under the planning
board's jurisdiction and I don't believe right. It's not a zoning article or anything like >> correct. This would the investment in water would not fall under the planning board. >> We can certainly discuss it with them, but they're not going to have any more input than we've already heard tonight.
But it's through the planning board that we would be able to get this grant because they're I think that uh if the the planning board has come before us with this developer saying that they were going to they had a plan to build
there and if we put the sewer in and then we said okay we can't we're not going to put the sewer in and then they said okay we got the same developer that's going to put uh a fourth main in there. >> Mr. You remember that um M Mr. DJ Zeppy has two roles, economic development. So
I'm thinking that's maybe where why he's involved with this is his other hat that he wears on not the planning board, but I might be wrong. >> The planning board took action. They made a recommendation a few years ago to reszone the site. They they recommended for reszoning it from industrial to village commercial, but the planning
board hasn't had and other than that they haven't had a role um for this. But it was understood back then that there would be, you know, a lot of contingencies from having sewer and the potential for a larger multif family development. But that was all
just part of a general discussion for the reasonzoning to village commercial. But that's the only role that the planning board has had. I've had, as Mr. O'Neal has mentioned, I've had a much greater role outside of the
planning board with this economic development. Yeah. So, I guess my question would be what's changed as far as us being able to get this 3.5 million would we've said the last two
times we brought this to town meeting, we were told that if we don't act on this right now, we're going to lose the 3.5 million. So this I want to say my my opinion is what's changed is we we've actually decreased our likelihood of
getting a commitment for the property because what was clear with with Devco was if the sewer and water had gone in they would commit to purchasing the property and building the facilities. Now they only have half of that. So uh
hopefully the conversations go well but I think it's it's less likely than it was before. Mr. Chair, I think in addition to what Denise is saying is if you build it, they will come. You know what I mean? And I think we already recognize the
fact that the the system the pipe we have in the ground is insufficient. It needs to be replaced one way or the other. We got to do it some point. We got to do it. And if Frank, if you're telling us that this is on the next basically the next project to be undertaken anyway, I say we go ahead
with it. rebuild it and hopefully they will come. Hopefully they'll see the fact that we we put some infrastructure on the ground to help them. And by doing so, that's one less burden they're going to have to deal with because if I'm
buying 47 Elm and I've got a antiquated system running in front of my building, my first concern is going to be I'm going to have to replace a part of that. If I'm going to build, I'm going to have to do something with that. And if that's off the table, then I think it it becomes more desirable to make that
happen. One way or the other, we're gonna have to do it. >> Absolutely. >> So, if we can throw enough out there that we can get and with the help of state reps and anyone else we can help, senators, whoever we can get, if we can get someone to come back and say, "Yeah, that falls kind of within the scope of
what we're trying to get done." No one is ever going to touch that land unless we do some improvements in front of it. And if it has to be done anyway, we might as well do it one way or the other in my opinion. >> Yeah. In the next 3 to 5 years, that maid would have to be replaced as part
of the the lead service initiative. It's where it's an unknown criteria, it moves it to the top of the list. So with or without the grant, you will see me come before you multiple times until we get an approval here. Unfortunately, the more time it takes, the more chances that the amount could go up. Um, we
matched the number of the grant with the linear foot here. more than likely we will come in under that amount and give back any remaining funds but to make sure that there was enough in there and contingencies we're going for the the full application of 3.5 as it has to be
approved that way at town meeting >> and I think everyone understands that as you said 1.9 million few couple years ago >> 3.2 to now if we wait the next year it could be 4 million >> right
>> so you know the sooner we get it done you know it'll save us money in the long run as you know everything is going up contrary to what might be said publicly everything the price of everything is going up so I don't disagree with what you're saying Mr. My my concern is that
um that we when we went to town meeting, the people voted that they didn't want that apartment building built there. They didn't want that many apartments to be built there. Um my concern is is that
we're making it easier for that to happen um by doing this. And I'm not saying we don't need to do it. We need to put the water man in. That's great. But I it seems like we're giving whoever wants to develop that an easier road to
develop something that the town has said that they don't want. >> Mr. Chairman, I would agree with you on that. The only thing that I would throw out there is whatever was going to be built with storage is not going to happen. >> Right. under title five under on the
suridge whatever building goes on there is going to have to leave a very large area next to a river available for a title five septic system. So whatever envision they had of building a skyscraper there isn't going to happen
now because they don't have enough land to do it. They you know they they sold the land across the street. I know it's not a big piece of land, but I kind I kind of always envisioned that, well, if the sewer didn't go through, that would become their title five system. Now, they're talking about building a house
on. So, that goes away. So, I'm not as concerned about how many units are going to go up now as I was when the sewer line was going down there because they could have built a sixtory structure if they wanted to. Now, they can't because they don't have the capacity to handle the surge.
I if the hope is to deter apartment houses from going there then you can count on the three and a half million will not come our way. >> So Mr. Chair just one last comment the I wanted to ask Mr. Fornier the other two projects that you recently finished east
and um in southwester um you came before the we came before the town meeting and they you had an amount I don't know what the amount was and went to a vote and they approved it. take the grant out of this article.
That's what will end up happening in a couple years anyway. We'll just have a gener generic article with no dollar amount as far as a potential grant just like those last most recent two projects. Whatever it's going to cost, you'll just borrow it out of the uh water rates and it'll go forward and the
town will probably approve it unanimously at town meeting. So, don't don't let the the $3.5 million grant disrupt what you would normally do if it wasn't on the table.
>> Thank you, Mr. O'Neal. Um, it's not so much the uh the grant money, it's what we're going to do, what's going to happen to that piece of property at 47 Elm. That's been the bane for the last 5 years. What are we going to do with
that? Um, and I don't know if anybody else was at town meeting, but I heard people say that they didn't want to put an apartment building there. And I say I understand that it's not going to be as big, but have we had any discussions
about what could be built there now? >> Well, we don't we don't have any plans for uh we didn't have any plans presented, but without without sewer, you can't get as much as what she was asking. 140 150 units. It would be much
less than that, but again without plans, we don't know, but it's going to be limited by septic, which is significantly less than than a sewer system. So, I mean, the trade-off is is are you willing to accept a smaller apartment complex or leave the abandoned
building there? Because that's really the the choice we're faced. I mean, we can continue with that, you know, but until we know and hopefully we'll find out more information early next week about what
she thinks she could do there. But she has said it's, you know, the proposal for 150 units is that's off the table. That's that can't happen without sewer. But what that number is, I don't know at this point. I think having it re
reszoned a village commercial instead of industrial commercial um probably in this case is is is a positive factor because they could build a small light industrial facility down
there that'll have an impact on the neighborhood probably as much as a residential. But I know if somebody were going to build across the street from me, I don't want a factory or a white metal building across the street. If I got to look at something, I'd rather look at somebody
else's house. And we've already decided as a town that we want to make this village commercial. So there'll be some uh some commercial space in the on the project with apartments with it. But if I were going to build a
spec building, industrial building on the property, it would take a lot less water capacity than apartments will. Therefore, my septic system will be small and my building is going to be a lot bigger because of it. So, I think, you know, I I I I hear everyone
everyone's concern, but the big picture here is the neighbors didn't want surge, but they didn't want a lot of construction going on on Elm Street. And I agree with that. Here's an opportunity to make some improvements and get that mess cleaned up once and for all and
hopefully uh encourage the state D or whoever um to give us the money to help us pay for that. And I'm willing to take that bet because of that. I I think we have to do something. >> Um thank you, Mr. Kimell. Um, have we have
we reached out to any of our legislators for assistance on this? >> Um, they've helped us in the past. Um, not recently. They've supported every grant application we've submitted. >> I was going to say, what we we keep talking about reaching out to the legislators. What are we hoping that
they're going to do? The grant has already been awarded. What are we hoping that they're going to step in and do at this point? >> They don't take it back. >> They're going to. >> Yeah. Well, they don't do anything to go. Mr. >> Well, we've been told we've been told
that for the last at least two town meetings that they're going to take it back if we don't pass this. >> So, the the purpose of the grant was specifically to um enhance um infrastructure for apartments for
housing. That was the purpose of the grant. So, when we applied to it, we knew what we were getting into. It wasn't like it was fuzzy to us what we were applying for or that they were fuzzy in what we were giving them. We're we're very clear that the grant is to
improve that for apartment buildings. And so if we're not going to build apartment buildings, nothing that the senators or the representatives are going to be able to step in and be able to change about that. >> Um my point is is that we've never had any the any well the only one developer
say what they're going to build. they won't give us any information and they're not willing to send give us a letter of intent or anything as to what and the number of units they're going to build. >> So again, I will refresh everyone's memory. They were willing to do that if
we had passed at the town last town meeting the water and sewer. We did not pass the water and sewer, which is why we did not get a letter of intent. And so that was quite clear again going into that meeting. And I'm not a builder, but I can tell you I wouldn't commit to a project like that unless I knew I was
going to have the infrastructure for it either. >> And I'm encouraged there's still a conversation going on. And they haven't walked away. They're still talking about it. They >> Yeah. But if if our hope is that we don't want them to come here at all,
then then we should be uh assuming that we're going to be paying that three and a half million out of our own budget, which is fine if that's where as long as that we have our our glasses on. We understand that that's what we're agreeing to. >> We we're not guaranteed that we're not going to be paying that now.
>> I understand that because we need to have someone that's going to build apartments there. That's that's the contingent part. >> And and Mr. Mr. Chair, Mr. Fornier had indicated at the beginning of his uh discussion that he intentionally didn't put that in the article, you know,
contingent upon a $3.5 million grant on purpose because this would move forward without the grant like we've been talking about, like it's next in line, >> right? >> And and I know the town's going to approve it as long as it doesn't, you know, result in a an override, which it won't. Um, so I think I think we should
let the town decide and if there is any kind of concern about the size of the development, they can brought bring it up at the um town meeting floor. But I think there were other aspects of this as well. I think a lot of the people in the neighborhood didn't want the betterment fees for sewer. Um, they
didn't want the huge development of course like we're talking about. So, you know, if we get if they get the same presentation at a time meeting as we just did, then I think this will pass very easily and I don't I don't think we unless we feel strongly, I don't think
we should get in the way of that. I don't know what the finance committee is going to do. Um, but but I'm certainly in support of this article. >> Mr. D manager, do you have anything you'd like to add? >> Uh, just that I I haven't had the pleasure of meeting this potential developer. I I'm hopeful that a meeting
will be scheduled Monday and I will try to make that happen to the best of my ability. If that doesn't happen, I'll pound the pavement, try to get someone else. It's it's not a good look if we if we are asking for more money to do more lines and we're not using the money
they're giving us. Um so we'll try to make it happen as best we can. Um >> Mr. >> I would uh I'd entertain a motion. >> Okay. Just one more thing. The so the state hasn't we're sitting on the grant right now. The state hasn't asked for it
back yet. So that tells me something. >> They have until June 2026, >> right? So they that tells me something. They could have asked for them it back the day after the vote. Mr. >> Chairman, I'll make a motion we support article 10.
>> A second motion and a second. Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor? I >> I >> I >> one. No. Three to one. >> I didn't. Who said no? >> I did.
>> Okay. >> I didn't hear it. >> Um Okay. So, moving on to uh the next one is number 14 with the chair's permission.
Um I'm sorry. Did you want to uh not deal with number 12? >> Thank you, Frank. Oh, did I miss 12? Oh, yes. I was >> If if you want me to, I don't if you if you got anything to add. I think school is going to make a presentation to finance committee on Monday.
>> So, maybe it'd be better if we address that afterward if >> that's fine. >> Yep. >> So, um number 14, this was addressed at finance committee on Monday. there was concern about uh would this start this
fiscal year or next fiscal year. Uh we've reviewed it with our lawyers and next fiscal year was the the legal conclusion. Um, so there's really no issue uh with moving forward with putting this to the voters at at town
meeting if they would like to adopt the senior exemption or or sorry the doubling exemption which is the first one and the reducing the age from 70 to 65 which is the second one number 15. Uh
overall it would be approximately $120,000 impact the the first one the doubling and approximately the $20,000 impact for reducing the senior age. Now that's just
estimated numbers. It's based on the number of actual people that apply which the assessor estimates each year goes into the overlay account and is budgeted for. Um, so we don't know what the real numbers would be if the if we accept
these two laws. >> Any discussion? >> One discussion. Um, when you present this at the town meeting or the finance committee or maybe you can speak after the finance committee moves it, explain. Um, some people may read exemption and think that they're getting a complete waiver off their taxes instead of the
1,200 or the 200 or whatever the amounts are. And also >> um as far as the veterans, it it's for disabled veterans, which is really the the major uh dollar item there. So that's that's a big difference. If
you're a veteran and you're disabled, you know, that's important uh for people to know that that's what they're voting for. And the 70 to 65, again, that you can speak to that dollar amount. I forget exactly what it is. It might only be a couple hundred or $400, $500, but
>> right, it's like $350 something. Don't hold me to that. But >> that's right. Which is a fraction of what their annual tax bill is. So, it's not a waiver. It's not 100% exemption. So, I think it's important for people. It's not in the language of the article, but it's good for background information
if you can speak to it. Thank you, >> Mr. Chairman. In addition to that, I think we need to make make sure people understand that Bob Kimble is not going to get a discount. It's going to be based on income and it's going to be for the lower income brackets that this
program will be offered to, not to just everyone in town. It's just going to be limited to a certain amount of people that live in town that are trying to hold on to their homes and, you know, living day by day, but at least they they got some relief on on their taxes and it's an opportunity for them to stay
where they are. So, I think that has to be stressed also. But this isn't for everybody. This is just for a key group of people in in Norton. >> The only other thing that I will reiterate, which we've had this discussion at length at prior meetings, but uh I'm I am in in favor of helping
out our um elderly and and uh veterans. >> I uh I my my concern and my um position is that I feel like we should have done a stepped approach versus just straight up doubling. I felt like we should done 50%
instead. And I still feel the same way. Uh just to see how it um rolls out before we um just go all in for the most in the maximum. >> Well, the the board has already voted. You can certainly as a citizen make that
comment at town meeting and you know >> Yeah. And I don't know that I need to, but I think it's already been >> painted what people think of me. I'd uh entertain a motion for >> chairman. I'll make a motion 14 >> support article
14. >> Second >> motion and a second. Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor? >> I >> I chairman, I'll make a motion. >> No. >> 31.
>> Make me change my thing again. >> 3 to1. It still passed. Chairman, I make a motion that we support article 15. >> Second. >> Did you say split? Oh, >> support. Yeah. Um motion and a second.
Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor? I >> I >> no one, >> Mr. Chair. Next item number 16, WPAT administrative costs. This is a request
to t to transfer funds from the WPAT reserve account which is grant funded to assist those unable to afford septic systems um to create a revolving account there and low-income folks are able to borrow
money from that account and pay it back at a nominal in in interest rate. And this is used to supplement the administrative costs associated with the the conservation assistant who
administers the cost for this. So it's the request is $10,000 from the trust account. That's essentially a grant account. It's not budget funds. >> Okay. Have we had this account before? I don't I don't remember it. Yeah, >> we we had a revolving title five account
that people could borrow from. >> That's what this is. >> We we've had that for years. >> Okay. >> It's just a named >> WPAT account instead of Title 5 account. >> And this is the maximum we're allowed to >> so to speak buffer the budget a little bit. 10,000 towards salaries.
>> Okay. >> Okay. I'll make a motion we support article 16. >> Second motion in a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> I I >> I. Next up is the zoning bylaw update.
Um it's a it's much needed, long awaited and this will bring our zoning bylaws up to 2025 and modernize. This is a result of the master plan initiated this and I'll I'll
turn the floor over to the the good folks at planning. >> Hi, my name is Eric Nars, member of the the planning board. I have Paul and Bridget here for backup just and keep myself honest. Um, but really I just want to give a quick um just a high level uh what we're what we're proposing
and then really just you know give you guys time for any initial questions or comments you have at this point. I know we're going to go into more depth on Tuesday, so I don't necessarily want to go in depth unless that's just where the conversation takes us. Um, but I mean that really the purpose like like was
mentioned uh by the time manager is really this is just to update for the most part where we have um things we didn't touch in this particular update is we didn't touch the districts, we left those alone, dimensional standards, how things are administrated and things
like that. Th those are like the core things we didn't really touch. Um vast majority of what we did change was really reorganization for the point of trying to make things more clear um more readable not only just for you know the planning board but also for the town um
and future boards as well as you know the any projects that that come along the way just to make it easier on everybody. Um but that that honestly was the vast majority of work. There were some um some changes like we did add some uses like we didn't have clear a
clear defined senior housing or uh we also added recreational vehicle uh temporary is actually how it was termed just so we had a definition that we could that we could use. Um, and a lot of the definitions came about is because either either there's just use cases
that have come up in the past or things we see coming and we just wanted to make sure they were defined and and just again read easily available. Um, we also did um things that the state or the federal kind of required us to do
like um we did look at things like accessory dwelling units. We did put in language for that um just so it's defined. We also did you know uh added some other uh anything that would basically the state required us to do we
did but also to add add other things we did we are uh proposing adding performance standards uh that way we can have those defined and we can use those as well as the rest of the the bylaws to to make you know prudent judgments for projects that are coming to Norton.
And um we also we didn't have this before but we have we've added special permit conditions. We were using um site plan reviews before but now we're explicitly giving you know some some rules around that. So I know I'm going a
little quick but from a high level that's pretty much what we're proposing keeping the core of what's important in Norton. Um adding use cases where we needed doing things required by the state such as the ADUs. Um but also just like you know uh trying to make a
stronger more readable document that can be used going forward. So um again very high level view but um you know if there's any initial questions or comments you have now I'm happy to try to answer them now but again I know we're also going into kind
of a deep dive on Tuesday so you know e either one uh if you want to wait till then that's okay too. Um, but I'm happy to answer any questions. >> Thank you, chair. >> I just had a quick sort of general question. When I hear things like you
added the site um requirements, what was it again? Site something requirements. >> Um, so we have we did not have before the special permit conditions by themselves. >> That's what I meant. >> But what we were using before was basically the site plan review conditions instead.
>> Right. >> So that that was our guiding thing. But now it's expressively spelled out. >> I was going to say I'm assuming that things like that help with enforcability as well. >> Very much. Yeah, there was enforcability was definitely something that we were concentrating on. We're we're basically trying to keep the like the core
identity of the current bylaws by but also strengthening them at the same time is was was a large part of what we were doing. So this is that was definitely something that we wanted to make sure happened. >> That makes sense, Mr. Chairman. >> Perfect. M I'm sorry, Mr. Gold. >> Um, thank you. And and I just want to
say that I the board's been very transparent. There's a red line available online. If you just Google >> Norton zoning bylaw update, it'll come right up there. And I just have a question on that. I'm I'm curious. I haven't gone through the 100page document yet myself. I intend to.
>> 180 I think now. >> 180. I >> not counting. And to uh when you said the site plan conditions became the special permit conditions, did they mimic did were they just changed as different placeholder or are they
different criteria and different conditions? >> Um I think I'll let Paul get into it, but I believe they're pretty much the same because we're already using them, but now they're written out. Um but I don't know if there's any anything I'm missing. >> They're they're pretty much the same, but we we added some too. There there were conditions that we don't currently
have that are proposed in in the uh in the new bylaw, but they're coming largely from what was under site plan. >> And and the intent is to to encourage >> better development. At the end of the day, we're we have
more tools. We will have more tools. the board will have more tools to uh tell tell a an applicant to put more amenities in uh and I think they will have >> more green space
>> accessibility. Absolutely. Yes. >> Oh, right. Yeah. So, you know, we we hope we our anticipation is it would be a better project than what we can currently ask for. Mr. Jim, >> Mr. Kimble.
>> Yeah, I I we can talk all about about this on Tuesday. I know the the biggest thing I hear on the street is these major changes. Um I spent the morning going through 80 pages, you tell me. I guess that's what it is. I'm somewhat familiar with the booklet because I've
been working with it for years, even though I never served on the planning board. But I didn't see a lot of changes in it. Um but I what I did see was reclassification where it might move from point A to point B and be and fall under a different heading which made
more sense. >> Yeah. >> But what I'm going to encourage everyone to do is I spoke to the town manager today um asked him that he send a copy of that to all department heads. I mean committee heads. >> Okay. >> Boards and committees. Send it to them.
Ask them to send it to their people so they can do what I did this morning. I took I had a chance to actually read it. I'm going to read it again, but I had a chance to read through it and as the town manager indicated, it is now online, too. So, if we can go to the town website, is that where it is? Can
we get it on the website? >> So, anyone who wants to see it before town meeting. >> Yeah, >> it's out there. And I would encourage you all to take the time to look at it and read it, try to understand it, ask your questions. If you have questions next Tuesday, come and ask them. you
know, let's try to get this stuff done before we get a town meeting floor. That's all. >> Sounds good, >> Mr. O'Neal. >> Uh, yes. So, there's another component here as well, and it's the building commissioner, and we we have a new one. So, when when >> when a resident comes to his office and
asks a particular question, he goes to the zoning bylaws. He he needs to be able to navigate that and understand clearly what they're stating without conflict, without compromise, misinterpretation of the zoning bylaws. So, it's for the public,
but it's also for internal use, right? I >> like I >> on a personal note, I'm not going to bring it up here in a board meeting, but I went to the um to Paul and the building commissioner and there's there's a um a conflict with uh with a particular um zoning bylaw in our own
language. One says one thing, the other one says the opposite. So, how does a building commissioner interpret that? How does he provide the right information to the to to the resident? So this is important for day-to-day management of our uh um you know
building activity and and approvals and not only the planning board. So >> it leads to legal disputes, right? >> Yes. >> And um I know we're going to be talking a lot more about this on Tuesday. So I don't I don't want you you don't want to have to give your whole speech twice. So everything that you're going to do. So I know you have probably have uh some sort
of a presentation to make as well. And we'll see that on Tuesday. >> Yeah, we we have a presentation for Tuesday. Uh, but I mean honestly if you have any any questions, you know, at the very least, you know, we can uh make sure we have the answer on Tuesday. So, I mean, if there's something you want to ask, you know, please feel free.
>> Um, some of us just got this uhund stomount pages recently, so give us some time to look at over this weekend and we may have more questions for you when when we meet again. >> No, that sounds good. >> I just also want to thank you guys for the enormous amount of time that you
guys have put into the effort here. I know that redlinining uh 180 pages is not an easy task when you're getting consensus from an entire board and then rlining it and revisiting and having open meetings and uh
soliciting feedback. You guys have put a lot of time and effort into this and I just want to say I really appreciate that. >> Oh, thank you. Appreciate that. and and the same as well. And I was on the planning board for four years and I know it can happen and you get um seven members all with different viewpoints and it's really sometimes you just have
to take a vote, right? If if you split like what >> eventually think this thing have think just the opposite depending on their own personal experiences and sometimes you just have to put it out to a vote. Okay, this bylaw whatever four to three. Okay, it passes, right?
And sometimes it's not the the one who speaks the most who who um should get the uh language in in the U changes is the one who >> I know you're pretty quiet, Eric >> usually. Yeah. >> But I but I would but I would probably
listen to you often >> if you understand my point. >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. Thank you. Thank you. I I appreciate it. >> All right. So, we're on >> He was working on it all the time. >> Yeah. >> I'm trying to be humble.
>> So, we're we're going to take no action tonight on that and we'll move on. Thank you very much. >> No, thank you. Thank you for taking the time. >> Thank you. >> Good. And hopefully we'll uh have a good discussion on Tuesday. >> I'm sure it'll be fun. >> Thank you. >> Um
Mr. Town Manager. Uh so that uh pretty much covers it. Actually, we would ask to come back next time for uh number 18, 19, 20. Uh we're actually looking to withdraw 21.
Our accountant says no longer has that request. And number 22, we understand um that there's no impetus moving 22 forward. So unless the board feels strongly we would withdraw
>> have anybody requesting any of those. U >> okay moving on then. >> Uh one last question on the warrant articles before we move on. >> I know that Kevin brought up at the last meeting. Is there any um need or a benefit to us thinking about the order
of the articles on the warrant for the meeting? Has there been any discussion about that, Mr. Town Manager? >> I I understand we've submitted them in the order they've been received. That's the order that KP Law reviewed them. Um,
I I understand the moderator can take things out of order under Robert's rules and I, you know, would encourage if that's appropriate for so I just uh I
guess the uh the question is about the the hot button issues moving them to the top. Is that what you >> um Right. So, all of the the budget amendments I think are fine at the top because they'll go through very quickly anyway and it's good to get those out of the way. Um, but they'll probably take
10 minutes to do articles uh one through uh seven. Um, but the um then the ones that could be debated and have a little bit of a discussion, I think it's good to try to put those next and >> but it appears we may already be there.
um the Barrows court of course and then the um um >> the zoning bylaw maybe >> the zoning bylaw and then of course the u the tax uh um you know uh reductions I'm not going to
I don't want to say basic >> personally I'm there for the night so I don't really care about I'm staying through the night >> there are people that um perhaps can't >> so they can bring that up from the floor a town meeting as well if they would like to move move an article to the top if they want. >> I I think article I think it would be
good to have articles 14 and 15 maybe further up just personally so that anyone who's there representing um so the issue we run into I'm afraid is always that if we put if we move them up and then they have to wait for three
more articles before they can be reconsidered and then they're going to be down right back where they were if they get reconsidered. Well, it's still going to be early and earlier night than than at 14. I'm just thinking of I mean
ob obviously um a disabled veteran is going to be interested in attending this town meeting. >> Sure. So, I don't want them to have to be there late um personally, but >> I I've been attending town meetings for
over 30 years. And I'm often put back by the fact that a certain interest group shows up, they deal with their their question, and poof, they're gone. My my feeling is I want to put all the controversial things at the very end so that
>> that way we'd have more people voting. everyone stays there and nothing's reconsidered along the way that maybe somebody went home years ago. The Norton um Grove voted at town meeting to approve sewage in Norton Grove.
Everybody went, "Hey, way we did a great job." Boom. Off they went. Well, guess what? It was reconsidered. It was shot down. >> So, you have to be careful about that. As far as us old people going out and staying up after 8:00, I think I think we can do that on certain certain
occasions. And I think it's important that uh we try to get this thing spread out enough that people have an interest somewhere. >> Okay. >> And we can keep them focused on it. >> Yeah. I mean, I think there's a variety of reasons why people can't stay for the whole thing. Sometimes it's kids, their jobs, whatever. But but
>> and again, um they can request them to be moved from the floor as well. >> Yep. Yep. That's fine. In the fall town meeting, it's less of a concern for me. It's This is probably easily going to be less than a two-hour meeting. It's a spring one that can go to town. >> I like your optimism. You did it. >> I like your optimism.
>> Yeah. Yeah. You just cur Don't jinx it. >> Bring your CS. >> Well, it starts at seven. Remember, that's a late start, right? Some of you folks that have your own private businesses, they get up at >> 3, four, five o'clock like you and Alec. Um,
so, um, we're going to leave that to you, uh, Mr. Town Manager. If, uh, if you feel the need to see if we can move these around, that's fine. Or if you, uh, I'm I'm sure that, uh, the moderator will make me mention of being able to do that from the floor if they need to.
>> Sure. And we have a a premeating. We'll we'll make sure the sound systems working and with the moderator, the clerk, and the facility crew there. May I ask um when you have that meeting also with the zoning bylaw changes or
recodification or whatever the description up thank you I like that we don't want to use the same terminology as last year update that um I think we threw the baby away with the bath bath water last year there were a lot of good things and and I'm glad you went back to the table it's probably
much better now than it was even then but we we can't like reject the all of the work they that they've done if so I would rather see an amendment or multiple amendments get approved rejected and keep 80% of the work
they've done than have the whole thing shot down. So that falls on the the moderator to be able to manage multiple amendments. So maybe you want to talk to them about that and try to encourage that if it comes down to something where it's going to be debated um because of
one or two you know items and there are 100 changes or improvements made. Let's amend it amend amend those two changes out of the >> someone has to bring the amendment forward though >> right and right somebody has to bring it forward. So, our our lawyer did look at
this um today. Initially, they're going to continue to make sure that there's no inconsistencies, but they recommended the whole thing go forward. We gave them the red line and they said, "No, no, no. You just put it forward as a complete package. If somebody moves to change
something, then you address that line, >> right?" >> Yes. Yes. >> Exactly. >> And that's something the moderator has to manage. It can be become a little complicated what's voted on first and back and forth. I just brought it up now when you have the discussion with with him maybe something for him to think
ahead of you know if this happens how am I going to handle it make sense and and if anyone knows anything they >> Mr. Chair >> yes Mr. Gold >> as thank you and if anyone knows they
have anything they'd like to change the planning board is I believe they haven't finalized it come Tuesday they're more than willing to listen and Yeah. >> Yeah. I I know that. And and they and they've done it all along. They've had I
don't know how many seven public hearings about the changes. >> Well, we get I'm getting off topic off the agenda. >> We may have wandered down a road. >> Sorry. I know. I feel like I have to be in public record now. Bridget Car 113 Oak Street. Um we have had I don't know
710 how many meetings we've had this year. >> This year? >> Yeah. on it just alone. Yeah, almost every meeting it's on our agenda. So, we've had public comment, we've listened to public comment, we've taken public comment and we've used some suggestions and implemented them into these changes
as well. And I was saying we will also be presenting it as a board. Um, our chair and Paul had a conversation with the town moderator. So, we will be there as a united front to take questions, answer questions, and we'll have all of our material materials in front of us.
Um, I know there's going to be some sort of Cupid shuffle on the floor of how we get there, but we will be there. Um, so I feel like that's important and that's something we felt strongly about as as a board to do. So, yeah. >> Good. >> Yeah. No, like she said, we it we we're
going to have our table. We'll have we won't be up there the whole time, just long enough to get through this. But yeah, as far as like the public and stuff, yeah, we it's been since even before last last town meeting, but since town meeting, we every single uh meeting we've had has had that on the agenda and
we've been very very vocal. And honestly, we've had we've had not a huge attendance, but who was here we listened to and we actually did make adjustments based on on the feedback we were getting. So not not only from you know from that meeting and that uh that three
vote rejection all the way to today we've been asking for feedback and uh you know and we have incorporated a lot of it. It's just you know u but we'll we'll like when we get to the when we get to the table we'll hopefully be able to have a final
discussion. We can and we get get this you know across the finish line. >> Mr. Chairman, just to save time, if you've ever gone to town meeting, someone wants to make an amendment, they'll take the warrant and they'll start scribbling on it and all this stuff. It might be beneficial if you had
an extra copy or two kicking around. So, if somebody wanted to make an amendment, they could >> Shane's point have like a couple copies available for >> they could take Yeah, I'm being distracted. They could take they could take that and just make the correction
on that and bring it up instead of us waiting >> to see how long it's going to take to Sure. >> Mark, I think your camera's on. >> Your camera's on. >> There we go. Yeah, I can I can I can talk to Paul and make sure we have that type of material ready. We can like we can have a couple few copies. I don't
see why not. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> There you go. Apologies. >> That's okay. >> Okay. town manager report. >> Uh thank you. Um so Mr. Kimell covered most of the announcements. Thank you.
You're >> welcome. >> Uh just uh briefly, I I submitted a 90-day transition plan. I've been working on this. I I spent a lot of time on it in between preparing for town meeting. There's a lot going on in the
town, a lot to be excited about. The department heads are preparing diligently for town meeting. They're they're doing their jobs. They're serving people. They're available to speak with residents. My priorities are here. I could make
this a public document. And there's there's a lot of priorities. I I've been meeting weekly with a key group of department heads, the chiefs, the planner, the accountant, and just getting these people in the same room and then purposefully showing up a few
minutes after the meeting started because they they just interact with each other and they're finding efficiencies on their own. And I I look forward to continued success and to report back after 90 days on recommendations for the board's
consideration uh priorities, critical priorities and just the continuing it's it's a work in progress and very excited about it. Thank you. >> Thanks, Mark. Mr. Chairman, >> Mr. Kimble.
>> Yeah, I have to say I've worked with a couple administrators and I think five town managers now over the years and this is the first time I've ever ever seen anything a transition plan of any sort. So, thank you for that and
congratulations on being the first. Uh, but I think it's it's a it's a great insight to what you what you're thinking or or what you think the town should be doing, but more importantly, it's keeping everybody in the loop. And I think offering it to make it public is
is another opportunity for transparency so people understand where you're coming from. But, uh, I know you've been working very hard at this. I get up early in the morning also and I find he's up before I am. He's up later than I am. so by some of his emails, but I I
know you're working very hard at this and I really appreciate all your effort and time you put into it. So, thank you. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And I I completely agree and I'm looking forward to reading this in more detail, Mr. Ghoul. Very nice job. And good start to your your tenure here. >> Yeah.
>> It's only been how long? You probably know exactly how many hours. >> Two days ago it was three weeks. >> About three weeks. The time passes so quickly. >> Yeah. I really appreciate the communication and transparency. It's really helpful sitting on this um committee being able to feel like I'm
better informed coming into meetings. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Any feedback? You know, my door is always open. >> Great job. Anything else? >> Uh that's
I believe that's all I had. Okay. Select boards report in mail. Anybody have anything? Uh, we have a letter from, see if I can find it. Christopher Maki that we might want to
discuss at our next meeting. I'll talk about it now, but I want to do a bit more research on it. >> Is this the deer thing? >> Yeah. Yeah. He's from my own personal opinion is that, you know, the poor things are being
forced out of their habitat. I've got it right here. Just something I think we should we should take into consideration. I'm not saying we're gonna go with it, but something >> we'll put that on the uh >> in the next agenda. >> Okay. >> Only because they sent us a letter individually send us a letter by the
way. >> Um and then the next agenda I've asked that we that I be allowed along with my note and traffic safety committee members to give an update on some of the projects. Some of them have kind of wavered and fallen off the uh >> off the screen off the radar. Yeah, we
want to get it back on again. So >> that's it. >> And Mr. Chair, it might be a good idea on that meeting as well to couple with that is to have the um discussion around the uh the rail trail, the memorial uh uh pave trail on um ebikes, motorized
vehicles. So um I know that uh that's being brought before the traffic safety committee and I'm sure they'll have a recommendation for us at some point. >> Okay. And I also understand that Mansfield is going through the process right now of updating their rules and regs. So we're going to have to look at
what they're doing, look at what we're doing. Somehow we got to come together and >> come up with a plan. >> Make sure it's consistent for the length of the trail. >> Trucking down the highway and then suddenly they can't they can't use it anymore, you know. >> Yeah. Uh, one more thing I should mention actually I did attend earlier
this week the Bristol County I forget the full name of the commission but it's basically the different counties and I I'm I'm the representative from this um town on that particular county meeting. Most of it was pretty mundane, boring uh votes. Uh the two that I would mention
just because I think there could be an increase in the charges to the town of Norton as um they passed not by a full approval but they passed um budget increases for uh both categories of
employees uh for 3% raises this year 5% in the following two years each of the following two years. Um, so, uh, I did not support it, but unfortunately out voted, so it is what it is. But just, um, expect some probably increases
in what we get charged from that Bristol County um, account, whatever it's called, I don't know. But yeah, for the courouses and the like Bristol Aggie um, high school, >> it's a Bristol County assessment. >> Yeah.
>> We have to pay. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. They have commissioners and all that stuff that we have to >> Yeah. >> pay for We have to pay for the jails and and all of that. So, >> and they get paid for it. >> So, although Alex's not here, I'm sure he'll be signing the warrants that we
approve. And [Laughter] >> I make a motion to uh end the meeting. >> I'm waiting for clarification on it. So, >> I was waiting for Mr. Kimmel to make a motion to approve the warrants.
>> The warrants. Sorry. >> Still, it's still my opinion that we we're supposed to be doing. >> I'd entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Moved. Second. >> Motion and a second. Any discussion?
Seeing none, all those in favor? I I Good night.